Until We Blog Again! (Again)

Yikes! My laptop is on the fritts and I am lost with out it. We had to send it back to HP and of course it has all my pictures and everything on it. So until I get it back I am at a lost for anything to say with out pictures. Imagine me speechless!!! Who knew. We will be back soon!!
The Dodson 5

What Will They Learn

When you take your children on vacation you always wonder what they are going to get out of the journey. Will it be great family memories, new fears, or will the trip be a learning experience for them. After our latest family trip I often wonder just what they will remember the most about the vacation.

Having Hayden spend the week around all of his family members he learned to say every ones names, he learned how to get back to our room from almost any place on the boat, how to play BINGO and most importantly about magnetism. We all know that "in physics magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert attractive or repulsive forces on other materials". Hayden only knows this phenomenon in two cases. Either your Thomas the Trains will stick to the ceiling of the cruise boat or in the case of the ceiling in his bedroom they do not!!!


Hayden was quick to learn the the ceiling above his bed in our room was metal and he loved to hang his trains from there. Since we have been home he has become very frustrated with the fact that they do not stick to everything. He has tried to hang them from everywhere. WE will keep trying though.

Just a Few!!

We have flown, we have sailed, we have swam, we have eaten and eaten and eaten, and WE SURVIVED!!! I am sure that anyone that has traveled with small children can attest that you are on a TRIP, not a vacation. However, it was a great trip with many highlights. I forgot my camera many days and will have to collect pictures from everyone else. Here are a few pictures I can share for now.

Makena during our mustering drill on the first day. I think that she is practicing jumping in the water but I might keep this move in mind down the road for a hostile child.
This was our vessel. The Golden Princess (Bryden did not like this name and renamed it the Golden Boy). 2,700 people plus a crew of 1,100. Basically, a city on water. It was great.
These were our two favorite guys of the week. Martin and Daniel our dinner hosts. They basically got us what ever we wanted at any time. By the end of the week they had what we wanted at the table before we even got there for dinner. Including having Hayden's chocee ba bas lined up two deep every night. This picture is now hanging in my kitchen with a sign that says "They do not live here! Get it yourself!"
Of course a picture of Hayden and his room service french fries!!!! Oh I think that he could get used to this life. I think we all could have!!!!

Till We Post Again!

We are all running around crazy getting ready for our big Spring Break trip!!!
Lets see diapers-check
swimsuits- check
airplane entertainment- check
My sanity-if any out there finds it let me know. I will pick it on the way to the airport!!!!
Princess Cruise Line get ready because here comes the Dodson Family and I think that we are all a little crazy these days!!!
I hope everyone has a great spring break and I will post on the cruise if it is possible. If not see you in April!!!
The Dodsons

Bryden's Big Day

Bryden was so excited this morning to share his Birthday with his friends at school. He got to be V.I.P. this week and I am sure he was a big help in his class. He will have a little party at the indoor water park on Friday and now I will have to get used to saying I have a 7 year old and a 6 year old. I might have to practice this.


We took this picture this morning because we got a little bit of snow last night. It was all melted by 11:00am but I bet it will be many years before Bryden sees snow on his Birthday again. It has been a crazy year!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYDEN!!!!

After a Long Hard Day

After a long hard day of school, basketball practice, playing with toys, there is nothing better than kicking back with the cousins and watching a movie. Oh and the kids like to do the same too!! As the adults were watching some of the college basketball playoff games we put a movie on in the bedroom for the kids. It seemed to be going well except for the "little brother" factor.

I will let you guess which one might be the trouble maker.

Hint: He would be the one with the mischievous grin on his face.

Coming out of the closet

I am really feeling like I need to clear my soul of and awful and terrible guilt I carry with me because of an addiction I have. Some people I know may have suspected by some of my actions that I had a problem. Some people have confronted me on this matter and tried to support me. However, I cannot give it up. My own husband has decided to go out of town and all I can think about is how I can feed this ravenous addiction inside of me. He knows I will slip while he is gone but suggest to be keep IT to a minimum. He too has not been able to help me.

I wake in the the morning and I crave this addiction. I lay in bed late and night and try to contemplate more important things in life but IT has taken over my body, my mind, and my soul. IT creeps up when I am doing nothing or while I am watching TV. I cannot stop it alone.

Why you ask am I addicted to something that causes me to scratch and bruise my arms? Why am I putting myself in physically dangerous positions while using muscles in my body that I did not even know I had. One step too far to the right or one shift in balance and I could end up in the middle of a catastrophe. I know this is not good for me but I still cannot say no. I still cannot let IT go.

I am so into my addiction right now that IT shows itself in my everyday life. I watch people on T.V. do it all day long. I have even done IT in places I never thought I would including almost every room in my house. As well as in my friends houses, multiple times. I have even done it in my in laws house, my sisters house, and my moms office. When I think of the amount of money, time and energy I have spent on this addiction can I still justify IT?

The latest name for my addiction is April Love. I did IT all over my Kitchen and I love IT!!!!