Eddie baking a pie - balling the dough for a crust

Yesterday, Eddie made us a cherry pie. He is wearing one of my Pampered Chef aprons, as well as his little league baseball cap. Michael is in the background making himself some ramen noodles. Eddie made a great pie, too. He's made us promise to leave Bailey a piece, since she had to go to her father's house for this weekend.

Tom was going to drive the boys to the airport and leave his car in the overnight parking but had a nasty sinus condition that was so horrible that he'd mistaken it for toothpain. So, we all got into the minivan and I drove them to the airport. All this means is that we save on the parking fee, spend twice for fuel, and I have to make sure to be back at RSW tomorrow on time. It was sometime along the way that Tom figured out his "toothpain" was relieved by placing the icepack on his sinus target points. I had known that sinus backup can cause horrible toothpain just from the pressure but even with Tom's history of sinus trouble, it just didn't occur to me that was the problem! It's a relief that it's a sinus problem and not a tooth problem. Sinus problem is a lot cheaper to fix! He gets an evening with my parents pampering him and throwing every OTC medication possible at him to help. He'll like that.

The flight went well and my mother was waiting for them like she said she was going to be. Their Comcast hasn't been working so Tom can try to sort that out for them, too. While he's at it, he can clean up the mess my brother does on my mother's computer... if there's enough time.

Tommy hasn't been happy with his brothers gone. I think with the frequency that Bailey goes on visitations, it doesn't phase him much when she's not here for a couple days, although he's had his moments over the past year of getting very angry to see her go. He really doesn't like it when his brothers disappear. He argued against going to bed by saying we needed to go get his dad, Michael and Eddie. I think he'll be disappointed when we pick up only his daddy from the airport tomorrow. Hopefully, next summer will start a much shorter visitation period.

I don't think I really need to talk about how I'm doing, especially being alone through this. Those who know me, already know.

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Blue Shirt Portrait 1

169 frames and this is best this crew could give me!

I did photoshop work today and ordered prints. Most of the day was just spent with the kids.

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Michael on graduation day

Today was the final day of school for the 2007/2008 year. Michael was done about 10:30am after the fifth grade graduation ceremony was over. Eddie and Bailey finished at the normal time, having a full day of games, movies, autographing and snacking on party food. This year went by quickly and I'm proud of my kids and their achievements this year. All three did their best and enjoyed themselves. Their teachers were absolutely wonderful this year. I couldn't have asked for better individuals to be teaching my kids.

Eddie with his autographed beach ball

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Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park - Eddie pointing out where we are

On Sunday, Eddie and I hiked a bit into Myakkahatchee Creek Environment Park to check on the geocache hide we had adopted. Since having to replace it completely recently, I wanted to make sure our replacement would withstand the elements. It was fine but I had forgotten swag again. Eddie spent time learning about the park from the entrance map, which details the wildlife preservation areas and also answers some popular questions, like why the Myakkahatchee Creek glows an orange-brown.

After Myakkahatchee Creek Environment Park, we went to the new Garden of the Five Seasons along Pan American Blvd. in North Port. It's a park envisioned by Jean Bruhn, a resident who was very involved in the community and her Church, the Living Waters Lutheran Church, that engages all the senses in the adventure of nature. The numerous gardens have tablets that explain the plants and the theme of each garden and which sense it appeals to.

More pictures on my flickr.

Garden of The Five Senses - walking paths

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Coastal Community Church of the Nazarene

This is a photo for a waymark I posted this evening in the Church of the Nazarene category. Taking the church pictures was the only time I used my digital camera today. The rest of the time, I was preoccupied with black & white 35mm experimenting. I'd share it with you, but I have to use the whole roll, then drop it off for developing, then wait for it to be developed, then pick it up, then scan it, and then upload it. Is "outdated" technology worth it?

The rotten experience that I've had thanks to a couple of waymarkers (one in particular) in trying to manage the first category I created has really soured my spirits on waymarking. It takes a few deep breaths to remember why I waymark - going back to the very mission statement I wrote just a little while ago - and remember that there are good people willing to have the argument for me, even if just for the sake of plain ol' good sense, and I don't have to pull my hair out over a spoiled brat's noise! My category is fine.

Bailey and Eddie have Field Day tomorrow, Eddie has a Field Trip on Wednesday, Michael has Field Day on Thursday, and then there's Picture Day for all three on Friday. It's a big day. I won't be buying the pictures this year... not when I can do my own at a much lower cost.

Bailey outgrew her old sneakers and needed a new pair. My baby girl is in a girls size 13. I don't believe it!

Dinner this evening was meatloaf and french fries. The kids loved it but it was too greasy for me and has hurt my tummy. I've felt better since taking a nice, long hot bath... the universal cure for many aches! I spoke with Tom, who has been managing very well at boot camp. I'm going to relax in bed and read.

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Jasper County Courthouse and Bell

We ran two hours behind schedule since my ex-husband decided to play games to an extent where the police had to help return the boys. It's both fortunate and unfortunate that this happens so often that the boys aren't intimidated by the police. It's just a regular thing for them. I thank God that the police in my ex-husband's town have always been very helpful and concerned.

We left at 5:30pm Eastern time. We stopped in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at 11pm at the Days Inn. I had a heck of a time trying to find a hotel with a double room. A Holiday Inn north of Nashville tried to sell me the same suite we ended up in at the Days Inn for over $100 (before tax). The room we had was still expensive and over-budget but I got it for $80 so hey.

We left the southern Nashville suburbs around 10am and got home at 11:30pm with an eighth of a tank left. It rained from southern Georgia all the way down to North Port. Traffic ran smoothly, for the most part, and we didn't have any of the delays that we had traveling north.

Fuel was more expensive. In northern Florida, it cost me $3.55/gal. That's the most I've ever paid in my life.

Food costs for the return trip total $25; Hotel cost: $92; Fuel: $160; Total Return Trip: $277

Total Travel Expenses: $497

Total Trip cost with expenses during the week, including top-up cards: $902

If I didn't have to top-up my phone twice to deal with the problems my ex-husband caused, I would have been below $850.

Tom's taken Michael and Eddie to the Florida International Air Show again this year. They'll be gone all day as long as the weather cooperates.

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Guntown Mountain, y'all

We left Cave City, KY at 8am and arrived in Rensselaer at 1pm. The time zone fluctuated between Central and Eastern so my times are all Eastern.

We had time to run back to Sayler Makeever Cemetery to get the micro geocache hidden there, run some audio and take photos. It was cold and the wind made it worse, but the road was solid and the ground was firm enough. The cemetery is amazing.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery - Patrick Makeever

We got to McDonald's at the same time as my mother and she bought us lunch. She's also giving me $100 when she brings the boys back so I can make it home. I said I was short. I won't worry about getting home now but I look forward to losing some weight this week!

My room in Rensselaer, Indiana

The hotel I'm staying at is a small, family-run operation that's clean and reasonably priced. I'm across from the big cemetery and a mile down the road from Rensselaer's historic district. I didn't feel like doing anything today after I'd done the Sayler Makeever Cemetery. I want to rest and I'll get to waymarking and photography tomorrow after Mass. I have until Friday.

My mother is taking Michael and Eddie to see Horton Hears a Who and she's spoiling them as usual. I told them not to take advantage of my parents since my kids tend to ask for the moon and, being proper grandparents, my parents will give it to them. Their father should pick them up tomorrow at noon and drop them back to my parents' house on Friday at noon. Here's hoping it's all uneventful.

My father-in-law is a piece of work. That's all I'll really say about that since his huffing and puffing doesn't change anything, but it's just irritating. I'm thankful that Tom is handling all that now.

The totals for this leg of the trip:

Yesterday's total of hotel, food and fuel: $187

Today's expenses: food - $8, fuel - $25; Total travel expenses for today: $33

Total northbound trip: $220

My six-day hotel stay cost $285 and food will average $25. I've already eaten today at 0 cost, thanks to my mother.

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Yesterday, Michael, Eddie, Bailey and I geocached and had some fun with that. Our first DNF was a true DNF in that we couldn't find the nano. But it was a nano and unless they managed to hide the cache on the orange spot of the ladybug we spotted, we didn't find anything that could be a cache. Then, we found a regular cache in Butler Park, which was really fun for the kids. Our final DNF was because the whole area had been levelled and covered in construction equipment.

Michael, Bailey and I did some waymarks today until it was time for Bailey's CCD. Then, Michael and I took photos of the sanctuary while we waited. Bailey's class was being taught the Stations of the Cross this week so they came into the Church while we were in there to examine the art on the walls. I was very proud to watch Bailey and how she really does know all the answers and pay attention. The teacher had already told me that she was the best student, but it was very nice to see it in person.

While we were out waymarking, it was Bailey who spotted this little guy:

Baby gator

I really love that the kids have an interest in these hobbies and enjoy them just as much as we do.

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Eddie's 8th Birthday - the cake

Eddie turned eight on Saturday. He got his Transformers birthday party. The only part that wasn't covered in Transformers was the cake. The Transformers cake didn't come in ice cream so I opted to get him the most festive chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream with buttercream icing cake they make. Stepdaughter2 joined us this weekend and got to enjoy the party, too. We had chicken with cold salads for his birthday dinner. I think the kids' favourite part was the pinata. MIchael had knocked off a leg but it was the birthday boy who smashed it open. Here's some images from the party:

Eddie's 8th Birthday - presents

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Playing with the macro:

Taking portraits of the children who can sit still for a minute:

One picture of the child who cannot sit still for a second:

Ready for a nap

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