Wednesday, June 30, 2010



I have had an interesting few days in my "Fish out of water experience." Hanging out with the family that Dave practically lives with during the week. Seeing him more open than I have ever really ever seen him. Feeling a little like not talking cuz I don't know what to say. Amazing people. They don't know me ... yet ...

So I turn to their daughter, a fun but challenged 20 year old. Manic-Depressant in the extreme manic stage right now. She is my friend. Fun to hang out with. She does all the talking and I just listen to Lady Gaga with her...she likes me cuz I listen. She took me on an adventure today. Here's a cute picture of her:


I want to learn Spanish. I want to be able to communicate with these people. I know a lot, but I confuse it with French a lot so I have to think way more than I should. I feel a part of me coming alive as I remember how much I love to learn languages. I thought French would be my first to be fluent in, but with the turn of events in our life these days, it seems Spanish might be it.

We went to dinner, right on the beach, with the Brent and Linda and some of their friends. They are really great people! They live her in Cabo...he was just released as Stake President here in Cabo.


My words don't match my thoughts. But I wanted to put them down...

http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=98484383-078c-42bc-b04e-29d8bf4f1db7&productId=11&projectSponsor=142544

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cabo Contemplations...













And here is the view of the pool, which is basically right on the beach:







I came to Cabo knowing that a lot of time would be spent building the business. I also came hoping to spend time with Dave. I rarely see him. He is working hard to grow his business. It is temporary. But I want to still be able to "connect" when he is "back around," if that makes sense.



I am learning that Dave is very comfortable being alone. He likes his space and time alone. Understandable. We all long for it. I'm not saying he is not "connected" to me or our family. He is a good husband and father. But I do see that he is very comfortable with the "disconnect." I am also learning that I am not. I am so feeling like a fish out of water in a place that I should be relishing! For 20 years, my life has been centered around Dave. Half of my heart--and in fact half of myself--has belonged to him. I used to think that was good! I still do, but I am learning that there is more. I still need to be a whole person. I want to feel comfortable with the times of disconnect as well. I need to remember my whole self. What are my passions--really? What makes me excited? Who am I--REALLY?


I have been saying that I would go back to school when my youngest went to school. He will start first grade in August. I am finding the thought to be scary. I have almost talked myself out of it several times--is it right? what will I study? am I just chasing a false dream of getting a degree? will Dave approve?


Today, as I walked to the beach to watch the waves and think a bit while Dave did his own thing, I realized that I need to no longer care whether or not Dave approves. He does things without needing my approval...and I can't say I disapprove either. I don't want him to grow without me. He married me when I was a vibrant and full of dreams and aspirations, independent and strong. I can only hope that he still wants THAT person and that I can become HER again.







http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=98484383-078c-42bc-b04e-29d8bf4f1db7&productId=11&projectSponsor=142544

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Coming Home

WE couldn't leave without getting sunkissed...or burned. Ouch! Lobster Curtis!

At Grandma & pa Mac's, we saw the Turner cousins and their new puppy!










We didn't have much sun while on the ship, so we spent the last day (after getting off the ship) at Huntington Beach. It was a great way to end a wonderful vacation!



Karter's Favorite Things about the Cruise...

#1--The BUFFET (or the Buff-EAT, as he called it)

#2- Room Service!!!

#3 -- His VERY OWN Sail and Sign Card--Access to Everything!


#4- Watching TV in Bed





#5- The Towel Animals






#6- The SAFE! That he could open with HIS Card


#7- Snorkeling!

Carnival Cruise--Day #3 ENSENADA



I think Mexico was our favorite place. The kids really loved shopping and making deals with all the street vendors. And the tacos and chips were really good!








Carnival Cruise--Day 2

Of course, we start with a yummy breakfast

A view of Catalina from the ship

The Tender ride to Catalina Island






Such a fun place!




Beach Bummin'






Snorkeling
(some are braver than others...the water was cold!)



Getting Ready for Dinner




Karter locked one shoe in one room, the other shoe is on his foot. We had to locate the other key and wait patiently for the shoe to be rescued....



Fun and Fancy Dinner
















Dave felt like a winner! Bingo anyone?



Showtime!
Room Service! Really?











Our Carnival Cruise--Day 1 "All's Well that Ends Well"


Wow! We had such a great time on our Cruise to Catalina/Ensenada. What a great way to celebrate the high school graduation of our first child! It was ,however, not without challenges...

I must back up to Saturday night as a preface to the first day of our trip--boarding day. I was finishing up the packing process late Saturday night and I went to the nifty little wooden box that safely stores all of our important documents to retrieve the kids' birth certificates. I found all--except Curtis'. I looked through everything quadruple times, opening and shaking each little piece of paper, but to no avail. It was not there! Dave wasn't pleased--why did I wait until Saturday night to look? BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THAT BOX! ALWAYS!! So we combed the house, searched our memory banks, and prayed multiple prayers...I had one brilliant idea that we could go to the Health Dept in CA on our way to the ship, until Dave reminded me that Monday was Memorial Day and the Health Dept would be closed....and so finally, I went to bed with a secondary idea to call Carnival first thing in the morning to find out what we could do.

Sunday morning, 7 am, I called Carnival--relieved to hear that if I brought Curtis SSN and a photo ID, that would suffice and he would be able to board the ship. WHEW! We went to an early Sacrament Meeting then headed for California, all smiles and filled with excitement, as I'm sure you can imagine.

Monday morning--We originally planned to have Carl, Dave's brother, to take us to the port at around 1, as boarding started at 1:30, but everyone was soooo anxious that we decided to go at 10am. GOOD THING! Because when we presented ourselves at the early boarding desk, the lovely Carnival worker lady, Mary Estelle (the lovely lady in red in the photo below), put an immediate STOP to boarding process....Curtis's documents were not sufficient to board. We would either have to leave him behind or just not go on our long awaited dream vacation. Um NO! Not OK! You should have heard the commotion that the Mac Arthur family can make. I was actually surprised at how vocal my oldest girls are...Curtis turned pale, sat down, and put his head in his lap; Karter began to bawl!and Mady had tears brimming in her eyes; I was shaking and Dave was demanding to speak to a supervisor because the answer NO was NOT ACCEPTABLE!





So we were escorted to the main building to talk to the Diane, the Supervisor, who then took our docs and our case to her supervisor and other higher ups from customs and such. It took them 45 minutes to come back with another resounding NO! We were apparantly not going on a cruise...


More tears, anger, upset stomach (on my part, because this was all my fault for not checking my box sooner). What were we going to do now? We summoned our luggage back (we had checked it onto the ship already) and waited...we couldn't bring ourselves to leave.



It was a Federal offense with a "hefty fine" to use a cell phone in that building, but given our predicament, we were given permission to use our phones. Who could we call? There had to be a way? The school had a copy of his birth certificate...I called Craig Seegmiller, Mekenze's and Arielle's friend's dad, who is on the school board. He gave me the number to the principal at the middle school and at both elementaries that Curtis attended. No answer. But I have friends...I called Robin Keith, a teacher and counselor at Dixie Middle. She was in Pennsylvania...BUT she had Kay Peirce's phone number! Kay is a secretary at DMS, and she was HOME! Having a family party...but she was willing to do us this very huge favor. She arrived at the school with about 30 minutes to spare but could not find Curtis' file. AUGHHH!! Arielle had the idea--look under "C"--and lo and behold! The file was found, birth certificate inside. She faxed it over, and we ran to the check in counter where Mary Estelle (what are the odds that she was working the next available window?) cheered for us and completed the check in process! WoW! You have never seen a more excited--and relieved--group of Mac Arthur kids (and parents).



First stop--the BUFFET!



Does Dave look happy/relieved or what?




The Welcome Show




Karoake





Laser Tag




Staterooms!

(Karter's #1 favorite thing was that he had his own key--a complete list of Karter's favorites coming soon...)



The Girls' Room



Curtis Living in Style...