Blogger Catch Up- Disney Cruise- Castaway Cay

We spent the next two days at Castaway Cay.

We rode bikes

And snorkeled with the sting rays

And generally frolicked in the surf and sand.

We did make it to the ship's Pirate Party that night

 but were too tired to go up on deck and enjoy the fireworks at sea.

I was a little sad about that until I realized that, by a lucky stroke of fate, we could watch the fireworks from the balcony in our cabin before diving into bed!

Blogger Catch Up- Disney Cruise: Key West

Dawn breaks early on the high seas.

Rick and Soren slept in a bit (Rick being rather unimpressed with the magnificence of the open ocean, having been surrounded by it for 27 years) so Will and I enjoyed some quality time on the balcony.

Rick channeled his inner Don Draper at breakfast.

Then we were in Key West!

Where we gained a new appreciation for key limes

and conch shells

Blogger Catch Up- Disney Cruise: Embarkation

Soren is a very casual traveler 

but he always follows along with the airplane safety card while the flight attendant reviews the safety features of our aircraft.

On the airport tram

On the cruise line shuttle

Catching our first glimpse of the Disney Wonder

When we finally made it to the cruise terminal, we paused to add some pressed pennies to our collection, a tradition that Grandpa started a couple of Disney trips ago.

And then we were ready to embark!

We were immediately dazzled by the sights and sounds of the Disney Wonder.

The ship was decorated for Halloween on the High Seas!

We got down to business decorating our cabin door

and admiring the view from our balcony

Then we suited up (bathing suits, that is) and headed to the Launch Party.

That night we witnessed a scene that would become familiar: exhausted boys falling immediately into deep slumber the minute their heads hit the pillow.

Blogger Catch Up- First Day of Pre-K and Third Grade

Off to school, handsome Smiley boys!

Blogger Catch Up- Pelotonia!

We rode 50 miles again in this year's Pelotonia. My brother, Edward, and his, girlfriend, Morgan, joined us this year.  It really is so much fun to ride with a group.  Honestly, this year was a lot more physically tough for me and I'm not sure I would have made it the whole way if it had not been for them.

Rick was confident this year that we could ride from our house to the starting line.  I was a little skeptical of starting a 50 mile ride with a 4 mile ride, but he was right (as always)- it was actually a nice little warm up and we fell in with a lot of other riders on the way. It was a great way to build excitement and get into the spirit.

This is us at the first rest area

And this is US at the first rest area. 

Thing #812 that I heart about Morgan is that she is great at taking selfies.

At Mile 23 I hit an emotional wall and was suddenly so physically exhausted I wasn't sure if I was even going to make it to the next rest area.  It was an awful feeling and I had serious thoughts about calling it quits at the half way point.  

A nice rest in the shade, a pep talk from my team mates and selfie were all I needed to rally.

Third rest area selfie (see how cheerful I am managing to look?)

And then the finish was in sight. Whew! 

The best thing about that day was that Rick felt great and said that he felt like he could ride another 50- I am so amazed by him.

Finish Line Selfie

Blogger Catch Up- Soren is 5!

While we were distracted, Soren managed to somehow get another year older.  How could he possibly be 5 already?  He'll tell you himself it's true.

We celebrated the day by living it up at Zoombeezi Bay.  

They just happened to be showing Soren's all time favorite movie that night at the 'Dive-In Theater', so we stayed to watch the Lego Movie.

Then it was home for presents 

(many of them Lego oriented)

and (what else) Lego cake!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Soren Bird! 

Please don't grow up so fast!

Blogger Catch Up- Family Vacation- Deep Creek, Maryland

For Family Vacation this year, we all gathered at Deep Creek, a beautiful lake in the mountains of Maryland.  Just steps from our front door, 

we fished

and canoed.

We spent one rainy afternoon at the local nature center.

And one beautiful afternoon hiking at nearby 

Swallow Falls State Park

As a special treat, Rick and I went to a wine and cheese pairing at the darling Firefly Farms with my parents. Amazing!

And we brought home a chainsaw art souvenir. 

We call him Arthur.