I WON !!!

Dear Michele,

Congratulations on being the THIRD PRIZE winner in our Give Us Your Best Shot Contest for the Crown & Anchor Newsletter! The prize you have won is a Seattle's Best Coffee Gift Basket. Promotion Mechanics, the sweepstakes company handling the promotion had followed up with you to provide details about the prize you have won. We have received the information from them and soon I will mail the basket to you.

We will feature your photo in the January 2010 issue of Crown & Anchor newsletter.

Congratulations again, and thank you for your loyalty to Royal Caribbean!

Marta T. Ramirez
Account Executive, Loyalty Marketing
Royal Caribbean International
1080 Caribbean Way, 6th FL
Miami, FL 33132

First Prize was a 7 night cruise, Second Prize was a 4-5 night cruise and my Third Prize is a coffee gift basket. This is the first contest I have ever won!!! I'm very excited.

Many of you have seen the photo that won. It was taken on our Mediterranean cruise in 2007:



Given, its not technically a great photo. But I think the reason they selected it was more about the feeling of the photo... that's my guess anyway.

The Newsletter hasn't come out yet - not that I can find, anyway. As soon as it does I'll post the link. I can't wait to see the other photos that won!

Dim Sum Sunday

Karen and I had been trying to get our families together again for a while. Before the holidays, we had planned to share Dim Sum at Sam Woo - a local restaurant know for their delicious selections. Our reservation in December was overcome by events - Karen & Eric's twin daughters were driving home from college and we were preparing for our trip back East. We finally managed to get together this past Sunday, and I'm so glad!

We all had a great time enjoying each other's company and the delicious food. Last time we got together at Naples in Downtown Disney. At that meal, Karen and I were on opposite ends of a fully engaged and long table. This time I snagged a seat right next to Karen... I wanted to hear all about the holidays - and a lovely 'get-away' she and Eric took to Hawaii in January.

The kids had a great time, as usual. Kenzie and Josie laughed and joked while inhaling their rice. We brought our 'third daughter' Hailey along with us. And we were thrilled to finally meet Kalie, one of Karen & Eric's twin daughters. As we were leaving James commented to me that we ought to make it a monthly gathering. It was such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning!

Here are some photos that Josie and Kenzie took during our meal:


A Kenzie portrait by Josie


A Josie portrait by Kenzie


Self Portrait


Kenzie took this one!


Two firecracker girls by the big firecracker!

Finally, I was thrilled to learn that Karen and Kalie have joined the blogging world! Karen's girls did a great job of designing the sites. Check them out!!

Update from Africa

As some of you may remember, James and I were fortunate enough to visit Africa this past May. Upon our return I wrote of the most meaningful part of the trip - our visit to the Islands of Siankaba lodge in Zambia. We felt so blessed to visit the village and particularly the preschool headmaster, Malindi. We made a commitment to stay in touch and to support the pre-school in any way we could.

The details of our meeting with Malindi and our village tour can be found here.

Image how thrilled we were to discover that construction of the preschool has been completed to the point that Malindi can now conduct class for all 55 of his students in the new building!! This is where Malindi had taught the children for the past two years:




Take a look at these videos we found - of Malindi teaching his students in the new preschool! They were posted in December 2009, just 7 months after we visited.






We are absolutely 'over the moon' to see this dream come to fruition. Congratulations to Malindi and the children of Siankaba!!

Let's Talk About Pets...

If you are on Facebook, then you know that yesterday I got one of the biggest shocks of my life...

Our Jack Russell Terrier - Casey - has been suffering with a congested nose for the past few months. At first, she was sneezing a bit more than usual. (like many breeds, JRTs use sneezing as a defense mechanism) She and Carson are always going at it, playfully, so sneezing is often heard when they do. Anyway, for the past two months Casey's sneezes have been accompanied by big globs of green slime. Gross, I know. I am always in her wake with tissues to clean up the mess.

I took Casey to the local vet about 6 weeks ago for her shots and mentioned the nose problem. The first doc took a 'wait and see' approach. I went back in last week specifically to address the nose issue. She was prescribed an antihistamine and an antibiotic. The new doctor stated that Casey should improve within a week. If she didn't I was to bring her back in.

Yesterday, I brought Casey back to the vet. The doctor told me exactly what was going to be done: She would sedate Casey for 10 minutes, get X-Rays, flush her sinuses, take cultures and get blood work. Silly me - still had the prices from our Virginia vet floating around in my head. I ball-parked the visit to be expensive... I was bracing myself for around a $300. visit. Like I said, silly me!

Josie and I arrived to pick-up Casey around noon. I was presented with a bill totaling $866. That's Eight hundred and sixty-six dollars!!!! I was floored.

When we got home, I was still in a state of disbelief. I got on the phone to our Virginia vet and talked with them. Drs Greg and Andy Lindamood are two of the most trusted vets in our old home town. They make housecalls; they come in on weekends or in the middle of the night if you have an emergency; they are also equine specialist who have their own farm with plenty of animals. They weren't cheap. We loved them. We went over the bill for Casey. They stated that they would have done the exact same thing... the only difference was the cost.

So, I'll throw a few questions out here to try and understand... Is it because rents are higher here? Is it because Vets pay higher insurance rates in California? Are there a lot of lawsuits against Vets in California? I just don't get how nearly every item on the bill was just about double the going rate that we were used to... even inoculations.

We love our dogs, but how much is too much to spend on treatments for them? Is there even an alternative besides pet health insurance? Does anyone have reputable pet insurance that they could recommend?

Casey's still sneezing and I'm worried about what the next step might be...

New Year - New 'Do'

As many of you may have noticed, Josie has hair issues. In nearly every photo I have taken of her in the past 3 months, she has hair in her eyes.

We've been trying to grow her hair (bangs) out since we moved. I just love the look of a little girl with barrettes, bows or ribbons in her hair. I've purchased dozens of each in the past few months - to no avail. Josie cannot stand having anything in her hair for long. She removes pony tails, buns, hair clips - you name it. It doesn't stay put for long. Her hair is painfully thin. I've tried everything to make it look fuller... including an ill-advised 'layered' cut.

Well, we've given up. I took Josie for a haircut on Sunday and she is thrilled with it! I love seeing her beautiful eyes again and she loves the fact that there's no pulling, tugging or spraying of her head.





I think she looks a lot older. She's losing the sweet baby face that I have adored for the past 4 years...

A New Year Begins

When last I wrote, we were in the middle of our big trip back East. Our Christmas(es) were excellent! On Christmas Eve, my sister Claudine and I spent a few chilly moments making Santa's presence known for Josie. It was quite funny - Claudine in her nightshirt, coat and boots chucking snowballs in an effort to make 'reindeer tracks' in the snow on her front lawn. You see, Josie had spread 'reindeer food' on the lawn before going to bed. We couldn't have her think they hadn't seen or tasted it! Anyone who drove past her house around midnight certainly got an entertaining show!


Here, Maddie carries Josie outside to see the reindeer tracks in the snow (7AM Christmas morning)


Josie opens presents on Christmas morning with Pop & Grandmom, Mom & Dad, Aunt Claudine and Maddie

On Christmas afternoon, Suzanne, Greg, Zack & Liam arrived in Maryland from Philadelphia. I hadn't seen my nephews in 5 months and boy, have they grown! We enjoyed our traditional Christmas meal of Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding. My Mom makes the BEST Yorkshire Pudding - she was taught by my Grandmom who actually was from Yorkshire!

On the 26th my brother Chalie and his family arrived for the final Christmas celebration:


Cousin Liam helps Josie open her gifts


Our Nephew, Jack, is the ultimate Ravens fan...


Kate shows her gift from Aunt Claudine


My two sisters and me - what a crew!


My parents six Grandchildren


Maddie (15) and Zack (17) - when they were younger everyone thought they were brother & sister!

On December 27, after dropping James off at the airport for his return to CA, the girls and I headed up to Philadelphia to extend our visit with my sister Suzanne and her family. We took the kids to see the Christmas light show downtown at what used to be Wanamaker's. (Now its a Macy's). I have been going to see this show since I was a kid and it was a thrill to see Josie watch it for the first time. The show used to have 'dancing fountains' but those were done away with a few years ago. The show is now narrated by Julie Andrews and features music from the Nutcracker Suite and popular Christmas shows like 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer':





We returned to Virginia on the 30th of December, in time to celebrate the New Year at my friend Jamie's house. Kids and adults both had a lovely spread and great company. Here, the little ones sit for dinner at their own table:



Here's what the 'playroom' looked like once all the little princesses were off to bed:



We returned home on January 1, 2010 - on the late flight into LAX. Not 12 hours later, James grabbed up Josie and headed off to view the parade floats from the Tournament of Roses parade. Maddie and Hailey (who came to airport with James to pick us up!) slept in, watched Harry Potter and eventually got out of their pajamas around 5PM.


Josie in front of the McDonalds parade float




The 'snowboarding bulldogs' parade float (Josie's fav!)

Hope the New Year brings happiness and health to all of you!!

Christmas...So Far

We departed California on December 17, heading East to spend the holiday with our family and friends. Before leaving, we were so happy to have our friend Dave visit and share the lighting of his menorah with us. As tradition dictates, the youngest lights the candle. Dave recited the Hebrew blessing and then we shared a lovely dinner. Nine years ago, it was Maddie who lit the menorah with Dave... time is flying by.

We arrived in Washington just in time to enjoy the Christmas performance at Josie's former pre-school. We were so warmly welcomed back to St. Mary's... Josie had happy tears in her eyes while hugging her former teachers, Mrs J and Mrs M. I didn't even take out my camera. I truly just wanted to enjoy the moment. All Josie's friends were dressed as angels in preparation for their performance. It was so fitting - they are the most lovely children I have ever met. I was so thrilled to see all the Preschool Moms who have been such a huge part of our lives. The most important 'hug and hello' was for Michael's Dad, Bob, who was home on a two week leave from his service in Afghanistan. He left his family the first week of May, 2009. Please keep our friend and his family in your prayers.

After the Christmas program, we had a girls lunch at the local IHOP and then prepared for our big outing - a performance of Sesame Street Live! on Friday night. Forecasters were predicting between 12-24 inches of snow to begin sometime after midnight on Friday - so we ventured out with the knowledge we would be back long before the snow started.




Maria dances with the Sesame Street Gang


Emma, Josie, Maria, Meaghan, Lauryn, and Caitlyn before leaving for the show

If only forecaster were right... when we exited the show, there were already 2 inches of snow on the ground. I was driving a Chevy Impala rental car - which, (props to GM!) performed phenomenally on the snow covered 95. It took us 3.5 hours to drive 25 miles back to our hotel. The 95 was eventually closed by the State Police. I was fortunate enough to follow a snow plow for the last few miles of our journey - ensuring our safe arrival in Fredericksburg. It was quite an adventure!

A total of 2 feet of snow fell that evening and into Saturday. We were snowed in until the plows came through on Sunday morning. Here's a few photos of how we spent the day on Saturday:




Josie, Tori and Maddie enjoy some hot chocolate after a walk through a snowing downtown Fredericksburg



Once the snow was cleared, Josie and I headed out to visit our friends for playdates. Maddie hooked up with friends from elementary and high school and enjoyed some serious sledding! Josie and her friends enjoyed some serious dress-up fashion shows:


Emma and Josie strike a pose!


Maria, Riley and Josie do a Princess dance!

James joined us here in Maryland on the evening of the 23rd. We are happily camped out with my sister, Claudine. My sister, Suzanne and family arrived from Philadelphia on Christmas afternoon. We are now waiting for my brother and his family to arrive from Richmond, VA to have our family Christmas.

Best Wishes to you All for a wonderful holiday season. We're going to ring in the New Year in Virginia, so we're all very excited for the days to come.