A few Friday's ago (before July 4th), I had enough of work for the week and left early to go hang out with the family. I got home and......no one was there.
Not sure where they were and not wanting to hang out by myself, I headed over to FullSteam Brewery (a local microbrew). I was relaxing and enjoying my Rocket Science IPA when my cell rang. It was Shannon. Her first words were "You are sooooo busted!!!! You are having a beer at FullSteam aren't you?"
When Shannon and the kids were returning from an afternoon at the YMCA pool, they happened to drive by FullSteam brewery. Sophie exclaimed "that's Daddy's car!" as they drove by. Mom didn't believe it, but Sophie was insistent. So Shannon drove around the block. Sure enough......Shannon saw my car and then gave me a call.
It all ended well enough......Shannon and I had a beer, the kids got to run around, and I got to see everyone.
Showing posts with label Jon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
4 Things
Since Shannon, Jacqueline and Sophie are away, here are four things I am doing (or more appropriately "not doing") on a daily basis. Someone call the police!
1. Making the bed.
2. Putting the remote controls away.
3. Putting the portable phone back into the cradle.
4. Keeping the toaster on the counter.
At least I am sweeping the floor and washing the dishes!
1. Making the bed.
2. Putting the remote controls away.
3. Putting the portable phone back into the cradle.
4. Keeping the toaster on the counter.
At least I am sweeping the floor and washing the dishes!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Orlando Trip 2011
The Thornburg family spent a week in Orlando in late June. Jon attended a conference at Walt Disney World and Shannon, Sophie, and Jacqueline came along for a mini-vacation.
Ask the kids what their favorite part of vacation was, and the answer you will receive is "the swimming pool!" Not Disney or anything else......the kid's pool at the hotel was the biggest hit. If you get them focused on Disney....their favorite ride was King Arthur's Carousel.
Ask the parents what their favorite part of vacation was, and the answer you will receive is "the ability to relax every evening while the kids were swimming."
Overall impression: A very nice vacation that provided a much needed change of pace for everyone. We are considering making it a yearly event.
Quotes of the Week
Sophie: "Whew, I played hard today!" Said after she plopped onto the couch in the hotel room after returning from the pool that evening. Mom and kids also spent the day at the Science Museum.
Jacqueline: "I'm not a 'silly willy,' I'm a little girl!" Said after I called her a "silly willy" because she was acting weird and silly in the back seat.
Most surprising Disney experience: Why don't more people use FastPass? People were standing in huge lines. We never waited for more than 10 minutes using the FastPass system. Does it take too much planning?
Our Itinerary
Monday: Drove to Orlando, with a stop in Savannah at Forsyth Park
Tuesday: Shannon and kids went to Downtown Disney, while Jon was at the conference
Wednesday: Jon worked. Everybody else went to the Orlando Science Museum
Thursday: Jon worked (again). S, J, S went to the Central Florida Zoo.
Friday: The family went to the Magic Kingdom
Saturday: Return trip to Downtown Disney for shopping and to see Cars 2.
Sunday: Returned to Durham, with another stop at Forsyth Park in Savannah.
What surprised me the most is that you can have a nice, fun vacation in Orlando and minimize expenses. How? Here are my tips.....(Note: tips may only be appropriate for toddlers. Older kids may have different definition of "fun.")
1. Stay at a non-Disney hotel. We stayed at an Embassy Suites just outside the park. Saved about $150 per night and had a 2 room suite. Food at the Disney hotels is outrageously priced too.
2. Choose your hotel wisely and you won't have to eat at restaurants very often. Embassy Suites is famous for its free breakfast and afternoon "manager's reception." Breakfast had a enough variety that you could eat a big one and have a light lunch. Your typical cereal, fruit, carbs (bread, bagels, muffins, etc), hot buffet, and omelette station. The Manager's Reception consisted of light appetizers and beer/wine/margaritas. Our room also had a mini-fridge and microwave. That allowed Shannon to pack lunch for everyone. We also ate dinner in the room 3 times. The kids ate microwave meals (probably exactly the same as served in restaurants) and we ate pre-packaged salads, etc.
3. To succeed at saving on meals......find the local grocery store. There is a new Winn-Dixie about 1 mile from the hotel. We purchased lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, and other necessities (pool toys) there.
4. You don't have to visit Disney everyday (at least if you have kids younger than 5). Sophie and Jacqueline had great time at the Science Museum and Zoo. They spent 6 hours at the museum; loving every exhibit that they saw. The Zoo was not as nice as the NC Zoo (how can you compete against Animal Kingdom?). Plus it was very hot...most animals were sleeping (except the Emus, btw: extremely funny according to J&S). However, the Zoo had a train and a splash ground that provided entertainment. Total cost for admission, train rides, etc. at both: <$30. Museum/Zoo membership reciprocity is great!
5. Spend a day at Downtown Disney. Admission and parking are free. It is nice to walk around, shop (window and make purchases), and people watch. Several stores have "play stations" set-up for kids to play with toys (then beg Mom and Dad to purchase...I'm sure). There is even a water taxi that is free! (OMG!) Pack a lunch and watch some of the free entertainment (dancing, singing, etc) on the stage. Helpful tips: visit on a Tuesday and arrive before noon to avoid the crowds. For the adults: I hear Downtown Disney is quite the night spot, but I'm sure it is not cheap.
6. Finally.....find the secret, back entrance into Disney. I stumbled across this back entrance because I wanted to avoid all the traffic at the main entrance. We were pleasantly surprised to learn you don't have to pay for parking entering that way. Ask me and I will give directions.
7. One thing I would do differently next time......pack lunch when attending the Magic Kingdom.
Our costs for admission/food/rides/entertainment at Magic Kingdom versus everywhere else (including Downtown Disney) is summarized below. Souvenirs are not included. Do the math!
Magic Kingdom = $220 for 1 day
Everywhere Else = $90 for 5 days.
Random Highlights
1. Jon rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the trip. Nice car. We enjoyed the extra space compared to the Volvo. Sirius/XM radio impressed Shannon. Playing a movie on the laptop but running the sound thru the car speakers was pretty cool! We won't consider one though when new car shopping starts. We are going minivan!
2. I enjoyed showing Shannon our favorite stops on the drive: Forsyth Park, the McDonalds in Florence SC (breakfast on the drive down), the Denny's in SC (dinner on the way home).
3. A 12 hour drive is a great way to re-connect with your spouse. We talked most of the way down and back.
4. The 2 room suite. We could put the kids to bed in 1 room and we would stay up a little later relaxing and talking in the other.
5. Our plan for the Magic Kingdom. We had a plan for our visit, somewhat based on a book and Jon's numerous visits to Disneyland. Basically: get there early, hit your (kid's) favorite rides early (even if that means criss-crossing the park...it's not that big), mix funs rides with shows/low key rides as the day progresses, spend the afternoon watching the parade and shopping. Also, take a stroller for all kid's younger than 6. When the kids are older, we'd probably leave around 3 PM for relaxation/dinner then return around 7 PM.
Random Lowlights
1. It was hot. I'd reconsider going June again.
2. Orlando's tap water stinks (literally and figuratively). Stock up on bottled water when at the store. Hold your breath when showering!
3. Embassy Suites charged for internet access. Come on! I thought all Hilton Hotels offered free internet.
4. Whatever happened to Disney characters randomly wandering the park for photo opportunities? Everything is now staged in specific areas at specific times with LONG lines. The spontaneity of stumbling across a character for a quick photo is gone.
5. Obesity in America is becoming an epidemic. Never more obvious than during our visit to the Magic Kingdom and daily breakfast at the hotel.
Ask the kids what their favorite part of vacation was, and the answer you will receive is "the swimming pool!" Not Disney or anything else......the kid's pool at the hotel was the biggest hit. If you get them focused on Disney....their favorite ride was King Arthur's Carousel.
Ask the parents what their favorite part of vacation was, and the answer you will receive is "the ability to relax every evening while the kids were swimming."
Overall impression: A very nice vacation that provided a much needed change of pace for everyone. We are considering making it a yearly event.
Quotes of the Week
Sophie: "Whew, I played hard today!" Said after she plopped onto the couch in the hotel room after returning from the pool that evening. Mom and kids also spent the day at the Science Museum.
Jacqueline: "I'm not a 'silly willy,' I'm a little girl!" Said after I called her a "silly willy" because she was acting weird and silly in the back seat.
Most surprising Disney experience: Why don't more people use FastPass? People were standing in huge lines. We never waited for more than 10 minutes using the FastPass system. Does it take too much planning?
Our Itinerary
Monday: Drove to Orlando, with a stop in Savannah at Forsyth Park
Tuesday: Shannon and kids went to Downtown Disney, while Jon was at the conference
Wednesday: Jon worked. Everybody else went to the Orlando Science Museum
Thursday: Jon worked (again). S, J, S went to the Central Florida Zoo.
Friday: The family went to the Magic Kingdom
Saturday: Return trip to Downtown Disney for shopping and to see Cars 2.
Sunday: Returned to Durham, with another stop at Forsyth Park in Savannah.
What surprised me the most is that you can have a nice, fun vacation in Orlando and minimize expenses. How? Here are my tips.....(Note: tips may only be appropriate for toddlers. Older kids may have different definition of "fun.")
1. Stay at a non-Disney hotel. We stayed at an Embassy Suites just outside the park. Saved about $150 per night and had a 2 room suite. Food at the Disney hotels is outrageously priced too.
2. Choose your hotel wisely and you won't have to eat at restaurants very often. Embassy Suites is famous for its free breakfast and afternoon "manager's reception." Breakfast had a enough variety that you could eat a big one and have a light lunch. Your typical cereal, fruit, carbs (bread, bagels, muffins, etc), hot buffet, and omelette station. The Manager's Reception consisted of light appetizers and beer/wine/margaritas. Our room also had a mini-fridge and microwave. That allowed Shannon to pack lunch for everyone. We also ate dinner in the room 3 times. The kids ate microwave meals (probably exactly the same as served in restaurants) and we ate pre-packaged salads, etc.
3. To succeed at saving on meals......find the local grocery store. There is a new Winn-Dixie about 1 mile from the hotel. We purchased lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, and other necessities (pool toys) there.
4. You don't have to visit Disney everyday (at least if you have kids younger than 5). Sophie and Jacqueline had great time at the Science Museum and Zoo. They spent 6 hours at the museum; loving every exhibit that they saw. The Zoo was not as nice as the NC Zoo (how can you compete against Animal Kingdom?). Plus it was very hot...most animals were sleeping (except the Emus, btw: extremely funny according to J&S). However, the Zoo had a train and a splash ground that provided entertainment. Total cost for admission, train rides, etc. at both: <$30. Museum/Zoo membership reciprocity is great!
5. Spend a day at Downtown Disney. Admission and parking are free. It is nice to walk around, shop (window and make purchases), and people watch. Several stores have "play stations" set-up for kids to play with toys (then beg Mom and Dad to purchase...I'm sure). There is even a water taxi that is free! (OMG!) Pack a lunch and watch some of the free entertainment (dancing, singing, etc) on the stage. Helpful tips: visit on a Tuesday and arrive before noon to avoid the crowds. For the adults: I hear Downtown Disney is quite the night spot, but I'm sure it is not cheap.
6. Finally.....find the secret, back entrance into Disney. I stumbled across this back entrance because I wanted to avoid all the traffic at the main entrance. We were pleasantly surprised to learn you don't have to pay for parking entering that way. Ask me and I will give directions.
7. One thing I would do differently next time......pack lunch when attending the Magic Kingdom.
Our costs for admission/food/rides/entertainment at Magic Kingdom versus everywhere else (including Downtown Disney) is summarized below. Souvenirs are not included. Do the math!
Magic Kingdom = $220 for 1 day
Everywhere Else = $90 for 5 days.
Random Highlights
1. Jon rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the trip. Nice car. We enjoyed the extra space compared to the Volvo. Sirius/XM radio impressed Shannon. Playing a movie on the laptop but running the sound thru the car speakers was pretty cool! We won't consider one though when new car shopping starts. We are going minivan!
2. I enjoyed showing Shannon our favorite stops on the drive: Forsyth Park, the McDonalds in Florence SC (breakfast on the drive down), the Denny's in SC (dinner on the way home).
3. A 12 hour drive is a great way to re-connect with your spouse. We talked most of the way down and back.
4. The 2 room suite. We could put the kids to bed in 1 room and we would stay up a little later relaxing and talking in the other.
5. Our plan for the Magic Kingdom. We had a plan for our visit, somewhat based on a book and Jon's numerous visits to Disneyland. Basically: get there early, hit your (kid's) favorite rides early (even if that means criss-crossing the park...it's not that big), mix funs rides with shows/low key rides as the day progresses, spend the afternoon watching the parade and shopping. Also, take a stroller for all kid's younger than 6. When the kids are older, we'd probably leave around 3 PM for relaxation/dinner then return around 7 PM.
Random Lowlights
1. It was hot. I'd reconsider going June again.
2. Orlando's tap water stinks (literally and figuratively). Stock up on bottled water when at the store. Hold your breath when showering!
3. Embassy Suites charged for internet access. Come on! I thought all Hilton Hotels offered free internet.
4. Whatever happened to Disney characters randomly wandering the park for photo opportunities? Everything is now staged in specific areas at specific times with LONG lines. The spontaneity of stumbling across a character for a quick photo is gone.
5. Obesity in America is becoming an epidemic. Never more obvious than during our visit to the Magic Kingdom and daily breakfast at the hotel.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
123 Imagine!
What: 123 Imagine. A Sesame Street show starring Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, and all the other main characters.
Where: RBC Center
When: last Saturday, 10:30 AM
Who: Jacqueline, Sophie, Dad, Mom
Why: Another early birthday present.
Liked:
1. Zero crowd at the early show. Maybe 1,500 people. A good piece of the arena was closed. The usher said capacity was 5000. With the small crowd, we scored really good seats.
2. Have to love the Count...."ah....ah....ah" Who is your favorite character?
3. The music and story were just right for toddlers with enough "adult" music that parents stayed entertained. The rendition of "Surfin Safari" was particularly fun. Music was not too loud either.
4. Seeing Jacqueline and Sophie smile and clap for about 80 minutes.
Unfriend
1. $10 for parking? On a Saturday morning with no crowd? Have to be kidding. If I was thinking, I would have parked near the football stadium. I heard parking was free there.
2. Parents that texted and emailed during the entire show. Enjoy the time with your kids!
3. According to Jacqueline and Sophie, there was not enough Elmo. I guess we know who their favorite character is.
Ambivalent
1. Beer was for sale during the show. Not sure how I feel about that one. Seems wrong to sell beer during a Sesame Street show. I did not see anyone imbibe at 10:30 AM. But, if you wanted a beer it was available.
Where: RBC Center
When: last Saturday, 10:30 AM
Who: Jacqueline, Sophie, Dad, Mom
Why: Another early birthday present.
Liked:
1. Zero crowd at the early show. Maybe 1,500 people. A good piece of the arena was closed. The usher said capacity was 5000. With the small crowd, we scored really good seats.
2. Have to love the Count...."ah....ah....ah" Who is your favorite character?
3. The music and story were just right for toddlers with enough "adult" music that parents stayed entertained. The rendition of "Surfin Safari" was particularly fun. Music was not too loud either.
4. Seeing Jacqueline and Sophie smile and clap for about 80 minutes.
Unfriend
1. $10 for parking? On a Saturday morning with no crowd? Have to be kidding. If I was thinking, I would have parked near the football stadium. I heard parking was free there.
2. Parents that texted and emailed during the entire show. Enjoy the time with your kids!
3. According to Jacqueline and Sophie, there was not enough Elmo. I guess we know who their favorite character is.
Ambivalent
1. Beer was for sale during the show. Not sure how I feel about that one. Seems wrong to sell beer during a Sesame Street show. I did not see anyone imbibe at 10:30 AM. But, if you wanted a beer it was available.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Summer Adventure #1
What: A weekend trip for "A Day Out With Thomas." Everyone had a great time!
Where: Tweetsie Railroad amusement park near Boone, NC. We also stayed 1 night at a hotel in Wilkesboro
Who: Dad, Mom, Jacqueline, and Sophie. (Plus a couple thousand "friends" at the park.)
Why: Because we are insane? No. The kids are only 3 once so we have planned a summer full of adventures. This trip was the first of many. They love Thomas, so we thought an early birthday gift was in order. We also used this 1 night trip as a test run for the big trip to Orlando.
Plusses:
1. Smokey Mountain BBQ and Creamery in Wilkesboro is awesome! Excellent BBQ! Fabulous ice cream! Extra bonus: kids ate for free!
2. The hotel had a pool. Took the kids swimming to "help" them fall asleep (see Minuses #1). They had a great time, but our strategy did not work.
3. Tweetsie RR was fun and worth visiting again...maybe yearly. Everyone enjoyed the Thomas train, Diamond Lil's show, the boats, the planes, the chair lift, motor cars, carousel, the extra large train set set-up in the Saloon, and the crafts for the kids.
4. Not too crowded at Tweetsie RR on Sunday. I hear it is much worse on Saturdays. All the workers at Tweetsie were really nice. Customer relations is an obvious part of their training.
5. Able to bring your own drinks and snacks inside the park. A bigger cooler with lunch stuck under a stroller might be useful next time. (We did not use a stroller.)
6. The pizza restaurant on Rock Creek Dairy Road (near Todd & LK's house) is good and open on Sundays. A nice stop on the way home.
7. The woman servicing the breakfast area at the hotel was really nice. She packed us a snack bag for later that day.
Minuses:
1. Mom and Dad had to spend Saturday night in the dark until we fell asleep. We could not read, talk, or watch TV without waking up the kids. We did listen to "Aida" so it was not all bad.
2. Huge, huge line for the Mouse Mine train. What is the big deal?
3. The cashier at the Miner's Diner was slower than molasses and a micromanager. She spent more time bossing the others around instead of taking orders. I was in line for almost 20 minutes. She also could not count or read. I received an extra 92 cents in change for our pretzels and soda.
4. Jacqueline's meltdown precisely at the 5 hour mark inside the park. I guess we hit her limit. She was asleep 2 minutes after getting into the car. Need to remember that limit for Disney.
5. Jacqueline and Sophie (especially) do not like lifesize characters. I hope they get over this fear before DisneyWorld!
6. The 2.5 hour drive home seemed long...especially after a day in the hot sun.
Where: Tweetsie Railroad amusement park near Boone, NC. We also stayed 1 night at a hotel in Wilkesboro
Who: Dad, Mom, Jacqueline, and Sophie. (Plus a couple thousand "friends" at the park.)
Why: Because we are insane? No. The kids are only 3 once so we have planned a summer full of adventures. This trip was the first of many. They love Thomas, so we thought an early birthday gift was in order. We also used this 1 night trip as a test run for the big trip to Orlando.
Plusses:
1. Smokey Mountain BBQ and Creamery in Wilkesboro is awesome! Excellent BBQ! Fabulous ice cream! Extra bonus: kids ate for free!
2. The hotel had a pool. Took the kids swimming to "help" them fall asleep (see Minuses #1). They had a great time, but our strategy did not work.
3. Tweetsie RR was fun and worth visiting again...maybe yearly. Everyone enjoyed the Thomas train, Diamond Lil's show, the boats, the planes, the chair lift, motor cars, carousel, the extra large train set set-up in the Saloon, and the crafts for the kids.
4. Not too crowded at Tweetsie RR on Sunday. I hear it is much worse on Saturdays. All the workers at Tweetsie were really nice. Customer relations is an obvious part of their training.
5. Able to bring your own drinks and snacks inside the park. A bigger cooler with lunch stuck under a stroller might be useful next time. (We did not use a stroller.)
6. The pizza restaurant on Rock Creek Dairy Road (near Todd & LK's house) is good and open on Sundays. A nice stop on the way home.
7. The woman servicing the breakfast area at the hotel was really nice. She packed us a snack bag for later that day.
Minuses:
1. Mom and Dad had to spend Saturday night in the dark until we fell asleep. We could not read, talk, or watch TV without waking up the kids. We did listen to "Aida" so it was not all bad.
2. Huge, huge line for the Mouse Mine train. What is the big deal?
3. The cashier at the Miner's Diner was slower than molasses and a micromanager. She spent more time bossing the others around instead of taking orders. I was in line for almost 20 minutes. She also could not count or read. I received an extra 92 cents in change for our pretzels and soda.
4. Jacqueline's meltdown precisely at the 5 hour mark inside the park. I guess we hit her limit. She was asleep 2 minutes after getting into the car. Need to remember that limit for Disney.
5. Jacqueline and Sophie (especially) do not like lifesize characters. I hope they get over this fear before DisneyWorld!
6. The 2.5 hour drive home seemed long...especially after a day in the hot sun.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Random Thoughts From An Airport
I'm sitting in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport waiting for my red eye flight back to NC. Everthing is closed and there is not much to do, so why not blog a bunch of random thoughts.......
1. Phoenix Sky Harbor always reminds me of Sky Harbor airport in Terre Haute, near Uncle David's and Aunt Nancy's old house.
2. It sucks when an airline loses your luggage. It sucks even more when it arrives at your destination (Libby, MT) about 36 hours before you have to return to NC.
3. Good thing is Delta accepted all my receipts for toiletries, clothes, and ruined clothes. I was doing field work and ruined a nice shirt and my best pair of jeans.
4. FYI.....it is hot in Phoenix. At least it is a dry heat. 110 F is not bad with 10% humidity.
5. My next stops: New Hope PA to see Shannon, kids, and Shannon's parents. I'm looking forward to a long weekend seeing everyone, fishing, and sitting by the pool drinking beer.
6. Yes, I do miss Shannon, Jacqueline, and Sophie. A LOT!!!!! It has been almost 2 weeks since I have seen them. When I callled tonight, I talked with Sophie. She exclaimed "Daddy!!!" when I said "hi" on the phone. Nice to hear she has not forgotten me.
7. Next trip after the long weekend in New Hope......Seoul, South Korea then the family reunion in Indiana. We'll see how both trips go. Want to bet Delta loses my luggage?
8. Free wireless in an airport is awesome. Phoenix, Memphis, and Dayton are the only airporst I know that offer that service. Why don't all airports offer free wireless?
9. I've watched more movies in the last 2 weeks than in the last 4 months. Julie/Julia was really good. Terminator 4 was decent. Rocky Balboa (is that Rocky 6?) was self absorbed and disappointing.
10. Remind me Cousin Andy wants me to bring a case of beer to IN to swap for some New Glarus. Thanks.
11. It is easier to deal with the "dry heat."
12. "Real Mexcian" food in AZ has gone gotten worse over the last few years. Took a group of people to my favorite local place. It has become over-priced and not very good. Not a good way to entertain potential clients. You can find better in NC.
13. Thank goodness I have an Exit Row seat on the flight from Phoenix to Atlanta. It'll be nice to stretch out and try to sleep before a long day of meetings.
14. Have I mentioned that I miss Shannon and the kids? This is the hard part of traveling for business.
15. A good thing about traveling is that I have a good plan for an enjoyable flight to LA in a few years. And I have the frequent flier miles to pay for plane tickets. Yes, we will go to LA and not Orlando. Go to the original......not 2nd best. A hint of advice (based on observation....not experience). Relax and enjoy the trip. Focus on the fun and the kids joy in the new experience. Freaking out and becoming stressed will just make it worse. Also, don't want to pay $8 for a PBJ sandwich? Pack your own. You have to purchase your drinks inside the terminal (or fill up from drinking fountain), but you can haul in as much food as you want. For a family of 4, checking that 1 bag for $25 will easily save you more money in food if you use that carry-on bag for sandwiches/fruit/snacks.
that is all. thanks for reading my brain dump. see y'all soon!
1. Phoenix Sky Harbor always reminds me of Sky Harbor airport in Terre Haute, near Uncle David's and Aunt Nancy's old house.
2. It sucks when an airline loses your luggage. It sucks even more when it arrives at your destination (Libby, MT) about 36 hours before you have to return to NC.
3. Good thing is Delta accepted all my receipts for toiletries, clothes, and ruined clothes. I was doing field work and ruined a nice shirt and my best pair of jeans.
4. FYI.....it is hot in Phoenix. At least it is a dry heat. 110 F is not bad with 10% humidity.
5. My next stops: New Hope PA to see Shannon, kids, and Shannon's parents. I'm looking forward to a long weekend seeing everyone, fishing, and sitting by the pool drinking beer.
6. Yes, I do miss Shannon, Jacqueline, and Sophie. A LOT!!!!! It has been almost 2 weeks since I have seen them. When I callled tonight, I talked with Sophie. She exclaimed "Daddy!!!" when I said "hi" on the phone. Nice to hear she has not forgotten me.
7. Next trip after the long weekend in New Hope......Seoul, South Korea then the family reunion in Indiana. We'll see how both trips go. Want to bet Delta loses my luggage?
8. Free wireless in an airport is awesome. Phoenix, Memphis, and Dayton are the only airporst I know that offer that service. Why don't all airports offer free wireless?
9. I've watched more movies in the last 2 weeks than in the last 4 months. Julie/Julia was really good. Terminator 4 was decent. Rocky Balboa (is that Rocky 6?) was self absorbed and disappointing.
10. Remind me Cousin Andy wants me to bring a case of beer to IN to swap for some New Glarus. Thanks.
11. It is easier to deal with the "dry heat."
12. "Real Mexcian" food in AZ has gone gotten worse over the last few years. Took a group of people to my favorite local place. It has become over-priced and not very good. Not a good way to entertain potential clients. You can find better in NC.
13. Thank goodness I have an Exit Row seat on the flight from Phoenix to Atlanta. It'll be nice to stretch out and try to sleep before a long day of meetings.
14. Have I mentioned that I miss Shannon and the kids? This is the hard part of traveling for business.
15. A good thing about traveling is that I have a good plan for an enjoyable flight to LA in a few years. And I have the frequent flier miles to pay for plane tickets. Yes, we will go to LA and not Orlando. Go to the original......not 2nd best. A hint of advice (based on observation....not experience). Relax and enjoy the trip. Focus on the fun and the kids joy in the new experience. Freaking out and becoming stressed will just make it worse. Also, don't want to pay $8 for a PBJ sandwich? Pack your own. You have to purchase your drinks inside the terminal (or fill up from drinking fountain), but you can haul in as much food as you want. For a family of 4, checking that 1 bag for $25 will easily save you more money in food if you use that carry-on bag for sandwiches/fruit/snacks.
that is all. thanks for reading my brain dump. see y'all soon!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Adventures with Daddy - Day 6
Day 6 – The Drive (reprise)
We were just about on schedule Monday morning. We said our sad goodbye’s and were on the road by 8:10 AM.
Our third and final stop was Forsyth Park in Savannah around 4 PM. Yes, we returned. I decided to let the girls run around for 90 minutes and then we ate dinner in the Park café. The cafe staff were nice and heated the girls dinner. I purchased dinner there. The food was pretty good…..coffee was even better. It kept me going for the next 5 hours since home was the next stop. I didn't even make a bathroom stop! I will admit I was close to bursting when I pulled into our driveway at 10:45 PM!
As I mentioned, books were a big hit. They’d doze off with a book in their lap. Very cute! The girls also decided they liked Jimmy Buffett. They’d sing and dance in the back when I played his CDs.
An interesting observation about my return trip was the number of comments about how "brave" I was for taking 2 toddlers on a big trip by myself. Young, old, families, other parents, teenage girls, gas station attendants all made comments. Now it is not like I was on my own for 5 days. I had help from Grandma and Grandpa. Also, J&S are good kids and very easy to care for.
We were just about on schedule Monday morning. We said our sad goodbye’s and were on the road by 8:10 AM.
I did not know what to expect driving with 2 awake girls in the back all day. Luckily, I was inspired to add some books to their stash of blankets and animals. The books were a big, big hit. They read for hours. Only problem was when books fell onto the floor or someone had a book the other wanted.
Our first stop was a rest area in Osceola National Forest (along I-10) around 11:30 AM. A picnic lunch, some run-around time and bathroom break for all. The girls were very good and stayed in the area around the picnic blanket. They loved all the semi-trucks coming/going. We were back on the road around 1 PM .
Our second stop was a fuel fill-up in Georgia, where the gas is cheap but road construction is awful. There was 30+ miles of 1 lane interstate around Brunswick.
Our third and final stop was Forsyth Park in Savannah around 4 PM. Yes, we returned. I decided to let the girls run around for 90 minutes and then we ate dinner in the Park café. The cafe staff were nice and heated the girls dinner. I purchased dinner there. The food was pretty good…..coffee was even better. It kept me going for the next 5 hours since home was the next stop. I didn't even make a bathroom stop! I will admit I was close to bursting when I pulled into our driveway at 10:45 PM!
As I mentioned, books were a big hit. They’d doze off with a book in their lap. Very cute! The girls also decided they liked Jimmy Buffett. They’d sing and dance in the back when I played his CDs.
An interesting observation about my return trip was the number of comments about how "brave" I was for taking 2 toddlers on a big trip by myself. Young, old, families, other parents, teenage girls, gas station attendants all made comments. Now it is not like I was on my own for 5 days. I had help from Grandma and Grandpa. Also, J&S are good kids and very easy to care for.
Adventures with Daddy - Day 5
Day 5 – All Good Things…
Today was our last day in Florida. Another sunny but windy day. We didn't have to worry about sunburn....windburn was the problem.
Today was our last day in Florida. Another sunny but windy day. We didn't have to worry about sunburn....windburn was the problem.
We decided to be low key since the next day would be the long, long drive. So, we went to a nearby park. The park had a nice playground. J&S enjoyed themselves on the slides, tire swing, and rocking animals.
I talked with Mom and Dad about parenting approaches. We agreed parents that "hover" too much are annoying. Does a parent really need to climb onto the equipment with their child? After a few hours, we found a nice, sunny spot out of the wind for a picnic. A picnic without seagulls this time!
Then it was back tot he RV for our typical afternoon routine. We tried to put J&S down for a nap, but they were more interested in playing. Again, someone fell trying to climb into the bed. Since no one napped, Mom volunteered to walk them around the RV park to provide more quiet time. Dad and I watched some Canada vs. U.S. hockey and Purdue basketball. The "good guys" lost both games.
Everyone enjoyed another fabulous dinner. The adult men added more Famous Grouse to cap off the night. Otherwise, we went to bed early since I wanted to be on the road by 8 AM. Leaving the house at 8 AM means Dad must wake-up at 6 AM to get his toilette and breakfast finished before the girls woke up.
Everyone enjoyed another fabulous dinner. The adult men added more Famous Grouse to cap off the night. Otherwise, we went to bed early since I wanted to be on the road by 8 AM. Leaving the house at 8 AM means Dad must wake-up at 6 AM to get his toilette and breakfast finished before the girls woke up.
Adventures with Daddy - Day 4
Day 4 – Fussy!
Maybe it was the cold weather, the rain, the long drive, all the fun they were having, the lack of naps or all of the above, but J&S were FUSSY today.
It was raining, so we went to the GWIZ kids museum. For GWIZ, we had to pay 1 senior citizen admission since we have a membership to the Durham Museum of Life & Science. (A savings of $19 for the penny pinchers out there.) We only saw the indoor exhibits since it was raining; although the outdoor exhibits looked nice. At first I thought J&S would be too young for the museum. I was wrong (and it wasn’t the first and won’t be the last time). The fact J&S enjoyed themselves is a testament to the quality of the museum. Jacqueline particularly enjoyed learning about centrifugal force. Sophie enjoyed the plasma arc glass ball. The grandparents and I enjoyed ourselves too.
Because it was raining, GWIZ became very crowded about 30 minutes after we arrived. Soon after, J&S started to melt into globs of crying, screaming baby. I had to play “Dad” and suggested we just take the kids back to the RV for a quiet lunch and (hopefully) a nap. Grandpa was constantly trying to keep both J&S awake during the 30 minute drive back to the RV. He succeeded. J&S ate lunch then went down for nap easily.
Dad took advantage of nap time and went to a coffee shop for faster internet so he could do some work. Yes, working on a big proposal while on “vacation” stinks but has to be done. Dad also asked me to pick up some beer while I was out. I bought myself some Scotch while out too.
J&S woke while I was gone, but Grandpa and Grandma had a good time reading books and playing with puzzles. The sky cleared during nap, so we ventured outside to play before dinner. J&S had to master the RV stairs, and they did.
The rest of the evening was smooth. J&S had another yummy dinner prepared by Grandma (Mac & Cheese w/ peas and corn & brownies for dessert) before tolerating their baths then going to bed.
Grandpa and I went out to the Sarasota Brewing Company after the girls wend to sleep. Pizza was okay…..beer was bad. Beer was watery with little body. Easy to tell the brewer is trying to minimize costs by skimping on the barley. A glass of Famous Grouse with Grandpa back at the RV made up for the bad beer though.
Maybe it was the cold weather, the rain, the long drive, all the fun they were having, the lack of naps or all of the above, but J&S were FUSSY today.
It was raining, so we went to the GWIZ kids museum. For GWIZ, we had to pay 1 senior citizen admission since we have a membership to the Durham Museum of Life & Science. (A savings of $19 for the penny pinchers out there.) We only saw the indoor exhibits since it was raining; although the outdoor exhibits looked nice. At first I thought J&S would be too young for the museum. I was wrong (and it wasn’t the first and won’t be the last time). The fact J&S enjoyed themselves is a testament to the quality of the museum. Jacqueline particularly enjoyed learning about centrifugal force. Sophie enjoyed the plasma arc glass ball. The grandparents and I enjoyed ourselves too.
Because it was raining, GWIZ became very crowded about 30 minutes after we arrived. Soon after, J&S started to melt into globs of crying, screaming baby. I had to play “Dad” and suggested we just take the kids back to the RV for a quiet lunch and (hopefully) a nap. Grandpa was constantly trying to keep both J&S awake during the 30 minute drive back to the RV. He succeeded. J&S ate lunch then went down for nap easily.
Dad took advantage of nap time and went to a coffee shop for faster internet so he could do some work. Yes, working on a big proposal while on “vacation” stinks but has to be done. Dad also asked me to pick up some beer while I was out. I bought myself some Scotch while out too.
J&S woke while I was gone, but Grandpa and Grandma had a good time reading books and playing with puzzles. The sky cleared during nap, so we ventured outside to play before dinner. J&S had to master the RV stairs, and they did.
The rest of the evening was smooth. J&S had another yummy dinner prepared by Grandma (Mac & Cheese w/ peas and corn & brownies for dessert) before tolerating their baths then going to bed.
Grandpa and I went out to the Sarasota Brewing Company after the girls wend to sleep. Pizza was okay…..beer was bad. Beer was watery with little body. Easy to tell the brewer is trying to minimize costs by skimping on the barley. A glass of Famous Grouse with Grandpa back at the RV made up for the bad beer though.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Adventures with Daddy - Day 3
Day 3 - Fun in the Sand
Friday was supposed to the be nicest day of our visit. Temperature did not scream "Go to the Beach!" but you take what you can get.
So, the Grandparents took us to Siesta Key, one of the 10 best beaches in the U.S.
It was cool enough everyone wore sweatshirts and pants, but that did not stop up from having a good time...until the very end.
After some initial trepidation, Jacqueline and Sophie thought the beach was pretty neat. Both loved playing in the sand. Digging, shoveling, filling buckets, dumping buckets...all activities were fun. Sophie liked making "sand angels." Jacqueline like chasing the seagulls. Only Jacqueline put her toes in the water. She was not happy the water was cold (60 F). Everyone played catch with the rubber balls too.
Everyone had a great time until we brought out lunch. Once the food was out, the seagulls swarmed us and became very aggessive. I felt like we were in the Hitchcock movie "The Birds." I was mad enough that I was throwing the balls at the gulls; did not faze them though. Needless to say, we packed up and had our picnic on the boardwalk. Lunch was still nice but lacked the ambiance of the beach.
Not until we got home did I realize the girls and I got too much sun. Both girls had red, red cheeks. Dad was feeling a little crisp too. I did not think to put sunscreen on myself and the girls since it was so cold. Oops. Another learning moment for Dad.
We were back at the RV by 2 PM. I tried to put the girls down for a nap....not happening again. For the remainder of the afternoon, we played outside the RV. The Grandparents took the girls around the resort to show them off to friends. They also took them to playground. While they were away for a couple hours, Dad relaxed at the RV and read my book.
Next thing we knew....it was bed time. Another day was over.
Friday was supposed to the be nicest day of our visit. Temperature did not scream "Go to the Beach!" but you take what you can get.
So, the Grandparents took us to Siesta Key, one of the 10 best beaches in the U.S.
It was cool enough everyone wore sweatshirts and pants, but that did not stop up from having a good time...until the very end.
After some initial trepidation, Jacqueline and Sophie thought the beach was pretty neat. Both loved playing in the sand. Digging, shoveling, filling buckets, dumping buckets...all activities were fun. Sophie liked making "sand angels." Jacqueline like chasing the seagulls. Only Jacqueline put her toes in the water. She was not happy the water was cold (60 F). Everyone played catch with the rubber balls too.
Everyone had a great time until we brought out lunch. Once the food was out, the seagulls swarmed us and became very aggessive. I felt like we were in the Hitchcock movie "The Birds." I was mad enough that I was throwing the balls at the gulls; did not faze them though. Needless to say, we packed up and had our picnic on the boardwalk. Lunch was still nice but lacked the ambiance of the beach.
Not until we got home did I realize the girls and I got too much sun. Both girls had red, red cheeks. Dad was feeling a little crisp too. I did not think to put sunscreen on myself and the girls since it was so cold. Oops. Another learning moment for Dad.
We were back at the RV by 2 PM. I tried to put the girls down for a nap....not happening again. For the remainder of the afternoon, we played outside the RV. The Grandparents took the girls around the resort to show them off to friends. They also took them to playground. While they were away for a couple hours, Dad relaxed at the RV and read my book.
Next thing we knew....it was bed time. Another day was over.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Adventures with Daddy - Day 2
Day 2 - Hurricane Winds
Our first full day in Florida was not an ideal vacation day. Everyone was still tired from the long drive and it was extremely windy. The sun was shining, but it didn't matter because the wind chill must have been in the 30's. The chilly weather did not stop the girls from playing outside in the morning and late afternoon.
For our big activity of the day, we decided to visit the Mote Aquarium. Turns out the rest of Sarasota did too. The aquarium seemed a little small. The crowd plus the layout of the aquarium made it seem cramped. I think the aquarium was meant to be mainly an outdoor experience. Hard to spend a lot of enjoyable time outdoors when it is cold and windy.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent trying to find a gas station, get the fuel door open on the Volvo, and help the girls nap. To keep it short, we finally found a gas station, had to break the fuel door latch (easily fixed with velcro), and naps were not going to happen. The girls were over-tired and kept falling off the Grandparents' bed. Fortunately, the girls went to sleep easily that night after a traumatic bath experience. No one liked taking a bath in the RV shower.
As for sleeping arrangements, we started the girls sleeping on the floor in the back bedroom (3 falls off the bed were enough), then moved them to the pack-n-plays in the kitchen when everyone else went to sleep.
It was nice to see everyone quickly adapted to a daily routine in a new place. A key event for a smooth, enjoyable vacation.
Our first full day in Florida was not an ideal vacation day. Everyone was still tired from the long drive and it was extremely windy. The sun was shining, but it didn't matter because the wind chill must have been in the 30's. The chilly weather did not stop the girls from playing outside in the morning and late afternoon.
For our big activity of the day, we decided to visit the Mote Aquarium. Turns out the rest of Sarasota did too. The aquarium seemed a little small. The crowd plus the layout of the aquarium made it seem cramped. I think the aquarium was meant to be mainly an outdoor experience. Hard to spend a lot of enjoyable time outdoors when it is cold and windy.
Everyone had a good time in any event. Jacqueline loved the sharks, turtles, rays, and dolphins. Sophie was more interested in running around like a banshee....a sure sign she was tired. Grandparents and Dad enjoyed the aquarium too, but became a little wind-blown by the end of the day.
By the way, zoo membership reciprocity is a wonderful perk. We paid ~$100 for a NC Zoo membership in October. Mote Aquarium offered full reciprocity...so everyone was admitted free...a $50 savings. One more visit to the NC Zoo or any other zoo/aquarium with reciprocity will pay for our membership.
We ended our excursion with a nice lunch at a dockside diner. Decent food, good beer, and happy girls.....could not ask for anything more.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent trying to find a gas station, get the fuel door open on the Volvo, and help the girls nap. To keep it short, we finally found a gas station, had to break the fuel door latch (easily fixed with velcro), and naps were not going to happen. The girls were over-tired and kept falling off the Grandparents' bed. Fortunately, the girls went to sleep easily that night after a traumatic bath experience. No one liked taking a bath in the RV shower.
As for sleeping arrangements, we started the girls sleeping on the floor in the back bedroom (3 falls off the bed were enough), then moved them to the pack-n-plays in the kitchen when everyone else went to sleep.
It was nice to see everyone quickly adapted to a daily routine in a new place. A key event for a smooth, enjoyable vacation.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Adventures with Daddy - Day 1
Day 1 was the DRIVE.
Dad, Sophie, and Jacqueline left home at 4:30 AM on Wednesday. Our goal was to arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's place in Sarasota 12 hours later. Ambitious plans for our first extended time together, Mom's first time away from the kids, and Mom's long-weekend break from.....everything.
Our first planned stop was a McDonald's in Florence, SC. A good choice. The restaurant was clean with friendly staff. My only complaint is the playgrouind was outdoors, not indoors. No matter, we still spent more than an hour outside playing. We arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule, but spent too long playing. Overall, we left 30 minutes late.
Note to self: the kids like McDonald's pancakes. Note to self #2: McDonald's coffee is still not very good.
Next stop was Savannah, GA. After about 2 1/2 hours of driving with 2 silly girls playing with their animals and blankets in the back seats, we arrived at Forsyth Park. One word describes Forsyth Park...WOW! Excellent playground with a Starbucks/Cafe/Restrooms immediately adjacent. The park had nice paths, the fountain was nice (but blocked as they set-up for a wedding), and the trees with Spanish moss were impressive. We will stop again on our way home and probably stop at this park every time we pass through.
After a picnic lunch, we were back in the car and on the road again by 12:30 PM. This final stretch would be the longest. It also turned out to be the toughest. Crazy drivers, bad drivers, heavy traffic, and some rain made the drive tough on Dad. The kids napped until 3:00 PM. Then played the rest of the way. When I realized we would not arrive in Sarasota by 5:30 PM, we stopped to get the girls some milk to drink with a snack around 4 PM as they started to get fussy. We stopped in Ocala at a gas station next to a Cracker Barrel. The line to eat at the restaurant was already out the door. Lots of gray hair in that line.
Finally back in the car for the final push, we arrived at Grandma & Grandpa's RV resort at 6:30 PM.
We drove 800 miles over 14 hours. Subtract out 3 hours of playtime and an extra hour because we could only go 65 mph down I-75, it was about 11 hours of driving. A long day, no matter how you cut it. I was glad to relax with a beer at the end of the day.
Dad, Sophie, and Jacqueline left home at 4:30 AM on Wednesday. Our goal was to arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's place in Sarasota 12 hours later. Ambitious plans for our first extended time together, Mom's first time away from the kids, and Mom's long-weekend break from.....everything.
Our first planned stop was a McDonald's in Florence, SC. A good choice. The restaurant was clean with friendly staff. My only complaint is the playgrouind was outdoors, not indoors. No matter, we still spent more than an hour outside playing. We arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule, but spent too long playing. Overall, we left 30 minutes late.
Note to self: the kids like McDonald's pancakes. Note to self #2: McDonald's coffee is still not very good.
Next stop was Savannah, GA. After about 2 1/2 hours of driving with 2 silly girls playing with their animals and blankets in the back seats, we arrived at Forsyth Park. One word describes Forsyth Park...WOW! Excellent playground with a Starbucks/Cafe/Restrooms immediately adjacent. The park had nice paths, the fountain was nice (but blocked as they set-up for a wedding), and the trees with Spanish moss were impressive. We will stop again on our way home and probably stop at this park every time we pass through.
After a picnic lunch, we were back in the car and on the road again by 12:30 PM. This final stretch would be the longest. It also turned out to be the toughest. Crazy drivers, bad drivers, heavy traffic, and some rain made the drive tough on Dad. The kids napped until 3:00 PM. Then played the rest of the way. When I realized we would not arrive in Sarasota by 5:30 PM, we stopped to get the girls some milk to drink with a snack around 4 PM as they started to get fussy. We stopped in Ocala at a gas station next to a Cracker Barrel. The line to eat at the restaurant was already out the door. Lots of gray hair in that line.
Finally back in the car for the final push, we arrived at Grandma & Grandpa's RV resort at 6:30 PM.
We drove 800 miles over 14 hours. Subtract out 3 hours of playtime and an extra hour because we could only go 65 mph down I-75, it was about 11 hours of driving. A long day, no matter how you cut it. I was glad to relax with a beer at the end of the day.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Flat Tires
Why must flat tires always occur when it is dark, 35 degrees F and raining? Situation I found myself in Friday night at 5 PM. I got home around 8 PM very, very wet.
My last 2 flat tires were in those conditions.
My last 2 flat tires were in those conditions.
Top Ten Books
Sophie and Jacqueline love to read. I mean REALLY love to read. Right now, reading is probably there #1 playtime activitiy. Sophie prefers to read to herself. Jacqueline will read to herself, but she also enjoys Mom or Dad to tell her a story.
3. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (Sophie's first favorite book....both love it now)
4. Goodnight Gorilla (although we seem to have lost it....maybe cousin Alina "stole" it.)
Here is Dad's personal favorite. I love reading this bedtime story. Sweet and sentimental.
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They have been good readers for almost a year now. I thought their favorites would shift over time. Nope. We try tohide their favorites on the bookshelves to encourage them to read other books. Nope; they find them.
Mom and Dad have their favorites too. Overall, though, we are happy to read any of the top 10 or any of the other books in the house at any time.
1. Animal Action (gift from Aunt Kathy....we need to find another copy.....this one is almost dead)
2. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (gift from Aunt Kathy, always have to point out the cats. Shannon's personal favorite)
3. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (Sophie's first favorite book....both love it now)
4. Goodnight Gorilla (although we seem to have lost it....maybe cousin Alina "stole" it.)
5. Freight Train (have to make "chugging" noises and bounce your knees)
6. Goodnight Moon (They have learned the most word-object associations with this book. Dad's favorite of the top 10. )
7. Brown Bear, Brown Bear
8. Where the Wild Things Are
9. Best Friends (No picture on the internet....bummer. One of Jacqueline's favorites)
10. Any book with Biscuit the dog (Sophie particularly likes these)
Here is Dad's personal favorite. I love reading this bedtime story. Sweet and sentimental.
It's funny that two kid's books from Aunt Kathy that I've never heard of are their 2 favorites.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Christmas Photos
It is a month late, but slideshow has been updated with Christmas photos. Better late than never!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Some Things I've Learned about Parenthood
If your child is going to vomit in bed, it is easier to handle if it happens at 8:30 PM instead of 3:00 AM.
At 19 months old, the girls always look to Mom (the primary caregiver) for comfort when something really bad happens (see above).
Mom earns bonus points for staying awake most the night comforting their child and then still doing all the laundry the next day!
You can't rationalize a toddler's behavior, especially when it comes to food.
Toddlers love to share, especially really nasty stomach viruses!!!
At 19 months old, the girls always look to Mom (the primary caregiver) for comfort when something really bad happens (see above).
Mom earns bonus points for staying awake most the night comforting their child and then still doing all the laundry the next day!
You can't rationalize a toddler's behavior, especially when it comes to food.
Toddlers love to share, especially really nasty stomach viruses!!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Whole Lotta Happy
We went to the State Fair last Monday. As you can see from the photos, everyone had a great time.
2. Watching J&S eat their first corndog. Yes, we broke down and let them eat fried food. As Shannon said, "at least it has some vegetable matter." At least it wasn't fried butter! For the record, Shannon had a corndog too. I had a Polish sausage.
3. The painting of the teddy bear done by rubber stamping was beautiful.
Listening to bluegrass music. There was much dancing
Sharing Dad's ice cream.
"Me too!"
My 3 favorite memores of the fair are:
1. Jacqueline and Sophie dancing, giggling and screaming with excitement when we went into the animal barn. They thought it was really cool being that close to the cows, donkeys, goats, chicks, and horses.
2. Watching J&S eat their first corndog. Yes, we broke down and let them eat fried food. As Shannon said, "at least it has some vegetable matter." At least it wasn't fried butter! For the record, Shannon had a corndog too. I had a Polish sausage.
3. The painting of the teddy bear done by rubber stamping was beautiful.
Mom & Jacqueline looking at chickens...our 1st stop at the fair.
Examining the corndog closely. She ate the whole thing.
Jacqueline enjoying her lunch
Looking intently at the "oreo" cow
Pirate Sophie Pig Tails!
Pirate Jacqueline the Lover!
Exhausted kids at nap time. Sophie never napped until the ride home.
Listening to bluegrass music. There was much dancing
Sharing Dad's ice cream.
Dinner at Federals..."I'll have the Vegetable Risotto, please"
"Me too!"
Monday, October 19, 2009
Trip to the Museum of Life and Science #1 and #2
This first photo is just a silly shot of Sophie.
Jacqueline playing in the kitchen at the Museum of Life and Science.
Sophie on the indoor playground getting ready to go down the slide. Museum of Life and Science.While watching the girls last week, we went to the Museum of Life and Science two days in a row. The first day was a planned outing and we were there for several hours. The second day was a quick stop after story-time at the North Durham Library to kill an hour before lunch.
Shannon thinks I'm crazy by going so often. She thinks the girls and I would get bored. I disagree. Anything fun with J&S is entertaining. They always do something different.
For example, on Day 1 they spent a lot of time on the indoor slide and in the play kitchen. See photos. The second day was playing with the wall of doors with different types of latches and drawing on the chalkboard.
And those activities are only the smallest pieces of the Museum.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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