We found out Grandpa wasn't feeling so well. A few days later, I suggest that Michael fly up for a few days to visit Grandpa. Hmmm, he asks if he could take Jay along. Hmmm, I do not know if you can handle him alone and have any sort of visit with Grandpa. Then, I throw out the idea, why not drive up and see him. The children will be with their dad and we will not have to make sure they are around for his visitation days. They are going on a road trip to Texas. With no "pressing" matters at hand, other than the dentist appointment I postponed, we decide to go for it.
Thus, the snowball effect began...
Marc had offered us Hilton Honors points for hotel stays. Why not make a trip of it, see the USA???
What??? Mike has credit card points transferrable into gas cards!
Free Hilton's~Free Gas~Free Breakfasts...this will allow us to do some very fun things!
We decided to take a road trip to visit Michael's Grandpa "Red" and allow him to see Jay. Despite the fact that the terrible twos...which I thought started two months ago or so but was sooo wrong...are here! I am like all flabbergasted and confused. I had two children prior to Jay. I know what it is like raising children and the stages they go through. Alas, I have always bragged about my Jayda and Jacob being "not your normal children". They are so good and well behaved and THEN SOME! But this, THIS, TTHHIISSS is like the Incredible Hulk on steroids. So, to all our family members, friends, strangers, people stopping in their tracks and staring at us as if we are the worst parents on the planet...I apologize. He really is a sweet child. hehehe
I am breaking up our trip in days to keep abreast of each day. It is in depth and detailed~with facts no one else probably really cares about BUT...how else do I tell a story? :o)
Pictures to come later!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Day 1: Chattanooga, TN
We left for our first leg at 9:18 am and arrived in Chattanooga at our hotel at 9:26 pm. 12 hours. That is long!!! But it was fabulous...until we hit atlanta and were in traffic there for an hour...crawled for 10 miles.
It was tax free holiday for the state and the outlets along 75 were slammed! Then just outside of Chattanooga, we went 2 miles in one hour! As soon as we could, we got off the highway and hit a side road counting on the GPS to reconfigure our route! She wanted to get us back on 24 so bad, but finally gave in and took us the remaining 3 miles to our hotel. So close, we could taste it...yet so far in that traffic! Thank you GPS and Mother and Dad for loaning us that!
Now, let me hit the highlights of the road!
As we took off, everyone was happy, packed in and Jay was just about due for a nap! He slept nearly the whole way to Silver Springs FL where we cut over to catch 75 N. When he woke up, I plugged in his new DVD player and he began watching Sprout shows that Michael had recorded on dvd's that he loves to watch. They kept his attention for a very long time!
As we entered into GA, it had begun to rain. Not for very long, and we were smooth sailing on into Macon with only road signs to entertain us!
Our first scheduled stop was Bass Pro
and "Pig in the Pit" BBQ joint.
We peeled our legs out and walked into Bass Pro. Jay headed straight for the little boy quad runner and sat there for like 15 minutes. Seriously, because MIke disappeared after he used the rest room to the fishing section until I called him. He peeled Jay out of the Quad Runner and off Jay went full of enthusiasm. Once outside the store, we stood for a long time watching the huge waterwheel move the water. Jay was talking all about it(which I had no idea what he was saying), and pointing, and hunkering down as if he was really studying it. He didn't fight too badly getting back into the car and heading to the plaza across the road from the Bass Pro to Pig in the Pit where we grabbed a light lunch. Jay was in rare form as usual. Mike goes to get the high chair, Jay jumps up into a booth and holds on for dear life~SCREAMING~ as I peel him out. Once set in his high chair I wipe his area so he can eat from the table, his hand reached out faster than lightning and poured salt out on the table as fast as he could. I quick grab the salt and right side it. His hands are off to scatter the salt as quick as a whip before I have a chance to react...on the wet table. Now, if you can imagine, we have been in the restaurant 3 minutes and I am sweating, frazzled, embarrassed! He grabs the spoon and digs into his beans as the chicken was too hot.
Beans on table, his face, and dripping off the spoon onto anything he swipes the spoon at around the table. By the time I have him ready to eat, my food is cold. The Pulled Pork Sandwich basket I got was so so.
Fries STUNK! This was a very very good thing. I didn't eat french fries...so I felt healthier. Although, Mike and I finished Jay's beans. It would have been worth it to go in, get beans and sweet tea and be done with it. Although, Jay's meal was awesome. The fried chicken tenders were seasoned to perfection!!!
Off we go, back on the road an hour later, perfect for a leg stretch for Jay and the both of us!
We made it four hours before this stop and Jay was awesome!
Atlanta was a mess due to the tax free holiday...but I still can not get over what a nice trip it was.
Our next stop would be Cartersville!
How neat was that???
Well, let me assure you that nothing exciting is going on there...unless you call, waiting in the car while Mike pumps gas and watching a man PICK HIS NOSE at the counter of the store exciting!
How gross is that??? Not as gross as me, I took pictures of it. I was able to tell Mike about it, get my camera out and still take 8 pictures of him doing it! He never went to wash his hands and I watched him wait on three people after the "big pick". I am sending Pictures to corporate, I want them to know they "picked" a great employee to "spread" the joy by passing his "joy" onto others!
Again, back on the road and laughing about how the best thing to do in Cartersville is pick your nose! It wasn't until we hit Chattanooga, and torrential downpour....and TRAFFIC.
But it ended up working out just fine. We arrived, happy, safe, and sound!
Can't understand why it was blurry...we were sitting still???!!!
Jay was amazing, until 3 miles to the hotel.
He was at his last wit...crying through laughter and cheers as we said...yay, we are almost there...yay! He would say yay and smile and then whimper. So he was great until the last three miles of the 575 mile trip! I would have to say a great traveler!!!
Once at the hotel, Mike went to check in and brought out 3 hot chocolate chip cookies, three tickets for free breakfast and the highly coveted room keys! It appears people were being turned away from the hotel~it was a full house!
I head up with Jay through the lobby and to the elevators. I had to coax him around the corner as he thought he would much rather go the stairs...10 floors! I told him I promised we would do it later.
Into the elevator, up to the 10th floor, and stops dead outside of the hotel room and refuses to go in. Just for reference it is 10 pm. Ok, let me define "refuses". He stands in the hall ~SCREAMS~ at the top of his lungs bloody murder and fear! Yes, that pretty much covers it. Roll three bags into the room, head back out to get him and pick him up, yes he is still screaming...oops ALMOST let the door slam leaving me locked out in the hall...ALMOST...grab the door, then him and in we went!
Phew...once inside he was fine and happy.
I know this looks like a boy who knows what to do with one of these...but alas, he just has to check out every toilet!
After taking some pictures of our room and out the window(where I happen to notice a horse drawn carriage with a driver and dalmatian)I can relax. NOT!!!
Jay wanted to go out the door. I locked it but it opens itself when you pull the handle and Jay was trying to escape. Then he would scream and try again. The poor boy needed some exercise...he sat for 4 hours straight and then 5 hours straight.
So, I am trying to put my shoes on, asking him to wait, and he heads out into the hall and SCREAMS again. Okay, will someone please have the folks on the tenth floor REMOVED from the hotel??? Hahahaha they thought that was bad.
So off we go for a walk for about a half hour. Then back to the room for a shower and bed.
BED???? Jay exclaimed...not really but that's what his actions said! He proceeded to SCREAM at the top of his lungs for about 15 minutes refusing to want to go to bed at 1130 pm. AHEM...Mike came unglued(imagine) and was all but ready to put the pillow over his head and well....I had to relax two frantic people. I mean seriously, imagine Mike freaking out classic adorable Mike style, pacing from the bathroom half dressed from his shower, trying to contain the sweet, precious, amazingly gorgeous child who has~I fear~been possessed by an alien! Okay, 15 minutes has seemed like a life time but finally we reached peacefulness. Let me define peacefulness. We found Jay's favorite show on TV and he forgot what he was hysterical about. Sleep came quickly and then we could breathe. Well, I could...but Mike~not so much. He is getting over a chest cold and still was having difficulty with some coughing.
I slept so hard...you know what I mean...like when you wake up in the morning in the exact same position you went to sleep in. My back was aching, despite the king sized bed and heavenly bed clothes!
6 am wide eyed and bushy tailed!
It was tax free holiday for the state and the outlets along 75 were slammed! Then just outside of Chattanooga, we went 2 miles in one hour! As soon as we could, we got off the highway and hit a side road counting on the GPS to reconfigure our route! She wanted to get us back on 24 so bad, but finally gave in and took us the remaining 3 miles to our hotel. So close, we could taste it...yet so far in that traffic! Thank you GPS and Mother and Dad for loaning us that!
Now, let me hit the highlights of the road!
As we took off, everyone was happy, packed in and Jay was just about due for a nap! He slept nearly the whole way to Silver Springs FL where we cut over to catch 75 N. When he woke up, I plugged in his new DVD player and he began watching Sprout shows that Michael had recorded on dvd's that he loves to watch. They kept his attention for a very long time!
As we entered into GA, it had begun to rain. Not for very long, and we were smooth sailing on into Macon with only road signs to entertain us!
Our first scheduled stop was Bass Pro
and "Pig in the Pit" BBQ joint.
We peeled our legs out and walked into Bass Pro. Jay headed straight for the little boy quad runner and sat there for like 15 minutes. Seriously, because MIke disappeared after he used the rest room to the fishing section until I called him. He peeled Jay out of the Quad Runner and off Jay went full of enthusiasm. Once outside the store, we stood for a long time watching the huge waterwheel move the water. Jay was talking all about it(which I had no idea what he was saying), and pointing, and hunkering down as if he was really studying it. He didn't fight too badly getting back into the car and heading to the plaza across the road from the Bass Pro to Pig in the Pit where we grabbed a light lunch. Jay was in rare form as usual. Mike goes to get the high chair, Jay jumps up into a booth and holds on for dear life~SCREAMING~ as I peel him out. Once set in his high chair I wipe his area so he can eat from the table, his hand reached out faster than lightning and poured salt out on the table as fast as he could. I quick grab the salt and right side it. His hands are off to scatter the salt as quick as a whip before I have a chance to react...on the wet table. Now, if you can imagine, we have been in the restaurant 3 minutes and I am sweating, frazzled, embarrassed! He grabs the spoon and digs into his beans as the chicken was too hot.
Beans on table, his face, and dripping off the spoon onto anything he swipes the spoon at around the table. By the time I have him ready to eat, my food is cold. The Pulled Pork Sandwich basket I got was so so.
Fries STUNK! This was a very very good thing. I didn't eat french fries...so I felt healthier. Although, Mike and I finished Jay's beans. It would have been worth it to go in, get beans and sweet tea and be done with it. Although, Jay's meal was awesome. The fried chicken tenders were seasoned to perfection!!!
Off we go, back on the road an hour later, perfect for a leg stretch for Jay and the both of us!
We made it four hours before this stop and Jay was awesome!
Atlanta was a mess due to the tax free holiday...but I still can not get over what a nice trip it was.
Our next stop would be Cartersville!
How neat was that???
Well, let me assure you that nothing exciting is going on there...unless you call, waiting in the car while Mike pumps gas and watching a man PICK HIS NOSE at the counter of the store exciting!
How gross is that??? Not as gross as me, I took pictures of it. I was able to tell Mike about it, get my camera out and still take 8 pictures of him doing it! He never went to wash his hands and I watched him wait on three people after the "big pick". I am sending Pictures to corporate, I want them to know they "picked" a great employee to "spread" the joy by passing his "joy" onto others!
Again, back on the road and laughing about how the best thing to do in Cartersville is pick your nose! It wasn't until we hit Chattanooga, and torrential downpour....and TRAFFIC.
But it ended up working out just fine. We arrived, happy, safe, and sound!
Can't understand why it was blurry...we were sitting still???!!!
Jay was amazing, until 3 miles to the hotel.
He was at his last wit...crying through laughter and cheers as we said...yay, we are almost there...yay! He would say yay and smile and then whimper. So he was great until the last three miles of the 575 mile trip! I would have to say a great traveler!!!
Once at the hotel, Mike went to check in and brought out 3 hot chocolate chip cookies, three tickets for free breakfast and the highly coveted room keys! It appears people were being turned away from the hotel~it was a full house!
I head up with Jay through the lobby and to the elevators. I had to coax him around the corner as he thought he would much rather go the stairs...10 floors! I told him I promised we would do it later.
Into the elevator, up to the 10th floor, and stops dead outside of the hotel room and refuses to go in. Just for reference it is 10 pm. Ok, let me define "refuses". He stands in the hall ~SCREAMS~ at the top of his lungs bloody murder and fear! Yes, that pretty much covers it. Roll three bags into the room, head back out to get him and pick him up, yes he is still screaming...oops ALMOST let the door slam leaving me locked out in the hall...ALMOST...grab the door, then him and in we went!
Phew...once inside he was fine and happy.
I know this looks like a boy who knows what to do with one of these...but alas, he just has to check out every toilet!
After taking some pictures of our room and out the window(where I happen to notice a horse drawn carriage with a driver and dalmatian)I can relax. NOT!!!
Jay wanted to go out the door. I locked it but it opens itself when you pull the handle and Jay was trying to escape. Then he would scream and try again. The poor boy needed some exercise...he sat for 4 hours straight and then 5 hours straight.
So, I am trying to put my shoes on, asking him to wait, and he heads out into the hall and SCREAMS again. Okay, will someone please have the folks on the tenth floor REMOVED from the hotel??? Hahahaha they thought that was bad.
So off we go for a walk for about a half hour. Then back to the room for a shower and bed.
BED???? Jay exclaimed...not really but that's what his actions said! He proceeded to SCREAM at the top of his lungs for about 15 minutes refusing to want to go to bed at 1130 pm. AHEM...Mike came unglued(imagine) and was all but ready to put the pillow over his head and well....I had to relax two frantic people. I mean seriously, imagine Mike freaking out classic adorable Mike style, pacing from the bathroom half dressed from his shower, trying to contain the sweet, precious, amazingly gorgeous child who has~I fear~been possessed by an alien! Okay, 15 minutes has seemed like a life time but finally we reached peacefulness. Let me define peacefulness. We found Jay's favorite show on TV and he forgot what he was hysterical about. Sleep came quickly and then we could breathe. Well, I could...but Mike~not so much. He is getting over a chest cold and still was having difficulty with some coughing.
I slept so hard...you know what I mean...like when you wake up in the morning in the exact same position you went to sleep in. My back was aching, despite the king sized bed and heavenly bed clothes!
6 am wide eyed and bushy tailed!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
All dressed up with no here to go!
Not much going on around here!!! Well, now wait...there is a ton going on around here. End of summer, beginning of school, planning a road trip...
But mostly playing with this little guy. He LOVES toys and is totally in his glory with all the things I am getting together for my classroom. He can play with anything and find some fun in the least expected objects!
I bet you think this next one was me using my camera in some funky mode...NOT...it was me moving quick after I just snapped the pic to try and catch him as he fell on his face!
I'm betting you want to see that live!
But mostly playing with this little guy. He LOVES toys and is totally in his glory with all the things I am getting together for my classroom. He can play with anything and find some fun in the least expected objects!
I bet you think this next one was me using my camera in some funky mode...NOT...it was me moving quick after I just snapped the pic to try and catch him as he fell on his face!
I'm betting you want to see that live!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Kayak the Rainbow River!
Jayne and I had a ball over the fourth of July weekend kayaking the Rainbow River.
It was totally amazing and a must do tour! I wanted to do it again right after the first run. It was about 2 hours and 4 miles +/-.
Jayne and I absolutely had a ball and were both sad to see it end!
We say three pairs of otters, one alligator, many birds and fish. The ride is absolutely amazing and if you are a kayaker...it is a must see trip!
Can't wait to go again!
Sorry it has been a while since posting! Kids have art camp, Jay has story times, Jayda has volleyball and girlscouts and Jacob just keeps us on our toes!
I am also in the midst of planning an upcoming roadtrip! More to come.
It was totally amazing and a must do tour! I wanted to do it again right after the first run. It was about 2 hours and 4 miles +/-.
Jayne and I absolutely had a ball and were both sad to see it end!
We say three pairs of otters, one alligator, many birds and fish. The ride is absolutely amazing and if you are a kayaker...it is a must see trip!
Can't wait to go again!
Sorry it has been a while since posting! Kids have art camp, Jay has story times, Jayda has volleyball and girlscouts and Jacob just keeps us on our toes!
I am also in the midst of planning an upcoming roadtrip! More to come.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Happy Belated 4th of July!
May we continue to remain an independent country and not become dependent!
The weekend began with us traveling north to spend the weekend with mom and dad. It was pouring cats and dogs with a few small rodents thrown in and amongst there
upon arrival.
Just as quickly as it began it subsided....but not without leaving Jay a new found toy!
I told Michael when the weather cleared he and his dad needed to go out in the boat and fish ... they didn't want to. Next, it turned into me encouraging him to go kayak fishing. Then, it turned into Mike and I going kayak fishing. I was refusing as Jay was a mini monster...he wanted desperately to climb the blocked off stairs...all to no avail. I was being prodded by my inlaws...and for that I am grateful! Quick check of the radar showed the storms had all passed. Off we went to Yankeetown to fish! We stopped for some bait and then hit the water paddling. I had a lot of bites and some stinker kept taking my bait. Then, as the sun was going down I threw up into an oyster bed and caught a beautiful sheepshead.
It's beautiful until it opens it's mouth! Weird stuff right there!
Now, that's just weird! Seriously...this is NOT photo shopped!
Neither of these are pics of my fish...but I wanted to show you what it looked like. It was about 14 inches and a definite keeper, but I gave it to some Mexicans who were fishing the banks as we only caught one keeper fish.
Then it was home again to a sleeping child and wonderful babysitters!
The next morning was 4th of July! Jayda pulled out all the stops with her jammies!
Then it was off to the pool for some fun! Jay stands on the porch and says "set,go!!!" and Jake and Jayda respond by jumping in and doing some sort of acrobat. Jacob did the nestea plunge...once...and I missed the shot, but caught him at the beginning. No amount of begging could get him to redo it again for photo shoot purposes!
I love this picture of Jayda...she really does not pose for me. So self-conscious. I love it when she let's go and becomes a little carefree in front of the camera.
Does this child remind you of Mogli from the story the Jungle Book? He has shot up and thinned out so much!
Just imagine, "set, go!"
Jay is a stinker about the TV. We had to move the table in front to keep him from doing it...but he knows how. Notice the pool noodles as safety precautions...we should have patented this idea...LOL. It is on every sharp corner in our house and the grandparents houses!
The goggles are a constant...he wears them all the time. Oh, and as for the clothes...he strips those down and BEGS to go "smimming"!
His new water wings!
By the end of the weekend, he could maneuver his body around and would keep his head up and mouth closed upon encouragement. A great feat in that he used to just drink the water and choke on it.
I had done some research on what to do in Ocala for the 4th. There is not much to do in Ocala on the day of the holiday...except for an activity called God and Country. It was "free"...except we had to pay a dollar to park. WTH? Now mind you, a dollar is not a big deal...but they advertised it for free. My guess is something sneaky was going on there...and someone was making money??? Could have been the guy who took our money and had a tatoo of the numbers 5150 across h
is forehead and eyebrow measuring about 3 inches by 6 inches....SCARY!!! What were we getting into?!?! hahaha
Well, we park and get out in ankle deep grass in an old pasture and head to the "festivities" a few food vendors, a few games, some kiddie things, a helicopter pad, and camels you can ride!?! Yes, I said Camels.
Jacob and Jayda have now officially lived...they have ridden a camel!
Then it was back through to a funnel cake stand...where they weren't so ready for customers yet, and a roach was running around the table, and the guy was making it with no gloves on and touching the batter...okay, I better stop here. I just hope oil at 300* kills everything!!!!
Then of course, you can't leave without a sno-cone!
Traipse back out across the field and pile back in the vehicle. Where we all agree, that we never need to go back to that place again. Although, who would have thought you would ride a camel in Ocala...horse country!?!
Back to the house for some more swimming...errrr...kayaking!!!
Does it get any more American than apple pie and corn on the cob???
We ended the evening by playing trivial pursuit and watching Jay. He can be so entertaining. Remember that flyswatter he is always playing with? Well, he took hold of it, walked over to the lamp shade and started whacking it with the swatter and dust was flying everywhere. Immediately Mom was mortified(for those of you who do not know....her home is gorgeous and very well kept!) yet somehow she never imagined she would need to dust the lamp shades weekly...after all, not too many folks do! Well, we laughed and laughed til we were all crying. It was funny, mortifying, and well downright naughty of him to be doing...we know this. But, it was just so funny! All laughed and still are talking about it today!
Out to set off some fireworks and do the holiday right!
The next post will be of the Kayak trip Jayne and I took down the Rainbow River!
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