Spring Break by the Numbers
Birthdays celebrated: 1 (mine, twice)
Parents: 2
Children: 6
Days: 6
Hours on the road: 25
Major cities visited: 2
Friends new and old: 10
Educational field trips: 1
Books read: 7
Books purchased: 18
Photos taken: a weak 495
I could go on, but I’ll stop there.
We got off to a late start last Tuesday resulting in a longer trip with more stops, but we made it. We settled in for the night with plans for the next day. Just down the road from G’Ma and G’Daddy’s house is a great little place full of history, The American Village Museum. (Remember the new house we were going to buy?) We heard Patrick Henry stand and give his famous Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech. We learned how to play some early settler games that were the early version of games we play now. We learned how to play some dice games, Nine pins, and a new family favorite called Morgan’s Revenge. I want some of these stocks for when my children won’t do what I ask them to do - like clean their rooms or put their laundry away.
Before we met Eleanor Custus, George Washington’s granddaughter, to learn a new dance
we took a quick tour of a replica of the Oval Office. I’ve been in the real Oval Office before and this was most definitely a very good replica. What I had not remembered about it was a very special door in the desk, but two little boys found it with ease. There is so much I would like to say about this little door and the desk and a certain president and young woman who shall remain nameless, but I will refrain as this is not an adult content blog.
Wednesday evening we had cake and ice cream in my honor (birthday cake!) Hey, I’ll only be thirty-nine once, right? So why not celebrate twice?
Thursday morning we ran a few errands and then we went thrifting; I found a few clothes for the children. Then guess what I did? Yep, laundry. Even on vacation I still have to do laundry. I got the laundry done so I could pack for the next leg of the trip - Atlanta. We drove to Atlanta got checked in to our hotel rooms and then met some old friends so they to take us to our very first IKEA experience.
IKEA, I love thee, let me count the ways: some food at the cafeteria, a new bed for Bairno, a mattress for him as well, some sheets, a set of plastic plates for the youths, a youth chair I wish I had bought, and some of the best cinnamon rolls ever. IKEA, I love thee, I hope we meet again.
I love how new friends feel like old friends. SmockDaddy and Cancerman went to seminary together and C-man is married to Chef of Livinginthetension. SmockDaddy and I were not married during the seminary years, but even before we were married I have known the C-man family via phone, e-mail, cards, and blogdom (of late). So meeting them for the first time was not really like meeting them for the first time. It was like picking up where we left off. Now it took the children a few minutes to get in the groove, but once the groove was grooving there seemed to be no stopping it.
After a long night of fun and listening to SmockDaddy and Cancerman make fun of Scandinavian labels we broke up to head back to our hotel for a bit of sleep. The children were a bit high strung so we used our free in room movie pass and ordered Enchanted for them to watch in bed (read: fall asleep to). Saturday brought some disappointment to the children as we realized we were not going to be able to get into the Aquarium. Smile were quickly shining as I suggested Barnes & Noble in a nearby town with one of those lifestyle shopping centers. I can not keep my children in enough books. As we live in a small town and the library is rather small as well, my children are now re-reading books they have read multiple times, so even a hint of a suggestion to a book store brings tears of joy. As providence would have it we arrived just in time for the children’s story time which made it perfect for me; the older chidlren were able to really look around for books they have been wanting to read while I sat with the younger three for story time. I didn’t have to try to keep up with three young ones all at the same time wanting to look at books to buy with me. By the time the older ones had chosen a couple of books story time was over and they were available to help me out a bit with each of the younger ones while looking for books for them. Mog was great at helping Princerella choose books and Birdie was great at entertaining Bairno while I helped CowBoy look for books for him.
We had a wonderful lunch at a place called Five Guys. Oh my stinkin’ heck! THE best burgers I have had in a long time. YUM-O! Delish! And those fries come in a very close second to my favorites from WingStop. We found a UPS store and shipped Bairno’s new bed home as we would not have had room for it and the luggage to make it home. It should arrive tomorrow, Wednesday. After a long day of enjoying books and walking through a few other areas of the shopping center, though buying nothing else, we decided to head back to the hotel to wait for SmockDaddy to get out of his meeting. Three little ones fell asleep on the ride back so we just parked for a bit with the windows down enjoying the breeze and reading our new books. A storm got closer to us so we decided to wake the boys up and head in to the lobby for the remainder of our wait so we could move around. By the time the meeting was over the storm was overhead and we got on the road as soon as we could. The drive back to B’ham was mostly uneventful, but we did have to pull over because of hail.
Sunday morning we loaded up for the drive home. Another long day in the car. Rain off and on. After naps, leg stretches, games, music, books, and just about anything else eight people can safely do in a car for six hours, I got out my camera and started snapping pictures through the windows. The children are now definitely convinced I am strange. “Mom, why are you taking pictures like that?”
Because I am bored. “Are you gonna blog that?” You bet I am, Babe. You bet I am.
More random photos from our Spring Break trip.
CancerMan enjoyed having someone to join him in the mocking at IKEA. We are somewhat immune to his considerable charm and usually intent on finding the one perfect treasure each trip brings.
Chef’s last blog post..WW - BFF
The American Museum look really interesting.
I’ve never been in and IKES before. Oh, how I would LOVE to go! We have a Container Store that was fun, but I want an IKEA!
Sounds like a good trip.
Marye~’s last blog post..Thinness?
OH, and happy ‘39th’ birthday!
Marye~’s last blog post..Thinness?
Five Guys is good and they seem to be popping up everywhere these days, so perhaps one will arrive within a reasonable drive for you. We always order too many fries since we eat the free peanuts while we wait for the food.
Chef’s last blog post..WW - BFF
I’m glad you had a good time on your trip. I can’t wait to hear the details. I’m having stocks put in the back yard per your “in between the lines” suggestions. Notice how I made it sound like it was your idea? I think I want an IKEA too, nooooo, all we are getting is a Lowes. In a town of 12K we have 9 banks, 12 gas stations, 3 mexican restaurants and 5 hardware stores. DO WE REALLY NEED A LOWES? NO, WE NEED A MACARONI GRILL.
Sounds like a rocking (if occasionally crazy) trip. :) I just love that your kids were so excited to go to B&N bookstore.
I have news… you should come on chat sometime… :)
falwyn’s last blog post..I feel like a REAL blogger now…
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