I just have a few more pictures of our big California trip and since they are all a bit random, I figured I'd just throw them into one post. I tried to get a cute picture of Katherine & Thomas together, but at least one of them seemed to always be playing shy. Silly kids:
Lauren & Parker both got hats too, but here's a picture of the big kids:
At Katherine's (well, actually Aunt Sheena's!) church, Thomas tried his hand at a drum set there. I was somewhat impressed that he actually seemed to look (and sound) like he knew what he was doing.
We attended the casual evening church service on Sunday. While the adults congregated, the children stayed outside with the youth leader and played until they couldn't play anymore. By the time it got dark, it seemed they'd never run out of gas.
And then, Thomas did.
The next day it was time to head back to SC. I think what gave Thomas the most excitement was knowing that once we got to the Atlanta airport he could ride the "train" again. Luckily we had a long-enough layover so we could really go for a ride. We landed at A terminal and rode the train all the way to E, then all the way to baggage claim, before going to C to get a bite to eat. And then we had to go to B terminal to catch our flight. He loved sitting in the front (a big window beside a bench seat allowed him to see all the track in front of him), so that's where we went and he was in heaven.
I do have some pictures on my phone of our trip to the beach and Thomas' first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, but I haven't sent them to my email yet. So for now, this is the end of the California adventure. We had a wonderful time and we hope to go back soon! Thomas didn't want to leave and I know he will gladly return anytime...especially if it means we fly through Atlanta!
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Saturday, April 3, 2010
California adventure: Random pics
California adventure: Happy birthday Katherine!
Back to my California recap (yes, it's been nearly a month since we went, but hey, life has been busy!)... The biggest reason we went out there was to attend my niece Katherine's fourth birthday party. On the way to the party, we had to pick up 20-something balloons...
The children were back there somewhere...
Katherine wanted an "Ariel cake" for her birthday, as in the main character from "The Little Mermaid," and that's just what she got! Just look at this wonderful cake:
The children were impressed:
My newest niece, Lauren, looked on from below and said, "Yeah, it's pretty neat."
While waiting for the guests to arrive, Katherine and Thomas took a moment to entertain Lauren (or vice versa):
Thomas was most intrigued by Lauren.
Soon all of the children arrived, and then came the special guest...Ariel herself!
After some bubble time, she offered face painting (Katherine did it, Thomas was too shy and preferred to ride tricycles instead).
Katherine definitely seemed to enjoy the party:
Thomas had a ball on the many different types of wheels available to ride:
There was a game of Limbo:
...and magic time:
...and fun with the parachute (bouncing stuffed animals):
Thomas loved that part:
After cake and ice cream, it was time to open gifts (Thomas wanted to help Katherine do this, but he had to settle for being a spectator):
It was a wonderful party and we were most happy we were able to be there to share it with Katherine and her family. Everything was so much fun and everyone was so kind. At the end of the day, this picture summed it up well. Lauren did what we were all probably ready to do, take a rest. Here she is with her Grandma.
Thank you Katherine for allowing us to spend such a wonderful day with you!
The children were back there somewhere...
Katherine wanted an "Ariel cake" for her birthday, as in the main character from "The Little Mermaid," and that's just what she got! Just look at this wonderful cake:
The children were impressed:
My newest niece, Lauren, looked on from below and said, "Yeah, it's pretty neat."
While waiting for the guests to arrive, Katherine and Thomas took a moment to entertain Lauren (or vice versa):
Thomas was most intrigued by Lauren.
Soon all of the children arrived, and then came the special guest...Ariel herself!
After some bubble time, she offered face painting (Katherine did it, Thomas was too shy and preferred to ride tricycles instead).
Katherine definitely seemed to enjoy the party:
Thomas had a ball on the many different types of wheels available to ride:
There was a game of Limbo:
...and magic time:
...and fun with the parachute (bouncing stuffed animals):
Thomas loved that part:
After cake and ice cream, it was time to open gifts (Thomas wanted to help Katherine do this, but he had to settle for being a spectator):
It was a wonderful party and we were most happy we were able to be there to share it with Katherine and her family. Everything was so much fun and everyone was so kind. At the end of the day, this picture summed it up well. Lauren did what we were all probably ready to do, take a rest. Here she is with her Grandma.
Thank you Katherine for allowing us to spend such a wonderful day with you!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Our California adventure
I have been terrible about this blog lately. I'll blame part of it on my lame (as in injured) computer that makes blogging a bit of an uncomfortable chore and the other part on myself--someone who is still lacking her blogging mojo. But Thomas and I did recently have a wonderful trip to California, and I must share all the details here!
We set off on Thursday, March 11 for sunny California and Thomas was so excited he couldn't stand it. He didn't even seem to mind that I dragged him out of bed at 6:30 a.m., because hey! We were going to California! We got through security pretty easily (luckily it was a calm morning at the Charleston airport and we were the only ones in line), which is saying something considering the fact we had two carry-on bags, a stroller and a carseat. Anyway, we got on the plane and he couldn't wait to take off!
He loved takeoff, he loved landing and he loved everything about being on that plane. Though I do think he's in for a bit of a rude awakening in future flights. We were able to fly first class the entire trip and that was worth every cent and Skymile. :) In the future though he might be shocked to see that people won't always be bringing him food and drink constantly and he won't have quite the wiggle room either (or anything close to it!).
One of his other favorite parts of the trip was the subway/underground tram-thing at the Atlanta airport. He loved, loved, loved, loved riding that thing. We had to ride it further than we needed just so he could have the thrill of the ride. We ended up in the first car at one point (I think it was when we took the tram back from our first ride all the way to E terminal and we needed to get back to B (we landed in A). Anyway, he sat right up in the front window and he was in absolute heaven.
The only way I could get him to get off that ride was to promise him that we would ride it much more when we returned in a few days. I knew we'd have a longer layover then.
Soon we were back on the plane and headed to California. They served us lunch and Thomas thought it was delicious. But his most favorite part of that leg of the trip was the television screen in the back of the headrest of the seat in front of him. He was again in heaven. Since he doesn't watch much television at home, he was almost comatose after watching Nickolodeon for two hours or so.
I did let him have his paci on the plane (and yes, I know that nearly-four year olds should not have pacis...and he is aware that he has to give it up on his 4th birthday in a few weeks (of course now he says he wants to be three forever!)), to help his ears and just generally to kep him happy. It must have worked because several passengers in first class commented on each leg of the trip about how well behaved he was and that they didn't even know there was a little boy behind them.
We finally made it to Los Angeles and Aunt Sheena and cousin Katherine were waiting for us when we arrived. Thomas was so happy to see his cousin Katherine. He had been looking forward to it for so long. Pretty soon, they were best buddies and they got along perfectly. At dinner they were being a little silly...but I had to snap this picture because it looked so California with the palm trees and pretty skyline in the background. But they wouldn't really be still...
Does he look happy, or what?
We set off on Thursday, March 11 for sunny California and Thomas was so excited he couldn't stand it. He didn't even seem to mind that I dragged him out of bed at 6:30 a.m., because hey! We were going to California! We got through security pretty easily (luckily it was a calm morning at the Charleston airport and we were the only ones in line), which is saying something considering the fact we had two carry-on bags, a stroller and a carseat. Anyway, we got on the plane and he couldn't wait to take off!
He loved takeoff, he loved landing and he loved everything about being on that plane. Though I do think he's in for a bit of a rude awakening in future flights. We were able to fly first class the entire trip and that was worth every cent and Skymile. :) In the future though he might be shocked to see that people won't always be bringing him food and drink constantly and he won't have quite the wiggle room either (or anything close to it!).
One of his other favorite parts of the trip was the subway/underground tram-thing at the Atlanta airport. He loved, loved, loved, loved riding that thing. We had to ride it further than we needed just so he could have the thrill of the ride. We ended up in the first car at one point (I think it was when we took the tram back from our first ride all the way to E terminal and we needed to get back to B (we landed in A). Anyway, he sat right up in the front window and he was in absolute heaven.
The only way I could get him to get off that ride was to promise him that we would ride it much more when we returned in a few days. I knew we'd have a longer layover then.
Soon we were back on the plane and headed to California. They served us lunch and Thomas thought it was delicious. But his most favorite part of that leg of the trip was the television screen in the back of the headrest of the seat in front of him. He was again in heaven. Since he doesn't watch much television at home, he was almost comatose after watching Nickolodeon for two hours or so.
I did let him have his paci on the plane (and yes, I know that nearly-four year olds should not have pacis...and he is aware that he has to give it up on his 4th birthday in a few weeks (of course now he says he wants to be three forever!)), to help his ears and just generally to kep him happy. It must have worked because several passengers in first class commented on each leg of the trip about how well behaved he was and that they didn't even know there was a little boy behind them.
We finally made it to Los Angeles and Aunt Sheena and cousin Katherine were waiting for us when we arrived. Thomas was so happy to see his cousin Katherine. He had been looking forward to it for so long. Pretty soon, they were best buddies and they got along perfectly. At dinner they were being a little silly...but I had to snap this picture because it looked so California with the palm trees and pretty skyline in the background. But they wouldn't really be still...
Does he look happy, or what?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Visiting Gigi
While Pete and Sheena were in town, we decided to take a caravan up to Virginia to see my grandmother, Nana. I haven't, sadly, been up there since Thomas was two months old. Andrew and family weren't able to come because of work, but they went a few months ago. Katherine and Lauren had not yet met their Gigi (as a grandmother she is "Nana," but as a great-grandmother, she is "Gigi"). Now everyone has!
Lauren was most interested in Gigi and gave her some of her biggest smiles.
We went out to eat once while we were there. Luckily it was a very kid-friendly restaurant and they seated us in a section all to ourselves. Included in this group beyond those already mentioned were my Aunt Lori and her daughter (my cousin), Ashley. We were also able to see my Aunt Lisa, Uncle Mike, their daughter (again, my cousin!) Kris (and Kris's son Ty) the evening we arrived. Here's a picture of our lunch out:
Ashley, Pete & the gang...
The boys, especially Parker, loved Ashley. I loved listening to Parker trying to say her name.
A couple of weeks before we came, Richmond had a very big snow. There were still piles of old snow scattered throughout the neighborhood. The kids thought this was very neat and they had a ball kicking the piles of what was then essentially just dirty ice.
Pete and I took Katherine and Thomas walking around the neighborhood and they enjoyed playing ring-around-the-rosie in an open field.
When the kids got a little rowdy waiting for dinner, we tried to calm them with a game of Red Light, Green Light (or maybe this was Mother May I?).
And after they went to bed, the really big kids (us!) enjoyed a game of Wii Bowling (Pete playing with Aunt Lisa in the background...she was our instructor).
In the end, Mom won and I trailed behind her by two points (Pete & Sheena were 3rd and 4th).
One thing that was hard to break Parker of during and after the trip was his newfound love of "moo-moo." That would be "movies" on the DVD player. It's funny though... The only DVD he watches is one (I can't think of the name of it but it is fabulous) that shows various underwater scenes of sea life while singing these silly but cute songs. He is mesmerized by it. He sits there and watches, calls out the various fish he sees and sucks his thumb while twirling his hair.
Before we knew it, it was time to head home. We took two cars (Mom, me and the boys in our rented minivan) and Pete, Sheena & the girls in the other car. During a stop to feed Lauren, I snapped a few pics of the boys. They were actually reasonably well behaved. I was pleasantly surprised.
Parker though did a little better on the way up there. I turned his seat around for the trip home thinking I could strap the DVD player to the holder on the back of my seat and that would be okay. It was not. And then with the seat turned forward, his lap wasn't big enough to hold it and he got very frustrated. Lesson learned.
I was glad we made the trip though and glad my boys didn't drive me insane during 7-8 hour trip (it actually took us about 9 hours to get back home and they did great). All smiles at this moment!
Hopefully we can go back soon and Trey will be able to join us for his first trip to Richmond!
Lauren was most interested in Gigi and gave her some of her biggest smiles.
We went out to eat once while we were there. Luckily it was a very kid-friendly restaurant and they seated us in a section all to ourselves. Included in this group beyond those already mentioned were my Aunt Lori and her daughter (my cousin), Ashley. We were also able to see my Aunt Lisa, Uncle Mike, their daughter (again, my cousin!) Kris (and Kris's son Ty) the evening we arrived. Here's a picture of our lunch out:
Ashley, Pete & the gang...
The boys, especially Parker, loved Ashley. I loved listening to Parker trying to say her name.
A couple of weeks before we came, Richmond had a very big snow. There were still piles of old snow scattered throughout the neighborhood. The kids thought this was very neat and they had a ball kicking the piles of what was then essentially just dirty ice.
Pete and I took Katherine and Thomas walking around the neighborhood and they enjoyed playing ring-around-the-rosie in an open field.
When the kids got a little rowdy waiting for dinner, we tried to calm them with a game of Red Light, Green Light (or maybe this was Mother May I?).
And after they went to bed, the really big kids (us!) enjoyed a game of Wii Bowling (Pete playing with Aunt Lisa in the background...she was our instructor).
In the end, Mom won and I trailed behind her by two points (Pete & Sheena were 3rd and 4th).
One thing that was hard to break Parker of during and after the trip was his newfound love of "moo-moo." That would be "movies" on the DVD player. It's funny though... The only DVD he watches is one (I can't think of the name of it but it is fabulous) that shows various underwater scenes of sea life while singing these silly but cute songs. He is mesmerized by it. He sits there and watches, calls out the various fish he sees and sucks his thumb while twirling his hair.
Before we knew it, it was time to head home. We took two cars (Mom, me and the boys in our rented minivan) and Pete, Sheena & the girls in the other car. During a stop to feed Lauren, I snapped a few pics of the boys. They were actually reasonably well behaved. I was pleasantly surprised.
Parker though did a little better on the way up there. I turned his seat around for the trip home thinking I could strap the DVD player to the holder on the back of my seat and that would be okay. It was not. And then with the seat turned forward, his lap wasn't big enough to hold it and he got very frustrated. Lesson learned.
I was glad we made the trip though and glad my boys didn't drive me insane during 7-8 hour trip (it actually took us about 9 hours to get back home and they did great). All smiles at this moment!
Hopefully we can go back soon and Trey will be able to join us for his first trip to Richmond!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Mountain trip
I need to start trying to catch up in here. About a month ago, we went to the mountains of North Carolina (near Brevard) for a lovely weekend at my sister-in-law's family's home with my parents, and my brother and his family. We never seem to make these sort of getaways, so it was very welcome. Trey had to fly into Asheville (from working a project in Colorado) to meet us there, but it was a great weekend.
It was a great house, and the boys had a ball...
The view from our bedroom in the guest house...
On Saturday, we only had a limited amount of time to play before we needed to get back to watch the Gamecocks play the Gators (and they ALMOST won!), so we went to check out a nearby waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest: Looking Glass Falls.
Thomas and his cousin Eliza checked out the falls...
And then we went to a nearby fish hatchery and let the kids feed the fish.
Later that evening, after we recovered from the heartbreaking loss to the Gators, the boys built a fire and we sat around and enjoyed that. Later on, we even roasted some marshmallows. Thomas got to come out and enjoy a little bit of the fire before he went to bed.
The next morning there was a little bit of playtime before it was time to head home. I didn't get any decent pictures of that and my brother (hint hint) has yet to post his pictures to a place where I can steal them. :) So until then, this is all I have...
I'm so thankful that we were able to go and even more thankful that Beth and her family so graciously opened up there fabulous house to us. I hope we get to return one day!
It was a great house, and the boys had a ball...
The view from our bedroom in the guest house...
On Saturday, we only had a limited amount of time to play before we needed to get back to watch the Gamecocks play the Gators (and they ALMOST won!), so we went to check out a nearby waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest: Looking Glass Falls.
Thomas and his cousin Eliza checked out the falls...
And then we went to a nearby fish hatchery and let the kids feed the fish.
Later that evening, after we recovered from the heartbreaking loss to the Gators, the boys built a fire and we sat around and enjoyed that. Later on, we even roasted some marshmallows. Thomas got to come out and enjoy a little bit of the fire before he went to bed.
The next morning there was a little bit of playtime before it was time to head home. I didn't get any decent pictures of that and my brother (hint hint) has yet to post his pictures to a place where I can steal them. :) So until then, this is all I have...
I'm so thankful that we were able to go and even more thankful that Beth and her family so graciously opened up there fabulous house to us. I hope we get to return one day!
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