Things that Would Never Fly in the U.S., and Other Fun Details About our Trip to Central America

Topher and I just returned from a wonderful cruise aboard the Norwegian Spirit.

One of the highlights was no doubt the late night chocolate buffet.  You would think I could stay awake in anticipation, but I couldn't.  Topher had to drag me out of bed, after I fell asleep at 7:30 pm.  I'm glad he did.  Yum.

Sleepy eyed in a long line awaiting chocolately deliciousness!

This in Antonio Mario.  He sold us some great hammocks, much to his delight, and ours.

This is me in Honduras sipping the best pina colada that I have ever tasted!

Another highlight was our trip to a little monkey zoo of sorts (Honduras).  They took us right in the cages with the animals.  This parrot bit Topher.  

These little capuchan monkeys were so cute!  We played with them in their cages and fed them sunflower seeds.

We took this pic in the cage with this beautiful toucan.

This is Topher getting attacked by iguanas!  Okay, it wasn't really an attack.  This was an iguana refuge, and they apparently liked him, because they all surrounded him for some attention. I was not so bold.

These were supposed to be for the fish to eat...

Well, you get the point.

This is us right before heading off to our cave tubing adventure in Belize.  

More coconut.  Yum.

Walking on the beach in Costa Maya, MX.

This is us before a show on the ship.

On our way to another fabulous dinner!

Bye bye, cruise.  Until next time...

This Morning Logan Reminded Me

"Mama, when people are old, they grow up to be angels."
-Logan

Logan, I think before people grow old, they are angels too. Thanks for being one of mine.

Our Beach

Weather permitting, each year between Christmas and New Years we trek to the beach for a family camping trip ("we" meaning most of my extended family on my mom's side, and anyone else who wants to come along).  We delight in a few sunny days, and usually tolerate a few rainy ones.  This year's trip was marvelous.  

My cousin and I were commenting on how we can't remember many Christmas presents we received through the years, although I'm sure there were many.  We remember every beach trip though.  

Running on the beach with my cousins.

Grandma and my little niece Pearl, whose mother did a much better job than I did keeping sand out of her swimsuit than I did when Logan was that age.

Skipping for more sand tools.

Uncle John with little boys.

Grandma and Grandpa who started this tradition 50 years ago.

Castle building.

One of my ironic parenting moments... Logan threw the football they were playing with deep in this large pokey bush to tease his cousin.  Thinking I had devised an excellent natural consequence, I told him that he had to climb in and get it out.  It took him quite some time and several scratches. After getting it out, he felt so pleased with himself, that he promptly threw the ball back in to show how awesome he was at getting the ball out of the bush.

Beach, we'll miss you. 

Until next year...

Merry Christmas!

We hope you and yours have a beautiful Christmas holiday.

If you need a laugh to alleviate the stress of the season, check out Lisa and Logan at this link: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/XTqPurjTC66Y10YoWNxA

Or this one:
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/CqmAEdGKLZQWMJO6tZrv

Isn't is Just Amazing How Our Little Ones

help us be better?


Here are a few lessons I have learned from Logan lately:



1. He insists on picking up litter and throwing it in the garbage can. I find myself spotting trash in parking lots, and trying to steer him clear. He inevitably spots it and reminds me,



"Mom, if we don't pick it up, who will?"



2. While getting my shoes on the other day, he looked at me, smiled, and said,



"Mom, when you are old, I am going to tie your shoes for you."



3. He reminds us to say testimonies during family home evening, and at church. He eagerly volunteers to go first.



4. Recently after a long exhausting day, Logan was following me around the house whining. I turned and snapped at him,



"Logan, I have had it! Go get ready for bed!"



He dropped his head, turned to walk out of the room, and started to cry. He looked over his shoulder and tearily said,



"Mom, I'm going to say a prayer for you that you can be nice."



He knelt down right there in the doorway, bowed his head, and prayed aloud through tears that I could be a nice mommy, and that he could forgive me.



Here I thought parenting was about helping and training him, but it just amazes me how often the tables turn.

Onety

Logan,

You made a very logical conclusion this week. You counted to nineteen, and then proceeded to onety, onety one, onety two, onety three, etc.

It really does make sense, right?

Onety
Twenty
Thirty
Forty
etc...

As I considered your logic, I did determine that according the pattern in the Base 10 system, onedy might be a more logical replacement for 10 and the subsequent teen numbers, rather than an insertion prior to twenty; however, your observation was still a very good one.

Unfortunately, despite your insightful discovery, we'll have to work on returning to the universally used number system.

Your conceptual understanding of place value at age 3 is absoultely delightful. Nice thinking, son.

Love, Mom

Raking

takes longer with 3 year olds, but it is much more fun than raking alone.

My 3 Year Old Has a Job that Pays $30 an Hour

We had a very plentiful pumpkin crop this year. After all of Logan's sweat and toil by my side in the garden, I thought he might enjoy selling a few. Well, word of the sale traveled through the neighborhood of grandmas and grandpas we live in. Even after his Saturday afternoon sidewalk display ended, we had phone calls requesting a visit to Logan's pumpkin patch. Despite the low prices he offered (well, they were low after we helped him adjust his original suggested price of $20 a pumpkin), he made a killing. Pictures of the pumpkin sale will have to wait. They are on Topher's computer which is being repaired.

For now, here is Logan with a few pumpkins he saved to carve.

Grad School

I may not be blogging much for a while. I'm headed here for a Masters Degree. I'll pop in when I can.

Fall Pictures in the Backyard