Cruise Pics

Turning 30...in the Caribbean...It Could Have Been Worse!

So you all know that I have been dreading the big 3-0 since I turned 25. With every year that passed the once quiet fear of turning 30 turned into a roaring double headed dragon! It was finally the spring of 2007; I had less than one year before my 30th birthday. Fortunately, some friends of ours happened to invite us to go on cruise with them and two other couples in January of 2008. What perfect timing! I saw the opportunity and jumped all over it. January 28th (my birthday) was coming whether I liked it or not. If I was going to have to endure the day, I might as well do it in the exotic Caribbean!! It took a little persuasion on Kelly and my part, but Jon eventually got "on board" with the idea of a cruise.

I can safely say this was one of the best if not the best vacations we have ever been on. We were so blessed by our Moms. They both came to our house and stayed with our kids for 10 days. They teamed up and took exceptional care of our babies. If it tells you anything, the night we returned home it was quiet and clean and all three children were peacefully sleeping in their OWN beds. It was like we had never left! Thank you Mom and Ann. You are the best moms ever. (Same time, same place next year right?)

Jon and I honeymooned for ten days! We enjoyed every minute of our uninterrupted time together. We savored every bite of hot food we ate at meal times and fortified our relationship with tons of conversation and recreation! I love my husband and it is nice to know that when we are one on one we still have the "all spark"!

We visited many beautiful places in the Southern Caribbean and learned interesting things about the culture of some of the Caribbean islands. The food on and off the boat was delicious. The company that we were in was exceptional...I laughed until my sides ached and soda exploded out of my mouth and nose! (Literally! Thanks Wes.) Oh and my 30th birthday...I let it come and go with little more than a sigh. Who can complain when they are on board a beautiful cruise ship sailing over the light blue Caribbean waters!

Needless to say I am game for going again, I just wish our pocket book was. Something to save for I guess. :) I am posting some of the pictures of us. I hope you can get an idea of how incredible it was.

Poor Little Lito (aka Benjamin)

Benjamin is turning ONE next month and I do not have even one photo of all five us!  What kind of mother am I?  Let me tell you this blog has really motivated me to be more diligent about recording our family life with photos.  I am posting this picture to make sure that Benj is recognized as a Widdowson Bear. P.S We call him Benjilito or Lito for short just in case anyone was confused by the title.

Take the Kids to Pool...Hmmm...Let Me Think?

Sara and I decided to take the kids to the pool today. Now this is one of those decisions you make and then immediately wish you didn't. I started to think about all of the work that goes into taking five children to the pool. First there is the packing of the bag. You have to have towels and dry clothes and diapers and swim diapers, the list goes on and on right. Then of course the loading of all children and their things and the unloading and the herding them across the parking lot and into the building and then into the dressing room and then to the bathroom twice and then finally you get to the life vesting all while the two year old is taking off toward the pool. Oh and I didn't mention that we had to stop and feed all five children before we went swimming. I was thinking as we were sitting there in the Legacy Center Cafe...there is no way the dad's could do what we are doing. Well, to be fair they probably could, maybe they are just smart enough not to.

Anyway, we finally made to the pool and into the water. And that is where we received the fruit of our labor.    The kids had a great time!    They splashed, slid down slides, crawled through tunnels and dunked their little heads under the water for the first time...and that was just Benjamin. The other kids were swimming laps in the olympic sized pool! Okay, maybe not, but it was just about that awesome.

Benjamin is the one who surprised me most. I didn't even plan on him getting in the water! After the first 5 minutes it was clear that he was not going to watch from the sidelines! I had to bum a swim diaper off some random mom who was there and off he went. He was voluntarily submersing himself in as much water as we would allow him to. He didn't seem to mind having the water go over his head at all. I didn't wear a swimsuit so he got to have his fun at Sara and Hope's expense. They were in the water with the kids and helped me with Benj. (Thanks you guys!)

Anyway, despite the tedious work that was involved in getting to the pool I think we can all agree that it was worth it! The kids all had a great time and for the cherry on top...no one had a melt down when it was time to go home! I might even do it again sometime.

To Blog or Not Blog....

I must admit that I have stayed away from blogging due to my fear of starting another project that requires not only finishing but continual updating. I thought to myself, " If you don't start you don't have to feel guilty about not updating and staying current with my family's news." But the more blogs I view the more tempted I have been to start one of my own. And here I am struggling through my own first entry. I am stressed out already! I don't know where to start. I don't know what is interesting enough to actually share. My plan is to just start and hope that I get better with practice. So bear with me this first couple of weeks and hopefully with time I will become a polished blogger like all you other bloggers.