The boys had so much fun at the beach, we decided to take a friend up on her offer to use their beach house at Port Aransas. We went for a fun weekend before Kevin headed back to school.
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Florida Family Time - Grandma and Grandpa
After the beach, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's farm. We took Grandpa for lunch at Cracker Barrel and shopping for some movies to watch on his big TV. We showed Grandma and Grandpa how much fun the Buzz Lightyear Rocket Blaster sprinkler toy, watched Grandpa show off his vintage tractor, and had a yummy dinner to celebrate Grandpa's 80th birthday. Once while coming back from an errand, Kevin came face-to-face with one of the cows! Kevin and Alan had fun playing with Grandma and watching Cars with Grandpa.
Cows!
Grandma & Alan hang out in the tent
Grandpa and Kevin going shopping
Birthday presents for Grandpa
Grandpa drives the tractor
Rocket blast off!
Grandpa gives Alan a good view while Grandpa makes egg rolls
Chocolate cake for Grandpa's birthday
Kevin loves chocolate cake - so much that he burped "I want more cake please!"
The boys snuggle with Grandpa while they watch Cars
[slideshow]
Cows!
Grandma & Alan hang out in the tent
Grandpa and Kevin going shopping
Birthday presents for Grandpa
Grandpa drives the tractor
Rocket blast off!
Grandpa gives Alan a good view while Grandpa makes egg rolls
Chocolate cake for Grandpa's birthday
Kevin loves chocolate cake - so much that he burped "I want more cake please!"
The boys snuggle with Grandpa while they watch Cars
[slideshow]
Florida Family Time - the beach
The family went on a trip to Florida to celebrate Grandpa's 80th birthday! We spent a day at the beach in Clearwater, where we got to see sharks, turtles, stingrays and dolphins at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the boys got to splash in the surf. Alan wanted to play with the sand as soon as he stepped on the beach, but took a little coaxing to play in the water. Kevin was happy to romp into the surf right away! Daddy even flew a kite for the boys. Before we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's, we went to the playground at Pier 60.
Kevin and Grandma pet a stingray
Kevin watches one of the dolphins underwater
Alan can't wait to play in the sand
Kevin and Daddy in the sunset and surf
Big waves!
Alan slowly inches into the water
Seaside winds means it's time to fly a kite!
Alan likes the playground
Kevin prefers the sand
[slideshow]
Kevin and Grandma pet a stingray
Kevin watches one of the dolphins underwater
Alan can't wait to play in the sand
Kevin and Daddy in the sunset and surf
Big waves!
Alan slowly inches into the water
Seaside winds means it's time to fly a kite!
Alan likes the playground
Kevin prefers the sand
[slideshow]
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Blue Bell and Wedding Bells
We took a trip to Brenham, home of Blue Bell Ice Cream, to attend a wedding. We got in the day before the wedding so we could take a tour of the ice cream factory. We met up with old playgroup friends Gavin and Gwendolyn and their Mommy and had a great time watching ice cream being filled into cartons from 1 pint to 3 gallons! Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos during the tour, but from the parking lot we could see the massive tanks shown below.
The next day we attended the wedding of the daughter of Daddy's neighbors back in Abilene - Ashley was a lovely bride! Her big brother Alan was tickled to meet our little Alan - poor Big Alan kept turning around when we told Little Alan to stop, come back, don't touch, etc.! We had a lovely time catching up with old friends and sharing in this special day for their family.
We enjoyed a quiet weekend at our hotel, and the boys loved the pool. We went swimming all three days, and Alan became so attached to his swim ring that he carried it around in and out of the pool.
These tanks were filled with granulated sugar and ice cream mix.
These even bigger tanks were filled with water, condensed milk, and raw milk.
The whole family in front of a vintage Blue Bell auto
Kevin and Alan with the cow and girl from the logo
Kevin and Gwendolyn waiting for the tour to start
Miss Kathy loves holding a little Alan
Kevin gives the bride Ashley a kiss!
Daddy gives Alan a ride on his shoulders to keep him from running wild through the reception
Big Alan holds Little Alan
Alan loved swimming with his ring so much he wouldn't put it down
The family enjoying the pool
[video]
Alan loved jumping in the water!
The next day we attended the wedding of the daughter of Daddy's neighbors back in Abilene - Ashley was a lovely bride! Her big brother Alan was tickled to meet our little Alan - poor Big Alan kept turning around when we told Little Alan to stop, come back, don't touch, etc.! We had a lovely time catching up with old friends and sharing in this special day for their family.
We enjoyed a quiet weekend at our hotel, and the boys loved the pool. We went swimming all three days, and Alan became so attached to his swim ring that he carried it around in and out of the pool.
These tanks were filled with granulated sugar and ice cream mix.
These even bigger tanks were filled with water, condensed milk, and raw milk.
The whole family in front of a vintage Blue Bell auto
Kevin and Alan with the cow and girl from the logo
Kevin and Gwendolyn waiting for the tour to start
Miss Kathy loves holding a little Alan
Kevin gives the bride Ashley a kiss!
Daddy gives Alan a ride on his shoulders to keep him from running wild through the reception
Big Alan holds Little Alan
Alan loved swimming with his ring so much he wouldn't put it down
The family enjoying the pool
[video]
Alan loved jumping in the water!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A vacation from vacations
A few years ago I read an article "A Vacation from Vacations" in the magazine Wondertime and it sounded like a lot of fun. Instead of the hassles of travelling out of town and rushing around to see all the sights of the destination, this kind of vacation was about spending time together as a family with minimal distractions and stress. We certainly needed a break after the last year, and not having to travel with two little ones was certainly appealing. So when a new resort opened up in town and I saw they had special rates for their Grand Opening, we decided to cash in some points and take a break!
Like the article suggested, we left the laptops at home and the TV off. We just brought some books to read while the kids were asleep. Part of the appeal of this resort was an amazing water park and pool, complete with a lazy river to float in and a great children's area. We stayed two nights and managed to hit the pool three times, thanks to a late check-out time on our last day.
Cool lounge chairs right in the pool - a handy perch for the boys!
Alan wanders while Kevin checks out the pouring water.
We had gone to the main pool the first afternoon, setting ourselves up by the beach entrance so Alan would have easy access. This boy knows no fear! Rather than staying in the shallows, he kept heading into deeper water until he started to float. Poor Daddy had quite a time trying to keep his head above water! Mommy and Kevin did some swimming and then did a circuit on the lazy river before rejoining Daddy and Alan for some pool-side snacks.
The next two days we went to the children's pool which was full of fountains, sprayers, little slides and a squirting fish. Since the deepest this pool got was only two feet, we didn't need to worry about Alan heading out into deep water!
The boys LOVED the arching fountain!
Kevin pumps to spray the water.
A ride on the spitting fish!
Since he couldn't head into deep water, Alan decided the next best way to drive us crazy would be to walk in front of the slides and confront the rushing water. He is going to drive us bonkers!!!
[video]
The resort also had a fun kids activity program. Kevin and Alan were too young to be left with them, but there was still plenty to take part in like decorating t-shirts, s'mores at the pool-side fire pit, and a rubber duck race on the lazy river! But even better were all the open areas to explore! There were lots of water features, paths and expansive lawns - including one that led right onto the golf club's fairway. Daddy had to call Kevin back from the greens before he got bopped by a golf ball!
Kevin admires the waterfall behind the lobby patio.
The boys explore the lawn - Kevin heads for the green.
Kevin and Mommy roast the marshmallows.
Kevin had his first s'more, but Alan declined to taste.
On Saturday morning, we went to see the Rubber Duck race on the lazy river. They do this every weekend, but since this was the Easter holiday weekend, the rubber ducks were dressed up as bunnies, lambs and Easter eggs. We stood on the bridge by the finish line and waited for the boys' ducks to come down the river. Who knew that Kevin's duck would be the winner!
Here they come! Go #17 and #19!
The lifeguard captures the winners!
Kevin and #19, his winning duck!
Back in our room, the boys enjoyed the balcony and the view of a pond with fountains. On our first night, after watching the fountains for a while, Kevin asked Daddy "Water up please?". The fountains had cycled to a lower height and Kevin wanted them back up. Sorry sweetie! Unlike the shower head in the bathtub, Mommy and Daddy don't have any control over this water flow!
The boys loved the view from the balcony!
The view from our balcony!
Before we left the resort, we went to one more activity - Zoomagination had a presentation on the lobby patio. They had a lizard, a scorpion, a pair of hissing beetles, a baby wallaby, a snake, a cockatoo and a two-toed sloth! At the end of the presentation, Kevin had the chance to pet Sheila, the baby wallaby.
Kevin pets the baby wallaby!
What fun getaway! We look forward to doing it again!
==========================
[slideshow]
Like the article suggested, we left the laptops at home and the TV off. We just brought some books to read while the kids were asleep. Part of the appeal of this resort was an amazing water park and pool, complete with a lazy river to float in and a great children's area. We stayed two nights and managed to hit the pool three times, thanks to a late check-out time on our last day.
Cool lounge chairs right in the pool - a handy perch for the boys!
Alan wanders while Kevin checks out the pouring water.
We had gone to the main pool the first afternoon, setting ourselves up by the beach entrance so Alan would have easy access. This boy knows no fear! Rather than staying in the shallows, he kept heading into deeper water until he started to float. Poor Daddy had quite a time trying to keep his head above water! Mommy and Kevin did some swimming and then did a circuit on the lazy river before rejoining Daddy and Alan for some pool-side snacks.
The next two days we went to the children's pool which was full of fountains, sprayers, little slides and a squirting fish. Since the deepest this pool got was only two feet, we didn't need to worry about Alan heading out into deep water!
The boys LOVED the arching fountain!
Kevin pumps to spray the water.
A ride on the spitting fish!
Since he couldn't head into deep water, Alan decided the next best way to drive us crazy would be to walk in front of the slides and confront the rushing water. He is going to drive us bonkers!!!
[video]
The resort also had a fun kids activity program. Kevin and Alan were too young to be left with them, but there was still plenty to take part in like decorating t-shirts, s'mores at the pool-side fire pit, and a rubber duck race on the lazy river! But even better were all the open areas to explore! There were lots of water features, paths and expansive lawns - including one that led right onto the golf club's fairway. Daddy had to call Kevin back from the greens before he got bopped by a golf ball!
Kevin admires the waterfall behind the lobby patio.
The boys explore the lawn - Kevin heads for the green.
Kevin and Mommy roast the marshmallows.
Kevin had his first s'more, but Alan declined to taste.
On Saturday morning, we went to see the Rubber Duck race on the lazy river. They do this every weekend, but since this was the Easter holiday weekend, the rubber ducks were dressed up as bunnies, lambs and Easter eggs. We stood on the bridge by the finish line and waited for the boys' ducks to come down the river. Who knew that Kevin's duck would be the winner!
Here they come! Go #17 and #19!
The lifeguard captures the winners!
Kevin and #19, his winning duck!
Back in our room, the boys enjoyed the balcony and the view of a pond with fountains. On our first night, after watching the fountains for a while, Kevin asked Daddy "Water up please?". The fountains had cycled to a lower height and Kevin wanted them back up. Sorry sweetie! Unlike the shower head in the bathtub, Mommy and Daddy don't have any control over this water flow!
The boys loved the view from the balcony!
The view from our balcony!
Before we left the resort, we went to one more activity - Zoomagination had a presentation on the lobby patio. They had a lizard, a scorpion, a pair of hissing beetles, a baby wallaby, a snake, a cockatoo and a two-toed sloth! At the end of the presentation, Kevin had the chance to pet Sheila, the baby wallaby.
Kevin pets the baby wallaby!
What fun getaway! We look forward to doing it again!
==========================
[slideshow]
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Excursion on the Canada Line
Five kids, four different trains, three free fares, two mommies and one stroller! Mommy and her best friend Nana took the kids (sans Alan, who went with Daddy to Aviation World) for a ride on the newly opened Canada Line. We started off at the Brighouse Station - the Richmond terminus of the line a short walk away from Po Po's house. Kevin, Oscar and baby Seiji were under five, so they got to ride free. Kiyomi and Mina got to have their own tickets!
Going down #3 Road was fun, especially whizzing past the trees! Four stops later, we got off at the Bridgeport Station to change lines to the Airport. An attendant at Bridgeport asked to see our tickets, and the girls very proudly whipped them out. He was quite impressed with how on top of it they were!
The trip from Bridgeport to the airport had a whole new set of sights - a bridge over the river to Sea Island, airplanes taking off and taxiing around, and the massive Canadian Airlines hanger especially painted for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The Airport Station was busy! Only 5 days, and everyone seems to be using the new train already. We got off to catch our breath and take a commemorative picture, then head back home. Another change of trains at Bridgeport, and we were heading back to Po Po's house, with a quick stop for bubble tea on the way.
Going down #3 Road was fun, especially whizzing past the trees! Four stops later, we got off at the Bridgeport Station to change lines to the Airport. An attendant at Bridgeport asked to see our tickets, and the girls very proudly whipped them out. He was quite impressed with how on top of it they were!
The trip from Bridgeport to the airport had a whole new set of sights - a bridge over the river to Sea Island, airplanes taking off and taxiing around, and the massive Canadian Airlines hanger especially painted for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The Airport Station was busy! Only 5 days, and everyone seems to be using the new train already. We got off to catch our breath and take a commemorative picture, then head back home. Another change of trains at Bridgeport, and we were heading back to Po Po's house, with a quick stop for bubble tea on the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
