Last but not least...

And of course, no day would be quite complete without the chance to handle a real live albino corn snake. Great. Just what I needed. Someone to encourage Kenny to start collecting snakes again! Yikes!

Hands on...noses plugged!

One of the exhibits at the Estuarium on Dauphin Island was the touch lab. Specimens of all types of sea life were laid out on a table for the kids to touch, squeeze, examine, and yes...smell!


Kenny's favorite part of the touch lab was being able to feel and handle the hammerhead shark. Jessica liked the starfish and Lisa seemed to be grossed out by just about everything else! Typical teenager! She did, however, manage to find all the tan handsome sea lab assistants to be quite engaging. It was when I noticed they were paying her just as much attention that I thought we needed to quickly head to the Home Depot tent where we were able to make cute little birdhouses!

Coast guard recruits!

Today we spent the day on Dauphin Island. A beautiful secluded island about 4o minutes south of Mobile known for its small town atmosphere and beautiful beaches. We couldn't get Kenny to leave the captain's post to take a picture. So the girls posed without him! He really didn't seem to care!
The Estuarium was having a Discovery day for kids and we took the opportunity to spend the morning learning about the coral reefs, marine habitat, and the people who protect the waters. Lisa couldn't believe we were at the beach in April and that she actually got a tan while we were there! We thought for sure she would "thaw" by now, but I guess she still has "Utah" on her mind!

Spring has definitely sprung...

While the rest of the world seems to be fighting cold, blizzards, and storms...here in the South we are experiencing spring like never before! We are amazed at the vibrant colors found all along the roadsides and on every corner! We are learning that AZALEAS bloom in the Spring and provide a beautiful backdrop for the beginning of a new season!
I don't know what kind of flower these are in the picture, but the builder of our home had them planted all around the perimeter of the house. They resemble BABY's BREATH which is used most often with long stem roses. I guess when we moved here last year we came just after all the flowers bloomed. I know we would've remembered had we seen this last March!

A final goodbye...

However long it has been since we've seen someone from our past, the love or friendship that is shared between two people closes the time gap no matter how large or small it may be and allows for one to feel as though no time had passed at all.

My grandmother, Ilynn C. Bradshaw, was one of those people. Raised in Southern Utah. Married Lafey LaVel Bradshaw. Became a mother to seven children - all of whom she raised while helping to tend the dairy farm and keep life in order no matter how hectic things got. She was born with fair skin and deep red hair. Some of which I see from time to time in Jessica's beautiful blonde hair. Grandma always had a beautiful smile.

Before moving here to Mobile we took the opportunity to visit with her one last time. When we first walked into the home where she had been living for the past few years it seemed as though she might just remember who I was this time. But that small spark of memory in her eyes quickly melted away as she shook our hands and excitingly ask the kids over and over again, "Are you here to see somebody?" They would smile as they held her hand and say, "Oh yes grandma! We're here to see you!"

I spent several summers during my teenage years living in Manderfield, Utah with Grandma on the farm. Doing the chores. Cleaning the barns. Helping around the house. But never failing to go home after three full months with hundreds of new memories and a warm feeling of closeness to a woman so far in age from me but someone I felt who was exactly like me.

When I got my mission call to Korea I spent two weeks with Grandma before I entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. I teased her for years about how she was my very first mission companion. An honor I think we both secretly enjoyed. When my grandfather passed away before I had the opportunity to tell him personally that I had chosen to serve a mission for the church, she took me aside and said very matter of factly. "He knew Lisa..." "He knew you would always serve a mission."

Those few words made my heart feel so much better. For not having said a word about my regrets to tell Grandpa when I had the chance just a few short weeks before his death, Grandma knew exactly what I needed to hear. She then pulled out a think book of cards and letters underneath a large stack of papers. She handed it to me and told me to look through it. It was every card and letter my grandfather had ever sent her. Something so personal and private to her, I was astounded that she had offered to let me look over such personal private memos. It is a memory of both my grandmother and grandfather that I cherish very much.

Yesterday afternoon the Bradshaw family laid my grandmother to rest in Beaver, Utah. She was finally home. Home where she could remember. Home where she could laugh again. Home where her husband waited for her and whom she missed so much. Although we will miss her, our memories of her will live on. Goodbye Grandma. We will surely miss you.

Throw me something sister!

In Mardi Gras terms the phrase "Throw me something mister!" would get you just about anything being tossed over the side of a huge float brightly decorated and festively arranged! At Jessica's school the phrase took on a whole new meaning! The Kindgergarten classes at her school got together and provided "throws" for the entire student body the day before school let out for a week long Mardi Gras break! "Throws" include beaded necklaces, plastic cups, stuffed animals, balls, masks, candy, and moon pies! (Moon pies: chocolate covered marshmallow stuffed cookies - can also be found in Banana flavor.)
Up and down the hallways each grade level had their group of students sit on the floor and wait for the afternoon parade to begin! Jessica had lots of fun throwing to her brother, Kenny, and many other neighborhood friends. Her costume was made in class along with the mask that she refused to wear because she said she couldn't "see".
I have never heard such loud screaming in a school! My ears had a ringing in them that lasted for hours after the event. After the Kindergarten students had made their rounds through school they were treated by a special parade put on by the Principal, Dr. Foster, and his staff who wore costumes and threw beads making sure each child got a handful of everything! What a fun way for the school to celebrate Mardi Gras!

An end to a very fun week...

So, for the most part everyone got what they wanted out of the trip to Orlando. Lisa got to ride Test Track and Mission:Space as well as buy herself a pair of really cute Mouse ears. (See pictures of Princesses below.) Jessica got to meet Minnie Mouse and can say without a doubt (as verified by several Disney Cast Members) that she is the only six year old to ride the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride 10 times in one day! Kenny met face to face with a real-life (animatronic) carnisaur at Animal Kingdom and missed near death as a Yeti tried to swoop down and knock him off a backwards moving roller coaster while his mother screamed helplessly behind him. Arnold got to taste six different flavors of Coke from the Coca Cola cooling station from places like China, Israel, and France and can finally sleep peacefully as I will no longer be hounding him to take us to "Disneyland" for a family vacation. And as for me....I can now say that as a parent I was able to take my three children to Walt Disney World while they were still young enough to enjoy it and not too old to do things like stand in front of Cinderella's castle for one last embarrassing family picture.

Around the world in only two days?????

The Epcot center's world showcase had to be one of our favorite stops! We spent two days there and traveled through 11 different countries. If my memory serves me correctly the countries were Mexico, France, Norway, China, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, America, Canada, Germany, and one other that I can't remember.

The kids got masks that they decorated at their first country and little token trinkets to attach to the mask at every other stop. After collecting all eleven trinkets they were 'awarded' with a Travel Poster from Goofy! Jessica had each country stamp their Disney World Showcase stamp in her autograph book along with a phrase or quote written in their native language. It was a fun way for all the kids to get into traveling all over the place that day with Mom and Dad! We logged over seven miles of walking while at Epcot Center and that was only after half a days worth of sightseeing!!!!

The authentic food, costumes, and decor were all unique to each separate country that we visited. China and Japan were our favorites, but Mexico reminded us of El Paso and Germany (because of the Schloemer heritage) made for a fun way for us to share a little of the culture with the kids. We ate everything from Sushi to Bratwurst and sauerkraut to Lo Mein and Fish and Chips! It was a great way to spend two days of our trip!

Princess for the day....

One of my favorite parts of the trip was convincing Lisa and Jessica that they wanted to forego the rides for an hour so we could stand in line to meet the Disney Princesses!



After waiting for what seemed like FOREVER, we were finally led into a private room where we were able to visit with each of the three Princesses. Jessica had her autograph book on hand and Lisa giggled the whole time!



Next to "Its a Small World" this was number 2 on my own list of "must do's" while at the Kingdom!

Our kid's new best friend....

It had been quite a few years since I had been to Orlando, Florida. It must've been in the 80's when our high school marching band was invited down to play for the half time show of the Citrus Bowl. During the week that we were there as a group we spent several days at the parks. We marched in parades, played for the crowds and showed off our Hula dancers. It was a fun place to be as a teenager! After several years of trying to get Arnold to take us to Disneyland when we lived in Utah, he finally conceded after we moved here to Alabama and drove us the nine hours to Orlando for the week that the kids were out of school for Mardi Gras break. We spent several days at each of the four main theme parks. Kenny loved Animal Kingdom. Lisa loved the rides at MGM Studios. Arnold and I enjoyed the Epcot scene. And Jessica was mesmerized by the Magic Kingdom! Luckily there was something at each park for everyone! The kids seemed to enjoy any ride that had a remote possibility of making me scream like a baby. I would have to say that I did pretty good and went on every ride they wanted me to...EXCEPT for Mission: SPACE at Epcot where I thought my claustrophobia would get the best of me and ruin the rest of our day there. Tower of Terror at the MGM Studios was my next least favorite as it had the sensation of being in an elevator that was dropping to its death and then heading back up at a high rate of speed before crashing back down again. I'm getting dizzy from just thinking about it! Needless to say we have memories that will last us a lifetime!

What happens in Orlando...stays in Orlando!

The things people do when they are on vacation! I'm not quite sure what came over us...maybe it was all that Disney "magic" everyone kept talking about?



And who knew Jessica would grow up to be such a hard core 'rocker'?! Aerosmith rules!!!



I still don't know exactly what the Disney photographer wanted out of the 'pinching' pose, but it made us laugh when we got home anyway!

Cub Scout Troop Pine Wood Derby Race 2006

Kenny enjoyed his first Pine Wood Derby race. He spent most of the time cheering on his buddies and forgetting that he was actually racing a car himself. I think it was a fun experience for everyone!

Temple work for them or is it more for us?

Several years ago my Korean grandfather and grandmother passed away. Since then my mother has tried to find a way to get her siblings together in Hawaii to do the temple work needed for their family. Being that each of the seven siblings lives in a different part of the world, this was no easy task. But yesterday, on a day when life went on as usual for the rest of the world, she accomplished her goal and met in the temple in Laie and completed the glorious temple work for her parents. Parents who disagreed with her decision to move to America and leave Seoul, Korea when she was just a teenager. Parents who questioned her decision to marry a young, talented, amazing man from Manderfield, Utah. Parents who eventually moved from Seoul themselves to find a life in Hawaii near the rest of their children who had one by one followed in the footsteps of my mother to move to America in hopes of a better life. Today I feel a sense of sadness in that I was not able to be there for such a memorable event, but I also feel a sense of joy. The kind of JOY that only comes from knowing that the ultimate goal obtained ultimately ensures our place in heaven with those very unique and wonderful people we love and cherish the most. Congratulations, Mom! You did it!

And the winner is....

Today I received a flyer from our Elementary school saying that the School Board had dropped the boundary issue from its agenda for tonight's meeting and that the students who were previously told they might have to attend a different school next year will get to stay where they are - at least for the time being! (See posts on Feb. 20th and Feb. 22nd) A member of the PTA Board said that the school board is also going to give our school money to expand the cafeteria that will allow for more room during the lunch hour and bring in more portables to house the overflow of students for the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. The issues of overcrowding will still be a major one come Fall 2006, but for the time being our children will be able to continue their education at their current school and hopefully get a reprieve from the boundary change at least for another year or two. My hope is that the school board will not just table this issue but continue to work on it. Become educated about it. Explore some other alternatives and options for it and realize the great need for expansion in this growing area of Mobile.

Home from vacation....

So for the last eight days we lived, breathed, and celebrated Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Four different theme parks each with its own set of must do's we as a family finally got to experience first hand which so many of you have told us about over and over again. Honestly, I feel like we need a full vacation just to recuperate from our WDW vacation! As soon as I can post some family photos, I will do so, but for now...it is back to laundry and unpacking! Have a great day!