Vacation Pics!

Our cruise was wonderful! It was so relaxing to just walk around the ship, sit on the deck, take naps, be served by others, not have to cook, etc.

Day one - just arrived - yes, it is very windy!

Sunset on the first day.

The ship had a Las Vegas flare to it. This is the atrium.

The view from the ship was overwhelmingly spectacular.

There were many places on the ship were we could just sit in the window and enjoy the view - and cuddle!

Our stateroom was neat and cozy, and the steward kept it super clean.

Each night, the steward made an animal out of our clean towels.

For dinner, we were assigned to sit at a table with a great group of young couples.

This was the night of the Captain's party - formal night.
Our server discovered it was our ten year anniversary, and he got some other servers together and sang to us - quite embarrassing.
Then he covered our faces with a napkin and had us kiss - even more embarrassing!
Then he folded the napkin and gave Roy Madonna boobs - beyond embarrassing!
And then devil horns - finally, the truth is told!

It was a fun night, but boy were we tired!

One night they had a special midnight buffet which included ice carvings and fruit and/or vegetable carvings and designs. Here are two of my favorites:

The ship had a coffee shop that sold desserts - fabulous and cheap - only $2 per slice. That's cheaper than Starbucks!

All products on the ship are tax and duty free, which meant we could buy lots of alcohol - we brought home 9 liters! This one is my new favorite. It is not sold in the US. It is coffee liqueur on one side and vanilla liqueur on the other. When you pour it out, it swirls together. Soooo yummy!

Roy bought me a tanzanite ring for our anniversary while we were on the ship! It is white gold and has diamonds on each side of the oval gemstone. It never leaves my finger!

We spent a day in Cozumel, Mexico. This is a view of our ship (Carnival Ecstasy) from the port.

We ate at the popular Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Cozumel.

We drank mango margaritas and watched others party hard and get free tequila shots for dancing in a line (is that called a Conga?) Yes, we only watched ... we were not brave enough or stupid enough to join in.

I ate volcano nachos!

(Will have to fix the size of this pic later. I'm such an amateur!)

We went snorkeling for about an hour and a half. It was so much fun! I could snorkel for hours!

On a scale of one to ten, I would say our cruise experience was a nine. The ship's crew was outstanding, the environment was fun and relaxing, and the time we spent together was much needed. I am sure we will cruise again.

Changes

Tomorrow is Roy's last day at his job, then on Thursday we leave for our cruise! I am sooo excited, but of course I am obsessing about planning and all. Roy actually told me the reason he didn't make his last day of work today was because he wanted to be away from me the day before the trip because he knew I would be obsessing! I guess after ten year he knows me well, though I am trying not to obsess too much -- out loud, at least. I was able to find a really cute swim suit today that looks really cute on me, and with my small top and big bottom that's not an easy task. I can't wait to wear it on the beach. After the cruise, we will be home for a day and then head to Ponca City for a week. Then on the 5th of July, Roy starts his PhD program at Baylor. He still doesn't know what job he has yet at the school, but it won't be more than 15hrs a week, so that will be quite a change. We won't know what to do with all that together time. Cleo and I are used to hanging out in the living room while Roy is in his office studying. By the way, the other day I was taking pics of Cleo to put on my new pink cell phone (so cute and girlie!), and after I had taken about four, she moaned and put her paw over her face and started whining! She was tired of having her picture taken, I guess. It was too funny! So much personality, so little dog.

Yum, Yum, Ribs!

I have been quite the Lazy Daisy these days. Last week I slept in each day until about 8a or so, then ate breakfast, and then watched lots of HGTV while Cleo slept on my lap ... and I must admit, I slept off and on, too. I did manage to get the baseboards painted in the kitchen, and started on the trim, but I burned out quickly. I told Roy that I guess I can no longer write on my resume that I have "follow through" because when it comes to painting trim, I just don't.

Today Roy and I have been lazy together, which is nice. I did grill ribs, and they were so beautiful, I had to take these pics for my blog.

So now we've eaten, I've done some laundry and dishes, and we have been watching hours of HGTV, and now are watching Dirty Jobs. Cable is soooo not good for us!

Pics from Mom's Visit

Below are some pics my mom sent from her visit with us.

Seriously, how many pictures can you take of me?

Whenever I bring home groceries or anything in a bag, Cleo thinks she has to snoop around to try and find a "present" for herself.

Three generations of cuties!

I love my momma; she thinks I am human! Boy do I have her wrapped around my finger ... I mean, paw.

News is News

I just read my friend Melissa's blog, and she was telling all about her boys and potty training, and I realized the most exciting things I ever have to post are about my garden and my dog! Well, news is news...

I spent several hours this week digging out the dirt from inside this garden box (that's what I call it; not sure what the actual name is - and I call myself a gardener!), then putting in new soil, a plastic sheeting to keep out weeds (don't know what that's officially called either - geez), and then transplanting monkey grass, planting begonias, and putting mulch on top. Whew! It was hard work. When Roy saw the finished product he mentioned how it was sparsely planted, but hey, I didn't want to spend a fortune on flowers. (Oh, and yes. The mulch IS two different colors - didn't want to spend a fortune on that either, so I just used leftovers.)

This hibiscus tree was given to me by my friend Staci for my 30th birthday. The flowers are so pretty!
Interesting things are growing beneath my rose bush. I believe they're pumpkins! I used compost from school when I planted my rose bush, and a pumpkin had been put into the compost heap earlier in the year ... apparently I got some pumpkin seeds with my compost because this vine is growing and blooming and spreading. I am just going to let it go and see what it does.
Now see, don't I have an interesting life? LOL

Grandma's Here!

Last Friday my mom came and visited us. I was glad not only to spend time with her, but to have her with me while Roy had his endoscopy. (The doctor said everything looked okay; we have to call Friday for the official results.) Mom and I spent lots of time shopping (five hours in one day!). It was loads of fun. I had to take her back to the airport today. You're welcome anytime, Mom. :)

Cleo adored mom! Each morning Cleo would go into mom's room, look up on the bed, and start crying to wake her up. It was too cute.

Cleo and mom played a lot!
Today, mom and I ate at the Elite Grill before leaving for the airport. They have the coolest chicken cashew salad - it's in a pineapple! I got the waitress to take our pic. Don't I look just like my mom?
Here's the salad. Nice manicure, mom! (Wonder who did that for you? LOL)
Now that school is out, I hope to finish my kitchen (no, it's not done yet!), clean my house, visit with friends, play with my puppy, exercise and lose weight, and take naps! What a plan.

Worms and Noses

Tonight I made a worm cake for my class. We have had a real worm bin in my room this semester, so I thought it would be fun for the kids to eat a worm cake tomorrow for our class party. It's a chocolate cake w/chocolate icing, then a layer of chocolate pudding, then crushed Oreo-type cookies, and gummie worms on the top. Too fun!

Close up

Pretty nappy pic of myself, but I just took it to put on my Yahoo Messenger account - debgarton. (Boy, I really DO have a big nose!)

The Princess Is Three!

My niece, "Princess," just turned three! Where does the time go? Here are some pics from her special day...

Before (in curlers)

After (such a cutie)

My handsome nephew

I only have two school days left, and boy am I glad! I don't think any of us teachers have any more patience and the students lost their control a week or two ago ... I am feeling really stressed right now with school and home repairs. I normally don't stress about finances, but it's been on my mind a lot lately. Almost like it could become an overwhelming fear if I let it. I suppose I need to have a good crying/praying time to just let it go. I think I am a super hero sometimes and can handle everything...

Ants, Ants, Go Away

We have carpenter ants!!!!! The two trees in the front of our yard are the worst, our pest control guy said, but we have them in several places. He treated them ($270!), and he will come back on the 6th of June to check again. Problem is our next door neighbors have them too, along with termites, in their two front trees which are dead. If they don't treat them, we will just keep getting them no matter how many times we have them treated. The neighbors' house is for sale, and I am hoping someone will buy it soon and fix the problem, but that's not likely. It is a fixer-upper on the inside from what we hear, and no one seems interested in buying it. It's cute on the outside, it but needs updating. Anyone want to be our neighbor?

Random Things

The post office worker may have been an ignoramus, but the government is awesome! I got my passport after only two weeks!!!!!!! I was so excited that I almost cried. At least now I can for sure get on that ship in June! (And get back to America!)

My roses just bloomed this week! It is so fun to have plants...bushes...whatever they are :)

I think this one would be pretty in black and white ... I must get my picture taking ability from my mom!

I asked Cleo if she wanted momma to take her picture, and she came over to me wagging her tail. So this one's her pose.

We spent this morning working outside. Roy had to wash off egg that had been baked onto our house. (Yes, I know a stove is more practical for frying eggs, but I just couldn't resist.) Then he fixed a part of our roof and cleaned the gutter. I planted some new flowers right beside my vegetable garden, hoping to draw some bees to pollinate my squash. I haven't seen a single bee in our yard. Afterward we mowed and edged the lawn, trimmed some branches, watered the lawn, and turned the dirt in the horseshoe pits. Whew! What a morning! Why I am sitting here typing? ... I need to go eat and nap!