Ahhh...a vacation!

We left on the 25th for some fun in the sun in Ocean City. My plan was to leave home by 6 am so we could get a jump start on the traffic and get to my brother's in plenty of time to get ready and head into the beach. Well that was a great plan until I forgot to turn on the alarm clock! UGH. So at 6:20 when I rolled over to look at the clock - I quickly jumped out of bed and get everybody rolling. We were on the road an hour later and hit traffic the whole way there. But in hind site it worked out fine as Kevin worked the night before and needed to catch some sleep, so he just got up when we got there. We still went into the beach even though by the time we got there is was almost 4 but we didn't care. The boys loved the ocean!

Sunday we went back into Ocean City except this time for the day. First thing was our ride on the Sea Rocket. You board a boat and it takes you from the inlet to 131st street. First cruising at a slow speed to see all the different condo's and hear some of their history. Then he turns it around and we were going about 40mph hitting 3 to 4 foot waves. We got a little wet but not much as we sat in the front. Mid way back we stopped to enjoy the sight of dolphins. How pretty they were! I got some pictures but my camera isn't exactly fast and I would mainly get their fins . Dylan and Tyler were the only ones to go. Cody was dead set that he was staying "on the land" so he stayed with Kevin and Kristie and helped with baby Jack. He too got to see some dolphins so that was cool. Then we headed to our sandy spot on the beach and ah..it was heaven. Cody and Dylan absolutely loved the ocean. Venturing out farther and farther. Not a afraid for a minute. Diving into the water through the waves. They probably had their fair share of salt water too! Tyler loved it to but only if you were holding his hand. He was funny cause he would run down to the water, a wave would come in and get his toes and out he would run. We got scopes done on the beach. Scopes are pictures taken by a company and then you can purchase them. Jack loved the water and the sand. He tried eating it but I think he found out real quick that didn't taste good. After everybody was full of sand - we headed home to a yummy steak dinner.

Monday was a sort of a lazy day. Kevin had court, Kristie had to work and I got to watch Jack. I don't get a lot of time with him because of the distance so it was great. He is such a good baby. Loved changing his diaper and watching him twist and turn from you. The boys enjoyed him and kept him busy. Mon. night we headed back into Ocean City for some fun but had to change plans as they got a storm that came in. And man did it rain! The boys wanted to play miniature golf but because of the rain - we found an indoor putt putt place. They had a lot of fun. Then we got ice cream, some Thrashers fries and headed back home. Got in some Wii time (thinking Santa needs to buy one of those this year). Vacation came to an end yesterday!

have lots and lots of pictures but they will come later. Here are a couple....

Knoebles

What a weekend! Our weather was nice and we were able to embark on our road trip to Knoebles. The kids were so well behaved at times it was actually surprising. It was only a 2 1/2 hour ride so it wasn't bad. We left around 9, stop once for a pee brake and got to the park about 11:30. It was packed. We had packed sandwich's and after finding an open table we ate quick and went about our way. The park is an older park so we were a little unsure at where the entrance was....guess there wasn't one. You just found the closest ticket counter and bought your tickets. Which were like buying money but in ticket form. All the rides cost so much per person. I ended up riding a lot as Tanya can't do them and some of the rides required an adult - especially for Tyler and Connor to go. The other 3 could do most everything themselves.

They rode and rode and rode some more. They rode/We rode the ski lift chairs (not sure of the real name but you know what I mean), merry-go-round, bumper boats, all sorts of kiddie rides, some reminded me of old carnival rides. Our two big rides were the log ride which I was so lucky to take them. Tyler was to short so he stayed and watched but Karly, Cody, Dylan and I got to ride - and I'll post the picture to share. It was hysterical because as you go down the first little hill Cody says "mom, I don't think I like this"....well to late now. So we get to the top and down we come! Our faces say it all. We didn't get soaked so that was good. There was another water ride they wanted to go on so bad but everybody came off dripping wet and I wasn't riding in the car wet. So next time. The other ride was the Haunted House. OMG!!!! Tanya, Karly and Dylan in one cart........Cody, Tyler and I in another. We enter this house and it's pitch dark and I think the kids saw about the first 2 seconds and the rest of the ride they were scared out of their minds. Cody had his head buried in my arm - if he could of crawled in he would have. Tyler had his hands in front of his eyes.....he does say he remembers somebodies head falling off....(guess he didn't have his eyes covered 100%). I of course sat there in awe repeating to the kids "it's OK, mommy is right here".....mean while I am wondering when the heck we are getting out of this house and just at that time - don't we almost hit a wall (on purpose) and these truck lights come blaring on with a super loud air horn! I do have to say nobody left crying - unlike the 8 year old ish that got off behind us.

As we left we went back to our picnic area to find that somebody helped themselves to our table cloth. Left the cooler and food bag but took the table cloth. Whatever! So rude and the kids had a fit. Said they were calling their Uncle Kevin to tell him! We just laughed and told them he couldn't do much. Then we had to explain that stealing isn't nice. So that was a little disappointing because as we left our stuff a park security guard had helped us find our table and he said how "safe" it was to leave things. So.......all of the kids slept in the car ride home. They were so tired - but had done fantastic all day. Mom, Tanya and I laughed so much this weekend. We had a great time and we really needed that. Laughing is such a good way free your mind. We got home around 9:30 and surprisingly everybody was back in bed by 11.

Not sure if we will do Knoebles again anytime soon - but it was a great day and we didn't leave feeling like we just spent the bank account.

The guys arrived home tonight from the races and they too had a good time. They consumed lots of beer and car fumes. Brett was greeted with 3 very little anxious boys. He got them all a Dale JR matchbox and they thought that was pretty cool. Then they wanted to "wrestle" with their dad. He did it but I could tell he's hurtin!

My camera battery died so this is the only picture I have tonight. I'll download more tomorrow.

Like I said - our faces say it all!!!

We are Home!

We are home. Got home later this afternoon. We were all super excited to see Tyler. He has been a little love bug all day. I missed him so much! He had a really fun week with my Mom.

So much to share about Vegas! We had a great time - a couple stressful moments - but for the most part a wonderful time!

I have a ton to share! Lots of pictures! I am going to try and break it up though as I could write a book and I am super tired. The time change was hard to adjust to!

This is it....

My last night on the PC. I work all day tomorrow, will get on the Internet right at 5:10 pm tomorrow and print our boarding passes, come home get my gang and off to Cuba we go. We fly out on Saturday at 5:10 pm - landing in Las Vegas at about 7:30.

I am pretty much all packed. The boys have more than enough stuff. I probably took way to much. The middle bedroom is filled with suitcases. I gathered the boys backpacks and filled those with goodies. Just have to get a couple more snacks tomorrow and we'll be set.

We got the conference lay out today. I am so excited as we are at a new venue this year - the place looks really beautiful, good size rooms, pools, etc. I can not wait to see all our old friends and meet new ones this year. This will be an amazing opportunity for Cody and Dylan. Even though they are 4, this will open their eyes that the world just isn't filled with "beautiful" people. That there are some that look different. Cody looks different. I want my boys to know that the world "beautiful" has many meanings to it and it's not what is on the outside that counts. However - all of these kids are beautiful plus they have an amazing spirit and personality!

So I am enjoying my quite night as I know the next few won't be so quite. Not to mention I will miss Tyler to pieces. It's already hard to think I'm leaving him behind. He will have much fun with my Mom but a part of me still feels bad for leaving him.

So for the next week - be thinking of us in sunny, hot, very hot, Las Vegas! I will have lots to share and many pictures when we return!!!!

Counting down...

As the ticker to the right says - 3 days till we fly. I did a lot more packing tonight. Most all the boys stuff is done. Their closet and drawers are about empty. Just left the "play" clothes for the next couple of days. Couple last minute stuff for their suitcases and we are good to go. Then I started on mine. I have no idea what I am wearing when. Basically packing everything. I do have my outfit for the dinner so that is good. Brett has to start his. I do think though its going to be so much easier checking our luggage than carrying on. Just carrying on a small bag. My mind is whirling and I have lists all over the place.

So last night I called Southwest to ask a couple questions. I know from our past trips that the only thing we need to board the plane is our boarding passes and ID. Well Cody and Dylan don't have ID's so I was curious if I needed them. Turns out I don't. But the anal me will take their birth certificates anyway just to be safe. I spoke to the nicest agent ever. She told me to "bring the store" meaning all the snacks I wanted. So I got little packs of crackers, chips, gold fish tonight. Will pick up a few more things tomorrow. I also got on the TSA website to see what advice they had for traveling with kids. As most of these agents have no personality and small talk at security is really frowned upon. So.......the website just said to talk with the kids about what they will encounter, metal detector, their bag going on the x-ray machine, etc. Then is said "tell them that saying 'I have a bomb' is a serious matter and even out of the mouths of kids will be taken seriously". Which I understand really - but there is no way in heck I am putting that thought into my 4 year old heads. My luck - we would get up there and one of them would say "hey mom is there a bomb in my bag". Then we would never make the flight.

Packing

I started the grueling task of packing tonight. I will most likely pack everything but the kitchen sink. I'm not so much worried about our stuff but I am about the boys. I just want to make sure I have enough outfits packed in case they go through 2 a day. Which they probably won't as I see the swim suit on for a while and anytime in the hotel they will probably be in their undies but with not having a washer and dryer handy......I hope we make it. Plus I have to remember that we actually have to carry (or pull) these suit cases through the airports. I am also hoping I have enough stuff to keep the boys busy for the ride. I've gotten a couple small surprises to pull out in flight, we are taking the portable DVD player so that should help. Not to mention I am really hoping they sleep. Especially going to Vegas as we land at 7:30 Vegas time, 10:30 our time.

Let's just say this trip is going to be an experience.

Not to mention on my plate besides this trip is our Lucky Smiles family picnic. I feel like I am behind the 8 ball on this one. So much more work planning a picnic for lots of people. I really wanted invites out in the mail before we go but tomorrow is Wednesday and that doesn't look like it's happening. I'm hoping though because we already sent the save the date cards that if the invites go out the last week of July then we should still be fine. That is probably going to have to be my next goal.

A short little funny: I am a girl - I'll admit it. My dad calls and wants me to take measurements of our cradle as he is starting to build baby Flower a cradle. So I head to our attic and it's a 100 degrees up there. He is asking me all sorts of measurements and I suck at that. I just hope the cradle doesn't turn out big enough for a giant! ha,ha.....

Oh and another funny - the boys wanted to know if I had a pee-pee? Um.....how do you explain that. Tyler asked if it was "cut off". No not exactly. I just told em I pee sitting down. Seemed to keep them quite for a while. Where is their Dad when I need him!