June- Virginia trip part 2

 

Virginia Beach. I really should of had the next few pictures in the 1st part but I forgot to look and see if I got everything I wanted before I posted. Oops.

The beach was fun even though there were tons of winds. We rented a Cabana for the day. That helped a lot!

 

There was a professional there to help people learn a few basic things about sand sculpturing. It was really interesting to learn what to do and to see all the tools he had for that.

 

 

We finally braved the winds and cold and played in the ocean for a little bit.

 

Austin is being carried away in the waves in this picture!

We got a hold of him and got the family picture we wanted!

Proof Jordan touched the Ocean.

The Cabana exchange with Charlotte and Jeremy. We paid for the whole day and dang it we were going to get our moneys’ worth!

Glass blowing was really awesome to watch. They were only making the shot glasses when we went there first. We went back later to see more.

 

Jamestown

 

This time he was making a seashell. See the shape of it in the second pic?

 

Tomb of the unknown soldier

We went around of a tour bus to save us some walking!

 

Whenever you get bored at a monument just run around the pillars. I think everyone one of us did it, maybe except Julie.

   

So I had no idea that there are engraving on the top of the Lincoln monument. Nice touch I think.

My boys are definitely their father’s sons’. They love the museums. I have a hard time keeping my attention in check. I’d rather they have Andrew’s influence with this one. It was cute to see them pointing out all sorts of things. I don’t think Austin missed pointing out a single train in any of the museums.

  

Everyone tuckered out with all the sightseeing.

The Capital building an inside joke. In the tour bus they made a big deal about getting a really good picture of it at a spot and I didn’t have my Camera out so I tried to hurry and catch it. Later, we found out that you can’t get away from the capital building. It’s everywhere and there are lots of picture opps. We were constantly bringing up “ Have you gotten a picture of the capital building?” In our most frantic voices. :)

Holocaust Museum: Julie and I (with baby) went there together while Andrew and the kids went to the post office museum. It was one of the most intense buildings I have ever been in. I have always loved this history. It saddens but also its unbelievable so it intrigues me. I still don’t really understand how Hitler did what he did. Crazy!. Another thing that was interesting was there was a family there that was Jewish. They were ahead of us for about half of the tour. I loved listening to them. It is their family history. I don’t have that kind of connection to what happened in Germany. It was a great small insight. So many heroic and not so heroic stories. It overwhelmed and also humbled me. My greatest respect to all those effected.

 

Andrew and the kids at the Postal museum.

 

We made it to the zoo before it closed. Something we didn’t know was that all the animals get put away before the place closes. Does this make any sense? So this is as close we got to seeing a Panda bear.

All that was still out were the birds. This one was giving me attitude.

Place Gavin under that other wing, and then its perfect. I hate it when kids won’t cooperate with a cute picture!

 

Riding the passenger train to New York! This is at 4 in the morning! Austin was in heaven the whole time.

Careful of the characters around the streets they will demand money. Even if you tell them that your wife has the money and You’d have to catch up with her. He got his money, don’t worry.

Andrew and kids riding the huge carousel in the Toys R Us store. Awesome!

 

Julie and I decided to go to a Broadway while there in NY. Here we are in line to get tickets.

Yep, THAT line. We got ticket to see ONCE. The music was awesome and it had a different format for a musical. They had a jam session together before everyone had taken their seats. And then out of no where it started. Seriously, in the middle of someone singing the lights went off and the musical starts. I don’t know if I really like how it started. I hate it when people won’t stop talking when someone is performing, and well that’s what happens until the lights turn off. I was afraid that the lights would never turn off and everyone would talk through the whole thing! The only complaint I REALLY have is how much the F-bomb was thrown around, otherwise a great story. It’s about how one person can change your whole life.

Funny story time. On our way home I was sitting by Julie and she was given her drink. Now sitting by me means you are my table since I can’t put my tray down because of Jordan. So her tray was quite full. Well, Julie dropped her drink all over. It was hilarious. The attendant was very helpful in getting it cleaned up. Later she asked if we would like a drink to replace the first. We said yes to the drink (for me my second). Later she came back with the drinks with lids on them with straws for both of us like they do for the little kids. It made us laugh!

So that was our huge trip this Summer. We had 2 Strollers broken by the airlines, missed a few things since I didn’t plan as much as a usually do, lost my sling to carry Jordan in on the airplane, lots of memories and experienced new things. All in all a GREAT vacation!

June- Virginia Vacation Part 1

 

This has been one crazy trip! We had  3 car seats, 2 strollers, 3 roller suitcases and 6 carry-ons between 3 adults. (Thanks Julie for coming again! :) ) It has been one huge juggling act. You should have seen us at the airport in line to get our boarding passes. Push stroller, luggage…. drag car seat….check and make sure all kids are accounted. We slowly may it up to the line. It was such a relief getting everything checked and only having our carry ons and strollers. * note: 2 carry ons were backpacks for the boys to carry their activities.

Going through the security was a joke! We used every bin they had I swear! Even with the kids not having to take off their shoes we still had about 10 bins. We had things for them to check in one bin. each of our laptops in separate bins, all the bags and oh man, it was ridiculous. Then we calmly walked to our gate since we left so much time to sit and meet up with Andrew’s sister and fam, who were also on the flight. HAHAHA I wish! We ran, yep, RAN! Andrew said it jokingly and then we saw what time it was and we sprinted. I didn’t have my belt on tight enough so I also got to run and hold up my pants. I’m sure I looked just like the perfect specimen of an athlete running through, dodging everyone that was in my way. I’m sure I’m up for the next running back. What was worse was they moved the gate on us so we had to run down to the end of the hall and take the elevator down and run some more! Yeah, that was a great way to start out our trip.  

We did find Andrew’s sister and they hadn’t board our section yet so we were able to stay together and enjoy the flight. Anyone who has flown Southwest knows you get to choose your own seats so if you’re late you get whatever is left. There was nothing to report on the actual flight. We didn’t have time to do lunch but luckily they had all sorts of snacks for us and let us have however many we wanted. so we survived the 4 hour flight that took off at 10:55am.

We all got exhausted! I had a women take this. All of them were asleep. As you can see Austin woke up to see a strange lady taking his picture. I can see that on his face! funny!

We got our nice car rental it had some fun features like the windshield wipers that sense how fast they need to go and the' back seat gets put down by an electric switch. We enjoyed our “blue truck”

Our drive started at 8pm and we didn’t get there until 12:30 I think. It took us so long Sharon, our host of the family reunion was starting to worry about us. There was a car crash and it took 40 minutes to get out of the stop and go traffic, but we made it safe and sound. Thank goodness! I hope those in the car accident are safe now as well.

It has now been long enough since the trip I don’t remember everything we did. I have no recollection of Sunday. I’m guessing we did shopping and interacted with family. I’m sure it was filled with joking and playing. :)

Busch Gardens

This was the boys favorite of all the places we went in Virginia. It still shows up in Austin’s prayers from time to time. (2 months later) The kids had a blast

going on lots of kids with daddy. I am not in any of this pictures. Why? Am I camera shy? Not really I ran off with the adults to go on as many fast rides as possible. There was a storm threatening to come in at anytime so we couldn’t take it slow with the others.

What was really funny is that is ended up being all the in-laws together with Mitchell and Julie. All the siblings stayed with mom and dad. I told Mitchell he didn’t belong with us he was the only sibling that left but he was alright about it.

The kids look like they having the time of their lives doesn’t it?

We did catch up again and Andrew and I decided to go on one ride together since we haven’t been together all day. Julie said she wasn’t feeling good still so she offered to stay out with the kids, Our 3 and Charlotte’s little guy Patrick. The ride we went on was inside a castle called the dark castle. One of those haunted mansion type rides. This one was 3D. There is a movie prior to the ride you watch and then stand in line after. As we were in line, an employee came in through the exit door drenched. Telling us the rain is really coming down out there!

Andrew and I look at each other knowing that Julie is out there with 4 children and 3 strollers. Andrew says “Should I go out there and help her?” I say “Whatever happened has already happened. Let’s enjoy the ride. I know Julie has it under control.” We get out of the ride and can’t find her for a little while. Since we went the wrong way but we found them in a nearby store. Julie recounted the story from her side.

She was sitting out there with the kids and she felt one drop of water Austin said “we need to go in there (pointing to the store) its going to rain.” Julie says ok just a minute then the rain started. Now according to Julie this was not a gradual thing It was one drop of rain to basically a monsoon. She grabs the kids and takes was it 3 trips to get everyone in the shelter of the store. It was crazy rain. It reminded me of when I was in Disneyworld and there were 3 hurricanes surrounding us.

Park with the cousins.

Busch Gardens take two. I watched the kids at the splash pad while Julie and Andrew hit all the rides they can in an hour. Andrew didn’t get to go the first time around since he stayed with the kids with his parents and sister.

It was so hot and humid we had to keep Jordan with very little clothes to keep him comfortable. It was hard to get him to nap otherwise.

The worker of this ride said that our kids could take over his job. They had it down to an art. They went on this ride over and over again while Andrew and I went on a ride together and Julie watched them.

Richard helping us get out of the park faster to get to a family dinner.

If our kids are ever missing at a family function we basically look for this guy first! All our kids love Steve even if he does make them cry from time to time. ;)