Disney's California Adventure. Our first trip and it was GREAT!
**
Showing posts with label Travels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travels. Show all posts
Thursday, April 9
Wednesday, October 8
Sunday, July 27
Some call it fishing
**
Some call it fishing, but at a place like this it's more accurate to call it catching. Simply throw hundreds of hungry Rainbow Trout into a small pond and it's a bit like shooting fish in a barrel.
(Click the "x" in the upper right hand corner of the slide show window below if photos aren't showing.)
**
Some call it fishing, but at a place like this it's more accurate to call it catching. Simply throw hundreds of hungry Rainbow Trout into a small pond and it's a bit like shooting fish in a barrel.
**
Friday, July 25
Vacation 2008—Parts 1 & 2
**
This year's vacation was a two-parter, and gloriously long! The first half was the 10th Annual Hart Family Vacation. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins—the entire Hart Clan in Seattle for the wedding of another cousin and his Irish bride. Good times! (Click the "x" in the upper right hand corner of the slide show window below if photos aren't showing.)
Part 2 - Playing w/ Papa and Grandma Sherry at Mount St. Helens, the Fish Ladders, and the carnival. (Click the "x" in the upper right hand corner of the slide show window below if photos aren't showing.)
**
This year's vacation was a two-parter, and gloriously long! The first half was the 10th Annual Hart Family Vacation. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins—the entire Hart Clan in Seattle for the wedding of another cousin and his Irish bride. Good times! (Click the "x" in the upper right hand corner of the slide show window below if photos aren't showing.)
Part 2 - Playing w/ Papa and Grandma Sherry at Mount St. Helens, the Fish Ladders, and the carnival. (Click the "x" in the upper right hand corner of the slide show window below if photos aren't showing.)
**
Wednesday, September 19
36 Hours Turns into 18...,
***
(Lucky Mom had custody of the camera .
So the only evidence is this photo of DH.)
The girls, on the other hand, slept pretty soundly in between Rachel's random disturbances.
And after Rachel continually jolted us out of sleep throughout the night, Alex awoke at her usual 6(!#&%*#)AM. Bright eyed and raring to go while our little sweet Rachel just kept on sleeping.
(If she weren't so cute I would have been tempted to ring her little neck.)
Instead, we decided to pack it up and try again another day when mommy and Daddy were a little more rested (read: patient).
***
Our camping trip started out like most - a long drive, too much time setting up and getting settled in, followed by dinner and the traditional (and super yummy) smores ritual.
(So yummy!)
And this next photo may give you some idea about why our camping trip was cut short. Mommy and Daddy didn't sleep too well.
(So yummy!)And this next photo may give you some idea about why our camping trip was cut short. Mommy and Daddy didn't sleep too well.
(Lucky Mom had custody of the camera .So the only evidence is this photo of DH.)
The girls, on the other hand, slept pretty soundly in between Rachel's random disturbances.
And after Rachel continually jolted us out of sleep throughout the night, Alex awoke at her usual 6(!#&%*#)AM. Bright eyed and raring to go while our little sweet Rachel just kept on sleeping.
(If she weren't so cute I would have been tempted to ring her little neck.)Instead, we decided to pack it up and try again another day when mommy and Daddy were a little more rested (read: patient).
***
Saturday, July 21
The Hart Vacation of 2007
**
Eight adults, 7 kids and a little black dog named Sammy at beautiful Lake Hartwell in North Georgia. AAHH. Away from day-to-day business, emails, bills, and phone calls. Fabulous.
A few photos....,
**
Keep reading for a few short vacation stories and funny little snippets.
**
Eight adults, 7 kids and a little black dog named Sammy at beautiful Lake Hartwell in North Georgia. AAHH. Away from day-to-day business, emails, bills, and phone calls. Fabulous.
A few photos....,
**
Keep reading for a few short vacation stories and funny little snippets.
**
Friday, July 20
Day 6: The Queen Bee & Creative Parenting
**
Alex, exhausted from 6 days without enough sleep and memories of the yellow jacket attack, freaked out at ANY flying bug or speck of dust that flew within two feet of her. She was panicked and seemingly terrified beyond all logic. This child, not even afraid of injections, horrified by any little thing flying nearby.
After explaining reality, “Yes, bees sting. It’s not likely that you’ll get stung – you might, but not likely. You’re missing all the fun. I’m sure the bees won’t ‘bug’ you,” she didn’t see the humor. And, as sincerely as I tried, she was not at all comforted by logic or soothing words.
Nope. She was still horrified and hysterical. See for yourself….,
At this point she was beyond consoling. I took her away from the beach area – as much to get her away from the bugs as to stop myself from drowning her & stop the wailing.
I took her to the picnic table, covered her in t-shirts to ‘protect her’ and told her that I was off to talk with the Queen Bee to “work something out.” As I left she started SCREAMING again and didn’t want to be left alone.
Less than a minute later I returned and explained my ‘deal’ with the Queen Bee. “The Queen agreed to talk to her kids and tell them not to sting if Alex would stop screaming and scaring her kids. In exchange,” I explained to Alex, “I promised the Queen that we would leave a small bowl of sugar on the deck for her later that day as a thank you.”
Well, this was agreeable to Alex and off she went to have fun in the water with the rest of her cousins like nothing ever happened.
Five hours later, as the girls were getting ready for bed, Alex reminded me about our deal with the Queen. We prepared a special bowl of sugar as promised and left it on the deck for a royal midnight snack.
**
Alex, exhausted from 6 days without enough sleep and memories of the yellow jacket attack, freaked out at ANY flying bug or speck of dust that flew within two feet of her. She was panicked and seemingly terrified beyond all logic. This child, not even afraid of injections, horrified by any little thing flying nearby.
After explaining reality, “Yes, bees sting. It’s not likely that you’ll get stung – you might, but not likely. You’re missing all the fun. I’m sure the bees won’t ‘bug’ you,” she didn’t see the humor. And, as sincerely as I tried, she was not at all comforted by logic or soothing words.
Nope. She was still horrified and hysterical. See for yourself….,
At this point she was beyond consoling. I took her away from the beach area – as much to get her away from the bugs as to stop myself from drowning her & stop the wailing.
I took her to the picnic table, covered her in t-shirts to ‘protect her’ and told her that I was off to talk with the Queen Bee to “work something out.” As I left she started SCREAMING again and didn’t want to be left alone.
Less than a minute later I returned and explained my ‘deal’ with the Queen Bee. “The Queen agreed to talk to her kids and tell them not to sting if Alex would stop screaming and scaring her kids. In exchange,” I explained to Alex, “I promised the Queen that we would leave a small bowl of sugar on the deck for her later that day as a thank you.”
Well, this was agreeable to Alex and off she went to have fun in the water with the rest of her cousins like nothing ever happened.
Five hours later, as the girls were getting ready for bed, Alex reminded me about our deal with the Queen. We prepared a special bowl of sugar as promised and left it on the deck for a royal midnight snack.
**
Kids Say the Darndest Things on Vacation...,
**
4 out of 5 girls in the bathtub and Maggie announces, “Look. Rachel’s havin’ fun with her vagina!”
**
“Come on, let’s go up to the waterfall.”
“Yeah, and maybe we can slide down. Maybe naked!” Alex, one of my little nudists!
**
A random statement made by little 4 year old Callie, “I don’t have a penis!”
(Fascination with body parts. That's what happens when you get little girl cousins together with little boy cousins.)
**
While taking a short ride on the boat after dinner, Rachel takes hold of Aunt Dorreen’s wrist, looks at her watch and exclaims, “Hey! It’s six o’clock. It’s time for DANCE PARTY!!”
“OK,” and Aunt Doreen stood up and started dancing.
“No. No. You sit down. We’re dancing.”
**
4 out of 5 girls in the bathtub and Maggie announces, “Look. Rachel’s havin’ fun with her vagina!”
**
“Come on, let’s go up to the waterfall.”
“Yeah, and maybe we can slide down. Maybe naked!” Alex, one of my little nudists!
**
A random statement made by little 4 year old Callie, “I don’t have a penis!”
(Fascination with body parts. That's what happens when you get little girl cousins together with little boy cousins.)
**
While taking a short ride on the boat after dinner, Rachel takes hold of Aunt Dorreen’s wrist, looks at her watch and exclaims, “Hey! It’s six o’clock. It’s time for DANCE PARTY!!”
“OK,” and Aunt Doreen stood up and started dancing.
“No. No. You sit down. We’re dancing.”
**
Thursday, July 19
Vacation Snippets
**
After one day with all five little girls, the in-laws, and the Yellow Jackets, Dave and I escaped. We arrived at the lake house ready for two days of secluded bliss before the rest of the gang joined us.
Ahhhh. Relaxation.
……, hmmmm.
Still relaxing.
Now realizing that I’m not actually all that good at relaxing. Seems like I should be doing something ….
“Ah. Dave…?”
**
Saturday morning – a night to ourselves and a morning w/out little ones crawling into our bed (something I LOVE BTW) and the ability to sleep VERY late and lie in bed snuggling and daydreaming.
**
After a day of exploring the local waterfalls, Dave and I called the girls to say good night and Rachel said, in the sweetest little voice ever, “Good night mommy. I’m just going to go to bed without a hug.” My heart melted.
Alex, having too much fun to be bothered, simply yelled “Good night” from the other room.
They grow up too too fast.
**
After one day with all five little girls, the in-laws, and the Yellow Jackets, Dave and I escaped. We arrived at the lake house ready for two days of secluded bliss before the rest of the gang joined us.
Ahhhh. Relaxation.
……, hmmmm.
Still relaxing.
Now realizing that I’m not actually all that good at relaxing. Seems like I should be doing something ….
“Ah. Dave…?”
**
Saturday morning – a night to ourselves and a morning w/out little ones crawling into our bed (something I LOVE BTW) and the ability to sleep VERY late and lie in bed snuggling and daydreaming.
**
After a day of exploring the local waterfalls, Dave and I called the girls to say good night and Rachel said, in the sweetest little voice ever, “Good night mommy. I’m just going to go to bed without a hug.” My heart melted.
Alex, having too much fun to be bothered, simply yelled “Good night” from the other room.
They grow up too too fast.
**
Tuesday, July 17
Day 1: Attack of the Yellow Jackets
**
Alex discovered a nest of Yellow Jackets. Or they discovered her – not sure which. But they were NOT happy. She was stung twice and I came running when she started SCREAMING! She had no idea what it was but she was in pain and wanted it to stop. When I got to her Dave was pulling one off of her shoulder. She had taken a sting in the arm and one in the head before I rushed her into the house (Calling over my shoulder, “Could someone grab my coffee?” OK – clearly I wasn’t panicked.)
Once inside – I began rinsing her with cold water and, as I went to get ice discovered one of those nasty little bugs had found its way up my floor length skirt and I took a sting to the upper thigh. While I was hopping up and down, shaking my skirt trying to free the little bastard, Dave also got stung.
CRAP! These little buggers were pissed and were letting us know it. Grandma got two stings too – thus sealing the fate of the yellow jackets.
That night Dave and Doreen poured gasoline down the hole containing the nest and that was the end of the yellow jackets! That’ll teach them to attack UP the evolutionary chain!
**
Alex discovered a nest of Yellow Jackets. Or they discovered her – not sure which. But they were NOT happy. She was stung twice and I came running when she started SCREAMING! She had no idea what it was but she was in pain and wanted it to stop. When I got to her Dave was pulling one off of her shoulder. She had taken a sting in the arm and one in the head before I rushed her into the house (Calling over my shoulder, “Could someone grab my coffee?” OK – clearly I wasn’t panicked.)
Once inside – I began rinsing her with cold water and, as I went to get ice discovered one of those nasty little bugs had found its way up my floor length skirt and I took a sting to the upper thigh. While I was hopping up and down, shaking my skirt trying to free the little bastard, Dave also got stung.
CRAP! These little buggers were pissed and were letting us know it. Grandma got two stings too – thus sealing the fate of the yellow jackets.
That night Dave and Doreen poured gasoline down the hole containing the nest and that was the end of the yellow jackets! That’ll teach them to attack UP the evolutionary chain!
**
Thursday, July 5
Two Kids on a Plane....,
**
Lesson learned?
The traveling DVD player is like an epidural during childbirth. Anything that takes the pain away that effectively can't be a bad thing!
**
Lesson learned?
The traveling DVD player is like an epidural during childbirth. Anything that takes the pain away that effectively can't be a bad thing!
**
Wednesday, July 4
Vacation
**
And we're OFF!! Our annual trip. This year it's two weeks in GA with the in-laws. Good times! Enjoy and we'll tell you all about it when we get back.
**
And we're OFF!! Our annual trip. This year it's two weeks in GA with the in-laws. Good times! Enjoy and we'll tell you all about it when we get back.
**
Tuesday, July 3
A few vacation snippets....,,
**
Day 1: Attack of the yellow jackets.
Alex discovered a nest of yellow jackets. Or they discovered her – not sure which. But they were NOT happy. She was stung twice and I came running when she started SCREAMING! She had no idea what it was but she was in pain and wanted it to stop. When I got to her Dave was pulling one off of her shoulder. She had taken a sting in the arm and one in the head before I rushed her into the house (Calling over my shoulder, “Could someone grab my coffee?” OK – clearly I wasn’t panicked.)
Once inside – I began rinsing her with cold water and, as I went to get ice discovered one of those nasty little bugs had found its way up my floor-length skirt and I took a sting to the upper thigh. While I was hopping up and down, shaking my skirt trying to free the little bastard, Dave also got stung.
CRAP! These little buggers were pissed and were letting us know it. Grandma got two stings too – thus sealing the fate of the yellow jackets.
That night Dave and Doreen poured gasoline down the hole containing the nest and that was the end of the yellow jackets! That’ll teach them to attack UP the evolutionary chain!
**
After one day with all five little girls and the in-laws, Dave and I escape. We arrive at the lake house ready for two days of secluded bliss before the rest of the gang joins us.
Ahhhh. Relaxation.
……, hmmmm.
Still relaxing.
Now realizing that I’m not actually all that good at relaxing. Seems like I should be doing something ….
“Ah. Dave…?”
**
Saturday morning – a night to ourselves and a morning w/out little ones crawling into our bed (something I LOVE BTW) and the ability to sleep VERY late and lie in bed snuggling and daydreaming.
**
After a day of exploring the local waterfalls, Dave and I called the girls to say good night and Rachel said in the sweetest little voice ever, “I’m just going to go to bed without giving you a hug.” My heart melted.
Alex, having too much fun to be bothered, simply yelled “Good night” from the other room.
**
And on day 4 we did the stereotypical small southern town thang. (Read w/ southern accent.) We went to the waffle house for waffles, grits, and bacon and then we hauled it over to the Walmart for some shopping.
Our waitress's name was actually 'Red.' She was classic. Chatty, extraordinarily nice, and VERY southern. She called us 'Hun' and 'Sweety' and Rachel and Alex "were just the cutest little things." Pure southern charm.
**
Alex, exhausted from 6 days without enough sleep and memories of the yellow jacket attack, freaked out at ANY flying bug or speck of dust that flew within two feet of her. She was panicked and seemingly terrified beyond all logic. This child isn’t even afraid of injections! And now she was horrified by any little thing flying nearby.
After explaining reality, “Yes, bees sting. It’s not likely that you’ll get stung – you might, but not likely. You’re missing all the fun. I’m sure the bees won’t ‘bug’ you,” she didn’t see the humor nor was she at all comforted by my logic.
Nope. She was still hysterical. See for yourself….,
At this point, she was beyond consoling. I took her away from the beach area – as much to get her away from bugs as to stop myself from drowning her to stop the wailing.
I took her to the picnic table, covered her in t-shirts to ‘protect her,' and told her that I was off to talk with the Queen Bee to “work something out.” As I left she started SCREAMING again and didn’t want to be left alone.
Less than a minute later I returned and explained my ‘deal’ with the Queen Bee. “The Queen agreed to talk to her kids and tell them not to sting if Alex would stop screaming and scaring her kids. In exchange,” I explained to Alex, “I promised the Queen that we would leave a small bowl of sugar on the deck for her later that day as a thank you.”
Well, this was agreeable to Alex and off she went to have fun in the water with the rest of her cousins like nothing ever happened. Five hours later, however, as the girls were getting ready for bed, Alex reminded me about our deal with the Queen. We prepared a special bowl of sugar as promised and left it on the deck for a royal midnight snack.
**
Day 1: Attack of the yellow jackets.
Alex discovered a nest of yellow jackets. Or they discovered her – not sure which. But they were NOT happy. She was stung twice and I came running when she started SCREAMING! She had no idea what it was but she was in pain and wanted it to stop. When I got to her Dave was pulling one off of her shoulder. She had taken a sting in the arm and one in the head before I rushed her into the house (Calling over my shoulder, “Could someone grab my coffee?” OK – clearly I wasn’t panicked.)
Once inside – I began rinsing her with cold water and, as I went to get ice discovered one of those nasty little bugs had found its way up my floor-length skirt and I took a sting to the upper thigh. While I was hopping up and down, shaking my skirt trying to free the little bastard, Dave also got stung.
CRAP! These little buggers were pissed and were letting us know it. Grandma got two stings too – thus sealing the fate of the yellow jackets.
That night Dave and Doreen poured gasoline down the hole containing the nest and that was the end of the yellow jackets! That’ll teach them to attack UP the evolutionary chain!
**
After one day with all five little girls and the in-laws, Dave and I escape. We arrive at the lake house ready for two days of secluded bliss before the rest of the gang joins us.
Ahhhh. Relaxation.
……, hmmmm.
Still relaxing.
Now realizing that I’m not actually all that good at relaxing. Seems like I should be doing something ….
“Ah. Dave…?”
**
Saturday morning – a night to ourselves and a morning w/out little ones crawling into our bed (something I LOVE BTW) and the ability to sleep VERY late and lie in bed snuggling and daydreaming.
**
After a day of exploring the local waterfalls, Dave and I called the girls to say good night and Rachel said in the sweetest little voice ever, “I’m just going to go to bed without giving you a hug.” My heart melted.
Alex, having too much fun to be bothered, simply yelled “Good night” from the other room.
**
And on day 4 we did the stereotypical small southern town thang. (Read w/ southern accent.) We went to the waffle house for waffles, grits, and bacon and then we hauled it over to the Walmart for some shopping.
Our waitress's name was actually 'Red.' She was classic. Chatty, extraordinarily nice, and VERY southern. She called us 'Hun' and 'Sweety' and Rachel and Alex "were just the cutest little things." Pure southern charm.
**
Alex, exhausted from 6 days without enough sleep and memories of the yellow jacket attack, freaked out at ANY flying bug or speck of dust that flew within two feet of her. She was panicked and seemingly terrified beyond all logic. This child isn’t even afraid of injections! And now she was horrified by any little thing flying nearby.
After explaining reality, “Yes, bees sting. It’s not likely that you’ll get stung – you might, but not likely. You’re missing all the fun. I’m sure the bees won’t ‘bug’ you,” she didn’t see the humor nor was she at all comforted by my logic.
Nope. She was still hysterical. See for yourself….,
At this point, she was beyond consoling. I took her away from the beach area – as much to get her away from bugs as to stop myself from drowning her to stop the wailing.
I took her to the picnic table, covered her in t-shirts to ‘protect her,' and told her that I was off to talk with the Queen Bee to “work something out.” As I left she started SCREAMING again and didn’t want to be left alone.
Less than a minute later I returned and explained my ‘deal’ with the Queen Bee. “The Queen agreed to talk to her kids and tell them not to sting if Alex would stop screaming and scaring her kids. In exchange,” I explained to Alex, “I promised the Queen that we would leave a small bowl of sugar on the deck for her later that day as a thank you.”
Well, this was agreeable to Alex and off she went to have fun in the water with the rest of her cousins like nothing ever happened. Five hours later, however, as the girls were getting ready for bed, Alex reminded me about our deal with the Queen. We prepared a special bowl of sugar as promised and left it on the deck for a royal midnight snack.
**
Friday, April 6
On The Road
I guess it's true. Some things never change. Like that inevitable question, in its many forms, that you hear while on a road trip with small children: "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer?" or "How far are we now?" or, my personal favorite, "Can we find a shorter way to get there?"
While on our seven hour drive to Tuscon this past week I heard these questions no less than 28 times!
Interspersed were a few more interesting questions, including...,
"Why are there cactus?"
"Is this where the camels live?"
"Hey! Where are the houses? MOM?" a little panicked in the middle of the desert. "WHERE ARE THE HOUSES!?!"
"Are we going to stay at Grandpa's until it snows?" (Did I mention we were driving to Tuscon?)
We stayed just two nights but thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...
Mercifully, the ride home was peppered only twice with questions about 'how much longer.' Instead we sang and chatted and, again mercifully, the girls slept for the last 90 minutes of the ride. And although I was more than a little envious (I was soooo tired), the quiet and little bit of solitude was nice.
**
While on our seven hour drive to Tuscon this past week I heard these questions no less than 28 times!
Interspersed were a few more interesting questions, including...,
"Why are there cactus?"
"Is this where the camels live?"
"Hey! Where are the houses? MOM?" a little panicked in the middle of the desert. "WHERE ARE THE HOUSES!?!"
"Are we going to stay at Grandpa's until it snows?" (Did I mention we were driving to Tuscon?)
We stayed just two nights but thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...
playing in the pool,
blowing 'Easter' bubbles
(Rachel was SOOO excited about the bubbles!),
riding the Merri-Go-Round at the local pizza parlor,
(Rachel was SOOO excited about the bubbles!),
riding the Merri-Go-Round at the local pizza parlor,
and, of course, story time with Grandpa.
Mercifully, the ride home was peppered only twice with questions about 'how much longer.' Instead we sang and chatted and, again mercifully, the girls slept for the last 90 minutes of the ride. And although I was more than a little envious (I was soooo tired), the quiet and little bit of solitude was nice.
**
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