My daughter takes after my mom in that she loves hotels. I'm not just talking about enjoys staying at them, but seriously LOVES them. And she's picky. She's a 4 star or 5 star resort type of gal. Travelling once we stayed at just a local hotel we found and she was like, "Ooh, this place is gross. Did you see how small the pool is. I bet they don't even have room service." Yeah, definitely my mom.
Anyway, her birthday is the 4th of July and since we had her party last weekend when our family was in town we had no real plans for the actual day of her birthday. Lo and behold she asked if we could go stay at a resort. She knows how to work it too. "Mom, you won't have to cook and you can swim so you won't be hot and you can just lay in the hotel bed and rest because you're pregnant." Master manipulator that one!
Anyway, I pricelined a room and got a 4 star resort in Scottsdale for $60/night. I took that as God's way of saying we were meant to spend the weekend in luxury. It was heaven. Large, comfortable room. Fun, happening, pool area. Nice dinners in Scottsdale each night. And two kids who didn't fight AT ALL. In the midst of all this fun my "baby" turned FIVE. FIVE! I can hardly believe it. It literally seems like just a year or so ago that I gave birth to her. Yet, here I am 8 months pregnant with child number 3. Where did the time go?
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
East Coast Vacation
Last Thursday we boarded an airplane and headed to Washington D.C. for a week long stay with my parents who reside in Northern Virginia. I spent weeks, okay months, worrying about flying with our 2 year old son. It's not that he is poorly behaved, but he's an active boy and neither child has ever flown before. Turns out all the time spent worrying was time wasted. The kids could not have been more perfect on the 2 hour flight to Dallas and then the 3 hour flight into Reagan. Both loved flying (a lot more than their mother who hates it) and spent much of the time looking out the window.
I could write a book about all we did, but I'll try to keep it as concise as possible. First of all, we went in knowing that there would be quite a bit of walking involved. However, I think my husband and I severely underestimated the amount of walking that truly was involved. Our 4 year old daughter walked the entire time for the entire week. I still don't know how she did it. Our son did the best he could, but fortunately my husband was able to carry him for much of it.
We spent Friday visiting my dad at his office, then headed in to the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. The Air and Space was a hit, especially with our son. He is obsessed with airplanes. The Natural History was a bit disappointing. We had everyone tell us it was a must-see, but I guess as a whole I was a little underwhelmed. The other thing that took some getting used to was the crowds. The sheer number of people in DC is shocking. I thought Arizona was crowded, but it is nothing compared to the crowds we fought through in DC. We drove by the memorials and White House later that night and it was great to see everything lit up.
Saturday we rented a car and drove into Baltimore to visit the aquarium. Our son loved the dolphin show and we really liked the stingray and shark exhibit. After being to Sea World, though, the aquarium just doesn't compare. I'm glad we went and I enjoyed Baltimore and the weather was absolutely gorgeous.
Sunday started off with a hitch as our rental car was towed from my parents' parking garage. We got it back relatively quickly and headed to Mt. Vernon. It was beautiful and walking the same grounds George Washington walked was amazing. I would kill for a house and yard like that!
Monday we toured the Capitol and then the Holocaust Museum. That was hard. We had the kids with us and were asked a lot of questions by our daughter about why someone would want to kill all those people. I'm thankful that some of the more graphic depictions had walls to block the kids from seeing them. When I was ten and living in Germany we visited Dachau. I still have very vivid memories of the gas chambers, incinerators, and the bunks. So seeing something to this magnitude put it all in perspective and really was hard to wrap my brain around. It is hard to believe that that type of evil existed in the world. We spent two hours there and could have easily spent another two if we were sans kids. The one thing that really haunted me was how anyone (and there are many) could deny that the Holocaust happened considering how well documented it was by the Nazi's. The other thing that was disturbing is that Denmark was the only country who refused to participate and who helped "rescue" the Jewish people who were escaping.
By the end of day 4 we were exhausted. We were tired and I was in quite a bit of pain. I have lower back problems that have worsened as this pregnancy has progressed and I also have a knee injury that will require surgery to fix that I re -injured days before leaving, so I was truly the Walking Wounded. We had planned to spent Tuesday at the DC Zoo, but the mere thought of an hour commute on the Metro and then actually walking the grounds of the zoo was not really that appealing so I did a google search and discovered something called the Reston Zoo. It was a petting zoo about 20 minutes from my parents and it was so much fun. I highly recommend it! There were ostrich, emu, sheep, goats, antelopes, kangaroos, bison, camels, and a plethora of other animals that you could feed and pet. The kids loved it and it didn't require much walking at all.
Our final day we stayed close to home again so I could get some laundry and packing done. We did drive into George Mason University. I wanted to see the campus and it was a good chance for the kids to run free and not disturb anyone.
Overall, the trip was amazing. The kids were beyond great, we had a ton of fun, ate great ethic food and seafood, and the weather was PERFECT!
I can see why my dad loves it so much out there. Truthfully, I'd probably move there in a heartbeat. I made the comment multiple times that people on the east coast seem to be a more civilized people. They aren't necessarily more friendly but they are more polite. People would bump into me and immediately say, "Excuse me" or "I'm sorry." In Arizona if that happens people either don't say anything or they say something like, "Eff you, asshole." That was made apparently clear as I was grocery shopping today. I almost screamed out, "Oh, please send me back to Virginia!"
I could write a book about all we did, but I'll try to keep it as concise as possible. First of all, we went in knowing that there would be quite a bit of walking involved. However, I think my husband and I severely underestimated the amount of walking that truly was involved. Our 4 year old daughter walked the entire time for the entire week. I still don't know how she did it. Our son did the best he could, but fortunately my husband was able to carry him for much of it.
We spent Friday visiting my dad at his office, then headed in to the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. The Air and Space was a hit, especially with our son. He is obsessed with airplanes. The Natural History was a bit disappointing. We had everyone tell us it was a must-see, but I guess as a whole I was a little underwhelmed. The other thing that took some getting used to was the crowds. The sheer number of people in DC is shocking. I thought Arizona was crowded, but it is nothing compared to the crowds we fought through in DC. We drove by the memorials and White House later that night and it was great to see everything lit up.
Saturday we rented a car and drove into Baltimore to visit the aquarium. Our son loved the dolphin show and we really liked the stingray and shark exhibit. After being to Sea World, though, the aquarium just doesn't compare. I'm glad we went and I enjoyed Baltimore and the weather was absolutely gorgeous.
Sunday started off with a hitch as our rental car was towed from my parents' parking garage. We got it back relatively quickly and headed to Mt. Vernon. It was beautiful and walking the same grounds George Washington walked was amazing. I would kill for a house and yard like that!
Monday we toured the Capitol and then the Holocaust Museum. That was hard. We had the kids with us and were asked a lot of questions by our daughter about why someone would want to kill all those people. I'm thankful that some of the more graphic depictions had walls to block the kids from seeing them. When I was ten and living in Germany we visited Dachau. I still have very vivid memories of the gas chambers, incinerators, and the bunks. So seeing something to this magnitude put it all in perspective and really was hard to wrap my brain around. It is hard to believe that that type of evil existed in the world. We spent two hours there and could have easily spent another two if we were sans kids. The one thing that really haunted me was how anyone (and there are many) could deny that the Holocaust happened considering how well documented it was by the Nazi's. The other thing that was disturbing is that Denmark was the only country who refused to participate and who helped "rescue" the Jewish people who were escaping.
By the end of day 4 we were exhausted. We were tired and I was in quite a bit of pain. I have lower back problems that have worsened as this pregnancy has progressed and I also have a knee injury that will require surgery to fix that I re -injured days before leaving, so I was truly the Walking Wounded. We had planned to spent Tuesday at the DC Zoo, but the mere thought of an hour commute on the Metro and then actually walking the grounds of the zoo was not really that appealing so I did a google search and discovered something called the Reston Zoo. It was a petting zoo about 20 minutes from my parents and it was so much fun. I highly recommend it! There were ostrich, emu, sheep, goats, antelopes, kangaroos, bison, camels, and a plethora of other animals that you could feed and pet. The kids loved it and it didn't require much walking at all.
Our final day we stayed close to home again so I could get some laundry and packing done. We did drive into George Mason University. I wanted to see the campus and it was a good chance for the kids to run free and not disturb anyone.
Overall, the trip was amazing. The kids were beyond great, we had a ton of fun, ate great ethic food and seafood, and the weather was PERFECT!
I can see why my dad loves it so much out there. Truthfully, I'd probably move there in a heartbeat. I made the comment multiple times that people on the east coast seem to be a more civilized people. They aren't necessarily more friendly but they are more polite. People would bump into me and immediately say, "Excuse me" or "I'm sorry." In Arizona if that happens people either don't say anything or they say something like, "Eff you, asshole." That was made apparently clear as I was grocery shopping today. I almost screamed out, "Oh, please send me back to Virginia!"
Monday, February 8, 2010
Ambitious Much?
As I mentioned previously my husband and I are taking the kids out to the Washington DC area in April to visit my parents. We couldn't be more excited and the kids are already talking with utter joy about the plane trip and riding the Metro. Both of my brothers and my sister have already visited on separate occasions and spent a lot of time sight-seeing and they were not able to see everything they wanted. And none of them were travelling with two small children, or any children for that matter. Both of my brothers went during a nice time of year so they didn't encounter any weather-related challenges. Unfortunately, for my sister she left Tucson last Wednesday and arrived in DC Thursday just as the snow storm began. She was lucky to find a flight out yesterday and it required her taking a train to Newark and flying out of there.
My husband and I have compiled a pretty ambitious list of things we want to do/see while we are there and we've already had to "weed" some things out, knowing they will be an impossibility. However, we think the list we have now is doable. We will be there six full days and plan to put in full days, assuming the kids don't drop somewhere along the way.
So, here's what's on the list. What do you think? Doable? Way too ambitious? Crazy?
National Science Foundation (my father's employer)
Smithsonian Natural History Museum
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
National Mall
Mt. Vernon
Arlington National Cemetery
Holocaust Museum
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
White House tour
National Zoo
Capitol Hill/Building
Supreme Court
Dupont Circle
One day in Philly
Shopping in Georgetown and at huge mall by my parents place in Virginia.
My husband and I have compiled a pretty ambitious list of things we want to do/see while we are there and we've already had to "weed" some things out, knowing they will be an impossibility. However, we think the list we have now is doable. We will be there six full days and plan to put in full days, assuming the kids don't drop somewhere along the way.
So, here's what's on the list. What do you think? Doable? Way too ambitious? Crazy?
National Science Foundation (my father's employer)
Smithsonian Natural History Museum
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
National Mall
Mt. Vernon
Arlington National Cemetery
Holocaust Museum
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
White House tour
National Zoo
Capitol Hill/Building
Supreme Court
Dupont Circle
One day in Philly
Shopping in Georgetown and at huge mall by my parents place in Virginia.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
D.C. Attractions?
So, we're going to be heading out to visit my parents in Washington D.C. at the end of April. To say the kids are excited is an understatement. Neither one has been on an airplane before and I am petrified of flying, despite having flown quite a bit so that aspect should be interesting. My husband may be comforting the three of us.
Here's my question to you. What are absolute "must dos" when in D.C. and the surrounding area? We are obviously looking for family friendly activities as well as some "adult only" options. We will obviously do some of the touristy things, but I would like to hear from those of you who live there or who have visited before what things are worth doing and what things we can afford to skip.
Here's my question to you. What are absolute "must dos" when in D.C. and the surrounding area? We are obviously looking for family friendly activities as well as some "adult only" options. We will obviously do some of the touristy things, but I would like to hear from those of you who live there or who have visited before what things are worth doing and what things we can afford to skip.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Weekend Getaway
The fish that the kids liked to go and watch.
My son in the pool.
My daughter (in pink) in the pool with some random folks in the background.
My husband and son conked out.
Saturday morning I had spent ten minutes outside doing some light gardening and when I came back inside I was just dripping wet. I wanted nothing more than to just jump in a pool. So, spur of the moment I tried to Priceline a room at one of the handful of resorts here in town. No surprise that our low price was accepted....Tucson isn't really a desirable place to be during the summer months....so we quickly packed our swimsuits, sunscreen, hats, and some clothes and headed to the Hilton.
My son in the pool.
My daughter (in pink) in the pool with some random folks in the background.
My husband and son conked out.
Saturday morning I had spent ten minutes outside doing some light gardening and when I came back inside I was just dripping wet. I wanted nothing more than to just jump in a pool. So, spur of the moment I tried to Priceline a room at one of the handful of resorts here in town. No surprise that our low price was accepted....Tucson isn't really a desirable place to be during the summer months....so we quickly packed our swimsuits, sunscreen, hats, and some clothes and headed to the Hilton.We spent the next 24 hours either in the pool or sleeping. It was wonderful. The kids had a great time and there was just enough breeze that at times we were even chilly in the pool. My daughter would seriously live in a hotel if we could afford it. She loves everything about "hotel life": room service, comfy beds, constant swimming, water slides, and just exploring outside. My son, while he loved the swimming, asked constantly to go home. He even woke up most of the night crying because he wanted to go home. If I could have slept with him in the pool all would have been okay, but he is definitely a home body.
Anyway, we are back home. Back to reality and sweating again. What was your weekend like? Did you do anything fun or exciting?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Vacay with a Capital V
My husband and I wanted to take the kids and get away for the weekend. We didn't want to go far so we were looking for places either here in Tucson or Phoenix. We have had great luck with Priceline in the past, but I thought I'd look around on Expedia. I came across this resort and casino on the outskirts of Scottsdale. It first grabbed my attention because if we stayed Friday and Saturday night they would give you Friday night free. I thought it must be a dump, but it was rated 4 stars. I started looking through the pictures and the place was gorgeous. We booked a room immediately and headed up Friday morning.
The place was incredible. Great pools, great service, wonderfully family friendly, and the weather was gorgeous for this time of year. We spent Friday at the pool. Friday night there was a Dive In Movie that we watched for a bit and then when the kids and my husband went to bed I hit the casino. I won some money (which is something that NEVER happens) and was feeling pretty good. *
Saturday we spent most of the day at the pool. I did manage to spend another hour at the casino and just when I was about to give up (I'd lost 20 bucks, won it back, and figured I better get out now) when I won BIG....big enough to pay for the trip and still have some left over. Needless to say that put us all in a great mood. That afternoon the hotel had arts and crafts by the side of the pool. The kids could go into the hotel kitchen and cook a dessert with the chef and then the dessert is delivered to your room for you to eat later. There were also face painters, air brush tattoos, and a man drawing caricatures. It was a blast and our kids were exhausted by the evening.
We managed to get both to take a nap which is amazing.** My daughter gave up naps over two years ago but she sacked out for over two hours. That night we went back to the pool, watched the Dive In Movie and stayed up late just hanging out.
When it was time to head back Sunday afternoon we were all pretty sad. Usually by the end of a little get-away I am anxious to get home. Not this time; we are already trying to plan when we can get back.
So, what have been some of your favorite last minute get-aways or vacations?
Our daughter getting her feet wet.
My husband and daughter playing outside in the evening.
My husband and son taking a dip in the pool.
Our son and daughter heading to the pool.
My daughter, son, and husband.
The place was incredible. Great pools, great service, wonderfully family friendly, and the weather was gorgeous for this time of year. We spent Friday at the pool. Friday night there was a Dive In Movie that we watched for a bit and then when the kids and my husband went to bed I hit the casino. I won some money (which is something that NEVER happens) and was feeling pretty good. *
Saturday we spent most of the day at the pool. I did manage to spend another hour at the casino and just when I was about to give up (I'd lost 20 bucks, won it back, and figured I better get out now) when I won BIG....big enough to pay for the trip and still have some left over. Needless to say that put us all in a great mood. That afternoon the hotel had arts and crafts by the side of the pool. The kids could go into the hotel kitchen and cook a dessert with the chef and then the dessert is delivered to your room for you to eat later. There were also face painters, air brush tattoos, and a man drawing caricatures. It was a blast and our kids were exhausted by the evening.
We managed to get both to take a nap which is amazing.** My daughter gave up naps over two years ago but she sacked out for over two hours. That night we went back to the pool, watched the Dive In Movie and stayed up late just hanging out.
When it was time to head back Sunday afternoon we were all pretty sad. Usually by the end of a little get-away I am anxious to get home. Not this time; we are already trying to plan when we can get back.
So, what have been some of your favorite last minute get-aways or vacations?
Our daughter getting her feet wet.
My husband and daughter playing outside in the evening.
My husband and son taking a dip in the pool.
Our son and daughter heading to the pool.
My daughter, son, and husband.
* Before having kids my husband and I would go to the casino here in town once in a while. I NEVER won. And by never, I mean never. I exaggerate not. My husband would win, those we went with would win, but I would always lose money. This was the first time and it was only on one machine in this casino. My husband was shocked when he found out a)I actually won and b) the amount I won was sizeable.
**I don't know if it was because we did so much swimming that the kids slept so well or if it was because the room had those black out blinds or if it was a combination, but our kids SLEPT. It was magical. For the first time in two years our son slept the entire night. I thought my husband may have rolled over on him and smothered him.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Blowin' This Joint
I complain a lot about the hot weather here in Arizona. However, one of the things I do like about living here is that nine months out of the year you can comfortably swim in an outdoor pool. My husband, the kids, and I will often rent a room at a resort here in town or travel two hours north to Phoenix and stay in a resort there and spend a few days relaxing by the pool, ordering room service, and otherwise just enjoying our time together.
So, this coming Friday we are heading to Phoenix to spend three days doing just that. We got an incredible deal at a gorgeous resort and plan to spend the time swimming, getting massages, eating well, and hopefully catching up on some sleep. The kids are incredibly excited...our daughter especially, loves to stay at resorts and I am glad that we can get out of town for a few days together and just have fun.
What are some of your favorite things to do with your family during the summer?
So, this coming Friday we are heading to Phoenix to spend three days doing just that. We got an incredible deal at a gorgeous resort and plan to spend the time swimming, getting massages, eating well, and hopefully catching up on some sleep. The kids are incredibly excited...our daughter especially, loves to stay at resorts and I am glad that we can get out of town for a few days together and just have fun.
What are some of your favorite things to do with your family during the summer?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Overboard
When I was in college I took a cruise with three of my friends to different ports throughout Mexico. We had a great time, but I remember as I was boarding thinking, "Man, it wouldn't be that difficult to fall off this boat or get thrown off." I voiced these concerns on more than one occasion and was repeatedly told, "Oh, that's virtually impossible."
Then a few years after I took this cruise it seemed like I couldn't open up the newspaper without reading about another person falling or being thrown off a cruise ship. It now seems to be an epidemic. I just read about another cruise ship employee today falling off the ship. It appears that it is fairly easy to do. I don't understand it really.
My husband has never been on a cruise and would like to go....with our kids. While I have no doubt we'd all have a lot of fun, the thought of our children, our son especially on a boat at open sea, scares the bejesus out of me....seriously. My son is the kid who, on a daily basis, makes me rethink my opposition to the leash/harnesses so many parents use. He's the kid who makes all other kids look easy. I don't want him anywhere near that boat, because if there is a way to get off it, he will find that way. I know I'd spend the entire time worrying instead of relaxing and having fun. (I have similar moments of panic when my husband suggests taking the kids to the Grand Canyon.)
So, anyone taken a cruise with small children? Did you enjoy yourself? Were you worried about one of them going overboard?
Then a few years after I took this cruise it seemed like I couldn't open up the newspaper without reading about another person falling or being thrown off a cruise ship. It now seems to be an epidemic. I just read about another cruise ship employee today falling off the ship. It appears that it is fairly easy to do. I don't understand it really.
My husband has never been on a cruise and would like to go....with our kids. While I have no doubt we'd all have a lot of fun, the thought of our children, our son especially on a boat at open sea, scares the bejesus out of me....seriously. My son is the kid who, on a daily basis, makes me rethink my opposition to the leash/harnesses so many parents use. He's the kid who makes all other kids look easy. I don't want him anywhere near that boat, because if there is a way to get off it, he will find that way. I know I'd spend the entire time worrying instead of relaxing and having fun. (I have similar moments of panic when my husband suggests taking the kids to the Grand Canyon.)
So, anyone taken a cruise with small children? Did you enjoy yourself? Were you worried about one of them going overboard?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
How We Spent Our Week
My husband, the kids, and I spent this past week in Phoenix. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan in general. It's hot there, crowded, and people drive like maniacs. I lived there for 7 years and my husband was born and raised there. When we moved I couldn't have been more thrilled.
This past week and for a few days in the coming weeks, my husband has to go to Phoenix for business related to his new job. Since the hotel is being paid for anyway...and it's a very nice one... the kids and I went up with him. I'm all about a free vacation. I'm so glad we did because we had a terrific time. The weather was nice and cold (and raining) and because we used to live there we still have a lot of friends living in the area. It was nice because each of the days we were there I was able to meet up with friends, who now all have children as well, and catch up. Our kids all played wonderfully together, which was so nice. My daughter did inform me though that I needed to find a friend who had a daughter. Everyone we met up with has boys and most of my friends here in town that we see regularly also have only boys.
One of the evenings, my husband and I took the kids to an outside shopping area that has a huge Christmas tree decorated with bright lights and each night they drop snow for twenty minutes. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. I also took the kids to my old University and let them into the arena where I played college basketball. I let them shoot baskets and run around the court. My daughter thought it was wonderful and has declared that she too will play basketball there.
Aside from all the fun activities, the hotel was excitement enough for our daughter. She loves staying at hotels. She loves the room service and the beds and just the convenience and comfort. Each time we'd go somewhere she'd ask "So, can we go back to the hotel now?" I think she'd like to live in a hotel if given the choice. My mom is very much the same way and often checks into luxury resorts for mini vacations. Our daughter told us the first night we arrived that grandma was going to be so jealous that she got to stay in a hotel. Yes, indeed.
I did get a bit nostalgic being back in my old stomping grounds. We ate at restaurants we used to frequent and passed by many of the places I hung out while in college. That along with the combination of hanging out with my friends who I haven't seen in a while, who I used to hang out with daily, made me almost wish we still lived in Phoenix. Then I started driving. My nostalgia went out the window as soon as I hit traffic.
While Tucson is a big city, it still very much has a small town feel. Places open late and close early and we very much have our roots in a small town atmosphere. By comparison, places in Phoenix open early and stay open late. There's something to do all the time. As a result there is traffic and lots of it. Of course we have traffic in Tucson too, but in comparison to what is considered traffic in Phoenix we have very little. For that I am thankful. How anyone who is unfamiliar with Phoenix navigates the freeways there is beyond me.
This trip was really a nice, relaxing, fun week..and a nice break from the usual routine of being home. While I love and enjoy both of my children, spending time with my daughter was especially precious. She was so good and mature and I really enjoyed her company and conversation. She was perfectly behaved, nice to her brother, helpful and polite everywhere we went. I could not have asked her to be better behaved than she was. She is at such a fantastic age. I wish I could just freeze her at this moment in time. My son was a lot of fun too, but he is so active and so much work that it can be just plain exhausting. He is non-stop, on the go, into everything, loud, curious, and 24/7. I wish I had his energy.
This past week and for a few days in the coming weeks, my husband has to go to Phoenix for business related to his new job. Since the hotel is being paid for anyway...and it's a very nice one... the kids and I went up with him. I'm all about a free vacation. I'm so glad we did because we had a terrific time. The weather was nice and cold (and raining) and because we used to live there we still have a lot of friends living in the area. It was nice because each of the days we were there I was able to meet up with friends, who now all have children as well, and catch up. Our kids all played wonderfully together, which was so nice. My daughter did inform me though that I needed to find a friend who had a daughter. Everyone we met up with has boys and most of my friends here in town that we see regularly also have only boys.
One of the evenings, my husband and I took the kids to an outside shopping area that has a huge Christmas tree decorated with bright lights and each night they drop snow for twenty minutes. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. I also took the kids to my old University and let them into the arena where I played college basketball. I let them shoot baskets and run around the court. My daughter thought it was wonderful and has declared that she too will play basketball there.
Aside from all the fun activities, the hotel was excitement enough for our daughter. She loves staying at hotels. She loves the room service and the beds and just the convenience and comfort. Each time we'd go somewhere she'd ask "So, can we go back to the hotel now?" I think she'd like to live in a hotel if given the choice. My mom is very much the same way and often checks into luxury resorts for mini vacations. Our daughter told us the first night we arrived that grandma was going to be so jealous that she got to stay in a hotel. Yes, indeed.
I did get a bit nostalgic being back in my old stomping grounds. We ate at restaurants we used to frequent and passed by many of the places I hung out while in college. That along with the combination of hanging out with my friends who I haven't seen in a while, who I used to hang out with daily, made me almost wish we still lived in Phoenix. Then I started driving. My nostalgia went out the window as soon as I hit traffic.
While Tucson is a big city, it still very much has a small town feel. Places open late and close early and we very much have our roots in a small town atmosphere. By comparison, places in Phoenix open early and stay open late. There's something to do all the time. As a result there is traffic and lots of it. Of course we have traffic in Tucson too, but in comparison to what is considered traffic in Phoenix we have very little. For that I am thankful. How anyone who is unfamiliar with Phoenix navigates the freeways there is beyond me.
This trip was really a nice, relaxing, fun week..and a nice break from the usual routine of being home. While I love and enjoy both of my children, spending time with my daughter was especially precious. She was so good and mature and I really enjoyed her company and conversation. She was perfectly behaved, nice to her brother, helpful and polite everywhere we went. I could not have asked her to be better behaved than she was. She is at such a fantastic age. I wish I could just freeze her at this moment in time. My son was a lot of fun too, but he is so active and so much work that it can be just plain exhausting. He is non-stop, on the go, into everything, loud, curious, and 24/7. I wish I had his energy.
Now, I'm home (my hubby is still in Phoenix) trying to do the million loads of laundry and finish up last minute preparations for Christmas. It's been busy, but it's been good!
How was your week? I feel like I've been out of the loop. Catch me up.
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Great "Weekend"
Our daughter at the Deer Farm petting the goats.
Our son trying to climb out the window of the train.
Our daughter feeding the deer.
The kids riding in Santa's sleigh.
The light display at the train depot.
I'll start by simply saying that we had a great "weekend." Really, I couldn't have asked for it to have gone better, which is saying a lot. We left Sunday morning for a four to five hour drive up north. Our daughter is a wonderful traveller. She's easily entertained and no problem whatsoever. Our son we were not so sure about. Previous car trips have been disastrous because he screamed the majority of the way, which only stressed me out and then I'm in a bad mood, which only makes him cry harder. So, we were hoping for the best but totally expecting the worst. He was absolutely perfect though the entire 4 1/2 hours. We only stopped once for lunch and he didn't cry a bit.
Our son trying to climb out the window of the train.
Our daughter feeding the deer.
The kids riding in Santa's sleigh.
The light display at the train depot.
I'll start by simply saying that we had a great "weekend." Really, I couldn't have asked for it to have gone better, which is saying a lot. We left Sunday morning for a four to five hour drive up north. Our daughter is a wonderful traveller. She's easily entertained and no problem whatsoever. Our son we were not so sure about. Previous car trips have been disastrous because he screamed the majority of the way, which only stressed me out and then I'm in a bad mood, which only makes him cry harder. So, we were hoping for the best but totally expecting the worst. He was absolutely perfect though the entire 4 1/2 hours. We only stopped once for lunch and he didn't cry a bit.When we got to Williams we checked into our hotel and then did a little bit of "hiking." The weather was cold, but gorgeous. The high was around 45 degrees, but bundled up was actually rather enjoyable. I was even able to take my daughter into town for just some girl time while my husband and son took a nap. It was nice to walk around and do some shopping and just enjoy the conversation without the interruption of having to split attention between two kids.
That evening we went down to the train depot about an hour and a half before our train ride was scheduled to depart so the kids could walk through all the lights and see the displays. My son has a love affair with horses and there were three of them pulling carriages. So he was in hog heaven. At 8 pm we boarded the train and headed off to the "North Pole." The kids had a blast and were thrilled when Santa boarded and gave all the children a bell. While our son was good he did not sit still the entire time. He would sit, then stand, then climb off his seat and the process just repeated. He has confirmed every concern we have about flying with him. (My parents are moving to DC in a few weeks and we have plans to visit them...apparently no time soon, though). There's a portion of the train ride where you are instructed to open your windows. The train has slowed by this point but is still moving. Our son made an instant attempt to climb out the window which about gave me a heart attack. I should mention that prior to boarding he flipped himself over the chain railing and cut his head so all I had were visions of him falling out of the train and splitting his head open even further.
The next morning we went and met my sister, her husband and my nieces and nephews (who were coming up to ride the train the following day) at a Deer Farm. There were goats, deer, reign deer, camels, and a variety of other animals that you essentially walk amongst and feed. It was a pretty cool experience and both of our kids loved it.
The ride home was great again and both kids actually slept about an hour of the ride. It was nice because my husband and I were able to just talk about some upcoming changes in our lives and just joke around. We were in no real rush to get back so we stopped at some of the outlet malls along the way and I was able to get some cute clothes for the kids and some dress/work pants for my husband. Unfortunately, nothing for me. Isn't that always how it ends up?
Anyway, how was your weekend or early part of the week? Any plans for this week?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Slacker
Here is what I needed to do today:
1. A load of laundry that consisted of clothes I need to pack for our weekend getaway.
2. Actually pack for both kids and myself (who are we kidding...my husband too) for said getaway.
3. Clean car to make room for all that is required to come along.
4. Go to Target to get kids mittens and son diapers.
5. Clean the stove
6. Organize my home office
7. Return library books
Here is what got done today:
1. I went to Target and got my daughter mittens and my son diapers. My son still needs mittens.
2. I returned 3 of the 6 library books. Forgot the other three at home. Huh? Not sure how that happened.
3. I did a load of my husband's work clothes, none of which are needed for our trip.
Apparently, very little of what I needed to do today got done. Tomorrow is jam packed so next to nothing will get done then so apparently it will all be crammed in Friday. It will get done; it always does....just something to stress about.
1. A load of laundry that consisted of clothes I need to pack for our weekend getaway.
2. Actually pack for both kids and myself (who are we kidding...my husband too) for said getaway.
3. Clean car to make room for all that is required to come along.
4. Go to Target to get kids mittens and son diapers.
5. Clean the stove
6. Organize my home office
7. Return library books
Here is what got done today:
1. I went to Target and got my daughter mittens and my son diapers. My son still needs mittens.
2. I returned 3 of the 6 library books. Forgot the other three at home. Huh? Not sure how that happened.
3. I did a load of my husband's work clothes, none of which are needed for our trip.
Apparently, very little of what I needed to do today got done. Tomorrow is jam packed so next to nothing will get done then so apparently it will all be crammed in Friday. It will get done; it always does....just something to stress about.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Quick Updates From Reunion
* Kids still sick, but definitely better. Daughter doing much better than son. She's also been sick longer.
* Resort life is nice. Spend most of the day in a bathing suit by the pool.
* Been swimming laps for 30 minutes as to not disrupt my exercise routine too much. I love it! Refreshing.
* There are such culture differences between Americans and in this case the Ecuadorians (I think that is how you say it) and the Danish. Much of the humor, both ways, does not translate.
* I have actually managed to acquire a little color. I don't think that by most definitions it would be considered a tan, but I have moved past the pasty white.
* I must go now, the pool is SCREAMING my name.
* Resort life is nice. Spend most of the day in a bathing suit by the pool.
* Been swimming laps for 30 minutes as to not disrupt my exercise routine too much. I love it! Refreshing.
* There are such culture differences between Americans and in this case the Ecuadorians (I think that is how you say it) and the Danish. Much of the humor, both ways, does not translate.
* I have actually managed to acquire a little color. I don't think that by most definitions it would be considered a tan, but I have moved past the pasty white.
* I must go now, the pool is SCREAMING my name.
Monday, June 23, 2008
My Sweet Affair
Oh, sweet gin it’s been quite a while,
since your taste has made me smile.
Mixed with tonic, topped with lime;
Why has it been such a long time?
Your aroma I sure do enjoy.
Even though I try to play coy.
Dear old friend, we meet again;
house or Hendricks, pour me some gin.
Our time together was well spent.
Thanks for letting me get bent.
But now it’s time to bid adieu;
thanks again and here’s to you!
since your taste has made me smile.
Mixed with tonic, topped with lime;
Why has it been such a long time?
Your aroma I sure do enjoy.
Even though I try to play coy.
Dear old friend, we meet again;
house or Hendricks, pour me some gin.
Our time together was well spent.
Thanks for letting me get bent.
But now it’s time to bid adieu;
thanks again and here’s to you!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Priceline is my friend
Priceline.com is my new favorite website. I have been using it for about 3 months now and have had nothing but great deals and positive experiences. In March we needed to go to Phoenix, so I pricelined and got a hotel for 80 bucks a night. It wasn't a resort, but it was much nicer than just the standard hotel. The room had two separate areas, separated by a door, one for sleeping and the other a living room with kitchenette. Two months later we went to San Diego. Again I pricelined the hotel and we ended up in a 5 star beach front resort for $90 a night when the room rates at that time were $350 a night. Smokin' deal. This weekend we're spending two nights in town. For the first night we got a 4 star resort for $60 dollars a night. That is unheard of. The second night (long story as to why we are changing hotels; purchased through Hotwire.com) we got a 4 start resort (nicer than the first one) for $69 a night. There are two room types; we're not sure which we'll get, but the "small" room is over 800 square feet. That is bigger than my first 6 apartments. I don't know if I'll ever be able to travel any other way. I'm becoming spoiled. Obviously there is the element of surprise, which potentially may not be such a nice surprise, since you don't get to find out what hotel accepted your offer until AFTER you pay (non-refundable). However, so far it has been worth the risk. We have stayed at some really luxurious hotels and resorts for less money than the local Motel 6 would cost.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Vacation Recap
Well, my hubby, myself, our two children, and my mother drove over to San Diego this past weekend for a quick three day trip. Our 2 year old daughter was the perfect traveller; our 11 month old son, on the other hand, was a bit difficult. I think it is just hard for a baby that age to remain in the car for 6 hours. He cried quite a bit. We left at 5 am, hoping the kids would sleep a good portion of the way. Didn't happen. We got to San Diego around noon, checked in to our hotel and then headed down to Seaport Village. The kids enjoyed seeing all the birds and generally just being outside. There was about a 40 degree temperature drop from what we are used to in Arizona, so it was nice. The next morning we headed to Sea World. THe kids had a blast. There is a cute Sesame Street Show that they put on, which mesmerized both our kids. My husband had never been to Sea World (can you believe that? A deprived childhood, for sure) so he had a nice time as well. Our son loved the Clydesdale horses; our daughter was terrified of them. A lot of fear at 2 1/2 years old. Later that afternoon we went to the beach. Both kids are fearless; complete waterdogs. They both just went charging into the ocean with no regard to safety. I'm glad they love the water so much and are so comfortable in it, but sometimes it scares me to death. We also went swimming. Our hotel had 3 water slides and our daughter (who has never been down a water slide before) went climbing up the stairs and slid right down, unassisted. It was amazing and awesome! She's unbelievable in the water. Our final day we just took it easy and hung around the hotel. The kids went swimming again before leaving around noon. It was a fun trip, despite the quickness of it. I think with young kids you really need 4-5 days so everything isn't so jammed packed, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat...even with our crying son. Well, maybe not in a heartbeat.
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