Dear John

Dear John,

I am sorry for posting a funny looking picture of you online for all the world to see. (summer computer camp photo) To even the score, I tried to find a terrible picture of myself. When that search proved fruitless, I decided to post this picture.

You clearly are the sexiest man alive and a smoking cauldron of hotness. So sexy, in fact, that I am jealous of the dolphin in this picture.

Love,
Lisa

P.S. Check out your bulging biceps! Wow.

We're Going to See the Mayan Ruins!!!

Chichen-Itza, here we come! I'm so excited I almost can't sleep. OK, I'm a nerd and I realize many people wouldn't be foaming at the mouth to see this place. I've just always been in complete awe of the Ancient Mayans. I've taught many lessons to bored high school students and never once really thought I would see this place with my own eyeballs!

This is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, constructed between 1100-1300 A.D. There are 365 steps to the top, one for every day of the year, and evidence of the Mayan's interest in astronomy and the calendar. At mid-afternoon during an equinox, the shadow that covers the northeast angle of the pyramid is reflected on the stairway. This forms triangles of light and shade that imitates the movement of a serpant descending the stairway. This shadow touches the large head of Kukulcan at the bottom of the stairway . . . just like magic . . . and only during the equinox. Well, guess what . . . September 21 is the autumnal equinox and I'll be standing next to this pyramid! I'll probably need supplemental oxygen and someone to hold me up. Seriously, can you imagine the precise architectural and astronomical measurements that would be necessary to achieve such an effect? To be completed by people who lived over 700 years ago . . . simply astonishing. It will be a nerdy history teacher's biggest thrill. (It will absolutely thrill my nerdy, software developer husband as well. Lucky for us!)

Mom and Dad Keller will be staying with Megan, Mocha (dog), Molly (cat), and Mona (fish). It is so nice for them to be able to spend that time with her, and it allows us to go away, not worrying even for a second that Megan is being well cared for.

We'll be staying at a resort in the Riviera Maya region. I love the turquoise water, the white sand, the ocean breeze . . . definately a tropical girl at heart! I've never been to Mexico and can't wait to eat a real burrito. (And probably everything else in sight since I'll be on a major diet until we leave to get this body bikini worthy . . . not sure I have enough time, ha!) We'll fly directly from Columbus to Cancun aboard a chartered flight, then off to the resort. We got a special though the travel agent that gives us the "royal suite," complete with an oceanview room and a jacuzzi on the balcony. I love traveling to hurricane prone regions during hurricane season . . . incredible bargain prices!! We love to walk on the wild side . . . but don't worry, we have travel insurance.

The resort

The lobby at the resort.

Have you ever realized how gross a swim-up bar really is? Think about it . . . a bunch of people consuming alcohol need to do what about 10 times an hour? PEE, and I'll bet more than half of them do it right where they are floating. I'll probably steer clear of this particular pool. Besides, I drink so rarely I'd probably have a tequila and drown.

Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? You know, a list of things you would like to do before you "kick the bucket?" I didn't see the movie but I think it is a great concept. Make a list of all the things you want to do and experience someday. Then hold yourself to the list, check it often, and make sure you're crossing things off. Throw yourself completely into life . . .

I've been keeping a list like this for some time now, only recently writing it down (in no particular order.) I've just made plans to cross off one more thing. See if you can guess what it is.

1. See an erupting volcano.

2. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.

3. Cruise the Nile River and see the pyramids at Giza.

4. Visit the Palace of Versailles.

*5. Experience childbirth (ouch) . . . next time, perhaps, without the double chin





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6. Ride in a hot air balloon.

7. See the Grand Canyon

8. Rock my grandchildren to sleep

*9. Hold a political office



















10. Meet the guy of my dreams . . . thankfully after tube socks go out of style (my guy is on the right . . . hands off, ladies!)



















11. Earn a Ph.D.

12. Cruise the Panama Canal

13. Visit the Galapagos Islands

*14. Marry my best friend
























*15. Swim with stingrays
















*16. Make out under a waterfall (you'll just have to take my word for it)


















*17. Experience pregnancy (heartburn, weight gain, stretch marks . . . wait, those weren't on my list!)


















*18. Fall asleep to the sound of waves pounding the shore
















19. See the Mayan Ruins

20. Be able to wear a pair of jeans in a size 6 . . . on BOTH my legs!

*21. Ride a dolphin just like they do at Sea-World

*22. Snorkel in the Caribbean

*24. Go scuba diving

(No photographic evidence . . . I somehow lost the underwater camera in between thinking I was drowning and my eardrums almost exploding.)

25. Visit "the world" in Dubai

26. See the Great Rift Valley and go on an African safari

*27. Earn Master's degree

*28. Complete the police academy (the toughest 6 months of my life . . . I'd rather be pregnant with sextuplets than ever run 10 miles again.)

29. Go white water rafting

Sometimes Moms Say the Dumbest Things

Mom: Sit down in your chair during dinner please.

Megan: No!

Mom: Megan, don't tell Mommy no. [insert stern look here] Do you want to go to timeout?

Megan thinks: Ahhhhh, just how am I supposed to answer that stupid question without saying "no?"

Like I've said before, she is my practice child.

Are You Blog-stalking Me????

Who in the world is reading this blog??

I added the counter at the bottom and can't believe my eyes. Almost 700 hits?

Anyway, I was just wondering if there are any blog-stalkers out there.

Definition of a blog-stalker - you don't know me, you just read my blog while you are procrastinating and should be doing something productive

Don't be shy . . . I do it. A lot of my friends do it too. It is ok. Don't feel ashamed.

Soooo......please, please......if you are reading this, leave me a comment and tell me about yourself. Hey, I might want to check out your blog too.

I also added a little side note of my favorite people to blogstalk. Warning - It can be a very addicting activity.

First Trip to the Dentist

Did you know I'm terrified of the dentist?? I'm not really sure why either. I've only had one cavity, and that was just this year. (I was so afraid of the filling, John had to leave work and come with me.)

I didn't want my own fear of the dentist to rub off on Megan. Guess what . . . she's not a big fan either. ha, ha

I took her to the "pediatric dentist" which seemed to help. They had all her favorites . . . Elmo, stickers, and balloons.

The dentist counted her teeth . . . 16. That means we are due for 4 molars. Can't wait for that! Should be loads of fun.

No cavities! Hooray, especially since I'm pretty sure the sedating gas isn't available for the mommies and I'm certain I would need it.

Coldwater Lake

This is the lakehouse where my friends and I go scrapbooking in the winter. It is on a little island called Iyopawa on Coldwater Lake, Michigan. It makes an even better summer get-a-way!

Andrea, Kasey, and I packed up the kids for a lake adventure.

Megan playing in the sand on the little beach in front of the lakehouse.

Megan, Cooper (Cuckoo), and Anna all started splashing and laughing at the same time. Kodak moment!


We took a walk around the island almost every night. Megan and Anna

would hold hands. How adorable!

Megan's very first boat ride. I was a nervous wreck but she really enjoyed it.

Cooper fell in love with Megan and wouldn't stop kissing her. She now has the cold that he had at the lake. I told her, "See, that's what you get for kissing boys."

Megan fell asleep in the chair on the deck, and she didn't even partake in the afternoon cocktail hour with the mommies!

At the sandbar.

The three kiddos eating breakfast in the morning. They all kept complaining that one was closer than another so we had to push all their chairs together until they were touching.

Megan, thrilled with the seaweed she found at the sandbar.

So cute!

On the way home from the lake, Cooper was a little tired (understatement of the century) in the car. He was crying and whining for a LONG TIME and Megan finally took her pacifier out of her mouth and handed it to him. ha!