Easter 2011

From our family to yours, I hope everyone had a blessed day!! We had a great day of fellowship and yummy food!!!

Sunday Review

Today I am reviewing my new favorite gadget and must have: the Amazon Kindle!!!

My dear sweet husband bought me this for Christmas and I am still in love with it 4 months later. I am a HUGE reader and easily can read a new book every week so this was the ideal present for me! And it does NOT disappoint! There are so many options out there but I still prefer this one. I love how I feel like I am reading from a book with the black and white printing similar to the real deal and its super thin! Another huge plus for the Kindle is you can truly read it in any light.. I've sat outside and read it in the sun shine with no problems or glare! Plus I have the Kindle light cover which has a built in reading lamp so I can even read it in bed well after the hubby has gone to bed without needing any light on. Its perfect! I haven't read from any other source since owning this! And I love how you can download the books right then and there so as soon as I am done with one, I can instantly download another and start reading. The Kindle even allows you to create a wish list of books so you can refer back to that list instead of searching the store again. I love how many titles are available and the prices vary depending on popularity and release of the book. And if you are into games especially word games, those are available on the Kindle as well. It is by far my go to gadget!!!

Flashback Friday

Peighton on Easter 2008

I loved this little dress from Gymboree. She was such a cutie pie!!

Flashback Friday

Peighton (14 months) passed out in her stroller after a long morning at our first trip EVER to Disneyland in CA!! We went for a long weekend in April 2008 and were hooked!! :)

Sunday Review

I am starting a new Sunday series where I review some of my favorite, all time go to or current loves in products. Today I will begin with a new favorite of mine... the ultimate in strollers... the double BOB revolution. Now I have always found them intriguing.. I mean the brand alone creates a stir in me.. the Best of the Best.. and their name matches their products. Although I'll admit I do not own one myself but I have a friend who owns and uses daily her single BOB jogger as well a friend who owns the double. And for our Disney trip a few weeks ago, we borrowed my friend's double BOB jogger and it did not disappoint!! It was light and its maneuverability & handling was excellent. I was afraid it would be to wide to get around in the stores but it was a perfect fit and had no issues in that department! Both kiddos were able to take a nap even 4 YO Peighton. It has great storage capabilities and dual canopies were a hit! Overall I am super impressed and once you get over the sticker shock of the over $500 price tag, it's a great stroller that I feel is well worth the price. If we ever have another kiddo, this will be going on my must have list!!!!

In Loving Memory

Orville Eugene Marxen LADSON - Entered into eternal rest on the Friday , March 11, 2011, Orville Eugene Marxen, husband of Patricia "Patty" Ruth Klapper Marxen. Residence Ladson, SC. The relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral services on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at 11 o'clock a.m. at CAROLINA MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior at Carolina Memorial Funeral Home. Orville was born June 12, 1930, in Middletown, OH, the son of the late Rudolph E. Marxen and Mildred Wolfe Marxen. He retired as a millwright at a AK steel mill in Middletown, OH, a member of Dorchester Presbyterian Church and was a member of Old Fort Masonic Lodge # 420 A.F.M. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patty Ruth Marxen, daughters: Kimberly Ellis and her husband Jeffery of Summerville, SC, and Elizabeth Wolfe and Timothy Ohlbrecht of Pembrook Pines, FL, and a son Timothy Marxen of Savannah, GA, grandchildren, Travis S. Ellis (Danielle), Meredith A. Doggette ( Brandon ), Brittany A. and Tyler J. Wolfe, great-grandchildren Peighton and Henry Doggette. Flowers accepted or donations may be made to The American Cancer Society , 5900 Core Ave., # 504, North Charleston, SC 29406-6070, 843-744-1922. Arrangements by CAROLINA MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME.

My papaw was a great man who lived a long, fulfilling life. He is missed and loved everyday.

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death. - Robert Fulghum

Disney Blog #3

We are less than a week away from our Disney World vacation... and I couldn't be more excited!!! I think Brandon and I are more thrilled than the kids, well maybe not P! She knows what its all about and is looking forward to seeing those princesses :) This time next week we will be in day 3 of our week long vacation and will be at the Animal Kingdom! We have meticulously planned our week out to a T including all our meals... Disney is the one place where planning ahead makes for a better experience!! Here is a run down of our itinerary:


Day 1: We will be driving down to FL and checking into our fabulous hotel at the Caribbean Beach Resort then its off to explore some of Downtown Disney and get some shopping in! Then we are heading over to Disney's Hollywood Studios for dinner at the Sci-Fi Drive-In Dinner Theater and some exploration of the park and enjoy the magic hours for resort guests only from 8 till 11 at night.

Day 2: Our morning starts off at the Hollywood & Vine inside Disney's Hollywood Studios for a Playhouse Disney Character Buffet breakfast. Then its off to once again explore the Hollywood Studios Park before taking a bus to our afternoon destination at Epcot where we are having lunch at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with the Disney Princesses. Then off to explore Epcot before our dinner reservations at the Coral Reef restaurant and stay till park closing to see the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

Day 3: This is our full day inside Animal Kingdom starting off with a breakfast buffet at Boma's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are looking forward to seeing the characters at Camp Minnie-Mickey and catching Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade. We will be having lunch at the Yak & Yeti which gets raves for awesome Asian cuisine. We are also planning (weather permitted) some afternoon pool time back at our hotel. Our dinner reservations will also be at the hotel's restaurant Shutter's at the Old Port Royale. This is our planned early evening to gear ourselves up for day 4!

Day 4: This is by far one of my favorite days planned, Magic Kingdom day!!!! We have full packed schedule that includes all 3 meals inside the park and staying up late to catch the Spectromagic nigh time parade as well as the Wishes fireworks spectacular. There are so many rides on our must do including everything in Fantasyland, The Haunted Mansion, Meet Woody & Friends, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Buzz Lightyears's Space Ranger Spin, and most of Mickey's Toontown Fair. We have awesome meals planned as well starting off with breakfast at the Crystal Palace which is a character buffet with Pooh and his friends. Then its off to lunch at the most magical place, Cinderella's Royal Table, where we will dine with Cinderella and other princesses. Then dinner will be at Tony's Town Square which is an Italian eatery with the character of Lady and the Tramp. This is by far our most scheduled day but it will all be worth it!!! :)

Day 5: This is our last and final day of our vacation and what better way to kick it off then with breakfast at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort. We can't wait to dine with and see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and other friends! The rest of the morning will be spent exploring more of downtown Disney and any last minute shopping!! Then back on the road to SC and to Mimi and Papa's house!! What a GREAT week :)