I Did It!

Drumroll, please.
I have officially begun the enrollment process for the AVTEC - Alaska's Institute of Technology- Professional Cooking and Baking program to begin August 20, 2012. At around 8:30 am or something insane like that. So, for all of you (a certain daughter or two) who though I would never do it. I did it!

So, you are the first to know. I am waiting for my official letter to inform me of the requirements to complete my enrollment. I have to take a test that shows I understand the English language and I can convert fractions to decimals. Thank heaven for my last job of converting student seminary attendance into percentages or my whole career could be over before it even got started!  That and all the homework I did with five children and a few years assisting elementary school children in math. So I hope I'm ok.  In case you've forgotten, you divide the top number by the bottom one.

Example:  3/4,  divide 3 by 4, equals 75%. It works every time.

WOOHOO!!!

PS! Don't you just love the hats!

The Cruise: Part 1

Here's my Dad in front of his house just as we were leaving to come home. But I wanted to show this picture first because Dad was the reason we came to Florida to come on the cruise. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented us being able to all go together this time. But we had a nice visit and a nice vacation. Dad will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 18th! Go Dad!

 I haven't mastered the new Blogger format so these pics are out of sequence. Will try harder next post. I thought there was a place to edit or rearrange but maybe I imagined that.

This is just off the coast of Grand Cayman. People rave about the Caymans. There are no taxes of any kind on the island because they make all their money from the licenses and permits they sell to the banks in order to have businesses in their country. It appears to be a win-win. You can have a passport to the Caymans if you can prove you have a job making 150K or more a year and own 350K in property on the island. I guess anybody who is anybody owns a condo in the Caymans. Or a hotel if you are Oprah or Donald Trump. I don't quite get it, but I imagine the location (it's just a hop, skip, and a jump from Florida) make it a quick getaway. And a good place to stash all your money! The ships harbor off the coast and we ride these little water taxi's called something I forgot to get to the shore.

 Once you get away from the dock there are many lovely hotels along the main road. And they drive on the left side of the road.

 The little dock where the water taxi's load and unload.

 Another view of the tourist area.

We spent the day at a nice resort called Tiki Beach. We enjoyed a private beach where you aren't bombarded to buy things from the locals, lovely weather, our own beach chairs and a free beverage. I guess they figure people will do anything for free alcohol. The water was warmer than Hawaii, which was nice for me. The Caymans are along a barrier reef so there is lots of coral and snorkeling.

 We really were there!

A typical store front in downtown. Oh, and there are more banks and jewelry stores than you can shake a stick at.

It might be worth a second trip to take some time and get the know the island a little better. Maybe we'd run into Sylvester Stallone or Jennifer Lopez!

Angels Come to Visit

Back in February, two little angels came to visit. This one is baby Lydia and doesn't have her wings yet.



 This one is Madeline and she does.

 But wearing them is such a chore.

 She much prefers the shades.

 And she leaves me treats in my danskos.

We love being able to see them so often.

Baking Day

Nothing like Baking Day to get the creative juices flowing. And to see how much cookie dough you can cram in your mouth before one of the big people notice!

 A work of art!

 The icing is at least as tasty as the dough!

 That snow man doesn't need those buttons! Here, let me help!

 Yum.

 The finished product and the fastest decorated cookies in history! Next time we will watch the time a little better so we aren't so close to nap time.

 A little help from Dad!

Very good!

I Say Brrrrr....It's Cold Up Here!

There are some phrases and words I can't say without stomping my feet and clapping my hands rhythmically and this is one of them. The hazards of being a cheerleader Mom. And I loved it! 

But let's get this over with! Yes we are having record cold and yes we are having record snow. But as soon as this blog post is published I will think of it no more! Except I will still admire the beauty of it all. 

THIS GUY hung around the back yard for about a week or so. Eating and dozing. I guess it's a good place to do those things if you are a moose! 

 The snow is actually much deeper but he is standing on the cleared bike trail.

 Last week I spent three days in Seward with Dick just sewing and avoiding real life and the drive was amazing. There were are no words to describe the beauty of the road. Too bad it was getting dark.

 Alaskans are funny folk!

 Our deck BEFORE the last big snow.

 Our street - sorry it was garbage day.

 Again, the snow berm before the last big snowfall.

 Lovely lights.

I only wish we could share of our abundance with those of you who are without!!!