After Braces Pics

After Laurin got her braces off, the orthodontist gave us a free photo shoot with a free 5x7 and one that they display in the office....these are the results. (of course they knew we wouldn't be able to choose just one so it worked out pretty good for the photographer:-)
She isn't wearing her glasses because the pic had to be shot with a flash that would glare off glasses. I guess it is just preparing us for the contacts she wants to get. Not yet, she already looks a couple years older than she really is.....no need to rush it.

Exciting things to post finally

After our cruise (see below) we got to spend time at DisneyWorld. We stayed in the Contemporary Resort (in the same building as the Monorail....what a treat!) and went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It was a wonderful evening at the park (not too crowded). We left Monday afternoon, but had time to go to Ohana @ the Polynesian resort. It was an amazing breakfast with characters like Lilo and Stitch (our favorites) and we highly recommend eating there. I guess we need more vacations like this so I will post more often. I would post more pictures, but I am not sure which ones will be on our Holiday cards and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Laurin and Duffy

My favorite part of the park, Cinderella's Castle, all lit up with icicle lights

Laurin and Mickey and Duffy at Ohana

Our family in front of the amazing tree at the Grand Floridian hotel

DCL Cruising

We just returned from another wonderful Disney Cruise (to temps in the 20's and 30's...yuck!). We did a quick trip on the newest boat, the Dream. And it was dreamy for sure. Wonderful service, excellent entertainment and an all around great vacation. Laurin got to make a Gingerbread House, was called up on stage during the "Villans" show, and was even selected as Official Pin Trader of the cruise again. It was such a treat because she got to do it with our new friends who had missed their chance on the previous cruise (they did a back to back) because it was canceled. The best treat though was getting a Cabana for the day on Castaway Cay...made being in paradise even better. We shared it with our friends the Runyan's (Ron knows Steve through Kronos) so Laurin had friends to play with, thanks Mya and Hannah; Alison had a friend to talk to too, thanks Lisa; and Ron had someone to talk shop with, thanks Steve...though they did find some time to relax too. It was wonderful and hard to leave. Thankfully we have a 7 day cruised planned for Thanksgiving next year. It will be a Lium family reunion and I am so looking forward to it.

Long, lost update

Well, it has been a long time since I have done any updating....I guess it is because there hasn't been any major news events. Since Spring Break, it has been a lot of the same ol' stuff.....school and work. We made it to the end of the school year...yea! Laurin had a great 5th grade year and is looking forward to 6th grade. She did awesome on her state tests (commended in Science), made the A Honor Roll, and was selected by her peers and StuCo advisor as the Student Council student of the year....quite an honor. Now it is summer and she has been busy with camps and helping at Vacation Bible Camp. She will go to North Dakota for two weeks in July by herself. She wanted to go to sleep away camp so I just figure it is 2 weeks at Camp Guidinger. Though with all the flooding in Minot, her planned activities may change....she could learn the true meaning of volunteering by helping with the clean up that is going to be needed once they get through this disaster. Maybe she will even be able to put her new babysitting skills to work (she attended a Safe Sitter course at the hospital the day after school got out).

We have a new dog in our home. Lucy got to be a little too big for us, so we found a better fitting home for her on a farm with two other Weimaraners (and people who know how to deal with the breed:-). We hadn't planned to get another dog so soon, but a search on Petfinder led us to Oliver at the Gainesville shelter. He is a Labradoodle and I have always wanted one, but didn't want to pay breeder prices. It was fate. He is a sweetie and a lot of fun. They thought he was a year old, but if he is, it is just barely....he is definitely still a puppy. Coconut tolerates him thankfully. We now joke that we have our matching set...small and medium. They look a lot alike, just different sizes.

We hope everyone is having a good summer, and really hope that Minot makes it through all the flooding.

Oliver before

Oliver after

Laurin meets Donald Driver

Couldn't forget to add the picture of Laurin and Donald Driver (wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers). He was on our flight from Dallas to Milwaukee and while we were waiting for our luggage in baggage claim, Laurin got up the courage to approach him and ask for a picture....since she is such a Packers fan (at Super Bowl time anyway).

Spring Break in Wisconsin Dells

This year we spent spring break in Wisconsin Dells, WI. (the waterpark capital of the world....who knew?). We stayed at Glacier Canyon Lodge and had access to 4 indoor water parks, so the cold temps and snow weren't really an issue. We had a great time. There was a lot to do. I can't even imagine what it would be like in summer when everything is up and running. It was plenty crowded even though it was still winter in Wisconsin. It would be a great place for a reunion....so much for the kids to do.

Laurin and friend at the cheese store

Working on her projects at the pottery shop

One of the water parks. Great lazy river.

Laurin and the cheesehead/hat she wanted so bad at the airport. Thankfully I convinced her the picture would be enough.....we didn't need to bring one home.

Winter Ice/Snow Storm Feb 1-4, 2011

Another winter storm paralyzes DFW....SuperBowl weekend no less. The ice came in Tuesday morning and we have been out of school/work since then. Today (Friday) was supposed to be better, but instead we got like 5 inches of snow. Yuck!
We are supposed to thaw out tomorrow. Maybe we can get cheap tickets to the SuperBowl since so many Green Bay and Pittsburgh fans might not have been able to make it in to Arlington.