1. Getting the boys down without fuss the last night in San Antonio.
2. Steph and I making up with each other (through apologies) for our popsicle/drink argument at the end of the Sea World excursion.
3. Gracie sliding down the water slide by herself and seeing the fear, then joy on her face.
4. Uchi's dinner.
5. Watching Gracie make best friends with Peyton - Dan & Lyndsay's daughter.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Our little summer vacation: Day 5
Yes, everyone did get a solid night's sleep. There was no waking up in the middle of the night.
We had this plan that we would eat breakfast, take the kids swimming, wear them out and then hop in the car and drive. After breakfast, all we wanted to do was get out of there. So, we left. We rolled out of the hotel at 10 and arrived in Wylie at 3:30. It was a long drive, but the kids slept for the last part of it. From that standpoint, it wasn't bad at all. (We stopped at a nice rest stop outside of Salado and let the kids play while we ate our packed lunch.) Man, it's hot. I can't imagine what July and August are going to be like. It's just not right.
Everyone was so happy to be home! We didn't do anything but rest. Got the kids to bed at normal time and they LOVED being back in their beds. There is truly no place like home.
We had this plan that we would eat breakfast, take the kids swimming, wear them out and then hop in the car and drive. After breakfast, all we wanted to do was get out of there. So, we left. We rolled out of the hotel at 10 and arrived in Wylie at 3:30. It was a long drive, but the kids slept for the last part of it. From that standpoint, it wasn't bad at all. (We stopped at a nice rest stop outside of Salado and let the kids play while we ate our packed lunch.) Man, it's hot. I can't imagine what July and August are going to be like. It's just not right.
Everyone was so happy to be home! We didn't do anything but rest. Got the kids to bed at normal time and they LOVED being back in their beds. There is truly no place like home.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Our little summer vacation: Day 4
Sometimes you eat Sea World. And sometimes Sea World eats you.
The morning started at 3 AM when both boys woke up crying because they didn't recognize their surroundings. This is the first time they've been in a hotel, plus it's the 7th day that we've been away from our house, so they weren't having any crying themselves back to sleep. We tried to let them cry it out, but it just didn't work. They ended up in bed with us around 4, then we all woke up around 6:30. Lots of non-sleep in between.
Breakfast was an adventure mainly because Max didn't feel like eating. I think he has some sort of one-food-at-a-time OCD so when I overloaded his plate from the buffet, I think he immediately turned it off. He wanted to play more than sit in his chair and he let the whole restaurant know it.
Those two red flags were not going to deter us though!
We were at Sea World when it opened and here's what we did/saw, in order, too:
1. Steph and Gracie rode the little Shamu roller coaster. The boys and I played at the kiddie splash area. Well, Nick played. I kept Max wrangled just outside the play area.
2. We all went to the water park and played for 1 1/2 hours. Hands down the best part of the day. Max and Nick didn't like the lazy river, but they all liked the little slide.
3. Lunch in the van. Max wanted chips, not the sandwich. Steph was dead set on him having the sandwich and not the chips. That was the beginning of the end. We also did a quick change into dry clothes in the van here.
4. Dolphin time. Only $6 to feed them, which Gracie so wanted to do. Only problem - I left the money in my swim suit in the van. Steph hoofed it back to the van while I took all the kids to the Shark aquarium.
5. Shark aquarium where no strollers are allowed. Everyone was on foot. Max does what Max wants to do. He marches to his own beat. He understands everything I'm/we're saying, but he pushes it to the last moment. By this time, it's 2:30 and no one has slept (normal nap time is 12:30.)
6. Shamu. The only problem was it was 1/2way across the park. Hot. Cranky. Tired. Sweaty. Max fell asleep in the stroller. When we got to the stadium, I got paranoid that he was having a heat stroke, primarily because he was so hot and lethargic. We took his shirt off of him, but in doing so, woke him up and as Steph said, "we woke the sleeping giant." The good thing here is that the whales were not cooperating so the show ended up getting cut short. Our kids certainly weren't cooperating with us. At that point, I threw in the towel. It was enough. 3:30.
We got back to the car around 4:15 and no sooner than we drove out of the parking lot were 2 out of 3 asleep. They all ended up falling asleep and got about an hour nap.
For dinner, we met the Mallards - Dan and Lindsay, Peyton and Alannah, at Rudy's. It was really good to see them. I like Dan so much. We usually only talk during fantasy football season. I need to do a better job of keeping in touch with him. They have a wonderful little family. Gracie and Peyton hit it off and talked and played the entire time.
We got home a little after 8 and got everyone down. Here's hoping that we get a solid night's sleep - everyone.
The morning started at 3 AM when both boys woke up crying because they didn't recognize their surroundings. This is the first time they've been in a hotel, plus it's the 7th day that we've been away from our house, so they weren't having any crying themselves back to sleep. We tried to let them cry it out, but it just didn't work. They ended up in bed with us around 4, then we all woke up around 6:30. Lots of non-sleep in between.
Breakfast was an adventure mainly because Max didn't feel like eating. I think he has some sort of one-food-at-a-time OCD so when I overloaded his plate from the buffet, I think he immediately turned it off. He wanted to play more than sit in his chair and he let the whole restaurant know it.
Those two red flags were not going to deter us though!
We were at Sea World when it opened and here's what we did/saw, in order, too:
1. Steph and Gracie rode the little Shamu roller coaster. The boys and I played at the kiddie splash area. Well, Nick played. I kept Max wrangled just outside the play area.
2. We all went to the water park and played for 1 1/2 hours. Hands down the best part of the day. Max and Nick didn't like the lazy river, but they all liked the little slide.
3. Lunch in the van. Max wanted chips, not the sandwich. Steph was dead set on him having the sandwich and not the chips. That was the beginning of the end. We also did a quick change into dry clothes in the van here.
4. Dolphin time. Only $6 to feed them, which Gracie so wanted to do. Only problem - I left the money in my swim suit in the van. Steph hoofed it back to the van while I took all the kids to the Shark aquarium.
5. Shark aquarium where no strollers are allowed. Everyone was on foot. Max does what Max wants to do. He marches to his own beat. He understands everything I'm/we're saying, but he pushes it to the last moment. By this time, it's 2:30 and no one has slept (normal nap time is 12:30.)
6. Shamu. The only problem was it was 1/2way across the park. Hot. Cranky. Tired. Sweaty. Max fell asleep in the stroller. When we got to the stadium, I got paranoid that he was having a heat stroke, primarily because he was so hot and lethargic. We took his shirt off of him, but in doing so, woke him up and as Steph said, "we woke the sleeping giant." The good thing here is that the whales were not cooperating so the show ended up getting cut short. Our kids certainly weren't cooperating with us. At that point, I threw in the towel. It was enough. 3:30.
We got back to the car around 4:15 and no sooner than we drove out of the parking lot were 2 out of 3 asleep. They all ended up falling asleep and got about an hour nap.
For dinner, we met the Mallards - Dan and Lindsay, Peyton and Alannah, at Rudy's. It was really good to see them. I like Dan so much. We usually only talk during fantasy football season. I need to do a better job of keeping in touch with him. They have a wonderful little family. Gracie and Peyton hit it off and talked and played the entire time.
We got home a little after 8 and got everyone down. Here's hoping that we get a solid night's sleep - everyone.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Our little summer vacation: Day 3
We slept in this morning, as much as we could (initially got up at 6, but went back to sleep till 7:30). Had a nice, leisurely breakfast, then, all of a sudden, the pace picked up and things got a little hairy.
The one thing we had to do was get to San Marcos to see Gracie's dance recital-type thing that ended the week of dance camp at 11:30. Needless to say, we barely made it, and when we did, she didn't want to dance :)
There was grocery shopping and gas filling and van loading and lunch making and road detouring that drove us to the brink of missing it. The girl gets so shy when we're around and watching her on a big stage like that. I don't know what it is.
Anyway, after the camp (and Gracie's meltdown saying good-bye to Nana and Papaw), we hit the road to San Antonio. It was a pleasant drive - no traffic - and we were even able to find another tie for the boys for Michelle's wedding in the process.
When we got to the Hilton Hill Country (came back after last year's success stay for Virginia's wedding), we checked in to our little suite, which really was sweet. Two rooms. One big enough for the boys pack-n-plays separated by two doors to another room, big enough for a king bed and a palette for Gracie. Slumber party time. The joy in the kids when they walked into the room reminded me all too well of our joy as kids when we would go on vacation and have a new room to explore and destroy and call home for a day or two. That was a neat moment.
The swimming pool took up most of our afternoon, followed by a cheap Sonic dinner and some S'mores. Kids are all sleeping now and I'm about to catch a recap of the NBA draft before I shut my eyes. Tomorrow is the day. Wally World. I mean, Sea World.
The one thing we had to do was get to San Marcos to see Gracie's dance recital-type thing that ended the week of dance camp at 11:30. Needless to say, we barely made it, and when we did, she didn't want to dance :)
There was grocery shopping and gas filling and van loading and lunch making and road detouring that drove us to the brink of missing it. The girl gets so shy when we're around and watching her on a big stage like that. I don't know what it is.
Anyway, after the camp (and Gracie's meltdown saying good-bye to Nana and Papaw), we hit the road to San Antonio. It was a pleasant drive - no traffic - and we were even able to find another tie for the boys for Michelle's wedding in the process.
When we got to the Hilton Hill Country (came back after last year's success stay for Virginia's wedding), we checked in to our little suite, which really was sweet. Two rooms. One big enough for the boys pack-n-plays separated by two doors to another room, big enough for a king bed and a palette for Gracie. Slumber party time. The joy in the kids when they walked into the room reminded me all too well of our joy as kids when we would go on vacation and have a new room to explore and destroy and call home for a day or two. That was a neat moment.
The swimming pool took up most of our afternoon, followed by a cheap Sonic dinner and some S'mores. Kids are all sleeping now and I'm about to catch a recap of the NBA draft before I shut my eyes. Tomorrow is the day. Wally World. I mean, Sea World.
Our little summer vacation: Day 2
Yesterday was me and Steph day of our vacation. Mom and Kyle watched the kids - thank you!!
We stayed at the Hilton downtown and I've got to say, it's a pretty good deal. We had a nice room with a nice view, even though we didn't do anything but sleep in it :) Uninterupted sleep, though. Yessss. (We still woke up at 6 though.)
The first stop was the pool. We did little swimming and much chilling. I took a nap for the first since I can remember. We stayed out there for a couple of hours and then got ready to go eat at an awesome Sushi place - Uchi. Man, it was so good. We got the 6-course tasting menu and it's one of the best meals I've ever eaten.
After that, we went to a wine bar that Steph's friend from high school owns - Uncorked. We had some wine, listened to a band, my brother and Hayli came by - it was relaxing and good conversation at the same time.
I was craving some sort of dessert after that so Steph and I drove around for a little while, but didn't end up getting anything. We were back at the hotel, in bed by 11:30.
Even though it was short, we had focused time together. It was much needed. Especially before taking the kids on a roadtrip, staying in the same hotel room with them, and venturing to Sea World. Happy trails....
We stayed at the Hilton downtown and I've got to say, it's a pretty good deal. We had a nice room with a nice view, even though we didn't do anything but sleep in it :) Uninterupted sleep, though. Yessss. (We still woke up at 6 though.)
The first stop was the pool. We did little swimming and much chilling. I took a nap for the first since I can remember. We stayed out there for a couple of hours and then got ready to go eat at an awesome Sushi place - Uchi. Man, it was so good. We got the 6-course tasting menu and it's one of the best meals I've ever eaten.
After that, we went to a wine bar that Steph's friend from high school owns - Uncorked. We had some wine, listened to a band, my brother and Hayli came by - it was relaxing and good conversation at the same time.
I was craving some sort of dessert after that so Steph and I drove around for a little while, but didn't end up getting anything. We were back at the hotel, in bed by 11:30.
Even though it was short, we had focused time together. It was much needed. Especially before taking the kids on a roadtrip, staying in the same hotel room with them, and venturing to Sea World. Happy trails....
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Our little summer vacation: Day 1
First small summer vacation has officially begun. We're in Austin and have been here since Saturday. It was my sister's bachelorette party so we decided to make a week out of it. We spent Father's Day here with my mom and Kyle. Mark and Hayli came over, too. It was very nice to spend it with a larger group of family. Then, I worked out of the Austin office yesterday and today.
Tomorrow, my mom is watching the kids and Steph and I are going to stay at a hotel downtown. We're going to eat at Uchi, then go to a wine bar, and then see what the night brings.
Thursday, we'll pick Gracie up from Michelle's dance camp (she's been there all week), and take the kids to San Antonio where we'll stay at the Hilton Hill Country (where we stayed for Virginia's wedding last year.) I really think the kids will love it.
On Friday, we're going to take them all to Sea World. We can't go to Schlitterbahn this year for our family reunion due to Michelle's wedding so this will take the place. And it will only be our family. But we will go and we will have fun. It is our Griswold family vacation and we will have fun. Even if the kids scream all day. Even if it's 100 degrees outside and we walk for miles. We will have fun.
Then, Saturday, we'll come back to Dallas. So, here's to the first short vacation of summer. Cheers.
Tomorrow, my mom is watching the kids and Steph and I are going to stay at a hotel downtown. We're going to eat at Uchi, then go to a wine bar, and then see what the night brings.
Thursday, we'll pick Gracie up from Michelle's dance camp (she's been there all week), and take the kids to San Antonio where we'll stay at the Hilton Hill Country (where we stayed for Virginia's wedding last year.) I really think the kids will love it.
On Friday, we're going to take them all to Sea World. We can't go to Schlitterbahn this year for our family reunion due to Michelle's wedding so this will take the place. And it will only be our family. But we will go and we will have fun. It is our Griswold family vacation and we will have fun. Even if the kids scream all day. Even if it's 100 degrees outside and we walk for miles. We will have fun.
Then, Saturday, we'll come back to Dallas. So, here's to the first short vacation of summer. Cheers.
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