Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
Exhibit D:
Incorrect use of a water slide. Do not attempt at home.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Water Sliding For Dummies
How to properly use a water slide.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
Exhibit C:
Exhibit D:
Incorrect use of a water slide. Do not attempt at home.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
Exhibit D:
Incorrect use of a water slide. Do not attempt at home.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Vacation, Part III
After our week of sand (and I am STILL finding sand in all the crevices of our house and car), we hopped in the car for a short four hour trip to Florida to spend time with my side of the family. It was a nice way to relax and the kids were provided with endless entertainment (read: my parents have a pool). I think they spent most days in their pajamas and/or bathing suits and it was not uncommon to declare a swim in the pool as the requisite bath for the day. We got to consume a lot of shave ice and even made it down to the beach again. Mostly, it was a time to relax and unwind while not feeling rushed or hurried to get anything done. Many times I feel like I don't get to relax on vacation because I'm trying to cram so much "stuff" into a 6 or 7 day period. This trip was a nice respite from all of that. We had no plans and just decided what to do when the moment was upon us.
Well, I guess I can't say we had no plans. We did have a very big day in the works once we got to sunny Florida. We had promised the kids that we would head down to Orlando one day to Sea World to meet Shamu and his pals. I know, a Floridian should know better than to take her children to an Orlando theme park in the dead of summer ... but I gave in. We just went in knowing that we would sweat and it would be crowded.
The kids really did enjoy the park. It helped that we had a stroller for each of them and that they got several breaks when they sat down to watch the shows. There were also several exhibits that were inside, which gave me some time to catch up with my good friend A.C. We also chose to eat at an indoors restaurant, which I think really helped as well. It was the only part of the day where everyone's faces weren't flushed and red!
I didn't get an opportunity to take many pictures with all the gear and children we were juggling, but here are the ones we managed to get.
Waiting for Shamu to get jumpin'
He (she??) did not disappoint.
The best alternative to air conditioning ...
The kids made it until about 4:00 when you could start to see the exhaustion setting in. Luke passed out sitting straight up in his stroller and didn't even wake up when I took him into the bathroom to change him. It had been so long since I had changed a sleeping baby that I forgot the golden rule of sleeping baby diaper changing ... beware of upward shooting streams! Seriously. I thought I had been peed on during a diaper change for the last time over a year ago, but I guess Luke wanted to be sure to baptize me one last time. I guess it's sort of his duty as the last baby and all. So if I wasn't ready to leave before changing the diaper, I was definitely ready once I was nice and soaked with urine.
After Sea World, it was more of the same at Nonni and Grandad's house until we had to head home. I was ready to be back in my own house after 3 weeks, but definitely NOT ready to end vacation. I'm so thankful that both Matt and I have great families that love us and our children enough to take time out of their lives to make lasting memories with us. Thanks for a great month of vacation everyone!
Well, I guess I can't say we had no plans. We did have a very big day in the works once we got to sunny Florida. We had promised the kids that we would head down to Orlando one day to Sea World to meet Shamu and his pals. I know, a Floridian should know better than to take her children to an Orlando theme park in the dead of summer ... but I gave in. We just went in knowing that we would sweat and it would be crowded.
The kids really did enjoy the park. It helped that we had a stroller for each of them and that they got several breaks when they sat down to watch the shows. There were also several exhibits that were inside, which gave me some time to catch up with my good friend A.C. We also chose to eat at an indoors restaurant, which I think really helped as well. It was the only part of the day where everyone's faces weren't flushed and red!
I didn't get an opportunity to take many pictures with all the gear and children we were juggling, but here are the ones we managed to get.
Waiting for Shamu to get jumpin'
After Sea World, it was more of the same at Nonni and Grandad's house until we had to head home. I was ready to be back in my own house after 3 weeks, but definitely NOT ready to end vacation. I'm so thankful that both Matt and I have great families that love us and our children enough to take time out of their lives to make lasting memories with us. Thanks for a great month of vacation everyone!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Vacation, Part II
As I mentioned before, we spent the week after the wedding at the beach! I will take any excuse to hang out at the beach for a while, so I was definitely excited about this week. Being raised in Florida, I think I'll always have a little bit of salt water running through my veins.
I was really excited about the beach this year because I was pretty confident that the kiddos had reached perfect "beach" age. The first summer we took them to the beach was a nightmare. Peyton, Adah and Sam were 18 months and Luke was 6 weeks old. Luke probably had the best time as he mostly slept through the week (though he and I had a nasty bout with mastitis during the week that put even more of a damper on things ... I'll spare you the details). It was hot, everyone sweat, sunscreen ran into eyes, babies rubbed their eyes, screaming ensued, now there was sand in the eyes, more screaming, babies got knocked over and scared by waves, naps were missed ... you get the picture. Not. Fun.
Last year was a bit better. We didn't get to spend a lot of time at the beach, but the kids had adjusted to everything the beach has to offer (and I got some non-eye-stinging sunscreen!). They were still a bit scared of the waves and Luke was a new walker, which made things a little harder for him.
Fast forward to this year. I was really hoping that three and a half and two were the perfect ages for a week at the beach. We were planning on spending A LOT of time on the sand in June and it was going to be miserable if the kids hated it.
Well, you know what???
They LOVED it!
I had four little beach bums on my hands before the week was over. And although we had a few setbacks (S and A got brave and ventured out a bit too far, thus getting pummeled by waves), we had a great overall week. We got to spend a lot of time with Bogey, Marmee, Aunt Meghann, Uncle Tuffy, and the whole Clifford clan. Lots of memories were made and it was so fun to watch our kids run and play in the same house, pool, and beach where my husband grew up. I hope we'll have a lot of memories made in this place as the kids grow older.
And now, the proof that we actually DID spend a week at Wild Dunes.
Here's how we got to the beach each day ...
We spent most mornings splashing in the waves, making drip castles, looking for fish to catch in our nets, or endlessly writing our names on the sand. It's amazing how sand and some water can provide hours of endless entertainment.
We also fit in a trip to the Charleston Aquarium. We had gone in January when we were in town for my sister's engagement party, so it was fun to go and see the new things they had added since our last visit.
I'd have to say that this year was the most successful one at the beach yet! The kids are becoming little fish in the pool and they love to do anything that involves putting on their bathing suits. I can't wait to head back next year and soak up some new memories!
Back soon with the grand finale!
I was really excited about the beach this year because I was pretty confident that the kiddos had reached perfect "beach" age. The first summer we took them to the beach was a nightmare. Peyton, Adah and Sam were 18 months and Luke was 6 weeks old. Luke probably had the best time as he mostly slept through the week (though he and I had a nasty bout with mastitis during the week that put even more of a damper on things ... I'll spare you the details). It was hot, everyone sweat, sunscreen ran into eyes, babies rubbed their eyes, screaming ensued, now there was sand in the eyes, more screaming, babies got knocked over and scared by waves, naps were missed ... you get the picture. Not. Fun.
Last year was a bit better. We didn't get to spend a lot of time at the beach, but the kids had adjusted to everything the beach has to offer (and I got some non-eye-stinging sunscreen!). They were still a bit scared of the waves and Luke was a new walker, which made things a little harder for him.
Fast forward to this year. I was really hoping that three and a half and two were the perfect ages for a week at the beach. We were planning on spending A LOT of time on the sand in June and it was going to be miserable if the kids hated it.
Well, you know what???
They LOVED it!
I had four little beach bums on my hands before the week was over. And although we had a few setbacks (S and A got brave and ventured out a bit too far, thus getting pummeled by waves), we had a great overall week. We got to spend a lot of time with Bogey, Marmee, Aunt Meghann, Uncle Tuffy, and the whole Clifford clan. Lots of memories were made and it was so fun to watch our kids run and play in the same house, pool, and beach where my husband grew up. I hope we'll have a lot of memories made in this place as the kids grow older.
And now, the proof that we actually DID spend a week at Wild Dunes.
Here's how we got to the beach each day ...
We spent most mornings splashing in the waves, making drip castles, looking for fish to catch in our nets, or endlessly writing our names on the sand. It's amazing how sand and some water can provide hours of endless entertainment.
We also fit in a trip to the Charleston Aquarium. We had gone in January when we were in town for my sister's engagement party, so it was fun to go and see the new things they had added since our last visit.
I'd have to say that this year was the most successful one at the beach yet! The kids are becoming little fish in the pool and they love to do anything that involves putting on their bathing suits. I can't wait to head back next year and soak up some new memories!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Vacation, Part I
Boring title, I know. Sorry. My mind is sapped of all creative juices right now because I am still trying to get off of vacation time and back on to real time. Did I mention that we just got back from vacation? Like, a really loooooong vacation. The kind of vacation where you realize right before you leave that you won't see your house again for a little over 3 weeks. And although the time away was fun and memory-filled, I'm glad to be back to our "normal" for a little while. Somewhere where I know where the silverware is located and where I know there will ALWAYS be a Diet Something (Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi ... I'm not partial as long as it has caffeine) to drink. So where have we been? Let's start at the beginning ...
We started our marathoncation nowhere other that Charleston, SC. We were there for the wedding of Matt and Sara and ended up tacking another week's vacation onto the wedding festivities. The wedding was gorgeous. Perfect weather, beautiful bride, and a fun celebration.
Daddy caught a sweet moment here. Though I know they will deny it ever happening in a few years when I show them the photo and they will run screaming in opposite directions because of the cooties.
Pre-wedding entertainment included a bug searching safari ...
The ceremony at Patriot's Point, breathtaking!
As should be expected, the kids' favorite part of the night was the reception. They led off the dancing during the cocktail hour and got everyone in the mood to boogie.
They also looked forward to the wedding cake. So much so that Peyton stuck her finger in the icing well before the cutting of the cake. And this was no delicate "stick" either. She stabbed that index finger where the sun don't shine. I'm pretty sure the cake was appropriately violated by her actions. Luckily she hit the backside of the cake, so it was not captured forever in the cake cutting photos. Is it normal for kids to be so obsessed with cake that they will hurdle all social boundaries just to get a lick of icing?
It really was a fun night and we kicked off our beach vacation in true style with this wedding. Congratulations to Matt and Sara, we couldn't be happier for the two of you!
Waves, sun, and all things sandy coming soon!
We started our marathoncation nowhere other that Charleston, SC. We were there for the wedding of Matt and Sara and ended up tacking another week's vacation onto the wedding festivities. The wedding was gorgeous. Perfect weather, beautiful bride, and a fun celebration.
Daddy caught a sweet moment here. Though I know they will deny it ever happening in a few years when I show them the photo and they will run screaming in opposite directions because of the cooties.
Pre-wedding entertainment included a bug searching safari ...
The ceremony at Patriot's Point, breathtaking!
As should be expected, the kids' favorite part of the night was the reception. They led off the dancing during the cocktail hour and got everyone in the mood to boogie.
They also looked forward to the wedding cake. So much so that Peyton stuck her finger in the icing well before the cutting of the cake. And this was no delicate "stick" either. She stabbed that index finger where the sun don't shine. I'm pretty sure the cake was appropriately violated by her actions. Luckily she hit the backside of the cake, so it was not captured forever in the cake cutting photos. Is it normal for kids to be so obsessed with cake that they will hurdle all social boundaries just to get a lick of icing?
It really was a fun night and we kicked off our beach vacation in true style with this wedding. Congratulations to Matt and Sara, we couldn't be happier for the two of you!
Waves, sun, and all things sandy coming soon!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Picture of the Week - July 3
I guess they're right, weddings DO bring out the best in people ...
We're back from our month-o-vacation! And while it was filled with lots of great memories, we're glad to be back home! Updates to come on our latest adventures. We hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!
We're back from our month-o-vacation! And while it was filled with lots of great memories, we're glad to be back home! Updates to come on our latest adventures. We hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!
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