A Tribute to Granny and Grandpa

Granny and Grandpa Morgan made it safely back to Texas yesterday and we truly miss them. We thank them for...

1. Driving over 1,100 miles to be with us.
2. Baking peppermint snowball cookies.
3. Visiting Christmas light displays.
4. For including our dog, Wagner, on your daily walks.
5. For sleeping in a pre-teen's hot pink bedroom.
6. Babysitting the grand kids so mom and dad could have a night out.
7. Thoughtful Christmas presents.
8. Agreeing to kennel their dogs for the first time.
9. Staying with us in a resort on Christmas Eve.
10. Enjoying Epcot on Christmas Day.
11. For bravely trying every ride at Epcot (Soaring, Living with the Land, Nemo, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track).
12. Walking miles and miles and miles around the Epcot countries.
13. Lastly, a panini feast on the last night.

To Granny and Grandpa, please come back soon!

By Mom

Christmas "Firsts" 2009

Most years, we spend Christmas either in Dallas, TX with the Morgan side of the family or in Atlanta, GA with the Guske side of the family. This year, we decided to try something new for the first time, we ....

1. Drove Granny and Grandpa (visiting from Texas) to Orlando.
2. Spent Christmas Eve at a resort.
3. Floated down a heated lazy river and sat by a large fire pit on Christmas Eve.
4. Received a delivery from Santa in a hotel room.
5. Played with Mason's new toy (razor sparks scooter) outside the resort lobby.
6. Ate a Christmas breakfast buffet in a restaurant.
7. Best of all, spent Christmas day at Epcot.

Holiday Lights 2009

Darin added some new additions to our lawn this Christmas. We welcome an alligator, well, we do in Florida and a golfing Santa. Can you believe he found that one?

by Mom

Happy Holidays from the Morgans!

Lots of Holiday Happenings around the Morgan household: St. Nick night at St. Agnes, Holiday Parade down 5th Ave, Cookies with Santa at school, Bonita Boat Parade, Chorus Concert at the middle school and the kid's favorite "cookie exchanges" with Mom's friends.

A couple of December wishes we want to send. Happy Birthday to Nana! Happy Anniversary to Aunt Deborah and Uncle Steve.

by Mom

Thanksgiving 2009

Every year we drive to Perry, Georgia were my Aunt Terrie lives. Not only do we go to Perry, my Nana's entire side of the family goes. Every year on our way, we stop at Disney World. But this year, we went to Magic Kingdom and the monorail was broken plus it was raining. So, everyone had to ride a bus to the park. Once we got to the ticket booth we decided to leave. Instead, we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. After the museum, we headed to Perry. The weather was beautiful, I played with all my cousins, and held new baby Owen (or as Mason calls him, O Daug).
by Mackenzie

Homemade Butter

Mason was taught how to make homemade butter in his second grade classroom. He decided to try it at home. You need heavy whipped cream, salt, and a clean marble. You have to shake it for 2o minutes (take breaks when needed). You must take out the marble and then, enjoy!

by Mason and Mom

Old Florida Festival

Today we attended the Old Florida Festival in Naples. The kids witnessed re-enactments of Florida's history. I had to laugh at Mason's reaction to the sounds of the guns and cannons.
By Mom

Middle School Concert

Tonight was Mackenzie's first middle school chorus concert. Mackenzie invited her elementary school music teacher and he came to listen to the beautiful songs. A nice time was had by all!

by Mom

Halloween Happenings

There have been three evenings of Halloween activities for the Morgans. On Thursday, we attended the Fall Festival at Mackenzie's new middle school. Friday, Mackenzie attended her first middle school costume dance. Finally, a cookout with good friends and trick or treating in the neighborhood last night. After all this excitement and the time change, this morning we are are feeling a little similiar to our carved pumpkin, yuck!

by Mom

Annual Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze

Random Pictures of Sweetness

I received a new camera for my 21st wedding anniversary and finally decided to take it "out for a spin" today. School was closed for a hurricane make-up day and weather was still cool and beautiful so we headed to the local park with a friend.

by Mom

A Cold Front Finally Arrives!

Finally, after months of a heatwave, Naples got a rush of cold air from the north. How do you take advantage of a weekend of cooler weather in South Florida? Build a fire on your patio and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. We better enjoy it now! By tomorrow, temperatures will reach the high 8o's again.

by Mom

Swine Flu

The Swine Flu hit the Morgan Household. Mason lost so much weight that he is down to "skin and bones." Just kidding, he was just trying on his new Halloween costume that Mackenzie and I found for him while we were out shopping. Darin should be awarded "Best Dad of the Month" for taking such good care of an ill child while I continued to teach.

by Mom

Dolphins Win!

In the words of Jimmy Buffett, "can't you feeling them circling, can't you seeing them swimming around, you got fins to the right, fins to the left and you are the only game in town." Darin and I hopped on a beer bus from Naples to Miami for a Miami Dolphin Football game. We went with six other couples that I had never met. Who knew you could have fun riding a bus and tailgating with people you don't even know. I hope to do it again next season.

by Mom

Happy 8th Birthday, Mason

Birthday Boy, 8 years old this morning

Age 7

Age 6

Age 5

Age 4

Age 3

Age 2

Age 1

New Cookbook

Mason went shopping with Dad at the mall and surprised me with a new cookbook. Of course, we couldn't wait to try one of the recipes. We decided on Crunchy Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Yummy! With the holidays fast approaching, I think Mason and I maybe spending a lot of time together in the kitchen.

By Mom

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)

Preparation

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended. Stir in apple slices and 1 cup walnuts. Spread into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle with walnuts, if desired

Boca Palms Blood Drive

Today, my dad donated blood. The blood mobile came to our neighborhood for a blood drive. I saw the blood coming out of dad's arm but he said it didn't hurt. They offered me some orange juice.
By Mason

18 Holes with Dad

Mason played his first "real" golf course today. When asked whether he liked playing shots, riding in the cart or eating or drinking, Mason said all of them. Mason displayed nice "country club" behavior, he is even invited back to the course again. Overall, a great day with Dad.

By Dad

2nd Grade

Today was my first day in 2nd grade. I am so excited to be at Poinciana. We unpacked, went to the calendar, and read a story called "Have you filled a bucket today". It was a really good story.
by Mason

Middle School

Hi, it's Mackenzie and today was a huge day for me because I started middle school. You know there is a lot more class time than social time because we only have 4 minutes to get to our classes. All of my classes were really fun except for gym but they call it throw/catch. It was really boring because all you did was go and buy your lockers. Lunch was super stressful because I'm in lunch group B when all of my friends are in lunch group A. It was also stressful because there was a huge mix up with the lunch schedule and the teachers told us to go and ask the people in the cafeteria. I had trouble with my locker until a teacher finally helped me, so, I ended up late for gym.

Bed Head

I woke up this morning and my mustache was gone but this time I had really bad bed head!
By Mason