It's always the same question. Where do we go for summer vacation? What always trips us up (no pun intended) is the fact the trip has to include three children. With three girls 10 and under, we are kind of limited. Never mind the expense factor ( 5 airline tickets are almost always out of the question), and let's not forget that cruises don't cater to the 5-in-a-room philosophy, but deciding on a place that will entertain two adults and 3 kids is a guessing game at best.
Once again we opted for a drive and stay vacation. Last year we did the Grand Canyon and Phoenix... this summer we chose Tucson. Not too far away, nice resorts, lots of pool time. Good choice huh?
Sure... assuming your children behave. Ours don't.
It's quite the whirlwind, never knowing if they will get along (insist on sitting next to each other because they absolutely HAVE to play Barbie Dolls together) or if they will despise each other (putting their feet up, pulling hair, sticking the tongue out and generally doing everything they can to annoy). Usually it's the latter. Sigh!
I keep thinking that each year it will be better. They are older, have learned how to get along better, right? Wrong. They haven't learned a thing. And after a week of ups and downs, it is so, so good to finally be home. Where we can actually send them to their rooms!
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Biodome 2
Just spent the morning visiting and touring Biodome 2 in Arizona. Wow... what an incredible place. It was such a great learning experience and I highly recommend going at least once. It is among the top 50 places in the world to visit. If you aren't very scientific (like me) and donMt know what Biodome 1 is, let me educate... it's Earth! Biodome 2 simulates all the earth's climate conditions.
It is incredible that scientists can recreate the conditions in different parts of the world and really study them in depth. The one important fact I came away with? Don't mess with the earth!
It is incredible that scientists can recreate the conditions in different parts of the world and really study them in depth. The one important fact I came away with? Don't mess with the earth!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Family Trip
Here we are once again... just last summer about this time I started this blog to write about our road trip down Route 66 from California to Arizona. One short year later, we are getting back in the car and back on the road to travel to Arizona once again. This time we'll be heading to Southern Arizona and planting ourselves in Tucson for the entire week. Pool, horseback riding, Tombstone and lots of Mexican food.
Spent the last several hours packing up... doing laundry, taking out trash, cleaning house. I think I am over-tired... you know, when you are way too tired to even lie down and sleep. I think I have a million things running through my mind, not the least of which is the fact that I feel totally unprepared for this trip. Other than our hotel (excuse me... RESORT), this is the least planned out trip we've ever taken. Of course, Arizona was like 6th on our list of summer vacations.
1. Cruise (too expensive)
2. Hawaii (too expensive)
3. Bahamas (too expensive)
4. North Carolina (too expensive considering we also wanted to add South Carolina and Georgia)
5. Oregon/Washington (couldn't stomach the thought of all that time riding in a car with three girls)
6. Arizona
Anyone want to place a bet as to our estimated time of departure tomorrow? I really wish I could say we'd be on the road by 9am... but anyone who knows my husband will probably guess the time to be closer to 11am. You know... gotta stop at the bank, gotta stop at the tire shop, gotta stop at the gas station... you get the picture.
Spent the last several hours packing up... doing laundry, taking out trash, cleaning house. I think I am over-tired... you know, when you are way too tired to even lie down and sleep. I think I have a million things running through my mind, not the least of which is the fact that I feel totally unprepared for this trip. Other than our hotel (excuse me... RESORT), this is the least planned out trip we've ever taken. Of course, Arizona was like 6th on our list of summer vacations.
1. Cruise (too expensive)
2. Hawaii (too expensive)
3. Bahamas (too expensive)
4. North Carolina (too expensive considering we also wanted to add South Carolina and Georgia)
5. Oregon/Washington (couldn't stomach the thought of all that time riding in a car with three girls)
6. Arizona
Anyone want to place a bet as to our estimated time of departure tomorrow? I really wish I could say we'd be on the road by 9am... but anyone who knows my husband will probably guess the time to be closer to 11am. You know... gotta stop at the bank, gotta stop at the tire shop, gotta stop at the gas station... you get the picture.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My Newest Pet Peeve
We have a day off of school this week and where do you think most of the kids will be? Disneyland!
I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend). Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks. What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month. I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs! That seems a little excessive to me.
Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!! (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.) But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special? Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event? Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break?
Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful. I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun. We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.
So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it. It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.
I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend). Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks. What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month. I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs! That seems a little excessive to me.
Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!! (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.) But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special? Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event? Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break?
Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful. I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun. We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.
So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it. It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Here in Boston
Well, the plane ride was uneventful (thank goodness) and we arrived in Boston on time... to extremely cold temperatures and a light rain. Got to the hotel (20 miles out of Boston... what the hell?) and found we were paying way too much for a crappy little room that was way too far away from where we needed to be. Ugh!
Anyway... we ended up at Panera for breakfast here in Waltham, MA. Wow... so different than our Panera. They actually have lobster ciabatta sandwiches. How yummy! Egg souffles and hot chocolate were on the menu for us. Really good.
Next, we drove into Boston... the long, backroads drive that took us an hour but did take us through a lot of little towns as well as Cambridge. We finally got to the middle of Boston and met up with Marlon & Tracy (BIL & SIL) to have lunch with Cousin Sorel at Durgin Park. Durgin Park was fun... I think it's one of the oldest restaurants in Boston. We had amazing clam chowder and David and I split a chicken pot pie. I'm not a big fan of chicken pot pie but this was to die for.
Then... we walked along the Freedom Trail, shopped at Faneuil Hall and wrapped it up with dinner at Quincy Hall. Got some Boston Cream Pie to go and drove back to the hotel (another $6 in tolls) to eat it and go to sleep.
And we're up again to sun and loving it, considering it was supposed to pour all weekend. Heading into town again for breakfast at Mike's City Diner and then going to visit the student store at Boston College. For those of you who don't know my dear husband David, he makes it a point to visit every college and get t-shirts from all of them.
Wedding tonight... should be a lot of fun.
Anyway... we ended up at Panera for breakfast here in Waltham, MA. Wow... so different than our Panera. They actually have lobster ciabatta sandwiches. How yummy! Egg souffles and hot chocolate were on the menu for us. Really good.
Next, we drove into Boston... the long, backroads drive that took us an hour but did take us through a lot of little towns as well as Cambridge. We finally got to the middle of Boston and met up with Marlon & Tracy (BIL & SIL) to have lunch with Cousin Sorel at Durgin Park. Durgin Park was fun... I think it's one of the oldest restaurants in Boston. We had amazing clam chowder and David and I split a chicken pot pie. I'm not a big fan of chicken pot pie but this was to die for.
Then... we walked along the Freedom Trail, shopped at Faneuil Hall and wrapped it up with dinner at Quincy Hall. Got some Boston Cream Pie to go and drove back to the hotel (another $6 in tolls) to eat it and go to sleep.
And we're up again to sun and loving it, considering it was supposed to pour all weekend. Heading into town again for breakfast at Mike's City Diner and then going to visit the student store at Boston College. For those of you who don't know my dear husband David, he makes it a point to visit every college and get t-shirts from all of them.
Wedding tonight... should be a lot of fun.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Missing
It's truly amazing how you can be so jazzed up about spending a weekend without your kids, and 5 minutes after they leave you miss them like crazy. Go figure.
My kids are gone. They are visiting their grandfather for the weekend while Mom and Dad have a relaxing weekend in Las Vegas. I know, I know, Las Vegas is not exactly the most relaxing place, but that's what you get when you leave reservations to the last minute and all the hotels in Coronado (San Diego) are booked. So, we decided to leave our fate in the hands of Priceline (a website we've never tried before). I figured if we chose a 5 star hotel and put in a ridiculously low dollar amount, we'd either get an amazing deal or be turned down. Well, we did get a good deal but the jury is still out on the hotel. We ended up getting the Trump Hotel, one of only four 5-star hotels on the strip. I say the jury is still out because while the hotel seems very nice, it has no casino, no fancy pool, no buffet, and no Starbucks (oh say it isn't so). Oh dear!
But... it is quiet and elegant and close to all the other hotels with action and things to do. We'll be off in the morning (after stopping for my Starbucks Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte, of course). Just me and the hubby. Now if we could figure out something to talk about besides the "kids".
The house is so quiet without those three little (big) voices. I miss them.
My kids are gone. They are visiting their grandfather for the weekend while Mom and Dad have a relaxing weekend in Las Vegas. I know, I know, Las Vegas is not exactly the most relaxing place, but that's what you get when you leave reservations to the last minute and all the hotels in Coronado (San Diego) are booked. So, we decided to leave our fate in the hands of Priceline (a website we've never tried before). I figured if we chose a 5 star hotel and put in a ridiculously low dollar amount, we'd either get an amazing deal or be turned down. Well, we did get a good deal but the jury is still out on the hotel. We ended up getting the Trump Hotel, one of only four 5-star hotels on the strip. I say the jury is still out because while the hotel seems very nice, it has no casino, no fancy pool, no buffet, and no Starbucks (oh say it isn't so). Oh dear!
But... it is quiet and elegant and close to all the other hotels with action and things to do. We'll be off in the morning (after stopping for my Starbucks Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte, of course). Just me and the hubby. Now if we could figure out something to talk about besides the "kids".
The house is so quiet without those three little (big) voices. I miss them.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Where Have We Been?
So, it's been a while since I posted. Why, you might ask? Thursday night we got home too late from the Grand Canyon... Friday night we got home too late from the D-Backs v. Angels game... Saturday night I was way too tired AND I didn't want to pay for internet service just for a few minutes of uploading.
And we're back....
Thursday: We got up early and took the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon. It is a 2 hour and 15 minute ride through Arizona to the Canyon. I've been before, but it still is amazing no matter how many times you see it. Of course, the girls just wanted to know where the "big hole" was. I'm not sure they really got the splendor of it all... they did think it was cool and really, really big. I think they were more enamored with the dogs that were around the park. That's okay... I'm sure they will be back. We had lunch, saw some amazing Navajo dancers and then headed back on the train. Surprisingly, the kids were pretty good on the long train ride. We didn't see any wildlife (we never do), but between the portable DVD player, Nintendo DS, and ipods, they were kept busy. When we got back to the depot, we headed back to the hotel for a little while and then out to dinner. Yep, we got home late and were way too tired to do much else.
Friday: Headed to Phoenix by way of Sedona. If you have never been to Sedona, you are missing something truly amazing. This place is definitely a wonder. The scenery is so breathtaking you can barely look away. Yes, it's hot... but ice cream solves that problem! I think I want to retire to Sedona. We shopped, ate lunch and then it was back in the car heading to Phoenix. By the time we got to the hotel (Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs) we only had about 1/2 hour to change and then head over to Chase Field where we were seeing the Diamondbacks play the Angels. Really beautiful stadium and the Angels slammed the D-Backs. The kids didn't have such a wonderful time. All they wanted was their cotton candy and when they were bored with that it was time to leave. Hey, at least we made it to the 7th inning stretch.
Saturday: Woke up really late... planned on going to Glendale, AZ to do some cool shopping and have lunch at a really great BBQ place. Ended up going to Glendale (not so easy to find without street map of Phoenix) but most of the stores were empty (damn this recession) and it was getting too late in the day and the kids really wanted to go to the pool at the hotel. So, we headed back to the hotel and went straight to the water. Tapatio Cliffs is a very unique hotel. There are tons of different buildings housing the rooms that are stacked up the hillside. The room was beautiful - a suite actually, which was great for us since the kids could be in one room and we were in the other. The pool was very cool... a water slide for the kids and waterfalls all over the place. A lot of people but it was fun. Amanda was on the water slide for 2 hours. Then, dinner that night at Rustler's Rooste. Fun, good food, beautiful sunset. Ahhh.... I think we were ready to go home.
Sunday: Breakfast and then home. Actually, the drive to Santa Clarita from Phoenix is only 6 hours. Much closer than I thought. It took us 7 hours because we stopped for lunch and then stopped for Lauryn to go the bathroom. We got home about 7:00 last night. Soooo very tired!
Monday: It's Monday. Glad to be home. We picked up Jazz this morning and everything is just like it was before we left. Seems like we never went on vacation. Kids are bored (OMG) and it's back to the same old routine.
Hmmm... I need a vacation!
And we're back....
Thursday: We got up early and took the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon. It is a 2 hour and 15 minute ride through Arizona to the Canyon. I've been before, but it still is amazing no matter how many times you see it. Of course, the girls just wanted to know where the "big hole" was. I'm not sure they really got the splendor of it all... they did think it was cool and really, really big. I think they were more enamored with the dogs that were around the park. That's okay... I'm sure they will be back. We had lunch, saw some amazing Navajo dancers and then headed back on the train. Surprisingly, the kids were pretty good on the long train ride. We didn't see any wildlife (we never do), but between the portable DVD player, Nintendo DS, and ipods, they were kept busy. When we got back to the depot, we headed back to the hotel for a little while and then out to dinner. Yep, we got home late and were way too tired to do much else.
Friday: Headed to Phoenix by way of Sedona. If you have never been to Sedona, you are missing something truly amazing. This place is definitely a wonder. The scenery is so breathtaking you can barely look away. Yes, it's hot... but ice cream solves that problem! I think I want to retire to Sedona. We shopped, ate lunch and then it was back in the car heading to Phoenix. By the time we got to the hotel (Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs) we only had about 1/2 hour to change and then head over to Chase Field where we were seeing the Diamondbacks play the Angels. Really beautiful stadium and the Angels slammed the D-Backs. The kids didn't have such a wonderful time. All they wanted was their cotton candy and when they were bored with that it was time to leave. Hey, at least we made it to the 7th inning stretch.
Saturday: Woke up really late... planned on going to Glendale, AZ to do some cool shopping and have lunch at a really great BBQ place. Ended up going to Glendale (not so easy to find without street map of Phoenix) but most of the stores were empty (damn this recession) and it was getting too late in the day and the kids really wanted to go to the pool at the hotel. So, we headed back to the hotel and went straight to the water. Tapatio Cliffs is a very unique hotel. There are tons of different buildings housing the rooms that are stacked up the hillside. The room was beautiful - a suite actually, which was great for us since the kids could be in one room and we were in the other. The pool was very cool... a water slide for the kids and waterfalls all over the place. A lot of people but it was fun. Amanda was on the water slide for 2 hours. Then, dinner that night at Rustler's Rooste. Fun, good food, beautiful sunset. Ahhh.... I think we were ready to go home.
Sunday: Breakfast and then home. Actually, the drive to Santa Clarita from Phoenix is only 6 hours. Much closer than I thought. It took us 7 hours because we stopped for lunch and then stopped for Lauryn to go the bathroom. We got home about 7:00 last night. Soooo very tired!
Monday: It's Monday. Glad to be home. We picked up Jazz this morning and everything is just like it was before we left. Seems like we never went on vacation. Kids are bored (OMG) and it's back to the same old routine.
Hmmm... I need a vacation!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Day 2 - Route 66
So we did the buffet thing this morning for breakfast. Can't stay in Vegas without doing the buffet thing. I had oatmeal, David had eggs benedict... the kids... well, the kids had dessert!
Now, we thought it would be fun to drive down old Route 66 in Arizona. Neither David or I had ever been in this part of Arizona before. We drove from the California border along the old road to Kingman, AZ where we are staying for the night. The drive is definitely interesting... the scenery is beautiful and the road really does take you back in time. Other than a few cars here and there, we were pretty much out there alone. Very curvy and very isolated. The highlight was the little almost-ghost town of Oatman. The town was once thriving but it's pretty much a tourist attraction now. It still looks like it did years ago but the stores all have tacky souvenier stuff. The best part was the donkeys (burrows?) that roam wild in the town. They are all over the place and the stores sell bags of carrots that you can feed them with. The first donkey we saw was only a week old and was nursing from his mother. Awwwww.... can you say the cutest thing I've ever seen?
So by now it was around 2:00 and we were all starving. Just our luck... none of the restaurants were open in Oatman (hub of civilization that it is). Well, we just got ourselves back on the road and headed to Kingman.
A few words on Kingman (a few words because that's really all it warrants). There ain't hardly anything in Kingman... although we did get to see the Kingman High School cheerleaders (the Bulldogs) who were getting photographed at Mr. D'z Diner for a spread in Arizona Highways magazine. Great 50's Diner... I do recommend it if you are ever in these parts. I got the cheeseburger, Mandy and Lauryn had grilled cheese and Temera and David got the Day Old Spaghetti. Don't ask... I'm hoping it was just the name, not the real thing. Oh... the desserts.... heavenly. Chocolate cake with hot fudge and brownie sundae.
Bedtime... the sun and heat really wear you out. Tomorrow, off to Flagstaff.
Now, we thought it would be fun to drive down old Route 66 in Arizona. Neither David or I had ever been in this part of Arizona before. We drove from the California border along the old road to Kingman, AZ where we are staying for the night. The drive is definitely interesting... the scenery is beautiful and the road really does take you back in time. Other than a few cars here and there, we were pretty much out there alone. Very curvy and very isolated. The highlight was the little almost-ghost town of Oatman. The town was once thriving but it's pretty much a tourist attraction now. It still looks like it did years ago but the stores all have tacky souvenier stuff. The best part was the donkeys (burrows?) that roam wild in the town. They are all over the place and the stores sell bags of carrots that you can feed them with. The first donkey we saw was only a week old and was nursing from his mother. Awwwww.... can you say the cutest thing I've ever seen?
So by now it was around 2:00 and we were all starving. Just our luck... none of the restaurants were open in Oatman (hub of civilization that it is). Well, we just got ourselves back on the road and headed to Kingman.
A few words on Kingman (a few words because that's really all it warrants). There ain't hardly anything in Kingman... although we did get to see the Kingman High School cheerleaders (the Bulldogs) who were getting photographed at Mr. D'z Diner for a spread in Arizona Highways magazine. Great 50's Diner... I do recommend it if you are ever in these parts. I got the cheeseburger, Mandy and Lauryn had grilled cheese and Temera and David got the Day Old Spaghetti. Don't ask... I'm hoping it was just the name, not the real thing. Oh... the desserts.... heavenly. Chocolate cake with hot fudge and brownie sundae.
Bedtime... the sun and heat really wear you out. Tomorrow, off to Flagstaff.
Day 1 - Las Vegas
Surprise, surprise! Today was actually a pretty good day. We left the house this morning at 9:15 am - only 15 minutes behind schedule. Had to drop off Jazz at the Kennel... pretty sad... we will all miss him so much! Then we were on the road to Vegas. Amazingly, the kids only asked, "Are we there yet?" a handful of times. They were too busy drawing with their pads of paper and magic markers that Grandma bought for them. We didn't even put on one DVD the entire trip.
So, lunch at Mad Greek in Baker. Gyro's... so yummy! Of course, the kids got hamburgers. I guess I can't expect gourmets from everyone. We'll have to work a little harder on their ethnic taste buds.
We got to Vegas about 3:00 and were at the pool by 3:30. Hot, but not too hot. The kids had a blast swimming. A quick bite to eat at the hotel and then we were off to the Strip to party! Okay, so party means dessert at Serendipity 3 at Caesar's Palace... but what can you expect with three kids under 10? If you are ever in Vegas, I highly recommend the Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3. Amazingly refreshing.
We topped off the evening watching the water fountain show at the Bellagio. The kids were awed by it.
Couldn't publish today because the hotel (South Point) charges $12.99 for internet access. Highway robbery! Will wait until Kingman.
So tomorrow... off to Arizona. Hotter...and hotter... and hotter!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Getting out of Dodge
Vacation Day! I'm up and dressed while the rest of my family is still sleeping. Typical! I still have a few things to do before we go and I like getting it done before "they" get up.
So today we'll be heading to Las Vegas. Since it's a Monday the roads shouldn't be too crowded. Of course, we'll stop for lunch at the Mad Greek in Baker, CA. Yummy! If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. Unless you really have an aversion to Greek food and then don't bother. Then on to Sin City. Hey, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. (But I'm sure I'll be writing about it so it won't stay secret for very long.)
Oh good... I hear children stirring... time to go do the mommy chores and get this show on the road.
Bon Voyage!
So today we'll be heading to Las Vegas. Since it's a Monday the roads shouldn't be too crowded. Of course, we'll stop for lunch at the Mad Greek in Baker, CA. Yummy! If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. Unless you really have an aversion to Greek food and then don't bother. Then on to Sin City. Hey, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. (But I'm sure I'll be writing about it so it won't stay secret for very long.)
Oh good... I hear children stirring... time to go do the mommy chores and get this show on the road.
Bon Voyage!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Leaving Tomorrow....
It's Sunday... Happy Father's Day! We are about 90% packed and I am dead tired. I am so ready for a vacation... I think we all are. Still need to run the dishwasher, do the last load of laundry, and take out the trash. I'm hoping to leave by 9:00 am, but those of you who know David... 9:00 just ain't gonna happen.
I just had a thought... this will be our first vacation where I didn't pack not even one pull-up! A very scary thought! And believe it or not, I don't think we'll even be using the floaties I bought for Lauryn... SHE CAN SWIM!!!! She taught herself. Just jumped in the pool and there she went.
So, I will try to blog every day, but not knowing the wi-fi situation where we will be, I can't promise I'll be able to publish every day. Keep checking back. Oh yea... there will most likely be photos and videos as well.
Off to dinner... you know, Father's Day and all.
I just had a thought... this will be our first vacation where I didn't pack not even one pull-up! A very scary thought! And believe it or not, I don't think we'll even be using the floaties I bought for Lauryn... SHE CAN SWIM!!!! She taught herself. Just jumped in the pool and there she went.
So, I will try to blog every day, but not knowing the wi-fi situation where we will be, I can't promise I'll be able to publish every day. Keep checking back. Oh yea... there will most likely be photos and videos as well.
Off to dinner... you know, Father's Day and all.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
2 More Days
Ahhhhh, Saturday! Woke up late today, took the kids to Tae Kwon Do class and now we are going to run some errands and pick up those last minute items we need for the trip. Then, this afternoon we will finally take the suitcases out and begin the arduous task of packing. Let’s see… there are 5 of us and we will be gone for 7 days. That’s 35 outfits, at least 15 pairs of shoes, 5 pairs of sunglasses, assorted hats, purses, stuffed animals, and a cooler full of water and snacks. Oh, and several bathing suits each, cover-ups, flip flops and floaties.
Then there are the “others”… portable DVD player, 4 ipods, 2 nintendo DS, one leapster, one laptop, assorted earphones, travel games, books, notepads with magic markers (no crayons since it will be over 100 degrees and who wants THAT mess in a car), GPS, maps, triptik, AAA Guide, tickets for the Diamondbacks game, hotel confirmations… Jazz (we’ll be dropping him off on the way) and his paperwork (proof of vaccines).
What am I forgetting? There must be something.
Then there are the “others”… portable DVD player, 4 ipods, 2 nintendo DS, one leapster, one laptop, assorted earphones, travel games, books, notepads with magic markers (no crayons since it will be over 100 degrees and who wants THAT mess in a car), GPS, maps, triptik, AAA Guide, tickets for the Diamondbacks game, hotel confirmations… Jazz (we’ll be dropping him off on the way) and his paperwork (proof of vaccines).
What am I forgetting? There must be something.
Friday, June 19, 2009
3 Days and Counting
We made it to Friday… only a weekend to go before our trip. Despite the fact that we’ve known we were leaving for months now, for some reason we have left everything to do until the last minute. Hmmm… what a surprise.
So what have we left to do? Charge up cell phones, ipods, DVD players, laptops, nintendos… put new batteries in Leapfrogs and car earphones, wash the car, wash the clothes, get the suitcases down from the top shelf of the closet where I can’t possibly reach (even with a chair). Oh… and I need to get Temera a new bathsuit and cover-up and a new pair of shorts for me.
I don’t know… staying home seems so much easier.
So what have we left to do? Charge up cell phones, ipods, DVD players, laptops, nintendos… put new batteries in Leapfrogs and car earphones, wash the car, wash the clothes, get the suitcases down from the top shelf of the closet where I can’t possibly reach (even with a chair). Oh… and I need to get Temera a new bathsuit and cover-up and a new pair of shorts for me.
I don’t know… staying home seems so much easier.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
5 Days and Counting
My house is being cleaned today… why? Because I’m one of those people who can’t possibly pack for a trip and leave my house for a week unless everything is spotless. Since after a week on the road, I will be feeling dirty, grubby, bloated and tired beyond belief, coming home to a “clean” house will be heaven.
And while my house was being scrubbed, vacuumed and dusted, I took Amanda and Lauryn to the library to pick out a book to take with them on the trip. Never mind that we’ve spent the last two weeks actually “buying” books to take… no, my little angels want to go and “rent” books to take. Go figure!
Also stopped at the AAA to get a triptik to take with us. I’ve been hearing stories of Route 66 and how parts of the old road aren’t on current maps anymore. I wanted to be sure we didn’t get lost and wind up in Denver or something. Not that I wouldn’t love to go to Denver, been there before and it’s a lovely town. Just not what we planned on this particular trip. So, the AAA travel agent puts together the triptik for me after I specifically told her I need the Route 66 part from California to Flagstaff. I get in the car and open the triptik to find… she highlighted the FREEWAY part of the drive… NOT the ROUTE 66 part of the drive. Lovely!
Oh yes, and we are putting together all our DVD’s for the trip. Thankfully we have a DVD player in the car. The kids are already deciding what they want to watch first, second, etc. Come on kids… I thought the point of this trip was to be enjoying each other and the scenery! Come to find out… my kids just want to watch movies!
The fun is just beginning…
And while my house was being scrubbed, vacuumed and dusted, I took Amanda and Lauryn to the library to pick out a book to take with them on the trip. Never mind that we’ve spent the last two weeks actually “buying” books to take… no, my little angels want to go and “rent” books to take. Go figure!
Also stopped at the AAA to get a triptik to take with us. I’ve been hearing stories of Route 66 and how parts of the old road aren’t on current maps anymore. I wanted to be sure we didn’t get lost and wind up in Denver or something. Not that I wouldn’t love to go to Denver, been there before and it’s a lovely town. Just not what we planned on this particular trip. So, the AAA travel agent puts together the triptik for me after I specifically told her I need the Route 66 part from California to Flagstaff. I get in the car and open the triptik to find… she highlighted the FREEWAY part of the drive… NOT the ROUTE 66 part of the drive. Lovely!
Oh yes, and we are putting together all our DVD’s for the trip. Thankfully we have a DVD player in the car. The kids are already deciding what they want to watch first, second, etc. Come on kids… I thought the point of this trip was to be enjoying each other and the scenery! Come to find out… my kids just want to watch movies!
The fun is just beginning…
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
6 Days and Counting
What were we thinking? Taking our 3 girls on a week-long car trip through Arizona? My girls... the ones that fight over everything from what movie to watch to whose shirt that was before it became Lauryn's. (Because, eventually, everything becomes Lauryn's.) Last summer we cruised to Alaska. One place, one room, and we could dump (I mean, lovingly place) them in the Kids Camp when they got to be too much!
No, this time we'll be one big happy (?) family in our Honda Pilot cruising down Route 66 trying to find the Grand Canyon. Please spare me the references to the movie "Vacation"... we've heard it all. If we can come home in one piece, I'll consider it a successful trip. Vacation? Maybe not so much. I know I'll need that spa day when I come home.
So, we'll be blogging our way through because we wanted to share our journey with all our friends and family. Not sure of the internet situation. Hopefully we'll be in some places that have actually heard of the internet.
Our itinerary is: Leaving Monday for one night in Las Vegas. We figured driving straight through to Arizona our first day might not be such a good idea. Tuesday it's off to the old Route 66 - stopping for the night in Kingman, AZ. Next two nights we'll be in Flagstaff, with a train ride to the Grand Canyon in between. Then on to Phoenix where we'll actually be at a "resort" for the remainder of the trip. Come on people... there are only so many Best Westerns I can stand.
Should be fun, right?
No, this time we'll be one big happy (?) family in our Honda Pilot cruising down Route 66 trying to find the Grand Canyon. Please spare me the references to the movie "Vacation"... we've heard it all. If we can come home in one piece, I'll consider it a successful trip. Vacation? Maybe not so much. I know I'll need that spa day when I come home.
So, we'll be blogging our way through because we wanted to share our journey with all our friends and family. Not sure of the internet situation. Hopefully we'll be in some places that have actually heard of the internet.
Our itinerary is: Leaving Monday for one night in Las Vegas. We figured driving straight through to Arizona our first day might not be such a good idea. Tuesday it's off to the old Route 66 - stopping for the night in Kingman, AZ. Next two nights we'll be in Flagstaff, with a train ride to the Grand Canyon in between. Then on to Phoenix where we'll actually be at a "resort" for the remainder of the trip. Come on people... there are only so many Best Westerns I can stand.
Should be fun, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)