Oct 6, 2009 | Florida, Travel, Uncategorized, United States
We’re back! Disney was fun. This fall break the kids have is going to be nice. Great deals on vacations, good weather, small crowds! Now for some shameless pics of my kids…
(All taken with my phone so forgive the bad quality.)
We happened to be there during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Oktoberfest, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and German Reunification Day which was fun too. (We didn’t make it to the Halloween Party for 2 reasons-
1) It would have been $420 more for us to go.
2) The kids can’t eat any food coloring so candy would have been a problem!
We had loads of fun anyway, and on the last day we went to the parks it was a special fireworks show which was the best I’ve EVER seen. Also Magic Kingdom was open until 1am that night and we actually stayed all day which ended up being really neat. The kids were great, except for maybe two small incidents- not the easiest thing for a severely hypoglycemic kid with sensory issues going into a crowded park- but he only had one melt down. The youngest had his on the plane which lasted a good ten minutes. The worst thing was that we were the ONLY family with kids on that flight! Talk about business people praying they weren’t sitting next to us! He crashed and slept the rest of the way which was good for all.
I am now trying to wade through the laundry. Tonight Emily and I go see “Mamma Mia!” which I’m really looking forward to also!
Aug 31, 2009 | Arkansas, Travel, Uncategorized, United States
The kids between a rock and a hard place
This weekend was gorgeous. Friday I had a Girl Scout startup cookout here. Then we just hung out here on Saturday and enjoyed the pool- but the kids were itching to run- so Sunday was a road trip day. We drove to Petit Jean and hiked.
Rocky “face” with fern beard
Scott just hanging out
Cole enjoying the view
What I saw the most of (trying to find my family)
Aug 14, 2009 | Travel, Uncategorized
My cousin has a new fun Mr.Linky on her site. Here’s my answer…
Oh, I love to travel. Luckily my honey does too. Some of my faves…
Coba, Mexico (on the steps to a pyramid)
With family in Playa del Carmen
We love Quintana Roo, state in Mexico. We honeymooned there 17 yrs ago. We went every year for awhile. A couple of times with friends and once with family. We like to stay in the Iberostar chain hotels, but now our family is larger (and they only allow 4 to a room) we haven’t been back but once I guess. Have to rent a house there soon!
City Museum
Then there is St. Louis. What an awesome family trip! Last year we drove up and hit all the hot spots (City Museum, Arch, zoo, Transportation museum, Blue Owl Bakery…) FUN!
And
San Antonio! We rode the train there over Spring Break and had a fantastic trip. We stayed at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort & Spa (I sooo recommend this place for families! Free bikes and trails, fantastic pool and beach, close to Sea World, great food…) Hit the Witte museum, SA zoo, Alamo, Riverwalk…
Another great trip was our drive from Arkansas to California! We saw lots of fun things that were along the old Route 66, went to the Grand Canyon, LA, Pasadena, La Jolla (Scripps museum) San Diego…
on the way back went to Arizona and saw more fun things. (Hint, if you join a science museum close to you then usually it’s reciprocal with museums all over the world. We usually don’t have to pay a dime anywhere and a family membership is around $70 for a year.)
Picture of Train in Grand Canyon (Max took this!)
Legoland
Our next trip is Orlando (Disneyworld) this fall. Can’t wait! I would like our trip after that to be Panamá.
Jul 27, 2009 | Travel, Uncategorized
This September we are taking the trip that those of us with small children (and even those without) either LOVE or HATE, a.k.a.- Disneyworld. I am on the fence at the moment.
I was really excited about it at first. Who doesn’t want to see their little kids eyes light up at Mickey Mouse? But, after attempting to book on Disney’s wonderful website I was so frustrated. Those of you with larger families will sympathize. You can’t book two rooms on one reservation! We are traveling with the five of us, plus both grandmas. Two rooms is even pushing it, but hey.
So… after finding two rooms on line at the resort I wanted I book the first, put a note for connecting rooms, paid. Went to book the second room and it froze. I called the reservation # and they said (after taking 15 or so minutes reviewing the first one) that there weren’t any other rooms at that hotel! I was SO MAD. So, we adjust the dates, play with the first reservation and book the rooms.
I call back again after I realize that they have us in two different “types” of rooms so there is no way they can be adjoining. They tell me to pick a “type” waterview or not waterview. I tell them I don’t care as long as they are together. They say “pick a type.” I say “whatever” they get huffy with me. Great. So looking forward to Disney already.
Anyway, I get the rooms booked (waterview, still might change that one) and feel better but no airline tickets yet or dining reservations.
Find great prices on airfare and book it! (Still have to make 2 reservations because we have 7 people.)
Mom comes over and we plan the days we’ll go to which park, research the restaurants and I call to make reservations. Oh, none of the restaurants I want have availability (IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER!) and our hotel doesn’t even have room for breakfast on ANY of the days we are there. GREAT- so looking forward to this trip. I did manage to make some of the reservations- but geesh, it’s free dining and they don’t have room?
Also, it’s DISNEY! Make sure you have decent, friendly people on the phone. Two I spoke with spoke such broken English that even my translator ears couldn’t decipher it. Two others were so rude I was in shock. The last two I spoke with were very sweet and I was so happy to speak to people who were helpful and nice. (What has happened to customer service or satisfaction in this country anyway?- Don’t get me started on that one.)
Does anyone have tips for where to go etc? (We are going to each park on the days they have extra hours.) Oh, we’re staying at Port Orleans, Riverside.
Have reservations for these restaurants:
Magic Kingdom: The Crystal Palace for dinner with Winnie the Pooh
The Contemporary Resort: dinner at The Wave
Animal Kingdom: lunch at Tusker House
Epcot: (It’s the Food and Wine fest while we are there so I’m excited about that!)
lunch at the Biergarten
dinner at Marrakesh in Morrocco
I feel better now that part is done. The little planning I’m doing will make it easier then, I hope.
Jul 9, 2009 | Florida, Panama, Travel, Uncategorized
We were not at home this fourth of July. My 20th high school reunion/ Canal Zone Reunion was in Orlando, Florida and so mom, my honey, and I decided to go. The in-laws were kind enough to watch the kiddos so that they wouldn’t have to endure the long trip down and back. Fast and furious it was! Here is a quick photo diary of the days…
Mom and Me in Tupelo, MS (Elvis’ birthplace)
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort (HUGE PLACE)
Hosted the Canal Zone Reunion
Me trying to “steal” the Balboa head from BHS for Kenneth
(who was a CHS defector in ’95 and graduated from BHS)
Cristobal High Graduates from many years
Pensacola Beach
(Had to stop to put our feet in the ocean on the way home)
We saw old neighbors, teachers, classmates… It was so fantastic to see my “old” friends again. Some were grade school buddies I hadn’t seen since 5th or 6th grade!
Jun 22, 2009 | Arkansas, Travel, Uncategorized, United States
This weekend we made a jaunt up to my grandpa’s in Clarksville. The goal of the trip was to be there in time for some of the Johnson County Peach Festival festivities.
Rodeo Queens
Neat picture of the diversity in Clarksville. The building with the green awning used to be my great-grandfather’s drugstore “The Palace” and later my great uncles ran and owned it. My granddad had his doctor’s office next door! Walmart managed to eventually run them out of business. I love the festival- so much small town fun! Even the governor got in on the parade action!
It was hot but we had a nice wall to lean on so had our bit of shade.
We missed the fiddle contest, which is always phenomenal, because the kids were too hot and wanted to jump in the lake. I was bummed but the cool water of the creek we found at Horsehead Lake made up for it (I think.) Cole really liked it! I know the Thai Steakhouse in Ozark made up for it. I LOVE that place. The family that owns it is the nicest and it’s probably the best “oriental” restaurant in Arkansas. (At least that I’ve found.) Beats everything in Central Arkansas hands down.
I decided to try to “color” my grey hair with cassia obovata I’d gotten from this site. It is a natural plant that you make into a paste and put on your hair. It’s supposed to condition hair and turn grey blonde. Doesn’t change any other hair colors. It really did work! Not supposed to last very long, but much better than all those bad chemicals. I don’t think it conditioned my hair though, made it feel a bit dry. Maybe it’s the orange juice you have to mix the powder with. I might try yogurt next go round like some suggest.
We came home for a nice Father’s Day cookout at my in-law’s and a movie (kids and I saw “Imagine That”.) Then J decided to stand up just as I was bending over to pick him up last night for bed. Perfect timing and a broken nose for mom. A little purple and a lot swollen, at least it is straight. That kid has one hard head.
