Almost Heaven...West Virginia

It has been about five or six years since I've been to West Virginia.  I last went to my cousin's wedding.  Logan was a baby.  When I was growing up, my family went to West Virginia ALL THE TIME.  It was the norm.  It was exciting every time.  My grandma would have her ginger cookies made, and they had a candy drawer in their fridge that my sisters and I would raid.  Every summer we would all get together for a weiner roast.  I have fond memories of this, and I realized that my kids have never been to a weiner roast.  Since my sister was coming into town, I mentioned it to my mom, and she planned the whole thing...along with my uncle.

The trip took a little over two hours.  It wasn't bad.  My mom put us up in a hotel.  My kids were so excited!  Anything difference is exciting, right?  We had adjoining rooms which just added to the fun.  I'm going to roll through pics and explain on the way.  It's easier that way.  Trust me.

When we got there, it was lunchtime.  The town we were in is very small, and there aren't a lot of choices to eat.  We saw a white building that said, "Restaurant" on it, and that's where we ended up.  It was shady and smelled like smoke, definitely a hole in the wall.  We sat down and my dad said, "You should take a picture for your blog."  Look at my dad thinking of you guys.  ;)

My mom joined us for lunch.  She had been over at my grandpa's getting food ready.  I told her I had to document her presence, and she didn't want her picture taken, so here's what we ended up with.  

This is the fun water play that my uncle had set up at his house.  I had told the kids to pack their bathing suits and Marley and Logan didn't.  Luckily my sister brought extra for her boys, and they fit my two.  

Their back yard was like an amusement park.  There was so much for a kid to do!

Let the roasting begin!

My dad.

I told my grandpa that I was trying to take a selfie of us.  Kaelyn saw it and dared me to put it on the blog because I'm looking a little...scary.  Here you go, Kaelyn!

My dad and grandpa talked for a while.

I love this pic.  I don't even remember why we were laughing.

I love this pic.  I'm a sucker for any pics where one of the parties hugging has his eyes closed.  Logan was so interested in great-grandpa.  

We'll definitely be going back soon.  When I was little we would go to the Buckwheat festival every September.  I'm putting it on the calendar!  Thanks to all those who made this great time possible.

Oh My Thursday!

I did not have it in me to post Thursday night.  We were entertaining late, and I couldn't swing it.  Logan shares a birthday month with one of his friends, and we normally do something together.  This year we went to Adventure Park.  Here's a quick run-down with pics.
-They went on the roller coaster first.

-The bumper boats second.  That was a mistake.  They were all soaked for the rest of the day.  The kids had other clothes to change in to.  The dads...not so much.

-Go-Karts were a big hit!

-There weren't many things for Marley to do with the older kids, so we were off a little by ourselves.

-One of these times we were in the arcade.  I got some credits for Marley to spend while the others were rock climbing and on the rope obstacle coarse.

-We went to one of those machines where you pull the lever and then push the button and try to stop it on the jackpot, but if you miss you get 10,6,4, etc. tickets.  I played it a couple times while everyone was in laser tag.  Then Marley and I played it.  The second time we did, WE HIT JACKPOT!  250 TICKETS!

-We came back to our place for dinner and birthday.  

It was a great time.  I was going to try and fit our West Virginia trip on this post too, but it'll have to wait.  Pure craziness!

Beach Day

When my seester comes from Canada every summer, her family spends a couple days in Ocean City.  It's like a mini vacation in a vacation.  This year we decided to crash their party for a day, Logan's birthday.  

The plan was the leave around 6a or so.  Rory had other plans.  She woke Logan and Marley up at 445a that morning.  I went into the room and sat on the floor.  My presence makes them behave, of course.  Then I heard Kaelyn get up and go to the bathroom.  I figured if everyone was up, we might as well leave.

I went downstairs and complained and complained and complained to Kevin about how awful the day was going to be because everyone woke up so early.  He cracked a joke, and we were getting everyone dressed and out the door.  We hit MacDonald's for breakfast at Logan's request.

There wasn't much traffic.  We decided to stop at Walmart in Salisbury because I forgot Marley's swim shoes.  We bought a $5 pair, pottied, and were on our way again.  Apparently Rory didn't get emptied and she had to go again.  Then we noticed a bunch of activity on the side of the road, and just as we figured out what it was, we were being waved to the side of the road by a cop.  Ugh.

Kevin was very polite as the officer told us he caught him at 71 on a 55.  He took his license and registration to his car.  We sat there for a good while watching cop after cop pull car after car over.  Our cop finally came back and told us that we were getting a warning.  He said they were letting people go 15 miles over and Kevin was at 16, so he was going to let that one over slide.  He told Kevin where the speed limit changed on the road ahead, and we were on our way again.

We ran into traffic the last 10 miles of the trip.  I didn't mind this as much because the last bridge we had to cross over the water, we had to cross slow.  I am afraid of bridges over water (no idea why), so crawling in traffic made me feel somewhat better about it.  We finally made it.

We got everyone dressed in their suits and slathered up with sunscreen, and we were off to the beach.  My brother-in-law, Dale, had already set up umbrellas and chairs for us.  The kids took off to THE MOST COLDEST WATER EVER!  Seriously, I wouldn't even touch it.  I touched the sand after the water had touched it, and I almost got frostbite.  Not to mention that it was cold just standing by the water on a 90 degree day.  Craziness!  The kids were braving it.  I parked my bottom in a chair with my goosebumps.

Maria and I went up a little early to prepare lunch.  We had some party trays with crackers, meats, and cheeses, and fruit.  Everyone came up to the hotel and snacked a bit.  It was a nice light lunch.  And it was back to the beach.

I am the lone beach hater in all my family.  I hate the sand, and sweating, the sand.  I would've loved to have not gone back, but...the sacrifices we make for our kids, right?  I went back to my chair.  This time Kevin actually went full in to the water.  He was taking the kids out with him and having a grand time. These are the sacrifices Kevin makes for me.  

Beach time was over after lots of playing, and we washed up and headed to the boardwalk.  We had dinner and went to the one store we always go to, The Kite Loft.  We didn't remember where on the boardwalk it was, so we parked all the way down at the end in the inlet and walked up to 15th street or whatever.  I didn't mind that so much, since it gave me a chance to walk off the pizza I had just ate.

We got to the store and gave each kid a budget to get a little something.  Logan got to pick one thing at a bit of a higher budget since it was his birthday.  This went smoother than I thought it would.  It was a pleasant surprise.  On the way back to the car, we stopped for ice cream.  This was when we found out it was 730p, a half hour past our leave no later than 7p time.

It took us a while to get back on the road because of traffic.  Then we stopped and emptied everyone's tanks and got blankets and loveys out for the drive home.  These kids had been up since 445a.  They were bound to sleep.  

Logan was the first to conk out.

Followed by Rory.

Then Kaelyn although I don't have a picture of that one.  Marley made it a couple minutes until she jolted awake and was up the ENTIRE time.  We got home a little past 11p.  I felt so bad for the kid.  She was exhausted and just couldn't get comfortable to sleep. Logan kept waking up and crying, so I don't think he was comfortable either.  My kids just aren't car sleepers.

And that was our day at the beach.

Thanks for a great time, guys!

Happy Birthday, Dale and Drake!!!

Along with Logan's birthday, his two cousins flank him at either even side.  My nephew, Drake's, birthday is the 4th of July (which doesn't mean much since he's canadian), and my other nephew, Dale's, is on the 8th.  I'll be posting about their beach time yesterday later this week.  For now, here are their acrostics.

D- aDorable voice  You need to hear this kid talk.  I'm going to try and get a video of him for you.  I'm sure if I were on the outside of Marley's immediate surroundings, I would think her voice was cute too.  But I'm not, so I don't.  :)  You must hear this kid.
R-REAL TALKER  Drake will talk your ear off.  I can't tell you everything he's saying, but he'll be telling you something.  It's the cutest thing ever.  We had a whole conversation yesterday.  I think I got the gist of what we were talking about but maybe not.  It reminds me of that quote in Finding Nemo.  "It's like he's trying to speak to me.  I know it."
A- ALL BY HIMSELF  This kid is exactly like that.  He wants to do EVERYTHING all by himself.  His dad likes that a lot about him.  He's independent.  He'll ask for help when he needs it though..sometimes.  ;)  That part's his mommy.
K- KEEN  This boy is bright.  I always think the jump from age 2-3 is amazing in every kid, but Drake notices and remembers a lot...especially if it has to do with his brothers.  I think he gets this from me.  ;)
E- ENERGIZER  He just keeps going and going.  He's content to play by himself too.  He keeps entertained.  This might have to do with the independency too.

D- DASHING  Of course all my nephew's are handsome, but Dale has this Canadian-Asian thing going for him.  He's one of those people that you know they have some ethnicity to them, but you can't put your finger on it.  It's entrancing.  I'm sure there will be girl troubles WAY LATER!
A- ADAPTABLE  If there's one thing I've noticed about this kid, it's this.  I'm not talking like he never complains, but he seems like he goes with the flow.  My sister might challenge me on this one, but it's the impression that he gives off.  He'll be upset and disappointed, but he just moves on.
L- LEADER  Dale definitely has leadership qualities.  This has been reflected in receiving special honors even in his hockey league.  Maybe it comes naturally when you're the older sibling and have two younger brothers looking up to you.  
E- EMPATHETIC  I can see a real compassion to Dale. I've heard it in stories of all my sister's kids.  I think it's a priceless quality.  Sure I think there's some running with the crowd in everyone, but at the end of the day, he genuinely feels upset/happy when others do. 

Happy Birthday, Logan!!!!

I don't know if any of you will see this until Monday, but Saturday, the 6th, is Logan's birthday.  Yay!  We're taking off to the beach for the day.  My sister is there with her family, and we're crashing the party.  It's going to be a LONG day.  Please pray for me.  Here is Logan's birthday acrostic.

L- LACKADAISICAL  Do I have to elaborate on this one?  Remember the whole crock pot child thing?  He is laid back just like his daddy, which is a really good thing.  He's my only one like that.  Maybe it's a boy thing?
O-OBEDIENT  When the kids were smaller, I took out a bag of M&M's and told them that whenever I told them to do something, they had to say, "Yes, Mommy."  Then they got an M&M.  I know you're not supposed to use food for a reward, but it worked.  They're pretty good at still saying it to both KJ and I.  Logan is an immediate obeyer.  No matter what I say to him, it only takes one time...most times.  9 out of 10 I would say.  Hopefully Marley starts to follow his lead since she looks up to him so much.
G-GAMER  This needs no explanation.
A-ACADEMIC  Logan is extremely bright.  He's been getting books from the library and reading them to us.  Normally I make him read from his reading curriculum book, so this is exciting for him.  Of course he'll only pick Star Wars books.  I made him get a couple from a different series just to mix it up a bit.  Math is the same thing.  He takes forever to do it, but when he gets frustrated enough from me nagging he goes a lot faster.
N-NORA'S HUMOR  There's no denying it.  Logan has this dry sense of humor and comedic timing that you just can't teach.  You're born with it.  I should know.  ;)  He comes by it honestly.  

Happy Birthday, Logan.  I love you so much!!!!!

We're Back!

Did you miss me?  Maybe even a little bit?  I have to say it was a nice unplugged week.  Today was our first day back to electronics, and I quickly remembered why I hate them so much.  It didn't take long for the lone stares, glazed eyes and disobedience.  *sigh*  I think I might do a revised schedule of some days with and some days without.  

Some good news that has happened...
-They have decided to cover the car under the warranty.  Yay!  That saves A TON of money.  Actually, we were going to just go without a second car.  It would have been interesting, to say the least.
-My Oncologist's office was gracious enough to cut my chemo bill in half.  Every little bit helps, but then they sent an even bigger one in the mail today, so I'm not sure what that means yet.

Marley's tooth came out.  That.was.no.fun.  She felt every bit of it and had a bad reaction to the sedative which spurred demonic outbursts of hitting and kicking me and screaming that she wished I was dead.  Yes, my little Marley.  The dentist said that if we try to do the rest of the dental work this way, it will go the same way.  Even if they don't give the sedative she reacted to, she'll scream through the whole procedure like she did.  So...we're off to the O.R. just like we had to do with Logan last year.  Can you say $$$?  I just told KJ we should sell everything and move to England.  If only....Until then...some pictures.

We finally painted the living room.  What else could we do with no electronics.  ;)  It was that awful green in the picture with Spiderman Logan.  

Things are about to get busy here.  My sister's in town from Canada for the month.  Let's get crazy!