Month: April 2006

  • VACATION TRAVELOGUE - DAY #2 [ PART 2]


    Our first afternoon in Florida was spent at Epcot!  



    My Boys........




    The boys are outside of the ride Mission Space - Erik got sick on that ride.  Hubby and Josh went on it a different day too, but not Erik!  There was no way you would get him on that again!



    We had to have our pics taken with alot of Characters....Can't miss Mickey!



    The entire family got in the pic with Minnie!



    Us outside of the Living Sea, by the Nemo fish!


    BTW, our favorite park was .......Epcot, the only one we went to twice during the trip!





    EVENING ACTIVITIES


    We left Epcot a bit early since it was actually a little chilly and we didn't bring sweatshirts.   Hubby and the older boys went on a few rides and Tommy and I walked around with the stroller and stopped off to have some McDonald's French fries since Tommy was hungry. 


    After leaving Epcot we went in search of a place to eat supper.  We ate at the Golden Corral.....and it was yucky!!  Over $60.00 for the family to eat and the food was icky and the place smelled!


    After eating we headed back to the resort!  Tommy got to enjoy the Jacuzzi for his bath.  He was in there FOREVER!



    The older two boys were just hanging out and watching TV!



     



    Nice Look, Josh!



    I am turning into one of those relatives that makes you watch all their slide shows after their vacation!!!  LOL!!   Well at least we were only gone for 7 days. 


    TIPS/THINGS WE LEARNED




    • Always stay at a place with a kitchen.  You save so much money by not eating in restaurants!


    • Don't put off a trip like this - I am so happy we went on this trip.  We only have a limited time with our boys and we know we are building lasting memories with them.  It was so rewarding to see the awe, excitement and joy in Erik and Tommy's faces!  Hubby and I have plenty of years to travel when the children are grown!  My baby, Josh starts college in September.  My Bro, Danny was so right....it was worth every single penny in memories and fun with our children!


    • RENT A STROLLER - you can rent a stroller for multiple days.  I rented for 4 days and was able to get a stroller at each park for the discounted rate!  Tommy got tired of walking very quickly.


    • Take a backpack to the parks with you with snacks and water bottles in it.  It saves alot of money and the snacks are enough to tie the kids over until we could get back to make a meal.  We actually only ate out 3 times on the entire trip, unless you count McDonalds at the airports as well, then we ate out 5 times. 


    • Refill your water bottles from the water fountains and drink alot of water! It's FREE!


    • #1 thing - don't run yourself crazy trying to see everything, especially with little ones along.  It isn't worth it.  We would pick the rides the boys really wanted to go on and get our fast pass for that, and just enjoy the park for as long as it was enjoyable.  If Tommy was crabby or whatever we left.  Also we didn't get to the park until later, everyone was able to sleep in and got plenty of rest.  You can always go again another year, just make the time you are there enjoyable by being relaxed with your itinerary.  We have enough things we want to do in Orlando yet, that we could do 3 more weeks there!

  • VACATION TRAVELOGUE - DAY #2


    Our first morning waking up in Florida!   Gotta love that!   We all slept in and didn't get up until nearly 10:00 for me and the boys slept until nearly noon.   We woke up and had breakfast on the patio under the sun.  Gotta love eating outside in March when your from Minnesota!   What a treat!



    VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR CONDO



    The Master Bedroom



    MASTER BATHROOM



    Tommy loved the Jacuzzi Tub.......



    Tommy having breakfast...



    Kitchen....obviously



    Living Room



    The view of the pool from our patio.....


    I didn't seem to take pics of the boys room and their bathroom.    Oh well....


    We decided to walk around a bit in the morning and check out the resort and things.   We stopped at the park and played in the sun for a while!!   Love it!






    We decided to go to Epcot for our first park, since we didn't think it would be the kids favorite.  So I made sandwhiches and we ate lunch and left for the park!



    Josh and Tommy having Lunch....





    TO BE CONTINUED........I gottta get ready for work so I will have to finish the rest of day 2 later!!!   

  • VACATION TRAVELOGUE - DAY #1


    SUNDAY - We got everyone up early and tried to be out the door by 9:00.   It didn't happen of course since hubby has to double check and double check things.  


    We made it to the airport with no problems and already had our boarding passes printed out.  We quickly went through check in and security with no incidents.  That is pretty good for us!!


    We had a while to wait so we found some seats and people watched.   I wasn't feeling very well yet.   It was getting close to the time when I thought we should be boarding???  Hmm...we ask the guy and he tells us that they changed the gate of the plane since last night when we printed the boarding passes.    ARGH!!   We race to the next gate and they are starting to load....so we get on right away! 


    This was Tommy's first time flying and he did really well.   He sat by the window and fought with Daddy about having the window open or not.  Off to Chicago we head.......................


     



    We already knew we would have a lay-over in Chicago-MIdway, but it was delayed by another hour as well.  So we had a picnic.  Tommy loves to have picnics!



    Tommy's First Plane Ride........


    We made it into Orlando airport after 7:00 and found our luggage without incident.  Hubby was very worried that our luggage would get lost.  Then we found the shuttle to Enterprise and headed off to rent a van!   We made it!   It was dark by the time we had the van rented and stuff so we headed off in the dark to find our resort.  Not exactly how you want to do it......but we got pretty good directions from the guy at Enterprise. 



    WE MADE IT!!!   We got to the resort a bit before 9:00 and got all checked it.   We dropped our bags at the condo and made a mad dash for the grocery store as it closed at 10:00 to get some food for the next day!   plus we were starving!!  We made it to our condo and were very happy to meet our bed after we ate!  


    That was the end of our first day of vacation, a full day of traveling and a tired group of people!

  • Good Night...........

    I actually left work pretty early tonight.  I was out of there by 5:30!   On the way home from work I quickly stopped and picked up groceries.   I made it home about 7:00.   I quickly picked up Erik and we went to Kohls and bought him a new pair of shoes that he desperately needed.   I bought myself a new pair of summer Keds as well.  


    Erik is now working on homework and my SIL just left a bit ago.  I am going to get Tommy ready for bed and go to sleep!    Tomorrow I have to be up early as I have to appear in court by 9:00.   My SIL is going to pick up Tommy and take him to daycare for me so I can make it to court in Hastings in time.  I can't leave the house until Erik is on the school bus so it is difficult to make it anywhere by 9:00.  


    Good Night All!  I leave you with a picture that Tommy drew.  He misses his Palm Tree and sun at his "New House".     The boy sure loves Florida.


  • A NIGHT IN THE LIFE.......

    What happens when Dad is working late???   A quiet evening at home before we left for Florida!



    Boys both doing homework.......



    Josh doing his chores quickly and happily because he wants to go somewhere.



    Silly dancing from Tommy......



    Erik still doing homework...but at least he is smiling about it.



    Josh and Tom hanging out with Mom......



    Tommy playing V-Smile for a bit.

  • Random Stuff While I Eat Lunch........

    BOOKS READ ON VACATION:


    Friendship Test - Elizabeth Noble - 4/5 - A lighter Read, but this author really does well with writing about female relationships. 


    The Covenant - Naomi Regan - 5/5 - Great Read!!  Story of terrorist activity in Modern Day Jerusalem.  


    WEIGH IN:


    I went to weight watchers on Monday and I maintain over my vacation.  YEAH!!  Now to lose a few pounds.  


    4.6 Pounds to Goal


    HEALTH UPDATE:
      I am starting to taper off my prednisone again after increasing it during our little influenza fest!  I had three messages from my Endocrinologist when I returned from vacation.   He wanted me to know that they did not find any fractures in my back.  But they did discover some calcification on my kidney during the x-ray.   So I need to have an ultrasound of my kidney to rule out kidney stones.  


    I hope to be off the prednisone by the 24th of April or so.   I see the pulmonolgist on April 26th.  I certainly have to consider going to Florida more often in the winter.  It was beautiful down there and my breathing was the best it had been in months.   Of course I am starting to cough again in Minnesota.  ARGH!!  It is actually very nice here today.  It is in the 40's here. 


    Well I am done eating my lunch....back to work!  Later!

  • TUESDAY.........

    Wow, first day back to work was a killer.   I had training in the morning and afternoon.   I had a couple of things I had to get mailed out to clients as well.  I didn't leave the office until around 7:30.   The boys didn't have school on Monday.   Josh watched both Tommy and Erik for me.  He is such a life saver.   He and Amy took them to McDonald's playland and things for me.   Daycare was closed since she was getting her living room painted.  I don't know what I would do without Josh,  He is such a help to me!    We are so lucky.  


    Once I got home I got Erik started on homework and then worked on paying bills and getting our budget back in order for the week.  Erik complained alot about his eye sight while doing homework so I am making an appointment to get him an eye exam.   he was very tired last night so didn't get his homework done.   I am not sure if his being so tired is related to this new medication or not or just recovering from our vacation!   We all are very tired!!


    Erik did very well on vacation.  The best he ever has.  I am not sure if this is related to the new med or not, but it will be interesting to see how the first week of school goes on this med.  


    Tommy has preschool today and I will be working in the office getting some things caught up.   I woke up a bit early this morning and have already updated our April Calendar and made eye appointments for both Erik and I.  





    JEN'S WEEK:


    MONDAY - Work 8-7:30
    Call Dr. Hamaty
    Bank to Cash Checks
    Pay Bills


    TUESDAY - work 9:30 to 5:00
    Appts to Make:   Erik Eyes (Done) and Psych - Done
    Jen - Kidney Ultrasound and Eyes - Done
    Bank to Deposit Check - Done
    Post Office for Stamps - Done
    Car Washed and Vac & Fill Gas - Done
    Complete Mission Trip Paperwork
    Erik to Buy Shoes??


    WEDNESDAY - work early - have court
    Church
    Make Grocery/Menu List


    THURSDAY - Work 9:30 to 5:00
    Tom Preschool
    Erik to Buy Shoes?


    FRIDAY - Work 9 to 5:00
    Erik to his Mom's
    Buy Groceries on way home from work


    SATURDAY - Tommy to Shrine Circus
    Tom Haircut
    Wedding Ring to Jeweler (Lost one of my diamonds   )  
    Buy - Easter Treats to Fill Eggs For Church Egg Hunt


    SUNDAY - Tommy to Movie??  


    Busy, busy trying to get caught up with things from being on vacation.   Life is always so busy.   I need to figure out a time to take Erik to buy new tennis shoes.  He is at his mother's this weekend otherwise I would do it on the weekend.   Hmm...I will have to find a evening to be home early from work to take him to the mall.  


    Well time to get ready for work and take Tommy to preschool.  Later!!   I will work on the details of the vacation soon!!  LOL!!

  • We Are Home......

    What a trip....plenty of ups and downs on the trip, but overall a good time.   Car trouble of course with two rental vehicles in Florida and we got to the airport last night and someone left the lights on or something on in the van and it wouldn't start.  ARGH!!  


    We got home around 9:30 last night and unpacked and crashed in bed.   I have to be at work early this morning for a training.  Daycare took the day off and I didn't know that. Josh is watching Tommy and Erik for me.   I will try and get home for the afternoon. 


    More on the trip later!!!!   Be ready for picture overload!   I am so exhausted!