Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Our Disney Week-end!

We had a great time at the Disney World Resort.  All of us loved staying on site.  Mark said that not having to drive the entire three days and fight the traffic was a great benefit of being a resort guest.


We arrived at 9 AM on Friday morning and the French Quarter had our room ready and waiting for us!  I was able to pay the balance on the room and buy our park passes right in the lobby of the hotel.  This was another great time saver at the parks!  After our luggage was unpacked, we caught the bus to MGM where we spent a blissful day!
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On the advise of some online friends, I had made dinner reservations at the Hollywood and Vine which included reserved seating for the Fantasmics.  The buffet dinner was scrumptious.  Mark and I were able to chill out for a bit with coffee and the boys checked out some of the area attractions.  We got to Fantasmics at 6:30 and obtained SUPER great seats.  The show was a blast!  


Saturday morning we ate breakfast at our resort and Mark and Michael went to see the Braves play Detroit.  The Braves lost.  Paul and I went to Downtown Disney where Paul found an magic store and bought Chinese sticks and a pack of cards.  He has been entertaining us and the neighborhood with his *magic*!  LOL  It had warmed up enough for Paul to swim.  While my little fish swam, I sat by the pool in capris and a light weight coat.  Looking around Disney, one KNOWS who the northerners are - they are the ones wearing shorts, flip flops and swimsuits tops!  Goodness, I was wearing a jacket most of the time.  I really wanted to cover some of these gals up and tell them, "It's chilly!"  The weather was perfect.  It wasn't hot but felt like a fall or spring day in Tennessee. 


Saturday evening, we celebrated Michael's birthday by heading over the to California Grill!!  Watching the Fireworks Celebration fifteen stories up was a wondrous sight!  Our waiter was attentive and he brought Michael out a huge piece of chocolate cake with a candle on it.  Our seats were perfect, I just had to turn my chair around during the show.  At 10 PM, the lights were slowly dimmed in the restuarant and familiar selections of Disney songs came floating through the air.  The amazing Firework Celebration started with the entire show being narrated by the voice of the Cricket.  All eyes were fixed in child-like wonder on the dark night skies which began to explode with brilliant colors!  Indeed, it was a magical fifteen minutes.


Sunday morning, we packed our bags and emptied our room of all the treasures we had bought. After tummies were filled with a light breakfast and LOTS of coffee for the adults, we headed over to the Magic Kingdom.  We rode or did 16 different things this day!  Our favorites were Peter Pan, Mickey's Philharmonic, Stitch, and Space Mountain.  The boys had started a pin collection on Saturday, so Paul had a ball trading with any and everyone!


We finally hit the road stopping for dinner at Cracker Barrel and made it home a little before midnight.  This was a vacation to remember. The family is already planning our next trip!  I made a believer out of Mark, who has always maintained that Disney wasn't worth the cost, time, or crowds.  All in all, we had a MAGICAL time!  GO DISNEY!!

Thursday, March 10, 2005

DISNEY WORLD - Here we come!?

Well, I have been trying to get us ready to go to Disney World in the morning; however, I think that I am getting sick. My head is about to come off. I have one small load of laundry left to do and then pack our little bags. The boys are really excited and I think that Mark is even a bit happy about the trip. He cannot stand crowds. He can be a booger bear at parks.

I was hoping to be ready by now, but I am moving kind of slow. LOL Sounds like the beginning of a song. I have bought Atlanta tickets for the two older guys to see a game for Michael's birthday. Paul and I will swim and just have some fun on Saturday. Tomorrow we go to MGM studios. Saturday we are having dessert at the California grill and watching the fireworks. Sunday, we are going to Epcot. We are staying at the French Quarter.

Well, I had better get off this computer and get to packing.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

My Day: March 9, 2005


Clay and Paul!  These boys are 8 days apart in age!  They hit it off great!
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Yesterday, Dana (DeeFL) and her four children came to visit us.  Dana is lovely and just full of joy.  Her children were so well behaved and sweet.  Paul told me that they were normal, nice, and FUN!  He was asking today when they were coming back down.  Dana and I ate brownies, held her new daughter, and visited.  Dana took Paul and me out for lunch at one of our Chinese restuarants.   She was great company and I enjoyed getting to know her.   I am hoping that we can arrange another visit soon. 


After they left, I had to teach piano.  All of my students came yesterday and we got their recital pieces picked out.  It is always a BIG relief for me when those are chosen and the children are working on their selections.  The recital is the week after Mother's Day this year.  I have to decide on what I am going to give the students at the recital.  I need to get the trophies chosen and ordered.


My last student came late and left late.  As soon as her mother got her, we went shopping to get the guys some new clothes for Disney World.  Paul told me that he needed new jeans and some shirts.  That kid has me wrapped around his finger.  Mark even bought himself some new casual slacks to wear.  I couldn't believe that he spent money on himself.  Michael picked out a few shirts and a pair a long jean shorts.


We came home and ate left-overs rather late.  ugh  Eating late is not a good way to lose weight. 


The Cotillion director called and wanted to know if Mark could film the classes on Sunday.  I reminded her that we would be AT Disney.  She then decided to share with me that she is RAISING the prices of the different classes.  I asked her what the cost of year two was NOW, and she told me $295.00!!  I cannot afford Cotillion if she continues to raise rates.  I called a friend, who has two daughters in Cotillion, and she told me that she is very concerned about the cost of Cotillion.  So, today, I have been looking into starting a local chapter.  We are having to drive out of town now to attend and our local parents are the ones doing all of the work! 


All in all, I had a really nice day.  I love it when God brings new people into my life!!


 







Tuesday, March 08, 2005

My precious guys!!
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My husband is a pastor and a middle school band director. He has been in the ministry for 30 years! We have been married for 25 years. I have known him since I was 14 years old. He is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY with an MCM. He is a leader in our local Boy Scout troop. He is the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church. We meet in our home right now because the building we were meeting in was knocked off its foundation during Charley.



My older son, Michael, is attending college and works at Wal-Mart. Michael is a wonderful artist and is finding out that he’s pretty gifted in math, too. His father and I are trying to talk him into majoring in math. He collects, trades, and sells baseball cards. He and his father have started working out in the local gym. He loves Sci-Fi and video games.



The little guy is Paul. He is 12 years old. He is home educated and goes to the middle school for band and reading lab. He is very active in Boy Scouts. He plays the drum and the piano. Paul is attending Cotillion this year and TRYING to learn some social graces. LOL He is Amer-Asian. We were extremely blessed and got him as a tiny guy when he was five weeks old.




But, the best thing about these wonderful men in my life is that they all love the Lord and seek to serve Him. They are giving and generous to others and live for Christ. They bring me great joy.




Monday, March 07, 2005

Starting to figure Things OUT!!!

I am so excited because I added a picture to my profile!

This blogging is totally new to me so it's going to take a while to figure it all out. Today is going to be a long and busy day. I start teaching private piano at 2:15 and work until nearly 6:00 PM. Tonight is Boy Scout night. I need to start cleaning this house and get ready for company tomorrow.

Blessings,
DebbieB

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Sunday, March 6

Well, I have no idea what I am doing! In fact, my plan wasn't to start a blog but just to comment on someone elses.

We had church today here at the house. Mark was barely able to speak so I led the worship and sang a solo and he saved his voice for preaching.

We went out for lunch. I picked my some piano books for my students and then we went to the mall. I ended up buying a few new outfits for Disney World.

I'll write more later!

Blessings,
Debbie B