Nicole was so fast we couldn't even get a picture of her!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wii Love it!
Dad and Mom gave us a Wii while they were here for Thanksgiving - an early Christmas gift. We are having so much fun playing it, and we especially love all of the Wii Fit games. We had our friend Nicole over for a Nicaragua reunion/Christmas party and had a blast playing Wii until the wee hours of the morning. Isn't my husband just the cutest:)
Nicole was so fast we couldn't even get a picture of her!
Nicole was so fast we couldn't even get a picture of her!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
'tis the season!
We hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving and are getting your holiday season off to a great start! We had a fantastic turkey day with my parents and grandparents - Grandma Betty and Mom ended up doing most of the cooking so everything turned out delicious! We are still enjoying the leftovers...and probably will be for the rest of the week. Roger actually got another turkey at work so we are going to have to make another turkey dinner soon..anyone going to be in Miami soon to help me cook???
As you can see, our guests also helped us decorate for Christmas...we found a perfect spot for a tree between the desk and the TV and just in from of the surf board. I wanted to get a smaller tree but Dad just wouldn't have it...thanks Dad, I think it worked out quite nice! Despite all the Christmas cheer in our apartment, it just never feels like Christmas to me until I see snow, so we are counting down the days until we go to Colorado to celebrate a White Christmas...hope to see many of you then! 
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thanksgiving
I can hardly believe it, but Thanksgiving is just 5 days away! Roger and I are so excited to have company coming in to celebrate with us...my parents and grandparents are coming all the way to Miami from Colorado and Nebraska!!! If you remember, last year we had the pleasure of sharing Thanksgiving with Roger's family in Nicaragua and they really enjoyed the American holiday. But, I didn't get to cook turkey, I had to substitute it with chicken, so Roger's first turkey experience was last Christmas in Colorado. He is really looking forward to another turkey, just check out that smile, but I think he is a little worried that I don't know how to cook it because he has asked me several times "Are you sure you know how to cook a turkey?". Let's hope it all turns out well...we'll post more pictures next week. Happy thanksgiving all - we are so thankful for your friendship!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween in the city cont...
Here we are in costume...if you need a little help think of Flipper! Roger was not into the idea of wearing a costume but since we were going to a costume party we had to do something. We ended up going as a Dolphin Trainer and a Dolphin...double meaning, which was a big hit here in Miami:)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Halloween in the city
Since this is Roger's first Halloween in the USA, I thought he should experience the tradition of pumpkin carving. Surprisingly enough, we spotted a makeshift "pumpkin patch" just a few blocks away and were able to go pick out our very own overpriced pumpkin in the middle of the city! Roger was in charge of cleaning out the pumpkin - he did a great job! You never would have known it was his first time. I was in charge of the design - I guess it's not the most original jack-o-lantern ever, but he sure does make you want to smile:) We aren't allowed to have any decorations outside our apartment so Jack is going to hang out on our coffee table until Halloween - hopefully he doesn't get too stinky before then because we're planning on breaking the rules for one night and putting Jack out with a cute little sign that leads our neighbors to come trick-or-treat at our place (an effort to make some new friends, something that we are finding a bit challenging in the city). We wish you all a safe and happy Halloween!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
50 Things to do before you die
An adventure-loving friend of mine lead me to this article on TravelersNotebook.com - I have done 12 (#s 4, 6, 13, 15, 16, 7, 21, 29, 30, 32, 41, 43)....38 more to go! Looks like Europe would be a great place to go next to cross a few more off the list. How are you all doing???
50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the
jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues?
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process.
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves.
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano.
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating.
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime.
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry.
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere.
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important.
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway.
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran)
50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the
jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues?
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process.
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves.
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano.
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating.
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime.
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry.
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere.
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important.
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway.
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran)
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The Great Grove Bed Race
Our new neighborhood is famous for 2 annual events: The Arts Festival and The Great Grove Bed Race. We have been anxiously waiting for the Bed Race and today we finally got to see what it is all about. In this case, a picture is really worth a thousand words - I will also include the race rules since they pretty much explain it all.
Rules:
1) Each team must have 5 people to a team (4 runners, 1 rider)
2) Rider must wear helmet
3) Race course and all info will be given at the Captain’s Meeting.
4) Two beds will race at once for a time trial. Top 8 times go head to head drag racing for the championship.
5) All beds must be decorated (keep in mind there is a contest for best decorated)
6) Anyone may design and decorate the beds, not just team members.
7) Any size wheels are permitted
8) No breaking devices allowed
9) No steering devices allowed
10) Pushing the bed only during the race, no pulling
11) All 5 team members must pass finish line in order to win
12) Judges decision is final on race times and on bed construction, which must adhere to all rules and regulations
stated below under bed construction. All beds will be inspected by judges prior to the races. The judges have
final word in all matters pertaining to the race and reserve the right to disqualify or penalize a team at any time.
Bed construction:
1) Twin bed size only. Mattress must be part of design and design must mimic a bed with headboard and footboard
Headboard should be 4’ w x 2’ h.
2) Beds must have minimum of four wheels one in each corner, all must touch the ground, wheels can be any size
3) Beds can be decorated in any way but must have a headboard and footboard as part of the design – be creative!
4) Bed can not have any means of propulsion other than the team pushing it. No motors. No steering mechanism.
Human power only. No breaks.
5) Bed may have push bars not exceeding the width of the bed. Nothing may stick out on sides.
6) Any violations in bed design will have penalties (team starts 3 seconds late per violation). Beds that are not
constructed according to the rules will be required to be modified to adhere to the rules.
7) Participants are encouraged to dress along with the bed theme decoration to win prizes
8) No sharp items, glass or obscene items on beds. Beds will be disqualified for any of these violations.
We're putting a team together for next year - anyone interested???
Rules:
1) Each team must have 5 people to a team (4 runners, 1 rider)
2) Rider must wear helmet
3) Race course and all info will be given at the Captain’s Meeting.
4) Two beds will race at once for a time trial. Top 8 times go head to head drag racing for the championship.
5) All beds must be decorated (keep in mind there is a contest for best decorated)
6) Anyone may design and decorate the beds, not just team members.
7) Any size wheels are permitted
8) No breaking devices allowed
9) No steering devices allowed
10) Pushing the bed only during the race, no pulling
11) All 5 team members must pass finish line in order to win
12) Judges decision is final on race times and on bed construction, which must adhere to all rules and regulations
stated below under bed construction. All beds will be inspected by judges prior to the races. The judges have
final word in all matters pertaining to the race and reserve the right to disqualify or penalize a team at any time.
Bed construction:
1) Twin bed size only. Mattress must be part of design and design must mimic a bed with headboard and footboard
Headboard should be 4’ w x 2’ h.
2) Beds must have minimum of four wheels one in each corner, all must touch the ground, wheels can be any size
3) Beds can be decorated in any way but must have a headboard and footboard as part of the design – be creative!
4) Bed can not have any means of propulsion other than the team pushing it. No motors. No steering mechanism.
Human power only. No breaks.
5) Bed may have push bars not exceeding the width of the bed. Nothing may stick out on sides.
6) Any violations in bed design will have penalties (team starts 3 seconds late per violation). Beds that are not
constructed according to the rules will be required to be modified to adhere to the rules.
7) Participants are encouraged to dress along with the bed theme decoration to win prizes
8) No sharp items, glass or obscene items on beds. Beds will be disqualified for any of these violations.
We're putting a team together for next year - anyone interested???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
