So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye

Christel-Ann is packing her suitcase again.
Going on vacation again.
Not taking along her sister or parents. Again.
Her friends parents invited her along on a cruise to the Bahamas next week. They are leaving Thursday and returning on Monday.
So here it goes....departing from Jacksonville on Thursday, they will spend a "Fun day at sea" on their ship, the Carnival "Fascination". Saturday they will spend all day in Nassau on the Bahamas, Sunday they will spend a half day in Freeport on the Bahamas and return to Jacksonville on Monday. The ship has a Hollywood theme and amenities such as a Minigolf course (yeah, not kidding!) to only mention one...
Must be nice being Christel-Ann.
Go ahead and click here for more info...or don't or you will want to go.
http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_fascination/default.aspx?shipCode=FS
Paul is trying to convince me that cruises are for the newly wed, overfed or almost dead and we fit into none of those categories and simply won't be able to take a cruise...

Cousins

Emma-Louise, Granddaughter #3 for both Paul and my parents


Christel-Ann, Paul's parents first Grandchild, #2 for mine but Granddaughter #1 for both


Kaitlyn, Grandchild and Granddaughter #2 for Paul's parents.



The three female Ramus Cousins. Christel-Ann, Kaitlyn and Emma-Louise.
Julia (Paul's sister) is Kaitlyn's Mom.
When Paul was in California with the Girls, he met his parents and niece and they had these pictures taken.

$$$ Rant $$$

The Girls started dance class in the beginning of September, our neighbor did the studio shopping for us and found a dance studio in relative close proximity with reasonable prices, discounts for siblings, convenient class hours. We were aware of some start up costs as the girls wanted to do "dance" rather than just ballet. "Dance" consists of classical Ballet, Tap and Hip Hop. They needed leotards, tights, Ballet shoes, tap shoes, all times 2. So far so good. Once we paid for registration, September classes and initial clothes, October rolled around and their first performance for which they needed the performance clothes. Leotards with embroidery, different color tights, black shoes. More money. Now we are getting close to November, and if we thought that we would only pay for classes this month, we were wrong. Costumes for the End-of-year recital (May 2009) have to be ordered this month...and you guessed it! Paid. $85 per girl. This stopped being fun a couple of weeks ago when Paul was joking that he can never go without paying for one thing or the other. No joke!

Halloween!

Friday is Halloween and we are invited to a "BYOP" (Bring your own poison) and Potluck Party. This is an adult party....I am thinking about doing some Jello shooters with Gummiworms as our poison, and as far as food goes I think this is pretty creepy:

"Moldy" Bread simply add green and blue food coloring to pieces of french bread, and then lightly dust with flour. Yuck!


Or how about some Lady Fingers and Men's toes??


We have a Pumpkin Party at the Girls' school to attend and since I will be coming straight from work, I will just dress in all black and have a witches hat in the car. My contribution will be a lot less spectacular, simple but oh-so-good pumpkin bread.
In the evening Paul will take the Girls around the neighborhood, as usual, I will hand out candy. Then the Sitter is coming, and off we are to see our (g)hosts Kim and Dave.
For the evening I think I will be going as "High Maintenance", Paul doesn't think that requires me to dress up....for that I will fix up his toolbelt with roses, chocolates, pretend cash and he will be the "High Maintenance caretaker". Best halloween costume ever was a lady toting around a box of Lucky Charms with a knife stuck in the middle and blood running from the knife. What was she?
A cereal killer!

I'm not 34

Just sayin'....
I had a great birthday, my children made breakfast for me and served it to me in bed (a little early, but the thought counts, right!?), my employer had a Family Day during the day and in the evening we met a few friends for Dinner, Drinks and Dancing. The picture was taken early in the evening while we were waiting at the bar for people to arrive....



And this is one of the last pictures of the evening

Shark