Vacation Pictures...

Busch Gardens



Dolphin Watching

(video below)

Virginia Beach

The Food

Day 3 and 4...

So, yesterday was a busy day. We got pulled in by a salesman of time shares, and had to listen to their pitch for about 2 1/2 hours, but we did get a free breakfast, dinner and a free 2 night get away! Gotta love those gifts! So, it was worth it.... Other than that we just hung out at the beach.

Today, we headed to Cape Henry to visit the light house. Gracie was too short to climb and we couldn't carry her, so we just walked around the outside. Then finally we're home. It was our first official family vacation, and there are lots of memories. Pictures coming soon!

Vacation Day Two...

Today started with bagels from Panera... yumm, and then off to the docks to go dolphin watching. We were expecting to go out kinda far in the ocean but in reality we weren't out too far beyond the beach... we saw "inland" bottle nose dolphins... and lots too. Gracie kept saying, "Dolphin where are you?!". Both the kids really enjoyed finding the dolphins and neither were too crazy about the "bumpy" boat ride, although Gracie handled it a bit better.

Then on back to hotel #1 to change and hit the beach! Lots of beach time today... jumping waves and playing in the sand, it was great!

Dinner was fabulous, we hit up a local pizza joint that came highly recommended... again yumm! I know I mention food alot, but hey that is a big part of life!

Finally back to hotel #2 to hit up the pool and then the beds. One a slight positive note: Hotel #1 did credit my charge card $50... doesn't come close to the the amount spent, but at least they offered something (without being asked).

Vacation Day One...

Well, we got on the road this morning to head for Busch Gardens down in Williamsburg, Virginia. Only one small problem: we got on the road headed in the wrong direction and in the HOV lanes of DC so, we couldn't get off and turned around properly until we got to the Pentagon! This added about a half hour of driving.

Busch Gardens was SOOOO fun! The kids had a blast and I promise to post pictures as soon as we get back home. Nathan loved meeting the different Sesame Street characters, and Gracie was afraid of them! It was hot out but, we all enjoyed the day.

Then off to dinner at Cracker Barrel! Yes, we planned that trip! Mmmm, Mmmm we can never get enough of that country cookin' and checkers games.

Up next, Virginia Beach..... the experience we will never forget. We, or I to be correct had booked and prepurchased our hotel for these 3 nights with a special discount contingent upon no cancellation and no refund. Needless to say I wish that I didn't use that special! Or better yet that I didn't purchase with this particular hotel chain! All I can say is: Hole in the Wall! I was literally afraid to sit on the bed! The room was decorated up to par but, the cleanliness level and safety level of the room was questionable. I guess maybe that's what Limited means when it follows after Ramada! So, we packed up and headed towards Norfolk and found a Marriott. But, hey at least we have a parking place and a changing room near the beach all weekend. Don't worry there will pictures of this too!

Little Lunch Helper...

Today I had a little helper while preparing lunch. She poured the drinks (without consent)...

Her Not Quite First Haircut...

Well, I've been cutting Gracie's bangs for about a year now. And about a month ago I evened out her hair in the back mainly. But, today.... it went shorter. I would like it even a tad more shorter but, I don't really trust my skills that well! And we've decided to let the bangs grow a bit too.... So, here is Gracie's new look!

VBS: Boomerang Express

This years VBS took us on a train ride through Australia. Where Nathan learned that "it all comes back to Jesus". Tonight was the closing program with family night. Nathan sang two songs on stage and didn't run off like last year! Gracie was so excited to see "Nanee there!". And of course the other main highlight of the night was when Peter from the Bible showed up. Nathan was so excited to see Peter, and Gracie just kept pointing at him and saying "Jesus!". My favorite thing this year was hearing about all the things that Nathan did each day (from him), the non-stop Boomerang Express song that was sang in the house, and each day both of their excitement about going to Bible School. What an awesome experience!!

Home again...

After a little more than a week in western New York, we are home again. It was a long 7 and 1/2 hour drive, but we did it. By we, I mean the kids and I. Bryant will be back sometime tomorrow from his journey to Africa (literally). Although I believe that his journey home seems a bit more adventurous than the journey there. It was so nice to walk into a clean house yesterday and I'm really hoping that Bryant will have that same experience.... but, this week is VBS so... you know how that goes!

One thing we love about summer: The Beach...

While visiting family in New York, we took the kids to the Peninsula on Lake Erie. Nathan LOVED being there, while Gracie wasn't too crazy about it. Hopefully she'll change her mind in a couple of weeks when we go on vacation to Virginia Beach!

My New Best Friend...

Nathan and Gracie have really been enjoying themselves this past week. They have been playing with their cousins and Joey, their cousins' cousin. The new saying that we have been hearing a lot around the house is, "Have you seen my new best friend anywhere?"

Lights Out...

Last night at dinner the electric went out and it didn't come back on until sometime around midnight. I only know that because I woke up and I could see Nathan's bedroom light on.... apparently that was the only light switch that I forgot to check and make sure was off before I went to bed. Nathan was excited to have the house dark because then he got to do what every boy dreams of: walk around the house with a flashlight on and not get in trouble for it. Gracie on the other hand, clinged to me for her life. Even with lots of candles she was not happy that the "lights were broke". It kinda makes you think of "way back when...", before electricity or even the Amish today that choose to live without it. I can handle a candle lit evening, brushing teeth and reading books by flashlight, but I know that I would not prefer it everyday. Especially since we were lucky that we 1. I could find the flashlight, and 2. that I found batteries that worked! Thank goodness for modern inventions!