Red Iguana

A small little restaurant the Red Iguana doesn't seem like much from the outside . It's very inviting with all the beautiful bright colors. 

Our first impression was excellent.  People are very friendly. Our waitress was very nice and on the pregnant side. With not a whole lot of room between the tables my  hubby and I held our breath just incase the baby decided to kick our water glasses over. 

It's funny if you walk into a Mexican Restaurant and say " Hola" the people start rambling on in Spanish.  Nope, Sorry I don't speak Spanish. A lesson learn I would say. I know very little. 

I ordered a chicken chimichanga. It had amazing flavor to it. It was soft unlike other restaurants that serves it hard and brunt. 

 A traditional enchilada plate is what my son ordered hubby had the same with a chicken salad which was more like tuna salad. They had no complaints.  Of course our popsicle had fries. He is on his kick of stubborn.  Totally takes after his dad all the way. I give it thumbs up better than any other Mexican Restaurant we have been to before. It actually taste like it was homemade not out of a can. It's overall is another place we will visit again.  

Splash Park

The boys are having a blast at this Splash Park in Minot, North Dakota. It's a bunch of mushroom looking pipes with water coming out of it. I thought it was a little cold to play in the water. The kids were shaking and lips were turning blue before they came out of it. Funny Justin hasn't changed in that aspect. He would cry when he was little just like Christopher did when I told him it was time to leave.  

Oak Park is huge It's five playgrounds all rolled into one. It's about an hour and half away from Stanley where we are staying.  It's well worth the drive if you will be in town. The mall also has a splash park with water slides and a pool. We opt out of that one as you see no one ever gets out to pee. I can't do it! It's more of a mental thing I guess. It's linked to an arcade which we played at. 

I never knew playing tag could be dangerous until today my poor popsicle ran into the pole that is height level.

He freaked me out as you can see that bump is huge. I think my heart stopped for a few minutes. He cried for all of a second then proceed to tell me "Don't worry mom it will heal." He reminds me of his brother. Justin was accident prone I think they all are when they're little. 

A few days later the bump is gone. Overall we will be back before our trip is over. As long as it is a little hotter then 70  degrees outside.  Until next time remember play safe at the park. 

Traveling this summer

A 30 hour three day trip from Florida to North Dakota to see family another two days to Marquette Michigan to see my father has been a very long drive. Our boys had a seminar on how to build a deck. On top of learning how to cut down tree's.  Justin is a hard worker he cut down three tree's all by himself.  With just a little help from daddy in pushing them down. It's been about two years since the last time I was UP North.  I miss it nice and quiet sitting on the deck I help put together.  It's the small things that make me love life.  I adore the fact that my hubby takes time out of fighting the horrible mosquitoes to put down his hammer to build something with his boys. 

They are in deep thought as you can see above the expression on their face. As a woman I can't think of anything more sexier than a man with his children. He is spending time as well as teaching them hard work pays off. I know I can do just about anything my hubby can in landscaping but when a son see's his father complete a task. Not giving up at anything he sets his mind to means something different then seeing mom do it. As my children especially my oldest I'm grateful everyday for the time we spend together as a family. I love watching my hubby's eyes lite up when he hears "Daddy" it's amazing to be apart of something special My Family. This trip back home made me realize how much Family really means. Not that I didn't know already I mean Life gets busy and we all need a refresher.

Here is the deck with the fire pit almost complete. 

Deck complete all our hard work paid off bruised knees, shoulders from carrying the deck boards a few million mosquitoes bites that cover our body from head to toe all to see my parents smile. Not to mention that I get to build one again next year on our house in Florida.  I can't wait for all the fun to start again. 

The day is complete with smiles !!! 

Sea World Trip

My Popsicle has been bugging me for two months to go see a dolphin. Here comes in at # 2 on my bucket list going to Sea World. I was a little hesitate about going because of all the drama surrounding this place with Black Fish. Now, I still feel a little guilty going because all the animals are in small cages. I don't agree with it but they still have to make money. Sea World does help animals it's not cheap to do it. It's like a catch 22 you in order to help with anything there is always a downside to it. We had a really great time however I don't think we will go back until Popsicle is much older. The workers seemed to rush us when we were deciding on what pictures to buy from the dolphin, sting rays, and shark feeding. They seemed to be unhappy too maybe it was the heat!

This picture above I'm using in my portfolio for Patricia Photography Company I'm starting. Something new I'm taking on.

It was a great chance to see what my camera lens can actually do.

It was extremely hot here last Sunday it was nice to cool off in the aquarium. Our boys loved sitting there watching the fish. 

Just an F.Y.I to avoid make sure you don't try to eat the fish you are feeding to the dolphins like my little one tried. It's really gross taking it out of his mouth. He did this all day long sometimes I wonder about my child. I think he does it just to see me react with a disgusting face. Each time he would laugh,smile and reply "I'm just joking Mom!" 

The only downside to this place is even after you wash your hands you still smell like fish all day. Thanks to Popsicle in the hot blazing sun after he wiped his hands on me the smell gets a little strong. In Justin's case his little brother thought it was a great ideal to play catch with one of the dead fish then afterwards toss it down his brother's shirt. He tends to be the jokester in the family with NO help from Dad while he is on the ground laughing. At least he didn't try to make me kiss the fish that was Dad's job. We had a blast when it came time for the Shamu Show.

I was able to get this picture after taking 30 of them. It was a little loud for us as well as Popsicle he hates loud stuff. A pair of earplugs is necessary for little ones! The animals seemed fine and performed great! 

Keep in mind if you take a trip to Sea world!

1. Take a change of clothes there are water rides.

2. Don't bring a purse get a backpack. It will be easier to carry.

3. Wait to you leave before you buy anything. Just so you don't have to carry it. 

4. When you sit in the seats at any shows. Look for the signs that say "Soak area" that means you will get wet!

5. We also learn that if you buy any photos from the feedings or the first picture they take of you when you walk in. Save the receipt instead of paying $20.00 for each picture it becomes $10.00 with the proof you already paid for one earlier. That would have helped eight pictures in. They don't tell you we were lucky. 

6. There is a kids playground but water everywhere. Bring a swim suit. 

7. Have fun!!! 

A city has many stories

Every wonder why people stay in the same city,town and state their whole life? I recently made a unexpected trip to Michigan last week. On my way I seen just about everything on the side of the freeway like a table,shoes,clothes, four dead deer, tires, a rat crossing the highway. I was given the bird more times than I can count driving the speed limit which by the way no one follows. I guess it's a plus growing up in the same place. You know everyone and your way around. I don't mind a road trip since we have been in Florida as long as I have a full tank of gas to get me around when I get lost. It turns out to be fun by stopping by places we would have never found otherwise.



 Driving through downriver looking at the few stores that have changed made me realize how it was very much the same a year ago when I left.  Don't get me wrong I love being back home It was just time for me to leave when I did. I drove past my old high school in Lincoln Park as I was getting off the highway.





"Look Jay there is where I went to school!"

"Is that the school Daddy went to too?" Justin asked

"NO, Baby he went to Monroe High a totally different city in itself but we won't go there."

"Wow, Mom I can't believe it's still open!" Justin says smiling

"Thanks Jay I feel old now!"

"Anytime mom but on the bright side you don't have gray hair." He says laughing

Only my son can make what was an uneasy feeling about seeing my old high school turn out to be a happy moment. Man, I love him!

Old book store that still stands which was my favorite place to be after school. 

 Driving down Fort street I can see myself walking to work back in the day as my son would say. The hardships of living on my own in high school came across my mind. I still don't have a clue how I paid for everything on my own such as rent and food. I had a great friend back then that I talked to all the time. He was such an easy person to talk to as I was able to get to know him. He would always appear out of nowhere when I least expected it. It was complicated back then but I made it on my own. I went pass  the place I spent most nights at shooting pool with friends. Vito's were I ate the most greasy pizza ever. I drove pass my first apartment which is now painted a neon blue color. It looks horrible it was white when I lived there in 1996. My first Martial Arts school that is now a retail shop. I had a lot of wonderful times there. I made life long friends with. I guess now that I'm back in Florida it seems like a lifetime ago. It's nice to know I'm still the same person I just like to travel now to see the world.

We meet family and friends at Chuck E Cheese in Southgate for one last time before we left. We had a great time even if I did come back with two fish instead of kids. We went swimming at the hotel everyday. Our boys acted as if they never swim. It's too funny since we live right by the beach now. Coming back to Michigan a year later really made me think about life. How much I have changed as a person but very much stayed the same like the city. Lincoln Park definitely has my story good and bad.

 I'm proud of who I have become today. I have a life I adore. I wouldn't change it for anything.