Let the training begin!

Getting back into the swing of being back home. Spent the last 2 days getting caught up on laundry and Oprah! LOL! Also getting back into the workouts...ran a little over 2 miles this morning on the treadmill and followed it up with 45 minutes of resistance training. Felt great! I actually think I have Papa smurf talked into training with me. HE brought it up...not me! Good sign! He won't commit to the full marathon and unfortunately the 1/2 marathon isn't an option at Chicago...so he's just going to train with me...as much as he can....it's not easy with his work schedule so he'll just do what he has time for. I'm excited! Now if I can just get Tom out there with me too....

I'm sad to say that my Great Aunt Mary (my grandma's sister) lost her battle with Leukemia this past Sunday. Her enthusiasm for life and bright spirit will be missed. Papa Smurf also recently found out that a good friend of his and former employee from his MSX days was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. She's young...in her 40s...i think....not that her age matters in the least but just showing how this disease does not discriminate. When I decided to run another marathon I decided not to sign up through TNT this time around....didn't want to commit to raising a specific amount...which for the Chicago marathon would have been significantly higher minimum donation than the Detroit marathon was. I felt funny hitting up family and friends 2 years in a row...I think though that I will set my own goal for raising donations on my own for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society....not the TNT group....this way I know that 100% of the donations will benefit the society. We'll do the same thing we did last year and match donations up to $1000.00.

It seems we can't get enough of Dr. Basch (the foot doctor)....had to make an appointment for this afternoon for Dreamy Smurf...his big toe hurts...lol....his big toe has been hurting him for over a week now...hopefully it's nothing!

We're back. So sad. Vacation is over. Have I mentioned I hate Michigan? So I'll recap our last couple days....

Thursday.....The second day at the Kids Escape went pretty much as expected...they hated it...to be honest I think they kinda enjoyed it but at this point there was no way in hell we'd get them to admit it. Smurfette admitted to making a couple friends...and Hefty Smurf was able to get on a computer...& Dreamy Smurf was just too tired to comment. BUT....Papa Smurf & I had a great time! We went straight to the casino...1st stop...the slots! I put a 20 into the same machine that hubby hit on the previous night and won $155!!! Yeah! Took that $155 and played all night long (well, for 4 hours anyway....because at 10pm we turn into pumpkins) on the black jack table! Even walked away with $75 of it! It was a great night for us.

Friday....Anthony's Grill for breakfast...again....Then we came back and did a little packing and a little bit of relaxing until it was time for the Dolphin Swim. Which really was more of a Dolphin "pet" than a Dolphin "swim"...but the kids had fun and enjoyed it. Smurfette was afraid to kiss the dolphin. But she participated in the rest of it. Papa Smurf stood on the side lines and took pictures. We got to meet the 8 month old dolphin baby...Smurfette enjoyed that. When it was over we took a taxi to the fish fry. My only complaint about this trip is the food. It's just not that good. And for what we're paying for it...I guess I was at least hoping to enjoy it....not so much. Even the food at the fish fry was a bit of a disappointment. After our dinner we went into town to do some shopping only to discover that all the shops close up by 5:30. We walked through the "straw market" as they were closing up to get some t-shirts and hats for the kids.

And that was it. We came back to the hotel and packed. Anticlimactic end to a fabulous vacation. Papa smurf and I spent a good part of the evening on the balcony soaking in the heat and the background tropic sounds of the ocean and reggae music...ho hum. This is the first vacation that we've ever taken that I wasn't ready at the end of the trip to come home. We've all decided we're gonna move there...Papa Smurf's gonna quit his job and we'll move into a little shack on the water...just kidding. As fabulous as the trip was...I don't think I could live there...my allergies were horrible all week. I guess that's my 2nd complaint about the trip. The rooms were not very impressive. You already heard about our first room. They must have prepared our new room with air fresheners before we got there because by the end of the next day it started smelling just as bad as the first one. The kids' room had a leaky air conditioner that dripped all night long...I'm wondering if the damp carpet from the leaky air conditioner wasn't the cause of the musty odor. Anyway...the mustiness of the rooms killed me...next time we take this trip we'll be sleeping in better rooms. I unpacked the suitcases last night to get started on the laundry and that same musty odor has infiltrated all our clothes.

So back to reality. We've decided that the reason this vacation was so incredible is because it's the 1st vacation we've taken in the middle of our winter. Our 1st February vacation. So, we've decided to repeat this trip yearly...not necessarily to the Bahamas but at least a warm destination. We've already decided on the Disney Cruise for next February.

Less than 2 days left

Another gorgeous day...the hotest one yet...not a cloud in the sky. Spent the day at yet another pool area...the consensis is that this was our favorite pool area. Spent 4 hours there and Hefty and Dreamy Smurf went on some more water slides but we all had to call it quits early as Hefty and Papa Smurf have sun poison bumps all over their upper bodies. I guess there is such thing as TOO much sun.

So now we're gonna chill in our room for awhile and get washed up for dinner before dumping...I mean dropping off....the kids at the kids' escape for another night of fun at the casino....we've continued hearing the complaints about the kids escape all day...."they fed us stale pretzels.....they only gave us 1/2 cup of water......we couldn't use the bathroom except for designated bathroom breaks".....to be honest, and in all fairness to the kids.... it really does sound like a poorly run kids program....but, damn it, I want some adult time!

Tomorrow is our dolphin day and then we still hope to make it down town for the "fish fry" for dinner. HO-HUM....it's almost over....only 1 more day left before returning to cold snowy dreary MI. We've decided we want to retire and live on one of these huge yachts that are down on the boat docks....one can dream....last night I was playing black jack next to a guy that is down here for a month. He's a boat captain for 4 of those said yachts. Maybe that's what we should do...quit Dan's job and learn how to captain someone elses boat.

Feel'n lucky!

We got our first torential downpours late last night...woke up this morning to more of the same. So we went down to the continental buffet for a quick breakfast....4 muffins, 1 danish, 1 donut, 1 yogurt, 1 cereal, 3 milks, 2 coffees......= $65.00.....O....M....G....!!!! This will be my first vacation ever that I actually LOST weight...a bag of fritoes at the convenience shop....$8.99....JESUS! We had planned on taking a taxi over to the shopping district and "Fish Fry" but the black clouds didn't look promising. So after breakfast we went for another walk throught the resort and over to the Dolphin Cay where we'll be going on Friday and by the time we returned to our room the drizzle had stopped so we decided to spend another day at the pool instead. Went to the kiddie playground pool for Smurfette and the boys all went for a few rides down the water slides...even Dreamy Smurf braved a few of them. The day was VERY windy and mostly cloudy...by 3pm we were cold and water logged. We loaded everyone down with sunscreen before we left but forgot Hefty's face and he is now fried....the sun got through those clouds anyway. Went to an early dinner at the "Shell Top" outdoor restaurant and then back to the hotel to clean up. Papa Smurf and I signed the kids up for the kids' "evening escape". Smurfette didn't want to go and had to be pryed from my leg with Hefty's assistance. Papa Smurf & I went to the casino....I told him I was feeling lucky and we'd win enough to pay for our evening out....first slot Papa Smurf went to he hit for over $500.....oh BABY! Spent the entire night playing black jack on his winnings and had a blast! Came out $100 ahead even AFTER you take into account the cost of the day care! YEAY! Picked up the kids at 10 and lets just say....the kids' escape was a bust....they did NOT enjoy it at all. So...the following conversation took place while tucking them into bed....

me: "you know guys....you have to make the best of the situation....you're going back tomorrow night because after all we've done for you during this trip we'd like some alone time"

them: "they don't have xbox like they said and the line to play WII was too long....they wouldn't give us water....they were giving kids "time outs" for talking during the movie"....(the complaint list went on for quite awhile)

me:...I don't think it's too much to ask. If you go there tomorrow with a bad attitude then you WONT have fun...try to make the most of it. We'll send you next time with your own bottled water..... You want to go swim with the dolphins?.....then please do this for us...."

them:....fine

I then tucked them in for the night in their room....closed the door between the adjoining rooms and said to Papa Smurf "well....looks like the "kids escape" was a bust"....Papa Smurf's reply?....a good old fashioned fist in the crook of his opposite elbow and a hardy "SCREW'EM"....there goes this years "parent of the year" award....we had high hopes...

Can I say again...my kids have been great all week....but if I hear one more argument over who gets to push the buttons on the elevator I'll go mad! It's gotten so bad that Papa Smurf and I have actually had to forbid ANY of the kids from pushing any elevator buttons...Papa Smurf and I are now the official "elevator button operators"....sad...I know!

Day 4

The best day yet...spent the entire day at an inland beach area. The kids spent the day playing in the sand, swimming, and snorkeling. It was very shallow and so I was relaxed and enjoying my quiet time under a canopied lounge chair with a Long Island in one hand and my book "Eat, Pray, Love" in the other (excellent book by the way). I sat there watching my kids....Dreamy Smurf chasing sea gulls, Smurfette building a sand castle, and Hefty Smurf....well, just being Hefty Smurf and marveled at how much they have and how lucky they are. I'm feeling a little nastalgic...or maybe sentimental is a better word.... here....bare with me....but then again maybe it was just the Long Island talking. Papa Smurf and I were commenting on how awesome the kids have been all week...they've been playing so nice together. And with Smurfette being sick she's been awesome....going along with everything without complaint...well...with the exception of her multiple boo-boos on her feet...new sandals aren't agreeing with her feet.

So we're back at the hotel room washing up and getting ready for our dinner. We plan to take a taxi into the nassau shopping district tomorrow and eating an early dinner at the "Fish Fry" (our taxi driver from the airport, Dee-Dee, told us this was the place to go. We found out there's no Kid's Escape tonight so that'll hopefully be tomorrow night's plan. Probably better that way anyhoo since Smurfette woke up with 100.7 degree fever again this morning....ugh! Signing off for now.....

First 3 days in paradise

Today is day 3 of our trip to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. In short, this is the best family vacation we've ever taken! We had a rocky start. Our first 24 hours here were a little disappointing but things have improved drastically since.

DAY 1

We arrived at the airport here at a little after 1pm on Saturday and it took us almost 3 hours to get back to our hotel....an hour to get through customs and another hour to find our luggage and a transfer to the hotel. So by the time we got settled in our room we were all very travel weary and a little (to say the least) tired. So all we had the energy for was to grab a bite down on the boat docks village at Johny Rockets. Our bill was nearly $90 for burgers and salads....OMG! We roamed the resort a bit to see what all we had to look forward to and then called it a day by 7pm. But let me back track. We got to the hotel and received our adjoining rooms on the first floor right off the main lobby...which translates to "noisy". The second we walked through the doors of our rooms we were hit with the overwhelming stench of mold/mildew. It was bad! Real bad! But I thought...well, we're in the Bahamas...it's humid here...moisture must be a problem. I remember being in Venice with my Grandparents back when I was 16 and was overwhelmed with the same odor...I didn't want to be that same complaining 16 year old...so we tried to suck it up. We didn't have remote controls in EITHER room. Called the service desk and it took 4 hours to get remotes to our room....it was 10:30 when they came pounding on the door to deliver....we were all asleep by then (or in bed anyway). Papa Smurf stumbled in the dark to get some clothes on to answer the door. But then trying to sleep was a nightmare because we were off the main lobby and listened all night long to the loud drunks roaming the hotel lobby in the weee hours of night...needless to say sleeping was difficult. Then, I woke up in the morning and my eyes were so bloodshot I was convinced I had pink eye and started to panic wondering what I would do for medical treatment. Turns out, it was just my allergies because of the mold problem in the room. Then, we try to make coffee and NEITHER room has a coffee machine. We had the coffee and creamers....but no coffee maker.....I started having flashbacks to our trip to Philly. Anyway...We were a tad disappointed in our stay thus far...I figured after the amount of money we spent on this vacation it was not unreasonable to expect a blissful experience....show me the bliss!! So we complained and asked for a new room.

Day 2

Went to the breakfast buffet in our hotel....$100 later....I was force-feeding my daughter her froot loops...that's all she'd eat....we paid $20 for her plate to the buffet and all she'd eat was a bowl of frootloops...she took 5 bites and claimed to be full! Most expensive damn bowl of cereal she'll ever eat. I spent the whole 1st 2 days comparison shopping...."Jesus, I could of bought 7 boxes of cereal for that $20"......or, in reguards to the $15 kiddie burger that Smurfette took 2 bites of at Johnny Rockets...."I could've bought 7 McDonald's kids meals for that". Since those 1st 2 meals that we purchased here on the Island we have learned to "let it go"...it is what it is....it's killing me....but it is what it is. We've learned not to look at the prices. Day 2 was a blast...this resort is incredible! I've never experienced anything like it. We'll spend a week here and probably still not see everything. It's huge! Theres at least 2 dozen pools and a dozen water slides. The kids spent most of the day on the beach. They just kept repeating..."this is incredible"....Papa and Hefty Smurfs went on a few of the water slides...We spent some time in a few of the pools...we all got WAY too much sun. We were all pretty water logged by the end of the day. Somewhere in there Papa Smurf returned to the hotel while we were at the beach to move our stuff to our new room. Went to Dinner at a Mexican/seafood place down on the boat docks. Food was OK...nothing to write home about....and like I said, I've learned not to ask what it costs. Did some more exploring of the resort and then called it a night by 7:30. We were all whipped from the day at the beach. Our new room.... by the way......MUCH better! We were in a much better place by the end of day 2 than we were after day 1. The rooms are still just "OK" but the resort itself more than makes up for the mediocrity of the accommodations! Also looked into the "Evening Escape" for the kids....it should be called the "parent's escape".....so that Papa Smurf and I can have some alone time one night....or two....

DAY 3

Woke up after a VERY restful night's sleep =) and went outside of the resort for breakfast...much more reasonable in price...Smurfette's 5 bites of FrootLoops only costed $5 instead of $20...OK, so maybe I haven't "let it go" entirely....me and Papa Smurf are completely fried from the sun but we spent another entire day in the pools and lazy rivers. Even talked Smurfette into taking a ride on the "rapid river"....probably not the best idea...she didn't enjoy it much. In fact she spent the entire mile and a half of "rapids" clutched to my legs in the intertube. Poor thing has been miserable since we got here with the same nasty cold I had. In fact, the day before we left she started complaining of a sore throat and I paniced thinking she probably had the same strep throat that I had and so 5 minutes before the doctors' office closed on Friday night I was calling and begging them to call in a prescription antibiotic to the pharmacy. I explained my predicament that we were leaving 1st thing in the morning for a week long vacation and my daughter was complaining of a sore throat...blah blah blah....and they did...thank god. But anyway, she has been pretty sick with this cold...but has been quite a trouper concidering! Papa Smurf & I were going to ship the kids off to this kids' camp thing tonight but when we got back to the room we discovered that she has a fever. She's pretty pathetic...so we put our plans on hold and decided to give her another day to get better. She was laying in bed earlier this evening and Papa Smurf went up to her and said:

Papa: OK honey you just lay there and rest....can I get you anything
Smurfette: yes...(with that pathetic sick look in her eyes)
Papa: OK...what can I get you?
Smurfette: ummmm.......i don't know.....

I thought that was pretty funny. We also made reservations for Friday to swim with the Dolphins....we're all very excited about that....and we also spent some time checkin out the aquariums.

So this is the end of day 3...having a great time so far. Plan on spending some time in a different part of the resort tomorrow where you can rent cayaks and paddle boats and snorkel stuff....maybe rent a jet ski for awhile...need to try to stay out of the sun somehow...or just keep the sunscreen on because Papa Smurf & I are a little crisp. The weather has been perfect. 80 and sunny everyday. We also hope to drop the kids off for a while so we can enjoy some time in the casino....maybe if we're lucky we can try doing that 2 nights in a row and sneak in a "nice" dinner and comedy show...we'll see if Smurfette cooperates.

Oh...also spent some time checking out the Detroit forcast.....LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signing off for now...ps....my spell check isn't working so forgive the misspellings!

=)

In my blog entry yesterday....or was that Wednesday.....I skipped the "3 people that made me smile today" question....so, there were many more than 3 people/things that made me smile so I'm revising the question to suit my needs. My revised version reads...."What were the happiest moments of your day"?

1) Woke up in the morning and found a very nice card and candy kisses (layed out in the shape of a heart...how sweet) from my hubby. Made me smile.

2) Realized early in the day that I seem to be over the hump of this strep throat / sinus infection...good drugs go a long way! I went to see the doc Wed. and he did a flu test....it was negative....but he said my tonsils were "glowing and pussy" and suspected a sinus infection so he gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 24 hours later....feeling much better.....makes me smile!

3) I was sitting in the waiting room at the foot doctors office with the boys (Smurfette was still at school/daycare). Hefty Smurf was sitting in the seat behind me and just wrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder and just stayed there for a long time. I know that probably sounds rediculous but Hefty Smurf is 11 now and I don't get the affectionate snuggles with him anymore. It meant alot to me and made me smile.

4) Sitting in the room of same doctors office...Dreamy Smurf walked up to me....... farted .......and then walked to the other side of the room laughing....yeah I know it's disgusting but I busted out laughing and told him to "get back over here because the doctor's gonna walk in and take a wiff and think I did it!". Why would this make me smile? I have no idea, I guess because it's just so "Dreamy Smurf-Like" to be such a goof ball. =)

5) found out that Hefty is finally in the clear with the foot doctor and we no longer have to make our weekly visits....yeayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

6) Smurfette came running up stairs last night all excited while I was going through the boys' backpacks and says "MOMMY, COME QUICK, I HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO SHOW YOU"....she was bouncing up and down and smiling and waving her arms around....so I rush down stairs to see what the excitement is about and she leads me to her chalk board where she wrote "Smurfette Loves Mommy".... =)

7) I officially signed up for the Chicago Marathon! Payed the entry cost so there's no turning back now! =)

8) Got the majority of our packing done yesterday.... =)

9) Compared Sterling Heights extended forcast with Nassau's extended forecast..... =)

And I'll be smiling all day today because in less than 24 hours we will be above the clouds of Michigan on our way to peace, relaxation, and sunshine! Papa Smurf will be bringing his laptop so I hope to use this blog as my travel journal while we're gone...not sure if we'll be able to connect to the internet though. If I'm unable to blog while in Nassau I'll tell you all about it when I return. Have a great week!