Running some quick errands...

Someone asked me if I had big plans for today. So, here is today (thus far. It's 1:35 in the afternoon as I type this).

Today:


Went to bed about 1am. Was joined by a 4 and 6 yr old sometime around 4 courtesy of a lovely storm. Rain = good. But now it's just gloomy. No sun. No rain. I only know it was 4am'ish because I asked Seth what the numbers were on the clock and vaguely recall a 4 being mentioned. Got up at 6am to start my day.


Breakfast, boys dressed, etc.


Woke Max at 7:40 to take Seth to school.


Dropped Seth off at 8:10.


Drove to Avon. Confirmed that the [expensive] navigation update disk did not update the navigation. There is no second exit for Rockville Road. Next exit, turn around, back on, drove back to first exit to get off.


Went to Michaels. Max decided it would be more fun to ride in the large part of the cart. Okay, Luke can walk. Found the frame we went for. Shortest version of THAT story: bought 2 frames Sunday, got home and discovered one was the wrong size. Took it back yesterday. Frame size I need is on clearance so no more at our store. "Avon might have them." So, I found it. I think. Bought two in case they aren't quite identical to the first one so I have two that match. Threw some acrylic paint in the cart for a little DIY project. Looked up 3.2 seconds later to see Max covered in one of the acrylic paints. Fleshtone. Too bad it's all over his shorts. And sandals. And legs. And fingers. And hands. Max is not a huge fan of messy. Walk around the store hoping it dries quickly so I don't end up covered when I get him out of the cart. Max decides it would be more fun to stand in the cart. I instruct him to sit. I calmly suggest again that he sit. No go. I quietly discpline Max. He builds up, w/quivering lip to a full on screaming sob (the norm if you even look at him funny. Or if my mom sneezes in his presence). Not to be deterred I finish shopping while he proves his lung capacity to other shoppers.


Bed Bath & Beyond is next door. We just redecorated the boys' bath with stuff from there so I walked in to see if they had the missing bath rug. No.


Load up into the car. Drive to Hobby Lobby. Notice Gordman's next door is open. Go in. Max wants the big part of the cart again. Okay. Luke is walking. But not obeying. Scoop Luke up and plop him into front of cart. Pray he's not heavy enough to tip the cart (and Max) forward. Proceed to listen to Luke tell me everything I touch is "boring." But that it would be better if he could see it from out of the cart. Argh. Partway through he takes my hand and I think how sweet. Then he smashes said hand into a booger he wiped on the cart.


Moving on to Hobby Lobby. They have nothing that I went for but I end up with $11 of beads instead.


Head to Sonic drive thru for my massive cranberry limeade (the main reason I chose to look in Avon for the frames) and the boys' slushies. Not realizing that purchasing Max a slushie would result in him screaming, "Mom, oossieeeeeee!" [Mom, juicy.] Every 43 seconds the entire ride home.


Swing into gas station/Blockbuster Express for a movie. Find they don't have the movie I wanted to see. Oh, but they do have ChipWrecked, which the boys have now seen probably seven times but still love.


Get on interstate. "Mom, oossieeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Get off at alternate exit for RedBox. Wait f.o.r.e.v.e.r. for woman in front of me to rent a movie called 'Machine Gun Preacher.' She excitedly tells the people she is with how she has been trying to get this movie forever. Yeah, they have my movie (and it does not involve clergy and weapons).


Drive home. Race to the restroom. This is an uncharacteristic moment but I must admit here that I have not figured out how to use the restroom in public with my entourage, so I just don't.


Ahhh. Now time for lunch. And the remainder of the slushies.


Thud. Luke just spilled his strawberry slushie on the only part of the kitchen floor that I mopped yesterday. Must. Go. Nap. I mean clean. Must. Go. Clean.

Vacation 2012 - Home again, home again

Traffic was hideously awful leaving.  It was hard enough to leave this view from our bedroom, but add to that going 20-30 miles an hour  and it was almost unbearable.

And it would appear I wasn't alone.  I can't get the picture turned easily so just tilt your head (and cover your ears).  We ended up stopping about 1am Saturday night/Sunday morning.  All three boys were asleep and it would have been perfect to drive but I'm just not a good car sleeper and I could not stay awake any longer.  We unloaded the essentials, actually put Lukey on the luggage cart, and headed to our room.  Max and I "slept" on the couch (he was coughing a lot and rather pitiful) and the rest piled into the bed. 

We got up and out the next morning and got home around 1 Sunday afternoon.

It really was a great trip!  And one that at least one of my kiddos is old enough to remember, which makes it that much more special.

Vacation 2012 - Friday

Friday was our final day.  It wasn't our favorite day for a lot of reasons.  For one, Seth (and maybe his momma) doesn't like change.  He was happy where he was and would've stayed longer for sure.  I hate the drive and was dreading it.  Max started coughing (turned out to be croup, but thankfully he didn't seem to feel really crummy until Saturday night/Sunday after we got home.  And, Dave's mom had to have surgery this afternoon - rather major surgery - and it didn't feel right to be out playing while we were worrying about her.  Thankfully, her surgery was a success and early evening we got a call that she was doing well.

Friday morning breakfast.  Max was coughing like a crazy person and Dave decided he and Seth would hang out at the condo for a bit while I took Seth and Luke to the beach.  Max and Dave took their time getting ready and hanging out and eventually joined us.  In the meantime, Max loves the outdoors and thought eating on the balcony everyday was fantastic!

Once Dave got to the beach they decided to bury Seth.  For some reason it took them some time to get the concept, but it worked out eventually.

Luke doesn't look mischievious here, does he?

The Italian Ice vendors frequent the beach.  It's like a hot dog cart/ice cream truck - but you can only buy lemon or strawberry ice.  It was raining just a bit that morning, on and off, and was almost cool, but it was our last day at the beach so we got some strawberry ice.

The only pictures of Max actually eating it include me (in a swimsuit) feeding it to him, so we'll skip those - however, this is the face he made everytime he wanted me to spoon some more into his mouth!  Max loves his treats!

We had one last place we wanted to go - the Boardwalk at the Beach.  Truthfully, I think we might have opted for a quiet dinner closer to home if we had known how commercial/cheesy/almost scary it would be.  However, we made the most of it and had a good time.

A couple of cute boys waiting for dinner at Landsharks.

A third, rather sleepy and a little sickly boy, waiting for his dinner to arrive.

Me and my date for....

The SkyWheel!  Each of those little "gondolas" is completely enclosed and holds 6 people comfortably.  Luke and I had a gondola all to ourselves.  They are even air conditioned!

Dave, Seth, and Max watched an  Elvis impersonator while Luke and I went on our ride.

We opted for the night ride.  I didn't really think about this in advance.  The wheel itself looks neater at night with the all the LED lights, but I would imagine the view from the wheel is more exciting in daylight.

Just some inner workings of the wheel, photographed from inside our pod.

The wheel reflecting in a building across the street.  Something I read said the wheel is 16 stories, something else said 18 stories.  Tall either way!

Then it was back to the condo for a lot of laundry and packing and finally a little sleep before we hit the road for home. 

Vacation 2012- Thursday

Thursday was more of the wonderful sameness - and and sun!  It was also my nephew's birthday so we sent him a text wishing him a happy day!

 

That evening we headed back to Boardwalk at the Beach.  The dinner wait was about 2 hours, but no one cared much as there was a Lego exhibit (?) that the boys were thrilled to "have" to spend time enjoying.  They weren't selling anything, just had some Legos set up and a lot of Legos to build with.  There was an area with instructions to build specific things.  There was an area to build just cars, and a ramp to race them.  There were some challenges and contests but my guys didn't want to do that, just build. 

Dinner started really late and everyone got a little sleepy before we were finished, but all in all it was another nice day!

Vacation 2012 - Wednesday

[Oops.  If you've been reading along you will recognize these photos as I accidentally left them on the last post.  Meant to delete them and give Wednesday it's own post. All better now...]

It was back to the sun on Wednesday. Yeah!

This was the view from our condo balcony each morning - people already lining the beach. It was crowded but never so much that we couldn't find a place close to the condo to set up our little beach camp.

I'm pretty sure Max's favorite part of the beach was when we would break out the grapes and the tiny chocolate chip cookies. Until he figured out that sand isn't so tasty and started insisting we re-wash all the grapes that he would drop.

Max also really enjoyed the holes dug in the sand. I know I already mentioned this, but I just cannot get enough of him sticking his head down in them. And I think he looks like he's practicing yoga in the second one!

Not sure why I thought I could top the picture taken of the five of us the night before, but this attempt at a group shot on the beach just makes me laugh. Hysterically.

Seth and Luke loved the little spots where the water would pool on the beach.  It was just a few inches deep and would get bathwater warm.  They loved to dig around for shells and play without being knocked around  by waves.

Seth and David found a live starfish.  Pretty awesome!  He lived with us for a few days.  Hindsight, we should've suggested throwing him back.  But, we didn't and the boys loved on him.  Then Starry's legs fell off and it was a rough day at the condo.  I think that might have happened Friday.  There were tears from Seth and lots of guilt on his part and lots of consoling on my part.  And maybe a bit of confusion on Dave's part.  After all, it was *just* a starfish. 

They also found a live crab but no one seemed quite as concerned with Crabby.








Even Max wanted in on the action - getting his stool and trying to sneak a peek at Starry.  Thankfully, Dave stepped in to help him so we didn't end up with Starry on the kitchen floor!



We went to a local-ish barbeque place for dinner this night.  It was yummy.  And a little closer to the condo than some of the other places.

 

Today

We interrupt the regularly scheduled (and somewhat repetitive) vacation posts to bring you...

today.

All night long I dreamt that someone was trying to break into wherever I was.  It didn't look familiar so at least it wasn't home.  However, that really doesn't make for a restful night's sleep!  Then, because it was so very cool at 7am (80 or 85 degrees - brrr), I decided to go for a little walk/jog.  It was rather toasty but it felt good. Minus the throbbing headache and recurrent hip pain after, but oh well.

This afternoon Luke decided he would sleep better on his floor (logically, right?) than in his bed.   I had that crazy headache so I just really wanted him to lie down somewhere.  As he was pulling the blankets and pillows off of his bed and onto the floor, he said, "Whoa, this is trippy."  HUH?

Seth likes to argue.  And negotiate.  I think it's a classic case of the attorney and the banker/salesman mating gone wrong!  This evening I was complaining about it still being hot in the house.  Seth, in all seriousness, looked at me and attempted to explain the workings of "that thing on the wall."  Aka the thermostat.  Back off little boy, Mama's hot!

And then during dinner Max stopped eating, looked at Dave and said, "Back."  Then waited for Dave to scratch it.  Apparently Dave stopped too soon (and I have much better back scratching nails), so he turned to me next with the same demand, "Back."  He is ridiculously funny (especially when he thinks he's being serious). 

Finally, I'll be watching my mail for my invitation to the Mother of the Year Awards.  Sure hope it doesn't get lost!  Seth and Luke were beyond whiny tonight so they went to bed a little early.  I needed to water [just our flowers and veggies, no violating the water embargo].  Max loves the outdoors and he had napped earlier so he wasn't ready for bed so he came out with me.  He was already in his jammies and was having fun just walking around the yard telling me what to water next and "helping" me pull some weeds.  I was thinking about what a great time we were having hanging out together.  I pulled the hose around and I looked back to make sure that I wasn't crushing flowers with the other end of the garden hose, when Max started screaming.  Uh, yeah - mom of the year soaked her pajama clad little guy.  He was screaming and crying and wouldn't even let me pick him up.  He did, however, agree to go inside and get changed and warmed up to me pretty quickly.  Then we snuggled in bed for awhile.  Oh, and to appease him I let him play with some of Seth's Legos.  Which he promptly threw and demolished.  Thankfully, Seth isn't too uptight about his Legos (I mean, he plays with Luke after all).  But I'm sure I'll still hear a bit about it from him. 

Be sure to watch the blog for fabulous pictures of me accepting my MOTY award.  Ha ha ha.

Vacation 2012 - Tuesday

 By Tuesday we decided it was time for a bit of indoor activity.  We were being really careful about sunscreen but Seth is SO fair skinned and my swimsuit strap had moved after we had sprayed the sunscreen on my back so I had a painful burnt strip of shoulder.  We decided to rest our skin and head to the aquarium.  But first, Dave and the older two boys went for an early morning walk on the beach while I cleaned up and Max slept.  I took this picture from our balcony. 

We thought the boys would enjoy the Ripley's Aquarium.  Isn't this a GREAT picture of the three of them?  It was hot and sunny and they were ready to go inside. 

This is what we found when we went inside.  Apparently everyone thought it was a good day to stay inside.  During spring break we went to Newport Aquarium in Kentucky.  Not sure I blogged about that.  But this was rather disappointing compared to that.  There was one neat feature and that was that for the main aquariums you rode on a flat conveyor belt so that everyone just kept moving along.  The fish were on both sides and over the belt (there was also a place to stop and stand) so there was a lot to see.  The boys really enjoyed that so I think we did it 3 times.  [Had to get our money's worth!]

This guy was swimming over the top of us.  Interesting view.

Seth's hands were long enough and he bravely shoved them into the touch tank and touched away.  I was very proud of him!  Max thinks he's just as big as the other two.

The aquarium was at the mall we had gone to earlier in the week so we tried to just go back there and walk around for awhile but the boys were miserably tired and it was hot out. Nevermind that we were having trouble finding a nut free treat for Luke.  So, we gave up and went back to the condo for everyone to rest and cool off.  We ended up eating dinner at the condo and then we went for a walk on the beach in the evening. 

LOVE to see both boys sticking their feet into the water!

HUGE thanks to the random lady on the beach who came up and asked if she could take our picture.  I really appreciated her offering to do this for us!

I ended my evening wrapped in a blanket on the balcony (it was really cool up there in the evenings), reading a book, listening to the ocean. Ahhhh....

Vacation 2012 - Monday

More beautiful weather and children who slept in.  Ahh, vacation!

We started our day at the beach, flying kites. I was rather amazed at how relaxing this was.  Guess I've never really flown a kite before. 

There was some hole digging.  Not sure why this was such a popular activity but it seemed either Dave or I would dig a little hole and then the older boys would have fun fetching water and filling the hole.  Max thought it was good fun to stand in the hole, sit in the hole, dig some more in the hole, etc.

Then Monday night we went to a place called Barefoot Landing.  It was sort of an outdoor mall kind of place but with less common stores.  I found this place and loved it!  Everything in the store was purple - jewelry, scarves, sunglasses, clothes, etc. 

 

We also bravely did this.  This is a cell phone photo of a picture so it's not great quality but the "real" photo is quite lovely.  Yes, it's a real tiger and a real gibbon. Max doesn't care for live furry creatures so he was done before we started.  Notice the gibbon looks like he's trying to comfort Max.  Luke knows no fear.  And Seth might have been bribed.

We ended the evening with popsicles and fireworks over the water. 

 Dave took the fun fireworks photos while I held a rather upset Max who didn't see the need for fireworks being THAT loud.  Poor guy just isn't very adventurous!  But that usually means I get snuggles so I can live with that for now!  He is only 2 after all.