Family Vacation

Well, we finally did it this year.  We took the plunge.  Ken and I determined that with cheap airfare and the last easy chance (before school) to get the girls away, we would take them with us to Virginia Beach for his softball tournament with the MN Lawmen.  This went way better than I could have imagined for our fine fam.  Of course, it was not without bumps, but it's us, so what could anyone expect.  We've always made things a little harder than need be.

Jorey was with me on the plane.  We had a lot of "uncertainty" as to what we should do for each 5 minute segment of time.  Things we shouldn't do were:  remain seated, keep our seatbelts on and quietly watch a movie.  Instead, we were to go potty at least 3 times/flight --even if it was the 1 hour flight.  Then, get up and move and shake a lot, get on my lap, get off, switch seats, look out the window, spill our juice one time, but keep a permagrin through most of it because you're on a plane for the first time.

Macy sat with Dad on the plane.  She sat quietly and watched movies for the entire flight every time and was just happy to have some lifesaver gummies when there were some to share. 

When we got to the ocean, they were both bouncing off the walls.  Our room overlooked the beach and the boardwalk, so they got to get out on the balcony to see it. 

Macy spent lots of time in the sand, but got really brave in the ocean.  She was in big waves that would splash into her face and she would laugh that wonderful giggle of hers that makes me smile so much! 

Jorey, on the other hand, has determined that the ocean is no place for a girl like her and she would much prefer to just sit on the beach and be dirty and dry.  So, she did. 

Though, later in the evening, she shared a tall tale about how brave she was in the ocean...sounded a lot like what Macy did...then, I called her on it and she smiled that big smile of hers and said, "OK, I didn't really do it!"

The 2nd day, we went to Busch Gardens - What fun!  The girls had a blast on all the rides - Ken and I got to go on a couple of them - and we only thought we lost Macy once!  (That scared the livin' daylights out of us.  We were in this huge maze, climber, treetop thingy and I was helping Jorey get down and Ken was trying to navigate through the tiniest little openings.  By the time he got to the bottom, Macy was so excited, she went to go again, but we couldn't see her.  When we found her, it was trying times for a few minutes, but I think she's got it in her head that Mom and Dad need to know where you are, now.  Poor thing.  We probably looked so crazed when we finally found her that she DID want to run away. 

Macy was so brave - she went on the big swings with Mom and Dad and giggled the whole time.  Then, she went on the "Ruins of Pompei" - which was like the flume - creepy inside with lots of fire and scary stuff and then the big drop into water...she went with Ken and then told me, "Mom, you have to come on it!  It's even better than the swings!" while she was skipping and just as giddy as can be.  I'd like to bottle up that excitement! 

At the end of the day, when the girls were probably a bit too tired for it, we hit the Sesame Street Water Park.  It was so cute and cool, but we didn't stay too long.  Jorey was trying to be brave and tackle the water spout, but it won - see the trauma here. and the after effects here.

Macy enjoyed her trip through the water park, too.  She took a couple minutes pondering her level of "no-fear" and then just took off.  Then, this poor little girl cruised right into her path, but seemed unphased by her wipe out.  Check it Out.

These sharks from a Mexican Restaurant we went to were a huge hit.  They played with them the entire rest of the trip. 

The girls were so great, we'd like to take another family trip...maybe in a few years ;)

Mother's Day - The Best Day

This year, we didn't have any set plans, but Ken loves to surprise me, so all week long he was acting just a little goofy and I figured he had something planned.  He wouldn't fess up, but then Saturday night, he surprised me with a 4-pack of Twin's Tickets.  We all went and had a blast.  Then, we got to come home and celebrate with a BBQ at our place with all of our moms and grammas, and aunties & uncles.  It was fun and delicious.  Ken made a great sign for Macy and Jorey.  Unfortunately, we didn't ever make it to the big screen, but I did get some shots of a couple faves, Nick Punto and Joe Mauer.  Unfortunately, Cuddy and Morneau were not coming to see us, as Morneau struck out 3 times.  oops!  For one of Mauer's hits, Ken had Macy cheering.  She yelled, "Hit the ball, Joe!" and Joe ripped a good one.  I told Jorey to say "Rip the ball Justin", because Morneau needed more than a little cheering, to which she responded, "Why would we want him to rip it?  We don't rip balls."  Oh, honey...that's so cute!

"Yo, Mauer.  What up?"  We're tight.

Kissy, Kissy

Well, first things first.  Macy and Jorey got their pictures taken the other day. 
Here are my little ladies. 

Macy LOVES getting her hair done and getting all cutesied up.  Jorey, on the other hand, said "I don't want quails (which is how she pronounces curls).  She was mad all morning about that shirt (too tight!), about the quails...everything.  I was happy to see that she smiled and was lookin' good for pics, though.

In other news, when I arrived at daycare to pick the girls up, Macy was outside with her class.  Before we left, she had to give a couple of her favorite friends some hugs good-bye.  Well, when it was time for Liam, he laid a big ole kiss on her lips!  She was wiping it off, but smiling all the way over to me.  I asked what in the world that was.  She replied, "Liam kissed me because he's my boyfriend and we're going to get married."  "Oh, ya????"

Then, Jorey ran over and picked her little buddy, Graham, right up and kissed his cheek.  She's the bruiser, so she just picks her boyfriend up and kisses him.  He stood there, stunned.  Have I got a couple little flirts or what?

Hot Lava and Spiders...and tears

Macy and Jorey were sitting at the counter drawing pictures very nicely, while I made dinner.  All of the sudden, someone got mad at the other and Macy told Jorey the following:
"Jorey, if we go on a bacation (vacation) without Mom and Dad some time, and there is hot lava, I'm not going to save you."
"No..."
"Ya, If there's hot lava, I'm just going to run faster and you won't be able to."
"No, Macy!"
"Yep and then there are going to be spiders and lava.  They are going to bite you."

Then, came the tears.  Jorey was heartbroken and traumatized at the thought and needed some consoling.
Really, where does Macy come up with this stuff?!

And, does this look like the girl that would say such hurtful things?

Mexican Night

Mexican Night is an event hosted in my parent's garage.  It's fabulous for nerdy and entertaining banter.  Usually, there is just Mexican music playing, too many margaritas and tequila poppers, but this year, they added a DJ - Uncle Andy - to play YouTube Videos on the wall and create a dance club effect.  It was very fun and entertaining.  Grandpa was there with his "old fart" hat on and he even got down with June Bug for a bit.  Somehow, Meaghan, Brooke, and I, determined that the best use for a lei is to tie it around your head.  Mitz, Dawn, and I had some serious bling.  These selections were from the prize bucket for winning hammerschlagen. 

Another good one down!

Pink Eye - The trauma that isn't!

See Jorey's reaction to getting her drops for pink eye.  This happened every time...the horror!
Click here

A Sweeket

"Mom, Macy told me a sweeket."
"A what?"
"A Sweeket, but I'm not telling."
"Oh, a secret?"
"Ya, a sweeket..."
"What was it?"
"I can't tell."
"Oh, Ok."
"Ok.  She said I'm pretty and that I'm like a little princess."

Happy Easter, Everyone!