I love SPOT!

This is the coolest gadget that I've ever seen! It is my new best friend. Here is why.....Mike and the boys are on a camping/fishing/whitewater rafting trip. Usually, I say good-bye and say my prayers that they will have a safe trip. Then, I don't hear from them for days. There is never any cell service where they go...mountains, canyons, rivers, etc. I do worry about them, but there is not a lot that I can do about that. Until now. Mike bought this thing called SPOT. It is a satellite imaging messenger. It will send pre-programed messages and location information via GPS technology, including points that can be tracked on a map. There is a check in message that tells me "everything is OK". There is an "ask for help" message, if they need assistance. There is a 911 message if something has gone really wrong. (This button is really serious and will connect to search and rescue - lets hope they NEVER need to send this one). The "everything is OK" message is texted to my cell phone and I also receive an email. Cool!

So far today, I've gotten four messages that says "everything is OK". I've been able to see where they are on the google imaging map. I will sleep so much better knowing they are safe and sound. I love SPOT!

They're Back!

I'm off to the airport to pick up my globe trotting boys! woohoo!!

Trip update #4

6/14 - the boys called in to tell me how much they LOVED Dubrovnik. They said it was the "coolest" city. They had fun walking the perimeter walls, (a mile and a half), of a medieval city. They guessed it was about 400 feet high. It was a quick call and tomorrow they will be in Venice for two days. Their trip is winding down. They fly home on Thursday. I'm ready....I really miss them! They said they are bringing home goodies for everyone. We have a surprise for them when they get home. We have completely redecorated both of their rooms. It has kept me very occupied. It was a fun project to do while they were gone and Tyler was a huge help. Lots of painting and shopping! Pottery Barn Teen is my new favorite place to shop. They have such great ideas and options for doing a teenager room.

Almost forgot, but when I looked at the calender, I realized today is our 31st LID anniversary.

Trip Update #3

6/11 update - yeah! the boys just called. I wasn't expecting to hear from them because it was past midnight in Greece, but they managed a call home before going to bed. All is well, and they are having so much fun (and obviously turning into night owls). They said they enjoyed Naples/Capri, saw lots of ruins, and did mention how hot it was. I loved hearing about their visit to Santorini. They rode the donkey's up from the harbour to the beautiful hill town of Fira. They both said how sweet the donkeys were. William said that he really liked the crepe restaurant that was their treat after the uphill climb. They rode the cable car back down, and I'm told the views were "amazing". Their next day was in Athens. The connection wasn't great, but from what I could gather, there was some sort of tour guide strike in Athens so I'm not sure how much touring they got to do that day. Again, they said it was really hot, "like over 100 degrees". I laughed when they told me that they are eating about 8 meals a day. Apparently food and ice cream come in endless supply on the ship. They won a family Trivia game and tomorrow they are going to play family BINGO....grand prize is $5000. Tomorrow is another "at sea" day, and their next two stops are Dubrovnik, Croatia and Venice, Italy.

They ending the call by asking me if we could go on a cruise for Thanksgiving!!!

Trip Update #2

6/8 update - I was able to talk to the boys, very briefly yesterday. The connection was really bad, but I could tell they were still loving every minute of their trip. They called from Rome, where they had spent most of the day touring the eternal city with a private tour guide. They said St. Peter's Basilica was bigger and more beautiful then they could have imagined! Unfortunately, they missed seeing the Pope from his window at the Vatican where every Sunday, he addresses the crowds below, by a mere six minutes! Peter was excited to tell me that he decided to go to confession. He said he was very happy to have gotten a priest who spoke English! The previous day they were in Florance, but I wasn't able to get any details from their time there. Today, they are in Naples and Capri. Tomorrow is a day at sea, so I'm sure they are ready for a little R&R. They both said "just hanging out on the ship is a lot of fun".

I miss them terribly, but I know they are having the experience of a lifetime!

Trip update #1

6/5 update - I got to talk to the boys early this morning. There is an 8 hour time difference, so it was about 2:00 in the afternoon in France. They called from a cafe in Nice's Cours Saleya flower market district where they were lunching on pizza and snails. They are having so much fun and it was so great to talk to them! After lunch, they were going to visit a medieval hilltop village in Eze, and see the castles, moats, and spires of the fortress. A perfect excursion for my boys!

I asked them how they liked the cruise ship. "It is awesome!" They have played in a ping pong ball tournament and beat a "bunch of old people" (their words!) in basketball. They even took in a show last night after dinner. They made a point to tell me that they are enjoying the unlimited soda and smoothies. They promised me that they were staying away from the railing!

Next stop is Florance, Italy.

The Twins Big Adventure

This was Peter and William, yesterday morning, as we were leaving for the airport. Mike and I accompanied them to the gate, where they boarded a flight to California. There, they met up with their grandparents and began their big adventure. This afternoon, they will fly to Barcelona, Spain. After spending the night in Barcelona, they will prepare to set sail on a Mediterranean cruise. Here are the ports they will get to visit:

* Nice, France
* Florance, Italy
* Rome, Italy
* Naples/Capri, Italy
* Santorini, Greece
* Athens, Greece
* Dubrovnik, Croatia
* Venice, Italy


They will gone for almost three weeks. I miss them already, and yes, I did try to squeeze myself into their suitcase! Thank goodness for international cell phones!