Mini Vacation

I just thought that I would add couple of pictures of our extended weekend with our friends from Idaho.  Doil, Dawn, Austin, Josh, Ethan, and Kelli visited us a couple of weeks ago.  We toured DC, spent a day at Bush Gardens, played on the beach, visited Jamestown, and outran a tornado. 

It was so much fun to watch the C kids run out into the ocean with their clothes on.  It was not a warm day by any means.  The boys (and Dawn) were so excited to play in the waves that they ran full speed into the FREEZING water.   At one point a couple walked by and said that they thought that they (the C family) must be from Canada because they were playing in the ocean.  Dawn told him that they were from Idaho.  The guy mumbled, "close enough".  It was obvious that they thought that Idahoans were crazy, Canadians too.

Wind damage

I am a little frazzled.  Having a wall of siding shower down on you tends to make the nerves a little raw.

J had just come up for lunch when the doorbell rang.  It was a passing landscaper that was there not to solicit business, but to warn us that the entire side of our house was flapping in the wind.  I called for J and ran out to see the melee for myself.  I rounded the corner with Cora on my heels just as the entire wall of siding let loose.  I yelled for Cora to get back inside, and dodged the initial onslaught of flying debris.  The nice landscaper helped to pull the fallen siding into a pile so that it did not further damage the house or our neighbors property.

We have a busy couple of days ahead of us.  We will however have to wait for the wind to die down or risk blowing away ourselves when we attempt to fix it.

 

More Photos

Puerto Rico

We are back from Puerto Rico.  What an amazing trip!  Before life sets too much, I want to take a couple of minutes to chronicle our trip. 

Thursday night was lots of fun.  We met up with the Allreds & Snows for Bon Jovi.  We drove in with the Allreds, but due to a terrible traffic jam, we arrived a little late to the concert.  The Snow's were texting us updates because they had avoided the traffic, and were on time.  We were able to see the last 3 sets of Daughtry before Bon Jovi came on.  It was a great concert.  We had pretty decent seats, and they got better when a couple in front of the Snow's called it an early night, and we were able to take their seats.  It was fun.  We sang, we danced, and we experienced temporary hearing loss.  All in all a great night.

On Friday we woke up at 5:30, after 3.5 hours of sleep to catch our flight.  We were adrenaline filled, so things worked out fine.  We arrived in Puerto Rico just before One in the afternoon, got our rental car, and headed out with only the aid of the rental agency map.  Talk about a foreign experience!

The signs are all in Spanish, the distances are in km, the gas in liters, the speed limits in miles per hour, and the cars in mph as well.  While these nuances were confusing, they paled in comparison to actually driving in PR.   By the time we arrived at our hotel in Ponce, we were wound up so tight from the poor direction, traffic, and extreme driving conditions that we encountered on our 2 hour drive.  It literally was a baptism by fire.  I cannot even attempt to describe the driving conditions in PR, but more dramatically in Ponce.  They have the same driving laws as we do in the states, and yet in Puerto Rico, anything seems to go.  All of the cars are smashed up.  It is as if they are participating in one giant crash up derby/ go cart race.  We were so grateful to the other travelers who encouraged us to get the extra insurance at the rental agency.

We arrived to the Hilton in Ponce, with much relief.  We were extremely pleased with the hotel.  It was an older hotel, and not as hip as our later hotel in San Juan, but it was really nice.  The interior was open to the outdoors, and the wind gently blew through.  There were lots of comfortable seating areas with great views, of the gardens and pool area.  Our room opened to a balcony that overlooked the grounds and beach.  The hotel was partnered with a golf resort, and so as guests were were allowed to use the facilities at the golf resort as well.

The best thing about the Ponce Hilton for us was the lack of crowds.  We were able to spend the day on the beach by ourselves.   The dozen or so other guests pretty much stuck to the pool area.  The only other time that we have had our own private beach was during a chilly rainstorm in  Washington State, so you can imagine how thrilled we were to have it in the warm, sunny Caribbean.  

On Saturday, we spent most of the day at the beach and in the pool.  Oh, heaven!  After we began to burn, we decided to try driving into Ponce again.  We spent the late afternoon exploring Ponce.   We were glad that we were able to see Ponce, but have to say that it was not our favorite place on the trip.  We loved the hotel, but the city itself was a little scary.  There was one tourist block in Old Ponce, that was kept pretty nice for the tourists, but the rest...  It seemed like half of the city had been abandoned.  There was graffiti everywhere, and poverty was very apparent.  It was like being in a third world county with mangy dogs roaming the streets.  There was a feeling of desperation in Ponce that was a little disconcerting.  At about 5 pm. all of the shops closed down, and bars and gates went up over all of the doors and windows.  We were glad to return to our gated hotel at night.

On Sunday we left Ponce, for San Juan.  It was cool driving through the center of the island, and seeing the varied scenery and demographics of the island.  We drove to El Yunque, the rainforest.  We spent the day hiking through the rainforest, swimming in waterfalls, and finally hiking to the peak of El Yunque.   It was extremely beautiful, a highlight of  our visit.

After a very difficult 2 1/2 hour hike to the top, we returned to San Juan for some R&R.  We stayed at El Conche, Renaissance Hotel by Marriott.  It was unbelievable luxury.  Wow!  

We had a delicious dinner at the hotel overlooking the pool area, listening to a concert and watching a fashion show.  We retired to our room at about 10, but the party continued until about midnight.  It was really fun.

The next day, Monday, we checked out of the hotel, and moved over a couple of miles to Old San Juan.  We spent the day exploring that cool old part of the city.  We stayed the night at The Gallery Inn in Old San Juan.  It was a really cool experience.   The owner, Jan Esponosa is a local artist.  The Inn is a beautiful gallery of her work, filled with terraces and gardens.  They have several parrots that  spend the day in the gardens and interact with the guests.  The inn itself is a historical Spanish home that was converted to the Inn.  It was really cool, and we were even able to watch and listen as the musicians practiced for a concert on the upper terrace.  The Inn was really cool, our room was not.  It felt like a tomb incased in 2 food concrete walls without any windows.  It was very small, dingy and smelled like mold.  We spent very little time in our room.  The other downer to the hotel was that there was a problem with the phones and internet.  Jeremy was trying to get things lined up for the next day when he had to return to work, and we were trying to contact the kids, and it was difficult.  I believe that the experience of the Inn outweighs the inconvenience, Jeremy does not.

On Tuesday morning it was back to work for Jeremy.  He struggled to work at the Inn, but was finally able to download some information, and worked high above the city from an upper terrace, overlooking the coast and city.  Pretty cool office.  At 11 we checked out, and headed back to the Marriott, were we were waited on hand and foot, and allowed to check in early.  Jeremy was extremely relieved.  His group arrived later that afternoon, and he worked the rest of the visit, and I hung out at the pool, and swam in the ocean.  I met up with them for dinner that night in Old San Juan, but pretty much did my own thing the rest of the time.  It was a great way to end a vacation. 

Excitement & Apprehension

I can't believe the turn of events that have transpired in the last couple of days.  Jeremy & I are in for a tremendous couple of days.  We head to the Bon Jovi/ Daughtry concert tonight with four of our friends.  That in and of itself is exciting... but it gets better.  Two days ago we found out that Jeremy has a site visit to Puerto Rico.  We have decided to take advantage of the opportunity, and combine the trip with a small vacation for the two of us.  I can hardly believe it.  We will be spending six days drinking up the sun and surf.  

We will return from the concert late tonight, sleep for a couple of hours, and then dash off to the airport.  With the suddenness of the trip, I have had to really scramble to set up flights & hotels. Now that that if finished, the apprehensions is setting in.  I haven't had the time to mentally prepare to leave the kids for 6 days.  Is that silly?  I have this amazing trip set up, and I am already worrying about my kiddo's.  I plan to put the worry to rest with the first warm tropical breeze that comes my way.

Phew!  Time is at a premium.  I do not have another minute to blog.  I am off to clean the house, and then buy snorkels for our trip to the uninhabited Gilligan's Island.  Updates to follow!

Christmas Trip

We were able to spend the Holidays in Washington this year. On December 19, all seven of flew out of Baltimore, paused in Salt Lake, and arrived in Seattle. By the time we checked into our hotel, it was 1am Seattle time, making it 4am Eastern time. Poor Jeremy had to be up and at the Bellevue office for a presentation at 8am that morning. Even though our bodies were exhausted, we still found ourselves waking up a 3am because of the time change. It was not a great night of sleep to put it mildly.

We stumbled through the next day, which was also Layton's 8th Birthday. While Jeremy was working we met up with family for a few hours before meeting him at the office for a Christmas party. After the party, we rushed (well we tried to rush in Seattle rush hour traffic) to meet up with J's mom & Grandpa, and my parents for a Very Zoopa Birthday Party. Afterward, even though our exhausted bodies protested, we took the kids swimming at Grandma G's hotel.

The next day was Layton's baptism. He was baptised in MV, at a very special all family baptism. When I say all family, I am including Kim B who is defiantly included as family. It was wonderful, and Layton was so happy. We had dinner and birthday cake afterwards. By the time we finished, we were all ready to sleep for days. The time change and late hours had caught up to us.

Saturday night I was able to meet up with some of my highschool cross country teammates. Brennan hosted. It was great to see everyone again, an catch up on eachother's lives.

On Monday everyone met at Isaac's for Christmas Eve. It was really nice to have everyone together at last. We used Grandpa's clam chowder recipe, and it was almost like having a part of him there with us. We missed him, but instead of sadness, we were able to smile and share memories. What a difference a year makes. Grandma is doing so well. She must have baked 100 batches of cookies and brought them in a Huge box, and doled them out throughout the evening. The kids ran wild, enjoying their cousins, and the rest of us visited and ATE.

Christmas was wonderful. The kids did not mind only opening Santa & stocking gifts this year, as our main gift was the trip. We drove up north to visit with Brennan's family Christmas day. It was really fun to be with them again. Grandma came over for dinner. I really enjoyed watching the relaxed relationship that she has with Brennan, Mary, and their kids. I am so glad that they are up there for her.

We continued to stay at the Rob's home until the 27th, at which time we packed up, cleaned up, and headed over to Isaac's place.

We spent the rest of the vacation there.

On Saturday we headed up to Crystal Mtn. for the B's cabin. Mom, Dad, Bren's family, Bren's friend Jared, & Isaac & his boys came. It was so much fun playing in the snow and sledding. We had to dig ourselves into the cabin. When we arrived, there wasn't even any place to park. Luckily, Isaac had the foresight to bring a snow shovel. Jeremy & Isaac cleared parking for the cars, and got I's hybrid unstuck while I brought the kids down the hill to the cabin where mom was making a fire. Just before we got down the hill, I hit a snow drift with the sled, and dumped Cora & Taylor face first into the snow. At the precise moment of the disaster, Kolby tripped and fell into the snow as well. We arrived at the cabin with three howling kids. Mom helped bring them all in, and I went back out to chop wood for the fire. After settling the kids at the cabin, I made four trips up and down the hill with gear, and the boys continued clearing the parking lot. On my last trip to the top, Brennan arrived. He couldn't have timed it more perfectly if he tried. With the work completed, we were able to spend the rest of the day playing in the snow. After dinner, we packed all of the gear back up the hill, and headed home. It was a lot of work for just one day, but it really was well worth it to spend the day as a family.

We had dinner with some very dear friends on Sunday. I got to see my best friend from childhood. It was really great to see the changes that she has made in her life, while we caught up, and reminisced about old times. Kim & Rick were great hosts, as they have always been. It was nice to spend some time with them. I would still dearly love to spend an afternoon baking with Rick, and glean some of his secrets. Especially his rolls...yum!

Another highlight of the trip was going with Grandma to buy her new car New Years Eve. We enjoyed spending the day with her, and then meeting Brennan & Mary's family for a late lunch.

We spent New Year's eve with Isaac's family, watching a memorable fireworks fiasco broadcast from the Space Needle.

On the 2nd we met up again with I's & B's families for a bowling adventure. I have to say, for all of the pro level wii bowlers that we had there, we were really quite terrible in real life. Jeremy won the game with with something like 114, Layton bumper bowled 109, and really the rest of us would like to forget our scores. It was some kind of crazy fun though. If you haven't bowled with 6 adults and 11 kids (18 mo. to 11 years), you haven't lived.

We spent some time with Mom & Dad on the 2nd. Layton got to use his new bb-gun, and ride in the Kaboda. Hannah even got to drive it. Afterward, we watched a really great movie, and returned to I's house.

We flew home on the third... What a great trip.

Snow day!

I am so spoiled, I can't believe it. I am realizing just how great it is to have a teacher living with us today. I snowed a couple of inches yesterday, and last night. The kids were delayed 2 hours to school. The older ones are off to school now, and Eric just came up and asked if he could take the little ones out to play in the snow. For the last little while, he has been playing "snow dog" with them, and has been dragging them around the yard on a sled. His school district has been canceled today, and so he doesn't have to teach. I am inside, warm and comfy, catching up on my blog, and he is outside mushing my kids around the yard. Isn't this the life? Darn! I just heard Eric's exhausted voice call, "All DONE!". I guess that my blogging reprieve has come to an end. It was great while it lasted.