Ok... So I said I was going to post while I was on vacation and yet here I am trying my best to remember everything that happened. :)
We left Oklahoma City at 630am on Wednesday the 17th. It was a nice drive for the most part. I had a few navigational issues but nothing serious. I still got to where I was going, it just cost me a bit more in gas and tolls. We stopped right before we reached St. Louis for lunch at McDonalds. The kids were able to get out and play and I was able to rest and recharge before making the last 4 hours in to Louisville. The kids all in all did a great job in the car. Yes there were fights and yes I threatened to pull the car over, but it's a long long trip and they did their best. :) What more can I mom ask for? When we finally got to Louisville we had a great night with my parents and then went to bed. Thursday was one of our only slow days. We had nothing planned and I can't remember what we did at all but sit and wait for my parents to get off work.
Friday was an exciting day for me. It was the start of my kid free weekend!!! I drove 6hrs down to Atlanta to visit my best friend Jamie. The drive down there was a breeze. No kids no extra stops just gas and go all the way!!! When I got down there Jamie and Joe were setting up the circus at a local church for a charity show they were doing on Saturday. After we got done we went to the salon and had our hair curled!! And well we looked like Shirley Temple twins!! Let me tell ya we looked stunning!! And when we went to the store to pick up ink for her printer we were even complimented on for our hair. ;)
In the morning we were able to loosen our tight curls in to wonderful waves. First we had the circus charity show which went extremely well. And afterward we helped pack up the show and Jamie, Tyler, Billie Jo and I all piled in the car and went to the concert. First the theater was amazing!!! It was just like the Palace Theater in Louisville. We had seats up in the balcony and they were amazing!!! The lady sitting next to me was sweet enough to lend me her binoculars when Keith came out on stage!!! It was like she just knew exactly who I was there to see somehow. (Hmm... you think it might have been my screaming like a teenager that tipped her off?)
Anyhoo... the first part of the show was called Heritage and during this part they sang traditional Irish songs. My favorite song was a song called All God's Creatures Have a Place in the Choir!!! What a riot that number was! It was like a little country ho-down and they all did a little line dance on stage!!! And at the end Keith added some jazz hands which was super cute!! That one was my favorite song I think. But what can I say I'm a country girl through and through. :) Also during this part of the show Keith and Neil sang Whiskey in the Jar and did an amazing job. They were running across the stage and having a blast. The second half of the show was It's Entertainment. And they performed songs that were on the cd. They all did amazing, but Paul, who I'm not the biggest fan of, BLEW ME AWAY!!! Hearing him on cd and watching him on the dvd is one thing but, to see him preform live is unbelievable. There is something in his performance that the cameras and audio equipment just can't pick up. I have a new found respect for Paul now. My favorite song in the second half of the show goes to Keith singing I want to know what Love is. It's been a favorite song of mine for a long time and he does it so well.
After the concert we went around the corner to a very small little restaurant and ate dinner. We were all starving!! Jamie and I had only had a couple of donuts all day!! (Just so you know the concert ended at 10pm!!) Ok so we ate and the server brought us all our checks and 1 pen. Well Jamie grabbed the pen and first she twisted then she pushed and the pen wasn't working. So she handed it to me and I pushed and twisted and nope the pen wasn't working. Then Billie Jo gave it a try first she tried to push it then you saw her face light up as the idea hit her. PULL THE CAP OFF!!!! Yep that's right folks it takes 2 blondes and a brunette to figure out how to open a pen. 2 Blondes to screw with it and a Brunette to pull the cap off!!! We laughed so hard we cried. After we were able to catch our breath we left and went down to the Celtic Thunder buses. We were standing out there in hopes that our favorite performer Keith Harkin would come out and take pictures!!! And our prayers were answered, just before midnight he stepped off the bus. It was like a dream come true!!! As he worked his way through the crowd, being so patient and taking pictures with all the fans, as he got near us he was saying "last picture" and you could tell he was done with posing and smiling. He had come off the bus with a purpose to get on his stakeboard and I'm sure find a beer and maybe some food to wash down with it. :) So Jamie and I hid our cameras. We weren't going to hold him up any longer. As he walked past me I simply said "Later Keith" and he replied back "Later." I was stoked!!! I'm still a bit disappointed that I didn't get a picture with him but there's always next year. ;) After Keith staked off we all walked back to the car and went home.
The next morning we were all up fairly early cause Jamie's family was having Thanksgiving over at one of her Aunts' houses. I got up and took a shower to wash the curl out of my hair and go back to my normal look. I washed my hair twice ran my hands through it and even brushed it!!! And would you know that after I blew it dry the back of my hair was still in tight pin curls!!! I had to run a straightener through it several times before I got it all smooth!!! I couldn't believe it. We went to lunch and had a decent time hanging out with Jamie's family and then we went home to watch chick flicks!!! First we watched my favorite movie of all time Finding Neverland, with Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. And then our precious "girl time" was rudely invaded by all the men in the house!!! But Jamie and I were able to save it by moving upstairs and kicking Joe out of the bedroom. And we watched Forever Darling with Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnez. It was super cute. After the movie Jamie and I stayed up till 3am just talking girl talk. I was able to get in a little sleep before I had to head back to Louisville.
When I got back to Louisville it was Jonathon's Birthday! My family had a very small party for him to celebrate it. And he had a few gifts to open. He had a great time and loved every present he got. When morning came on Tuesday we got up and left for Cincinnati to visit with Todd's family. It was a shotgun trip we were only there for 24hrs. Tuesday we spent with Gale, Nick and Kati. We had another small birthday party that night and then it was time for bed. The next morning we got up and went over to spend time with Bob. Where we had birthday and Christmas. It was nice that Bob got to watch the kids open up their Christmas gifts. After that we went out to eat and then it was time for us to leave Cincinnati. A trip that should have only taken 2 hours took 3!!! Oh how I hate Cincinnati traffic!!! I'm so glad that I live in a large TOWN and not a large CITY!!! Anyhoo... let's see what happened next. That was Wednesday morning and so that takes us to Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving morning I was more dead than alive. I was starting to get sick and the constant go go go of the trip was beginning to take it's toll on me. I was got a little before 10am and watched some of the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade. It was fun especially when a balloon would come on the screen that the kids knew and they would get excited. It was agony all day as we were cooking and knew that we wouldn't be eating till after 5pm. I had a wonderful time with my mom's brother Steve and his wife Brenda. My sister came and this year was our first Thanksgiving together in almost 6yrs!! And of course my mom's parents were there!!! And Granddad brought his wonderful fudge!!! Oh it's not the holidays, for me, without some of his fudge! I made my caramelized onion stuffing which went over really well. And then my mom and my sister and I made out plans for the after Thanksgiving sales. The plan was finish eating and go straight to bed. We were getting up at 1130pm to be at Wal-Mart no later than 1215am!!! And yes we followed through with this insane idea!!! When we got out of Wal-Mart around 130am and nothing was opening till 3, we went to IHOP and drank some coffee till 230. Then it was time to get over to Kohls. We got there right as it opened and we were able to catch some great deals. From there we headed over to JCPenny's. Now Penny's was sneaky this year. Though their ad said their doors opened at 4 they secretly opened at 3am!!! Now how smart was that!!! Ingenious if you ask me!!! Anyway, we were able to get some great deals there as well their lines were short the store was clean and you were able to find every thing that you wanted!!! It was amazing. After Penny's we went over to Target. We left Target at 630 am and went home. I fell in bed with my kiddos at 7 am and there was no way I was moving till I had to when mom had to go to work. That night we stayed at home with my parents and got to bed early. But of course Mikayla woke up at 3am with her ears hurting and once she woke me up I couldn't get back to sleep. So I finished up the packing took a shower and we left my parents house by 730am their time. 12hrs later we pulled in to our driveway!!!! I've never been so happy to be home!!! I had no trouble getting the kids to bed and I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow I was so tired! Our pets were extremely happy to see us!!! And on Sunday I completely unpacked the car vacuumed it out, emptied all the suitcases, washed all my new dishes and put them away. You wouldn't have had a clue that we had just gotten home. The laundry was done and put away and the house was spotless. Why I don't do that every time we come home from a trip I have no idea. It didn't take but a few hours and it was all done. So that brings us right up to the present which means it time for me to say goodbye for now!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
One More Day!!!
Well we have survived the packing and cleaning stage of getting ready for vacation! Now for just a couple of last minute things to do and we will be off! The kids are super excited about our adventure East!!! They have new coloring books and lap tables for the car. I've also packed all their favorite movies and some favorite toys as well. Hopefully we can have a nice and quiet drive. :) Hey a Mom can dream right? I know it's not likely. :) I'll try and post pictures as often as I can from my phone while we are gone and I'll try to write every night so I don't leave anything out. If I just wait till I get back all I'll be able to remember is I went somewhere and came back from it! All the other details would be lost in the whirlwind of the trip. :)
More to come very soon! :)
More to come very soon! :)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 17th is fastly approaching
The days have been flying by here. Only 6 days left till the kids and I are making our way east! It's going to be a very busy trip! We will drive all day on Wednesday the 17th. Thursday we will have a day to chill out and just relax. Then Friday I head down to Atlanta to see my best friend Jamie! On Saturday Jamie has a charity show at 2 that we will be going to and then at 730 we have the Celtic Thunder concert! And I can't wait!!! Sunday we are going to Jamie's aunt's for Thanksgiving Dinner!!! Yummy food that's free count me in! Then on Monday I head back to my parents to rest for the night before heading up to Cincinnati! The kids and I will be up there for most of the day on Tuesday and part of Wednesday, then it's back home to my parents. (Shoo!! Are you all tired? I'm tired just typing all that! And I'm not even done!!! :) Ok so Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we are eating at my parents and celebrating with my Mom's family. Friday we will be heading out to visit our dear friends Jonathon and his wife and son! Then Saturaday we begin our long trip home!!! Ok so to put this all in perspective, this little trip is about 2700 miles in 10 days! That's more driving than I do in a year when Todd isn't deployed! :) And yes that's being very serious! When Todd is here he drives and I well don't! Sad yes but it saves on gas. :) So anyway to say none the less please be praying for us as we travel. Pray for safe passage and my sanity! Oh and send up a huge thank you to God for portable DVD players while you're at it! I'm sure it will be my saving grace on this trip! :) Good night all and see you soon!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Haunt the Zoo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)