Happy Halloversary!

One year ago today, I published this blog post to the Freeman Blog: “Trick or Treat!”  Although there were several posts on the blog before this particular one, they were mostly just pictures and honestly, some that you will find before this day were back-dated.  All of this to say that today is kind of like our 1-year blog anniversary.

Honestly, I think of the Freeman Blog as our little baby and I love it.  It is like scrapbooking (which I used to LOVE) but faster, easier, and with less mess.  I love the fact that I can look back on the past year and that our families can read what we’re up to, even if it is just a walk at the arboretum or a recipe.  I love taking pictures of our everyday lives and I love feeling like I’m sharing them by posting them on the blog, even if only three people are looking at them.

More than anything, though, is the outlet that this little blog has given me to document our lives and marriage. I think it will be amazing to show to our kids some day & I fully intend to continue blogging as long as I possibly can! Also,  I honestly think that keeping up with the blog has made me a happier person.  I swear!  I love taking pictures and describing our road trips and vacations and even the ordinary days.  I can’t talk about my job on the blog, but before I started this new position I was absolutely miserable with work.  The blog helped me tremendously by forcing me to be positive and to really notice the many, many blessings I have in my life…because I’m not going to be a total Eyeore on the internet.

I also think that the blog has brought Brent and I closer together. I love our life together and I love that even after 7.5 years it still feels like an adventure.  We will often be out and about and one of us will say “Oh, this would be a good picture for the blog!”  Even though I can’t get him to post (yet!), he contributes by providing ideas, inspiration, photos, and critique.

One final benefit of the blog is that it has helped me not to be so shy and private.  When I first started actually posting pictures and words in my posts and Brent would show his friends, or I would get a random comment from a stranger on the internet, I was absolutely HUMILIATED.  I felt like I was exposing myself to everyone.  But then the more I did it, the more I got over that embarrassment and now I realize that I was just taking myself WAY too seriously.  Now, I will say that most people still don’t know about the blog (like my coworkers) and I know I would still die of humiliation if they some how found it.  But I’ll worry about that it if ever happens.

I know that it is silly to write such a long, pensive post about a silly little blog that only has three readers but seriously, we love it and it is so fun and it has truly made a difference in my life during the past year.  So here’s to many more posts and years!!!

Freeman Vacation 2010–Orlando, Florida

The annual Freeman family vacation took place in sunny Orlando, Florida this year.  We went with two other couples and had a great time!!  Can I just say that I LOVE the great state of Florida?! This began back in my teenage years when the Anderson family would take annual trips to Daytona Beach. I thought it was an exotic paradise and – unbeknownst to my parents - used to daydream about going to college or pharmacy school there.  I love everything about the beach. The sun, the palm trees, the ocean….it creates a sort of Heaven-on-Earth atmosphere for me.  Of course it is no Hawaii, but it is far more accessible than Hawaii and it will more than do.

We were so excited about the trip that we booked a 7:30 a.m. flight several months ago.  Which means we had to get up at 4 a.m. Yawn.  But this airport experience was my best ever…so efficient and not crowded.  And we got to Florida around noon, so we didn’t have to spend an entire day of our precious PTO on travel.

We shared a condo with our friends at the Sheraton Vistana Resort about 5 – 10 miles from Disneyworld.  As you will see, I took most of the vacation photos with the Canon Powershot, which is a TERRIBLE camera.  But I just couldn’t carry the Rebel around everywhere.

View from our balcony.

The pool area was so nice!

On Wednesday night, we went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.  I swear I have never screamed so much in my entire life.  It was fun!  There were 7 or 8 haunted houses, plus a few of the rides were open, including the Mummy, a fun indoor roller coaster that we road twice.  We also rode the Jaws ride, which I have been wanting to ride ever since the Babysitters Club went to Universal Studios about 18 or so years ago. It.was.so.hot.  Seriously, I did not plan for the weather still being so warm in Florida.  Universal was fun, but I prefer more rollercoasters!  I live for rollercoasters! Ha!

And I was SO PROUD of Brent for winning the strong man game!!!  Seriously – it felt like one of those old-fashioned scenes from a movie!  I was super impressed!  That’s my husband!!!!

This is only vacation recap, Part I!!  Stay tuned!

Countdown

Counting down to our vacation!  Not much else going on in the Freeman Casa!

I’m not sure what is wrong with me. I dye my hair, layer inappropriate accessories over my gown, and take tons of goofy pictures. If this doesn’t scream mental illness, I’m not sure what does. Please, make it stop.

Bingo, Bluegrass & Bonding on the ‘Belle.

The second river exploration for the Anderson family in Fall 2010 was a fall foliage cruise aboard the Southern Belle.

Basically, this photo is too funny for words. In fact,  I am still thinking about sending it in to the “Awkward Family Photos” website.  Aunt Barbara looks scared….can you blame her? Only I’m not sure what (or who) she is scared of….Mama with her “mental-patient eyes?”  (If you stare into her eyes, the left one begins to glow red a little bit, I swear!!) Or could she be scared of Daddy with his suspiciously absent hands? It looks like he and Amanda might break off and form a congo line at any moment.  Perhaps this is also why Kourtney looks like she might  be about to make a mad dash for the exit at any moment. And why did I obviously ask my hairdresser to get my hair color as close to my skin color as possible?  Amanda’s the only one who looks like a normal person in this photo.  Just give her a few more Anderson outings and we’ll see how normal she is……

Let the fun begin.

And I’m sorry Kourtney, but for the integrity of the blog I must report that it was shortly after this picture was taken that I was mistaken for the younger sister.  Just sayin’ is all.

This was originally supposed to be a photo of Daddy talking with his Aunt Barbara, but you will notice that it became something very different. I will say this about my mother: she is what the folks over at Photobomb would call a “photojacker.”  She refuses to blend into the background.  No one puts Mama in a corner.  Candid?  What does that mean?

Then there was bingo, which just happens to be my specialty.  Just kidding.  I have actually never won a game of bingo in my life until this day.

Not flipping a bird, just crossing her fingers!

Daddy says: “No more biscuits?  Wah wah.  Oh well, fruit will do!”

I dedicate my bingo win to the woman who, at an early age,engrained in me the motto that I vow never to forget again: “the blonder, the better!”

Nope, I didn’t do Fattybooth on my face in this picture.  Why do you ask?

And then……Daddy and I toured the Nina & the Pinta (replicas, of course!). 

These boats were unbelievable!  Tiny!  I cannot even imagine setting sail around the world in one of these things!  And we also learned that most of the (original) crew was between 14 & 18 years of age.  Of course, in 1492 teenagers were more adult than they are these days, but still!!!

And just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, I was introduced to the strawberry shortcake at Souper Salad.  Bingo!

The End.