Family

Making Memories as a Mom

February 9, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

This is one of my goals for 2015. Last year, I felt like I just did enough. I would come home from work, hit the homework, make dinner, wash dishes and crash. What kind of memories was I making? Organization is a factor that will be helping me this year.

Each weekend, I sit down and write-out our 7-day dinner plan. This helps me prepare each morning and load up the crock pot for dinner that day. Also, my oldest daughter M is helping me so much with meals each day. Growing up, my brother and I taught ourselves how to cook and now I am passing on those tools of trade to M.

The evenings I plan to make more memories with the girls instead of ships sailing by each other in the night. M had dance tonight so L and I decided to surprise her and Daddy with cookies when they walked in the door.

The surprise was a great treat! L was learning to cook and it was good bonding time for us both. These are the memories I want to continue to create with my girls and they will be able to look back when they are older. The memories of Mommy just passing in the wind during the evenings are not memories that I want to instill in their brain and hearts.

Here’s to many more Mom memories in 2015!

FROZEN Will Be Aboard Disney Cruise Ships This Summer!

February 3, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Big news for FROZEN fans! I just have to say that I cannot wait for another FROZEN movie. This was one of my all-time favorite Disney movies. As we wait for the next movie, we can all enjoy our FROZEN pals on a Disney Cruise.

Highlights include a spectacular deck party, a new production number in “Disney Dreams,” new character meet and greets, storybook adventures ashore and another way to cool down on Castaway Cay. I’ll share some details on these exciting offerings today, and over the next several weeks, tell you more about what you can expect in summer.

A Day of Frozen Fun, Including New Deck Party
Debuting this summer, on select Disney Magic and Disney Wonder sailings to Europe and Alaska, Disney Cruise Line guests are transported to the land of “Frozen” when the ship is transformed into a winter wonderland and a day of frozen fun culminates with an extravagant celebration with friends from the Kingdom of Arendelle. The deck party, “Freezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa and Friends,” is a family-friendly interactive celebration featuring the famous royal sisters and their fun-loving Nordic companions.

New Production Number in “Disney Dreams”
Our friends from “Frozen” are making their stage show debut at sea in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the Disney Magic. In our original production, “Disney Dreams … An Enchanted Classic,” Anna, Elsa and Olaf join the line up of beloved Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams. Brand-new scenes featuring “Frozen” characters include renditions of three popular songs: “Let it Go,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “In Summer.”

Magical Meet and Greets
In addition to warm hugs, Olaf will be giving autographs and taking photographs with children and families while he is cruising with us. He is joining Anna and Elsa on the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic for some fun in the sun!

Adventures Ashore in Norway
This summer in Norway, the land that inspired Arendelle from “Frozen,” Disney Magic cruisers will have the opportunity to join exciting new Port Adventures that bring this fairytale setting to life. One signature adventure ashore in Ålesund, Norway, created exclusively for Disney Cruise Line, will immerse guests in the splendor and charm of Norway, with the help of Anna and Elsa, in an enchanting storybook village.

Olaf’s Summertime Freeze on Castaway Cay
We’re cooling down Castaway Cay with the addition of Olaf’s Summertime Freeze bar! Serving non-alcoholic specialty frozen drinks in souvenir cups, the creative menu features refreshing beverages such as “Olaf’s Flurry Freeze,” “Sven’s Carrot Delight” and “Warm Hugs.” Olaf’s Summertime Freeze will be near the Pelican Point tram stop by Castaway Cay Family Beach.

With this news, I am ready to go on a cruise right now! What about you?

Where do I go in 2015?

January 12, 2015 by Jennifer 4 Comments

I blinked and 2014 was gone. My most favorite time of the year and it is in the past. The month brought forth much joy but was so busy. Recent conversations around the lunch table had me sharing my woes about December being gone. I do apologize for not sharing here on the blog. I am back in 2015! Did you miss me?

No more overtime at work means more time for blogging. My heart craves this outlet. My thoughts need to be typed. As days go by in 2015, the big question is where do I go in 2015? I am still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life career wise. As many know, my favorite job is being a mom. My girls are my world. I am speaking of my career job. Every step I take each day, I am hoping leads to a solid future and foundation for my family. The girls are looking up to me. Lord, please guide and direct me to be the example I need to be for them. This is my prayer each night. Where will the Lord guide me in 2015?

As of April 30th, I will finish college again! I will walk with degrees in Business Administration and Logistics Management. Couple these degrees with Information Technology Diploma, Certificates in Software Specialist, Marketing, and Database Management. My mind looks at each of these and I’m not sure what to do? God has a plan, I just have to be patient. Naturally, I want to know the plan. God’s words help me focus on him.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20

He is clearly at work in my life as I am not sure how I could have went through the last few years without him by my side. Each time I worry, He scoops me up and shows me that everything will be just fine. Our Lord is really the truth and the light. He will not steer us wrong. My eyes are focused on Him as I am excited to see what He will do with me in 2015. Will I stay in NC? I don’t know. God does and I am hoping He will show me the plan soon. I am so impatient.

Much love and I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with my blogging family!

Day 251: Do you recognize anything about me?

December 2, 2014 by Jennifer 4 Comments

Can you believe it has been 251 days since my double jaw surgery? Recovery is going well. I reached a huge milestone. What do you not see?

Did you guess NO BRACES?! You are right. I was so excited to reach this great milestone. Eating is so different. Seeing my beautiful smile for the first time made me want to tear up. The wait for this moment has been so long but so worth it. All my teeth meeting together is a priceless feeling.

As far as recovery, I still do not have the feeling in my chin or bottom lip. In my latest x-ray, my chin is still not fully healed. It is still broken but oh so close to coming close together. My hope is once the chin fully grows back together, maybe the feeling will come back in my bottom lip and chin. I keep a paper towel with me at all times when I am eating so I can constantly wipe my chin as I do not feel when something is on my chin. Slightly embarrassing at times for sure.

The opening of my mouth is still not where it should be, but maybe this isn’t a bad thing? HA! I can still yell with the best of them though. The biggest complaint is I cannot bite into a sandwich or eat a banana without shoving it in my mouth. Stretching my mouth will help this and I do the stretches quite frequently. At times the jaw feels tight so the stretches actually make it feel better.

Overall, the healing is exactly where it should be for 8 months. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like it has been eight months. What an incredible journey it has been!

My goal is to bite into a sandwich by my year anniversary on March 26, 2015. I can do it!

A Mom’s Review of the BRITAX Marathon Car Seat!

November 13, 2014 by Jennifer 1 Comment

Baby Avery is growing up. She is ready to transition to a big girl car seat. We are very loyal fans to BRITAX, so was thrilled when they sent the Marathon for Avery.

Product Features:
– Base with SafeCell Technology features SafeCells designed to compress in a crash, significantly lowering the center of gravity and counteracting the forward rotation of the child seat which normally propels the child toward the front seat.

– Integrated Steel Bars strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash.

– Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether features a staged-release tether webbing to slow the forward movement, reducing the crash forces reaching the child, and a two-point attachment to minimize forward rotation while anchoring the top of the child seat.

Avery’s mom, Ashley, shares her thoughts about the car seat.

The Britax Marathon is the easiest car seat I have ever installed. I attribute this to the quality materials of the seat and the easy to understand instructions. I love the way the latch anchors slide along a bar to help alternate between rear and forward facing. The belt path installation is usually the most cumbersome part, but with the Marathon even this step was easy. Again, this is because of the well written and well-illustrated instructions. The tether anchor is also a great touch, as we have used car seats in the past with no tether, and it seems as if the car seat has way too much movement, especially if we were to have a rollover accident.

Avery loves this seat, as she has fallen asleep every time we have put her in it. The cushions on the shoulder straps help keep her comfortable instead of rubbing on her neck, and when the straps are tightened she is very secure, yet comfortable. Compared to other car seats that we have used in the past, this is by far her’s and our favorite. The neutral color scheme is also very appealing as this car seat would work for a boy or girl. One of my only minor complaints about the seat is that it’s difficult to tighten and release the shoulder straps while rear facing, due to the awkward angle and tight configuration of the car seat up against the backrest of the vehicle seat. I haven’t seen a car seat yet that manages to avoid this issue, but it would be nice to see in the future.

A checklist of some of our favorite features:

Quick-Adjust Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps
Side Impact Protection comprised of deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing EPP foam distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head, neck and body
Tangle-Free, Five-Point Harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit
HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard System) Chest Pads provide resistance to forward movement in the event of a crash
65-pound Weight Capacity for safety and comfort as your child grows
Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning
High Density Comfort Foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion your child
Two Buckle Positions for your growing child
Made in the USA with global components

A happy baby and a happy mom means lots of sweet family travels. Thank you BRITAX!

MSRP (USD): $289.99

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