Florida Part Two

My aunt, Sharla, and enjoyed the World's Showcase at Epcot. Did I mention before that I LOVED wearing sandals every day I was in Florida? Happy feet.

My last post mentioned that the airshow was canceled - tornado warnings happen, you know. But, surprise, later that day my aunt heard the jets, so we drove over to the Air Force base in time to see the Navy's Blue Angels perform an amazing show. The pictures aren't the greatest. I wish I'd had my SLR camera and lens instead of the little point-and-shoot. Also, the jets were a lot closer than they appear in the pics. Imagine seeing five or six blue jets flying at 400 - 600 miles per hour scarily-close together right over your head.

Sunday evening we went for a walk on the beach. Amazing sunset! How could anyone be atheist?

On beautiful, sunny Monday, my aunt and I drove their speed boat around the bay and out into the Gulf of Mexico. Green and blue are my favorite colors (though I like red a lot, too)! I loved driving the boat. I derived a simple joy of zig-zagging across the water and seeing the shape of the wake behind us. My aunt says Pedro and I should get a boat because I'm a "natural". Who knew? I did keep my speed under control for the baby's sake. We watched birds comokasi dive into the water for a fishy breakfast. And, we saw a dolphin - such beautiful creatures. To top it off, I got a sunburn on my left arm. My Minnesota friends will be so jealous. j/k I must have put sunscreen on my right arm twice. I blame it on the pregnancy - not my baby, but the pregnancy.

Even a rainy day in Florida is fabulous because, hey, it's Florida

I am treating myself to a quick trip out of the frozen Northland to visit an aunt in Florida. We enjoyed an amazingly perfect, sunny day at Epcot on Thursday. I loved the Canadian Celtic rock band "Off Kilter." My growing baby boy joyfully devoured a Norwegian sandwich. (I like to attribute any extreme or unstable physical or emotional states of being to my sweet little fetus.) As a pregnant lady, I couldn't ride all the rides, but we had a great time walking around the World's Showcase and analyzing Disney's political/cultural agenda.

Now, in northern Florida near an Air Force base, my aunt feels bad because they cancelled the airshow due to a tornado/storm warning. But, I can't be too disappointed because even though the rain is pouring down, I'm just happy to be out of 0* coldness.

Also, my tummy popped out this week, so my pants are a little too tight for comfort. We went on a successful, little shopping trip so now I don't have to walk around with the top button undone.

It's a boy!!!

Flip-flops should be considered "professional attire" when it hits 60* in Minnesota

I think I've made my point. After enduring such a cold winter (and there is more to come from what I hear), we deserve to wear sandals to work.

WAHOO!!!!! ------------- 60*

Our little Puga will be a soccer player

This week I felt our baby move! Yes, we are going to have a baby in August. Very Exciting!!! S/he even gave a really strong kick, the strongest I've ever felt, to say hi to his/her daddy when Pedro had his hand on my tummy. Daddy was very excited. I can't wait for the ultrasound to see our little Puga and hopefully to find out if s/he will be a Pedro Jr. or a beautiful little girl.

What's special about today?

February 19 is just another blank box on my calendar. It comes after Valentine's Day, the anniversary of making covenants in the temple and my birthday - days that I definitely remember, days that were fabulous.

In history, February 19 was a pretty important day for some people. The Donner Party was rescued in 1847. President Roosevelt signed the executive order to allow Japanese internment camps in 1942. William Schroeder was the first patient to leave the hospital after receiving an artificial heart transplant in 1985.

So, what is special about today? Well, I may not feel as grateful to the depth that the Donner Party or Mr. Schroeder and his family probably felt, but I am grateful.

I have a wonderful husband who loves me deeply and shows me his love, not just on Valentine's Day or on my birthday, but everyday, even February 19.

the Chatterbox Pub

Pedro and I enjoyed a fun date night at a local restaurant popular for its family-friendly atmosphere, good food and creative entertainment. Before asking us if we wanted anything to drink, the host asked us what we wanted to play. They have dozens of board games you can choose from to play right at your table as you eat. So, with a strawberry lemonade, a rootbeer, a quesadilla and berry berry crepes, we began an exciting game of Battleship.

It was the luckiest and most intense game of Battleship I've ever played. I hit a ship every random guess until I sunk four of Pedro's five ships. Then, he started catching up. There were only three or four places left where his ship could have been when he found my last ship of two hits. But, then I found his last ship of three. YES! I still had hope if he didn't guess the direction right off . He didn't. One more to go on his . . . Then E8 sunk my last ship. With a grin, he said, "You win." At my confused look, he said, "Actually, you won a long time ago."

This husband of mine is such a tease. Every time I had hit his last ship, he moved it to a different place so the game would last longer.

A jolly holiday to rival Mary Poppins

We enjoyed real treat yesterday: a lovely 36* sunny afternoon. It was so beautiful and so warm, it would have been a crime not to take advantage of the blessing. So, we ditched the idea of deep cleaning our apartment or doing homework, threw on jackets and went for a walk in the park.

Como Park, about a mile away from our place, boasts a free zoo and conservatory, a lake and lots of walking/biking paths. The park was probably the most crowded it has been since the summer time. Everyone took advantage of the nice weather.

We had a jolly good time walking around the lake, breathing in the fresh air and getting a little exercise. We decided to check out the zoo, where we saw monkeys, lions, a tiger, a snow leopard, zebras, giraffes and sea lions. Nostalgia swept over me when I smelled the wax animal models I remember from Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake when I was a kid.

So, our apartment still needs a little cleaning and Pedro still has some homework to get done before class tomorrow, but we had a jolly little holiday in the park - one to rival Mary Poppins.

Hmmm, maybe she could come tidy up a bit - her style.