The Eighth Wonder of the World

see Sean's pictures of the Rice Terraces!

http://flickr.com/photos/snsllvn21/page6/

Bangaan andBataad Rice Terraces- Banaue, Luzon-The Philippines

Maggie, Sean, and I rented a van and 2 drivers for the 9 hour ride up to the World Heritage Site in Northern Luzon where the Banaue rice terraces have been for over 2000 years. We hiked down for about 4 miles into the terraces which were 1200 meters deep. This took about 2 hours, then the hike back out took about 3 hours.

Views from Banaue View Inn
Harvested rice in bundles
Maggie and a Caribou

Taal Volcano

Tagaytay Yaught Club Regata- Lauren was invited to help sail a catamaran! She loved it!












We were invited to join our friend Maricar for a day at Taal Lake to watch the regatta.
Sean, Maggie, Terry, and I took a boat across the lake to ride horses to the top of Taal Volcano.



















The girls were able to pose with some pet ostriches.




















Later we went to dinner at a great restaraunt. The sunset was beautiful!

Lauren and Allison ready for ISM Prom

While Allison and Lauren went to the prom, Terry, Maggie, Katie, and I enjoyed a live transvestite show at Club Muah.

Today was our last Freaky Friday get together before everyone scatters for the summer break. We met at B's for a delicious catered lunch and bottomless margaritas.

Maricar, Joan, Diane, Betsy, Celia, Lisa

B, Michelle

May 18 -22

As soon as we arrived in the Philippines we were making plans for a trip to our favorite diving and snorkeling venue. Sean and Lauren arrived from Florida on Thursday, May 18 and we left on Friday for Puerto Galera. Maggie, Sean, and Lauren spent the next 4 days studying, testing, and practicing to receive their PADI Certification for SCUBA. Allison stayed in Manila, visiting with friends and studying for finals. Terry and Katie joined us for the weekend and we all enjoyed a Saturday evening sunset boat ride with good friends Michelle, Barry, Stevii, Davis, and Jaron Marshall and Diane, Joe, and Jasmine Goodings. The weekend was great fun for everyone. The weather was great and the snorkeling and diving were perfect!
Check out Sean's pictures, they are great! http://flickr.com/photos/snsllvn21

Relaxing on the boat to Peurto Galera

The Marshall Family all had an introductory dive and Joe and Diane were able to go on dives together. Jas, Jaron and I hung out at the swimming pool. Great weekend!

Lauren, instructor Kelvin, Maggie, and Sean ready to take it to the big water!

Joe and Diane

Barry, Jaron, Michelle, Stevii, and Davis with instructor Annabelle

Jaron and Jasmine

All certified! Great Barrier Reef, here we come!

May 1 - 15, 2006

I flew from Manila to Jacksonville and Maggie picked me up at the airport. We spent Monday night at home. After a haircut on Tuesday we drove to Orlando and Lauren joined to attend Maggie's Honors Banquet. It was a very nice program with inspirational speakers and presentation of honors Medals to all recipients.

Maggie and Dr. Fine, her advisor and chair for her Honors in the Major program
Lauren and Maggie

On Wednesday, May 3, Maggie and I drove back to Keystone Heights then on to Jacksonville to get Terry and Allison from the airport. Sean and Kristine met us and we went out for a great dinner at Ted Turner's new restaurant in St. John's Square.

On Thursday, May 4, we were able to do a few things around the house before leaving for Orlando. Car trouble plagued Maggie and her car full of siblings, including Kristine and Kevin. We had taken the trailer another direction and had to turn around, drive to Gainesville, and rent a car before we could continue on our way. We arrived in Orlando just in time for Maggie's graduation dinner at 8 PM. We had a wonderful time at Houlihans following the great surprise of having Papa and Robin meet us at Lauren's when we arrived.

Maggie, Andreea, and Tricia- The Graduates

On Friday, May 5, at 10 AM Maggie graduated! Yea!!!!! 1 down, 3 to go!



We are all so proud!

After graduation we had a Mexican lunch at Maria Bonitas before heading back to Keystone Heights.

Saturday, May 6, After changing almost every lightbulb on the porch and many inside, Terry and I drove to Lake City to visit with his aunts and uncles on the Warren side of the family. John and Candy and Casey and Pat were also there.

We then drove to visit Cecil and Marilyn in Jacksonville and celebrated Cecil's birthday.

On Sunday, May 7, we spent time trying to catch up on some errands and then went to the Smoak's for a great party with dear friends. It was just like a church picnic, boys on the porch, girls on the dock!

Eddie, Sean, Lee, Kelly, Ken, and Terry

Lori, Stephanie, Teri, Betsy, Julie, Pam, and Kim with Itty

Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing chance to see everyone and catch up! It was such a treat to visit with all of the Oh so grown up children! As I looked around I saw about 20 of the best looking, talented young people I have ever known!

Monday, May 8 was the end of a very short trip for Allison and Terry. They took off from Jacksonville at noon.

Wednesday, May 10

Teri waited almost a month so I could be there to celebrate
her birthday in our favorite booth at Blue Water Bay.

Thursday, May 11 was Book Day for me as I collected donated books and transported them home to pack them for the trip to Manila. Thanks to everyone who gave me books to donate to schools and orphanages in Manila.

It was also book club night and we all got together at Lori's barn and talked about a lot of things including some books.

Saturday, May 13 was Greg Neimeyer's 50th birthday. It was great fun to visit with another group of friends as we helped him celebrate. The best part was watching Greg sip mad dog on the dock as the full moon rose over the lake- what a way to celebrate your 50th!

Sunday, May 14, Happy Mother's Day! Sean and Lauren took us to the airport and we flew out at noon. We arrived in Manila at 10:30 Monday night.

Maggie in Nagoya waiting for the plane to board