The Life and Times of the Watters Family

Disneyland Vacation Update

Hello. Cameron here posting on Betsy’s behalf since it wasn’t practical for both of us to head out in search of decent wifi.

As the previous sentence might suggest, we’ve had a bit of a headache finding a decent wifi connection from the hotel room. Fortunately, my trek didn’t require me to go any further than the hotel lobby, for now. I’m still only getting pretty weak signal here, but at least it’s stable enough.

Once we find a better connection (which we will, I promise), we’ll post more (including pictures). In the mean time, if you want to follow us using an abbreviated all-text version of our progress, you can check out http://www.twitter.com/watters. I’ve been posting activity updates via SMS during our entire trip.

We’ve been having a great time so far and look forward to sharing stories and photos with everyone just as soon as we’ve got a better Internet connection. It’s 2007. What kind of hotel doesn’t have decent connectivity for customers?

We’re on our way!

Yipee!! I can’t believe we leave in the morning! This is our very first family vacation (that isn’t camping or with other people) and we’re all really excited. Gotta get back to packing but I wanted to say, we are hoping to update our blog daily with pictures, stories and videos so check in and see what we’re up to.

California here we come!

Self-Condemnation

food for thought from Beth’s blog

Visual DNA

This was fun! I saw it on Elsie’s site. Go check it out! Click the link below the image to go create your own “Visual DNA”.

Perfect

Everyone who knows me, knows I hate getting dressed up. I don’t like wearing dresses — never have, even when I was a little girl! The only times I have ever actually felt like myself in a dress was my wedding day — I also didn’t mind getting dressed up for Sara’s wedding. I will admit, having a dress that is custom fitted to you definitely helps. Anyway, with Holly’s wedding quickly approaching the anxiety about finding a dress began to come over me. Sara and I went shopping about a month ago and found a dress that would work for the occasion. I didn’t love it, but I was sure that finding a dress that I loved was out of the question. At least I had something and I could stop stressing over it. Holly and Shane came up to Bellingham for the weekend and it just so happened that Holly brought a dress with her that I could check out to see if it would be something I would want to wear to the wedding. It was PERFECT! Totally what I would have picked if I knew it existed. It is very pretty and more importantly, very comfortable. Yeah Holly! She should be a personal shopper!

The next dilemma– SHOES!! We (the girls in my family) were blessed (I mean cursed) with having what my dad calls “Fred Flintstone feet”. Cute, little, delicate and dainty shoes are not our friends (although occasionally it can be pulled off if you are willing to totally sacrifice comfort). I set out last week to find shoes to go with my workable, yet not lovable dress and practically came home in tears!! It was not a happy trip. There are lots of strappy, cute sandals out there right now but nothing I would want to wear ALL day long at Holly’s wedding. I think I must have tried on 20-30 pairs of shoes. I gave up for that day.
Yesterday Heather and I went shopping for her dress for Holly’s wedding. We found a dress she loved and then thought we would look for shoes again. I found the PERFECT shoes at Journey’s — and the best part was they were the very last pair, my size and on clearance for $19.99!! Miracles do happen! I know it may sound funny, but I am incredibly relieved. I am actually delighted that I have not only a dress that I love but now shoes too. I can leave for Disneyland knowing that I won’t have to come home and frantically search at the last minute for wedding attire. Happy Day!

Mother’s Day

Being a mom is my favorite! I love my boys and I am so thankful to be their mom. Cam does such a good job modeling for them how to honor and appreciate me. I love my new red teapot — thanks boys!

We love our moms and grandmas! Happy Mother’s day!

10 days!

This is my collection of Disneyland scrapbook materials. I think I will wait until after our trip to put the book together. I like the vintage Disney ephemera- I’d like to find more stuff like that. I am getting more excited with each passing day! It occurred to me the other day that I will be flying home alone with the boys!! That kinda freaks me out. I have never flown by myself, much less had to be responsible for other people. I am sure it will be fine and the boys will be awesome.

Cam is getting excited for his road trip with Kelly. I think he’s putting together a soundtrack. I am hoping that Cam has remembered where he grew up in California more fondly than he ought to have and he’ll get over his pining- or the reverse could happen and it will increase his desire to want to live there again someday. I bet they will have a lot of stories when they get home.

It will be so nice for us to get away and get a chance to focus on having fun with our little family. We (Cam and I) sometimes struggle with the playing/having fun part of parenting. We are both oldest kids and play doesn’t come really naturally to either of us. The climate of our house is a bit too serious at times. I’m so glad that the boys (Caleb in particular) continue to teach us how to be silly. It seems that sometimes it takes removing all the everyday distractions to recognize where your true priorities are. I feel like our kids are growing up so fast and we sometimes take for granted how much time we have with them. They love us now and think we are great (especially when we make fools of ourselves for the sake of having fun). They actually want to hang out with us- in a few short years they likely will be embarrassed by everything about us (just like our poor parents had to endure). So, my hope and prayer is that this trip would be #1 a blast, #2 an opportunity to examine our priorities and #3 create wonderful memories– something we can praise and thank God for.

almost 6 months

I can’t believe how fast the time is flying! Sara is glowing. She is such a cute little mommy! Scott and Sara are still deciding on a name for their baby girl. Post your suggestions as a comment on this post and I’ll forward them.

Sean and Caleb are so excited for their little cousin. Sara brought Gwen (a little girl she watches- whom I adore) over for a visit. The boys were so attentive and so sweet with her. I am happy that it comes so naturally to them to be careful and tender with girls. I can imagine that Sean and Caleb are going to be much the same way with Sara’s baby girl.

music

Today my ipod was randomly playing through what I have on it. I don’t usually listen to it that way- but it was kind of fun.
Here’s what we (Sean, Caleb and I) listened to while driving around town this afternoon–

1. Mr. Big Stuff- Jean Knight
2. Drive My Car- The Beatles
3. Senorita- Justin Timberlake
4. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
5. Baby Got Back (only for a minute and I edited it with the volume control)- Sir Mix-a-Lot
6. Sweet Home Alabama- Lynrd Skynrd (Sean asked if it was Rascal Flatts–my parents would die!)
7. I Can See Clearly Now- Jimmy Cliff
8. You Give Love a Bad Name- Bon Jovi (totally rocked out to that one– the boys are totally into this)
9. Great Balls of Fire- Jerry Lee Lewis
10. When I See an Elephant Fly- from Dumbo (I don’t know who sings it)
11. For Once in My Life- Stevie Wonder

I do my best to fill the boys in on all of the music trivia that my dad imparted to me. Our play list is a bit more random than the music my dad had us (or forced us to) listen to. I love music and the feelings and memories it conjures up. I think that this is definitely an area I am like my dad. I ask (or force) Cam and the boys to listen to songs all the time and then ask them what they think the song means- agghh- who’d have thought? Thanks a lot dad!

17 days–tickets in hand!

We picked up our tickets at AAA today- it’s so exciting! We are looking forward to the sunshine and warm weather, and well, DISNEYLAND. Sean and Caleb both insist that we are going to go on California Screamin’ for our very first ride. I guess it will be good to get the scariest one out of the way first- or it could backfire and they will be so traumatized by it that they won’t want to go on another thing! We really don’t have much of an agenda for our time in the park. We would like to see and do pretty much everything but I think with 5 days that won’t be a problem.

We are kind of worried about leaving Sam (the dog). He typically doesn’t handle us being gone very well. He’s a little neurotic. Last time we left for an extended period of time he chewed a few things up- including the tip of his tail. Fortunately, Heather is going to be staying here with him and I know he’ll love that– she’ll spoil him!

May Day!

Here are some flowers for May Day– I know tulips are kind of an April flower but I love them and I wanted to post this picture. I have been having fun with these new photo borders I bought on 2peas. Getting stuff crossed off my “to do” list feels so good today!

We are proud to announce that a piece of Sean’s artwork was chosen to be displayed in the Bellingham School District office for the Children’s Gallery walk. Each of the Bellingham schools chose one piece of art from each grade at each of the schools. Sean’s piece was in the style of Henri Matisse (paper collage). Selected Artwork from this show will be chosen for the 2007-2008 district calendar. We are so proud of Sean!