Before and After

Just to really drive home the whole Hurricane story (I promise I'll stop).

Here is a picture taken Monday as the Hurricane was approaching.

And here is the Wednesday photo of the same spot. Mother Nature is truly amazing!!

(Okay, I am done now.)

The calm after the storm?

Well, as you may have guessed we are still very much alive. I apologize to those of you who thought (or may have wished) otherwise. We weathered the hurricane in Cabo without incident. Tuesday night most of the storm had passed us by and we were allowed back into our room. The high winds continued through the night but we never got much rain. By Wednesday morning the staff of the Westin was busily cleaning up the mess left behind by Hurricane Jemina. Thursday afternoon when the bride and groom arrived any trace of the hurricane had all but been erased from the resort. Here is a cell phone picture of the view from our room on the eighth floor.

The events of the weekend went smoothly and the wedding was beautiful! Emma even declared she was getting married on a beach. Big steps for a girl, who minutes before, was never going to get married, ever. More to come on the wedding in another post.

Monday was a flurry of airports and assorted stops such as customs and immigration. (always a good time & was made even better with 3 kids and long lines.) We made it home late Monday, actually Tuesday morning and were able to procure a whopping 5 hours of sleep.

Tuesday passed in a gray sleep lacking haze. I am sure I did some things as there are no more suitcases out and several baskets of laundry are sitting around the house. However, my exact wear-abouts Tuesday remain a mystery even to me.

Here we are at Wednesday already. WOW. Now that was fast.

Another day in Paradise

Paradise. Just the word conjures up images of sandy beaches, pristine waters, palm trees, lush vegitation and a day of laying in the sun. The reality doesn't always meet up with expectation, which is a lession I guess we all have to learn. This is what our first day in paradise, specifically Los Cabos, Mexico looked like. Hurricane Jimena.

If you google The Westin Los Cabos you will find their website. Once there, you will find the photos on which our expectations were so highly set. Now, imagine if you will the same place covered in rain, with puddles everywhere. Imagine the ball room with the tables removed and the floor littered with temporary cots (aka the cushions from the chaise lounge chairs). This has become our reality.

I have to first commend the staff here at the Westin. They obviously had a course of action layed out and the staff was most efficient in setting it into motion. Their dedication to the safety and comfort of their guests has been impecable. I suppose if you had to stay in a hurricane a resort would be the way to go. Not that I am recomending it.

We have been evacuated to the ballroom, a staff corridor and some of the smaller meeting and conference rooms. My best estimate is about 400. They have fed us and provided us with water, coffee, tea and soft drinks around the clock. They have set up one of the meeting rooms for movies (the highlight of today is HSM incase you wondered). They have even dug out board games, cards and bingo. The best part is that we are safe. Sure the kids are bored. Sure my hip is killing me from sitting on the floor and I would love nothing more than to take a long hot shower. But again we are safe.

It has been difficult for many, as this is not the vacation they had planned. I feel terrible when I look at all of the honeymooners who are sleeping on a couch in the hall. I have been angered by the audacity of the select few who complain non-stop to anyone who will listen. I agree it is unfair but again, what choice do we have? Fortunately most people are understanding and we have come to enjoy the company of several guests. All of whom I am certain we would never have met under normal circumstances. The disaster has brought forth the good and the bad in all of us. Together we will weather the storm ( HaHa). Tomorrow we will all go about our vacations. (I hope) For now I listen to the unending droan of the kids Nintendo DS games and the slow hum of the conversations around us.

Sending you all love.

Words.

As a child there are specific words or phrases that your parents spoke which you remember vividly. As an adult you swear you will NEVER say those things. As a parent you are constantly amazed at how much you sound like your mother or father. Words like "If I have to pull this car over I will!" or "You're pushing your luck." Every time I catch myself saying something like this I am stunned at how much I sound like my parents. It amazes me. Everyday I seem to pick up one more trait or characteristic of my parents. I have to admit, it is also a little frightening.

Kids are so unpredictable sometimes, okay, most of the time. Boys, especially, give me pause more often than not. I have started a list of things that I have said, only to look back later and taken out of context laugh and laugh. Which I see as a good thing, that I can still laugh about it. Here are some things I have said that I never in a million years would have guessed I'd be saying.

1. Please stop giving your brother wedgies.

2. I know what I said but, sometimes your dad is right.

3. No. I don't think wearing your roller-blades and riding your scooter is a good idea.

4. No, Emma. I don't know why boys are so annoying.

5. Stop making your brother laugh and just go to sleep.

6. Next time do not use duck tape to hang things on the walls.

7. What to you mean it just broke?

8. You just broke your brothers finger. Could you please not wrestle with him while he is taking pain medicine.

9. I know he wasn't listening to you. But, Emma, there are better ways to get his attention besides punching him in the face.

10. If you are going to take something apart, please make sure it is unplugged next time.

11. No you cannot play golf with a rock.

12. Yes, I am sure he is not adopted. Well, because I was there.

13. When Grammy is here you may not talk about farts or poop, ever.

Come out come out where ever you are...

Where did I go? Nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I am here still in South Carolina. The kids are back at school and the routine is almost back to normal or as good as it will get. I am amazed that there haven't been more "emergency" runs to the school than there have already been. The kids have grown up so much, it seems, just in the time we have been here. No longer do I have to yell at them to do their homework. Amazing. They immediately come home and start working. Weird! I know! Today took a different turn in that I had to make them stop doing homework and have a snack. Imagine that! "Hey, You don't do that homework. You must eat!" Fatigue was setting in, as was the frustration and I new instinctively that it was due to hunger. Well, that and I couldn't handle the constant bickering. Not to mention the whining!

It looks on paper as though I have more time to do things yet, somehow I still don't get it all done. I just don't get it. Sure, I save up all my doctors appointments and do them while the kids are in school. Then there are general errands to do. Sure, Ginger and I get to walk everyday. Yet, get this, I still can't find time to finish the quilt I am working on. It seams I am just running out the door and I realized I have to get back and meet Jack an Emma at the bus stop. I am sure it will slow down. Isn't that what all moms' say. You know the, "I cannot wait until the kids are back at school so I can ..."

Today, I actually got to the store and purchased yarn. Never-mind I have a project only half finished in my knitting bag. I haven't worked on, said project, since we moved here and yet, I am bored with it. I found this pattern that I wanted to do and it called for bamboo yarn. I have wanted to try a bamboo yarn for quite a while now, and today was the day to start it. Okay, well, today was the day to hunt and gather, tomorrow I'll start. Maybe, soon I'll have another 1/2 finished project.

Meanwhile I am still house hunting. Which, unfortunately is not going well. I am frustrated and tired and oh, so annoyed. I don't want to sacrifice my quilting room but, it looks like that may be a very real possibility. No matter how you arrange a room, sharing it with the play room sounds like a bad, bad idea. So I trudge on. We'll find one that works sooner or later, of that I'm sure.

Just in the Neighborhood...

I am sure you have heard the phrase.."I was just in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drop by." We had a visit of that sort this weekend. Out of the blue I text message Dominic. I am still not sure why, other than I was entertaining my self. We don't often get to talk much since our schedules are so different. (basically I have kids, he doesn't) When he text me back that he was in West Virginia I'll admit I was curious. He said, "hey we are only 5 hours away from you." Which is pretty amazing since the past 3 years we have been 36 hours away from each other.

Apparently 5 hours to Dom and Maggie is "in the neighborhood." So, they dropped in for a visit. (like I said No kids.) It was wonderful. I'll admit family gatherings are great. When all 5 of us kids get together for a visit, with all of the spouses, significant others, kids and dogs, it gets pretty crazy. It is great but, getting one-on-one visiting time with your sibling is not easy during those visits. This was very nice, very unexpected and very wonderful for all. We had a great time. The kids adore all of their aunts and uncles each bringing their own special "fun" with them. Uncle Dom and Maggie showered them with attention, gave praise for the kids stories and achievements and gave hugs freely. The kids ate it up! While the visit was short, the time spent was quality. We all enjoyed their company and we hope the next time they are "in the neighborhood" we an do it again. Thanks Guys!

1st Day

Look at the enthusiasm the first day brings to the Hoog home!