Stunning sunset

The evenings haven't been very cloudy this week and Andy likes to take sunset pictures when the clouds are out. Tonight the resort was having a champagne toast on the beach so we wandered out and Andy took a lot of nice shots of the sunset.

We also got a pretty decent picture of us:

Moon shots

Andy was up at 5:30 a.m. today and decided to sneak out and go take a few pictures of the moon and eventual sunrise.

Trading places

Because we were returning guests to a Couples resort, we were given the option of "trading places" with another of their resorts for the day. A van from our resort took us to the Couples Swept Away resort. It's similar to the Negril resort except the buildings are really spread out and there were a lot more vendors who walked along the beach trying to sell scarfs, hats, cigarettes, carvings, etc. Andy decided to try parasailing:

No, that's not him. Someone else. We just thought we'd take a picture and tell everyone it was him. Fool ya? Here we are relaxing at Couples Swept Away. We decided we liked Negril better, but we're still not sure whether it tops the resort we went to last December.

We did get a nice picture at sunset after returning to our resort:

On the beach

A beautiful day on the beach:

And here we are all dressed up in our "resort wear" as we were going into the manager's cocktail hour:

Catamaran ride

We spent today lounging on the beach, swimming in the ocean, eating too much, reading and sitting by the pool. At 3:30 p.m. we took a catamaran sunset cruise. It's a steady boat, a lot like a pontoon boat. The crew on board was really fun and lively and served up Red Stripe beer or rum punch (and lots of it!). Those Jamaicans love their rum. Here's a view of our resort as we were heading out on the cruise:

Go ahead ... give your wife a kiss:

We stopped for a while at a cliff where a lot of people got off the boat and swam. Andy and I stayed on the boat and watched a young boy dive off the cliff.

The had these shells on the boat and I thought they were going to try to sell them, but no one said anything about them. Pretty though, eh?

Leaving on a jet plane

Andy and I arrived in Jamaica today, a mere stroke of luck based on the cab driver who arrived at 5:30 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. and wasn't able to find our address or his way out of Oak Park. After that our trip was uneventful. At the Couples Negril resort we were greeted with glasses of champagne.

Andy outdid himself on the room - just look at the size of this bathroom. The shower (at the far right of the pic) was awesome with the water coming out overhead. We could look out the shutters and see people in the restaurant below. We were on the second floor so I don't think they could see in.

The room had a corner beach view with a hammock and a small seating area on the blacony. Because of the suite we were in we had appetizers delivered to our room each night before dinner. A nice little perk.

Beach view from the balcony:

Home again

This weekend wore the kids (and me!) out. We drove a bunch of sleepyheads back to Chicago this morning. B was the only one to stay awake the whole time. L was lucky the big red bag didn't fall on her head, but she did manage to fall off the seat before we stopped in Bloomington for lunch. Since B chose not to go shopping with us, we let him choose where we had lunch and he chose Steak 'n Shake. Andy and I stopped by Avanti's on the way home to grab a couple of gondolas for dinner.

More shopping

After the Black Friday shopping extravaganza, I slept for about three hours. L didn't go Black Friday shopping with us though she really, really begged to go. Andy and I and Cindy decided to take her to Alton on Black Friday afternoon. There weren't a lot of people in the mall so it was a pretty relaxed trip. We found a few things we wanted. Andy did the best by finding a bunch of dress shirts at Macy's marked down to a ridiculous $9 each. L just had to have this cute sock monkey hat and Andy said that was fine by him. So much for curbing her begging. When we left the farm for Alton Square, E was still sound asleep:

Black Friday

Black Friday started Thanksgiving Night with Cindy taking us to Wal-Mart in Litchfield. E was stationed at the mini food chopper pallet, I was staking out the storage containers. At 8 p.m. the wrapping came off the pallets and the frenzy began. It was kind of crazy, but we all found what we wanted and we were out of there by 8:15, I think. Here's Cindy with her finds:

Then we headed to Edwardsville. First stop was Target, which opened at 9 p.m. We found what we wanted there and waited in line a long time, winding through storage items, frozen foods and cosmetics. The next stop was Kohl's. It started to rain and get colder. Here's Cindy, Mom and E huddled together, trying to stay warm as we wait in line:

After Kohl's, our next stop was a Walgreens on the way to St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights. We went to Macy's, which opened at midnight, and got a few things. We decided it was time for some food so we headed to Steak 'n Shake in Shiloh, which I never even knew existed. It's not everyday you have a cheeseburger at 2 something in the morning. Look how happy they are to be getting food:

We went to a nearby Target which was surprisingly empty and then a few GameStops to see the high-demand Wii U with no luck. We got back to the mall around 4ish (maybe?) and wanted to shop at Penney's and Dillard's, but they weren't opening till 6 a.m. Cindy and I stopped in at Best Buy, but left our sleeping beauties Mom and Elaine in the car. Here they are catching some Zzzzs:

All of us except for Super Shopper Cindy were too tired to wait around to shop at Penney's and Dillard's so we headed home. Cindy made another stop at the Wal-Mart in Glen Carbon for their third and final "Black Friday event." I nodded off on the way home, too, and she joked that she had a roaving slumber party.

New wrap

Today my physical therapist showed me a new way to wrap my hand so that it stretches my thumb, hopefully making it easier to move on my own. I have to wrap my hand for an hour at least three times a day. That's a tad uncomfortable.

Before and After

L got her braces off this morning, marking the end of Phase One for her. She has to wear her retainer all the time for two weeks, then nights only. The orthodontist isn't sure when she'll start Phase Two of her treatment.

Interfaith Service

Tonight was the villages' annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and our church hosted. The church agreed to host this event, which draws between 400 and 500 people, about a year ago. Our pastor has been in a tizzy about it since, bringing it up at council every month, etc. Since I'm on council, and planning to step down at the end of the year, I figured we had to be there. Andy and L came along, and I brought some cookies for the fellowship hour. The service was interesting, but loooong. It lasted from 7-8:40 p.m. or so. The church was having some microphone problems and Andy couldn't hear the man who gave the sermon. He finished the sermon by leading the congregation in a five-minute nap, oops, I mean meditation. We didn't stick around for the fellowship hour.

It's called bribery

L, E and I did a little shopping this afternoon as a test for L to see whether she can hold up with Black Friday shopping - no begging, being patient, etc. Can you guess how this turned out? In HomeGoods, L wanted a voice-changing megaphone for $10. She said she wouldn't go along on Black Friday shopping if I bought it for her, but I said her chances of going along is slim anyway, why should I buy her a $10 toy? She eventually put it down and we left the store empty-handed although they did have cute Christmas decorations I wouldn't mind adding to my growing collection. At Target, though, her inner hoarder got the best of her and she asked for a $5 cardinal Webkinz. I like cardinals and she promised, again, that she wouldn't come along on Black Friday shopping - or even ask again. That's a deal I couldn't pass up! Perhaps my shopping companions will reward my bribery with a smooth McDonald's Peppermint Mocha on Black Friday? (Hint, hint!)

Honor Roll

We got a letter in the mail today that E made the Honor Roll for the first quarter at OPRF! Enclosed was this lovely bumper sticker that won't be adhered to the back of either of our cars.

New sleeping spot

I was looking all over for August this evening and finally found him curled up in the dirty clothes basket. Guess he's glad no one around here is doing laundry.

August the model

I was playing around with the camera this afternoon and look who became my willing model. Muffles wasn't so enamored with the camera. Maybe next time.

Our last Turkey Trot

Today was the last time one of my kids will race around Irving School hoping to win a $10 gift card to Jewel. The kids are told they're racing for a turkey, but I don't think $10 is going to buy anyone a turkey. Anyway, the boys especially are very competitive about winning - I'm sure their moms are grateful. L didn't really stand a chance at winning. They choose the fastest boy and girl from grades 3-5. L walked around the school, but she did finish and received a cheap armband and a cup of apple cider for her effort. She didn't run last year either.

Pretty sunrise

What a pretty sunrise I saw when I stepped out to get the newspapers this morning.

Laundry help

Nice of E to toss in a load of laundry, but let's hope she doesn't put August in the washer!

Recital

L had her first voice recital this afternoon at our church. Aunt Cindy and both grandmas were there. L sang "True Friend" by Miley Cyrus and "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars. She did good at the rehearsal on Saturday, but she must have been a bit nervous at the recital, swaying back and forth and not singing as loud as I know she could have. Still, you have to give her props for getting on stage as a 10-year-old. This picture is a tad blurry, but she looks pretty proud of herself after finishing her first song:

And here's B snuggling up to use his other grandma as pillow:

Afterward, we dropped Grandma Barbara off at home and went to Russell's for some barbecue.

Cuddly boy

What could possibly make a better pillow than a grandma?