Lee has had a rough couple of months both physcially and emotionally and I really felt like I had to do SOMETHING to cheer him up SOOOOOOOOOOOO....
Through a lot of favors, prayer and a little bit of good luck I got Savannah to fly in for 9 days (accompanied by her Mom of course):-D He thought we were going to pick my brother up from the airport. I tried to get him to come in side but he was a little cranky so I had to make up a story about Jonny needing help with his bags. So he rushed into the baggage area and walked rigth passed Sara and Savannah and then stopped dead in his tracks and looked than stopped then looked back again and finally realized who he was looking at. It was CLASSIC. He really was in shock for a few hours and he kept asking, "So Jonny's not coming?". ROFL!!!!!! By the way this was the heardest thing I ahve ever had to do. Keeping this from Lee for a month about KILLED ME! It was soooo hard and I am NEVER doing it ever again. I was a nervouse wreck but it was worth all the suffering!!!
I actually didn't go too picture happy this visit because I wanted to just enjoy our time and due to some side efects from the medication Lee is on he has gained some weight and is self conscious about it. The few pictures I did grab of him he BANNED me from putting on here. LOL But here are a few of the highlights! Savannah LOVES to come to work with me and hang out at Turtle Bay. She is such a character...I love it!
Daddy and Savannah went out just the two of them to spend the day together and then finished up with a visit to Grandma Carols. Can you see the resemblence here???
We all went to the Swap Meet and did some SHOPPING and then got to see the Arizona Memorial. Lee hadn't been since he was a child and it was really interesting! Lee caught this gorgeous picture of Savannah...
Savannah is best freinds with our neighbor girls and their Mom planned a Valentine's Breakfast for them to hang out! These are the little favor bags we made for everyone.
Katrina made heart shaped pancaked and each girls initals...and she was dressed up in her Valentines outfit she made for a dance in High School...too cute!
Their favortie thing to do is go to the school playground. They are hillarious withe the crazy games they make up. Ahhhh to be a 6-8 year old again:-P
Savannah is a little afraid of the ocean due to some Jellyfish scares last summer but she LOVES to look for shells and coral. She spent hours at Sharks Cove looking for treasures!
One thing that I never expected out of having a step daughter is becoming best friends with her Mom:-D Over the last year Sara and I have really formed a tight bond and it is so comforting to be involved in Savannah's everyday life in a way that we never could be without this realtionship that Sara and I have. She always tells me that Im the first person she thinks to call when Savannah has done something cute or even if something has gone wrong becuase she knows that we are the only other people in the world who would care about Savannah as much as she does. Im so garteful that we are able to all come together to raise and support Savannah. She is definitely one of the most loved and spoiled little girls I know:-P And thats exactly how it should be...
Life feels so complete with our family together! I never really knew I was missing something until Savannah comes for her visits and life just feels RIGHT. I dont know how else to explain it...
The Banan Boat was quite an adventure...I was with the driver and he told them to do thumbs up if they wanted to go faster or thumbs down if they wanted to go slower. You can't tell by the pictures becuase I took them inthe beginning but at one point Lee was doing THUMBS UP and Sara was frantcially doing THUMBS DOWN. It was HILLARIOUS!!!!!
Savannah had enough of the salt water so the driver let her take over the boat. She did a really good job and she loved every minute of it. WE goofed off a little and took some pictures while Lee and Sara geared up for the bumper boat ride.
The Video I got was so m uch better but I will have to download that later. Picture one they look happy and ready for a fun ride then as you see in picture two they look like they are holding on for dear life...I caught this just before Lee flew off the bumper. It was acutally pretty cool looking...like out of a movie and he was a trooper:-P
Last but not least was our gorgeous and relaxing ride on a boat through the Harbor and in to the open Sea for Parasailing. IT was so peaceful and I could get used to travelling by boat. Im usually sea sick but this was small 8 passenger boat and the water was clear and gorgeous wit no waves and I was in HEAVEN. Lee and I passed on this one since I wanted to see how hard the landing would be and Lee was pooped from the bumper boat fiasco (heehee).
How cool is THIS!!! Savannah was such a brave girl. We were worried that shed be frightened but she LOVED it asn was so excited to see everything from up so high. The landing was actually very smooth so Lee and I are definitely palnning on trying this out in the near future!
These were the only two photos that we could all get in to and neither of them is very flattering to any of us BUT beggars cant be chooser, right? LOL...You know, we all mostly Sara and I) have gotten some raised eyebrows and negative comments from people who just can't understand how we can all get along so well. I dont understand why...yes this is not the ideal family situation and is not something you see everyday. But I will never understand why people don't think its a GOOD thing that all of Savannah's parents love her and respect and love each other and work together to raise her. I have had some hesitation on wether or not I should put these pictures on my blog but after a few days of being worried about what other people may say or think, I said to myself MIBI...really WHO CARES! This works only becuase Lee, Sara and I have put aside our own selfishness and really put Savannah's best interest first. And I think that is a blessing for all of us. I remember the days when we did not get along and my life was miserable. It has been such a relief to not have to worry about all the normal drama that is involved with blended families. I am blessed to have them be a part of my life and to be able to have Savannah grow up never having to experience her parents fighting over her or putting her in between their personal issues with each other. SO from here on out I am proud to say that we LOVE Savannah, her Mom and her two younger Brothers like FAMILY and will always be apart of each others lives through thick in thin. WOW that felt good...sorry for the long rant but I needed to get that off my chest.
All in all it was a WONDERFUL visit and we were so sad to see them go but can't wait for the summer when we get her for a whole 6 weeks. YIPEE!!! Lee's health is still a struggle but I could see and feel his spirits lifted after spending time with his little princess and remembering what he's fighting for. I have to admit it was nice for me too...being able to have some fun and forget about the Dr's, Insurance Companies and all the other junk I've been wrapped up in the past 6 months. Thanks for reading...if you made it this far you must REALLY love me.
