Summer Vacations are over

Well, we had an interesting vacation to say the least. Me and the kids were heading out on Friday, 7/18/08 for South Florida to visit Grandma and Papa John. Well at 5am on that Friday morning, my son woke me to him getting sick. OK, this will be one long day!

To my surprise, he was fine all day on the 10 hour trip. He did not eat much at all, but seemed fine, no fever, not fussy, we were good to go. We stopped in Adel to eat lunch with Granny Bob and for a little break. Thanks Granny Bob, we enjoyed the short visit.

Back on the road, we finally made it to Ft. Pierce at 5pm, we had beautiful weather and the kids could not have been better for this trip. We decided to drive all the way on Friday so we would be there in time for my Grandmother's memorial service on Saturday.

First off, it was great to see all my cousins again. It had been probably 15 years or more since I had seen some of them and I was honestly a little worried I would not recognize them. They all look the same, just grown up! It was a great visit under the circumstances and wonderful to see everyone and their kiddos!

Well, Logan had gotten sick again about the same time on Saturday morning, go figure. The good thing was that he never got sick anymore during the day, he did not run fever and seemed ok. And he was ok after that morning, he did not get sick anymore and finally started acting a little more back to normal again. He did have his BIGGEST temper tantrum though on Saturday night. WOW, I could not believe he acted like that, but he got over it and finally quite screaming when he found out I wasn't going to do anything. By the next day he was running around and talking 90 miles an hour so I knew he was back to normal and acting crazy!

We were able to visit the beach one day, my plans were to go about every other day, but Brooke had other plans. On Wednesday morning she woke up and told me she wanted nothing to eat that day at all. Weird, it is breakfast and she already knows she doesn't want anything the entire day! Well, she was right. She ended up getting sick when we went out to eat and then several more times throughout the day/night. This continued through Friday, the end of our vacation. So, we did not get to do much but lay around. She was pitiful. Thought we were over it since she finally did not wake any during the night on Friday night. We decided to drive all the way back home on Saturday versus stopping in Adel to spend the night with Granny Bob, due to her having this virus and not wanting to give to anyone else.

Saturday morning we ate breakfast and off we went back home. Hoping for the same kind of trip home that we had on the way down, but did not get it! Logan had to stop 6 times to go potty. We were making good time for a while, but he just kept having to go. Once he went 3 times within one and a half hours, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I just want to be home now. Then, we get to Atlanta and what do you know....traffic jam! Merging of traffic and when you already have a 3 lane interstate jam packed with bumper to bumper traffic and try to put that into 2 lanes, it causes a little slow down! A 40 minute slow down! Traffic was horrible the entire way for the most part and Logan just did not want to be in there as he fussed a good portion of the ride. Needless to say, when we arrived home at 7pm, I was ready to crash! Can't do that yet though, I have a van full of stuff to unpack and if I sit down now it won't get done. My wonderful husband who could not wait to see us, came out to help gather all of our house to put it back in there! As the kids get older, you think you won't have to carry as much, but we still do!

Anyhow, we made it home and were so glad to see Daddy! Thanks Grandma and Papa John for the week. We did enjoy our visit minus the sick kiddos!

On the way we had to make our normal stop in Fort Valley for some of those wonderful Lane Packing peaches! This is becoming a traditional stop during the summer for us!
On Sunday, we were able to get outback and fill the little pool for the kids (and Grandma) to play in. They had a ball just doing that! Logan was trying to drink the water, yuk!

Brooke loved wearing the goggles, but would only stick her eyes under water with them shut! I tried explaining to her to keep her eyes open, but she just could not do it.

Riding on the Alligator! The kids were playing like she was an alligator and got on her back. They had a ball!

We're slipping off Grandma! Logan like playing with her hat and dumping water all over it.

On Monday, we got to enjoy the beach for a while. The water looked great, then we noticed the RED flag up and could tell the riptide, so no swimming in the water! Logan did not like when the waves would come up to where he was playing. The water was freezing cold, which was a little unusual too. I had a great time just sitting in the chair and watching the waves, while Grandma and Papa John dug in the sand with the kids.

Logan would not take his shoes off until about time for us to go!

Throwing back to the ocean! He thought it left some sand behind.

Watering his hole they dug.

He kept asking for water, then dumping it all out at once. Poor Papa John had to keep going to the ocean for more water, because Logan would not dare!

All digging!

The cold water did not stop Brooke from at least getting those feet wet!

All sacked out Monday afternoon after a long day at the beach!

After waking up, they broke out their paints.

Brooke painting Princess'

We did get rain on Tuesday a little. That morning Papa John took the kids out to play in the pool again while Mama and I ran some arrands. When we got home in the rain, they were all in the livingroom having a picnic with lunch and watching movies. When we finished lunch, it was still raining, so what do you do when stuck inside?? You buy pipe cleaners and make stuff with them. This is Logan with the glasses I made him and the devil horns Grandma made him! He had been showing us those horns earlier in the week!

Brooke with her pink glasses! She did not need any horns as she was great all week, even when she felt bad!

The rain wasn't enough, so Logan went out to water the plants and trees for Papa John and Grandma.

Wednesday morning, we got out the little clay figures for the kids to paint and they had fun doing it. After we did that for a little while, we got ready and headed to Vero Beach to the mall to eat lunch and catch a movie (another day that was suppose to rain). This was the day Brooke woke up not feeling well, but still wanted to go to the movies. We took them to see Wall E, the Disney movie. It was cute for one time, but probably would not buy the movie. The kids enjoyed it and Logan did pretty good for his first movie. Once he ran out of cheese puffs, he was ready to go though and luckily it was the end of the movie. As soon as we walked in the door from the movies, Brooke got sick for the 2nd time. It was down hill from there on out!

Logan painting his alligator and his train set.

Brooke painting her ponies.

What a little artist!

Thursday just laying around watching movies. They did get back out in the pool for a short time Thursday afternoon, until Logan got in trouble and had to come inside.

Grandma and Papa John got Brooke the Dr. Seuss book "Oh, The Places We'll Go" for going to 1st grade! She is growing up so fast!

Logan enjoying the cupcakes we made since Brooke could not! He only ate the icing off the top!