Can you say cold? Now say it really loud .... COLD!!! That's what our vacation was and what our lives are even still. Yes, it is a little colder here than there - but not so sure it's all that much. Here, we are inside most of the time. There, we were outside most of the time. I wore three turtlenecks AND a heavy wool sweater and two pair of socks most days while on vacation. One or two days I added a winter coat to the mix. My face and hands got a good tan, but that's about it!
We started off by meeting Ryan and Rhiannon in Paducah, KY - made a stop in Nashville to have lunch with friends of the marrieds -- Luis and Nicole! We headed over to Savannah, GA where we met up with Stephanie (Randy's sister) and Steve. It was rather late and dark *sad frown* but they were generous enough to take us on a nice driving tour of some of the historic parts of Savannah. I could tell in the dark that it seemed like a place I would LOVE to see in the light of day.
It was good to see where Steph and Steve live - I like seeing people's homes and then when I talk to them (by computer, etc.) I can picture them in their environment. Their house is really cute - with lots of character and crown molding and beautiful fireplace.
We had 'sort of planned' to go manatee/dolphin hunting in a kayak - but Keith wasn't there (he was in Iowa) and it was WAY to cold to even think at all endearingly about a water sport. We did stop at Daytona and while it was none to warm, it was the most comfortable weather time we had. So thankful for that bit of sun and warmth while we walked the beach there.
On over to the Orlando area where through the magic of Ryan's incredible 'deal finding powers' - we spent the night at a nice motel. The next day we went to the magical land of Disney. Randy had done the 'online check in' - so we were free to go do the parks. Arriving back at our motel room around 11 p.m. (tired, and oh so tired!) we found that our reservation had been messed up. We had reserved a room (that holds six) in the tower of the Contemporary, with a bay view. The room they reserved for us had a bed ... A bed ... I guess maybe it could have been a bed for six, but not this six!
After some persistant 'Ludke-ism', they found us TWO rooms in the new wing of the contemporary. And they made noise like they would 'comp' us for the problem. A good night's rest and some more persistant 'Ludke-ism' - we ended up being comped back about $900 for their error. We all felt like it turned out okay. Being so tired at the end of the day - it was good to have the extra room to spread out. Two bathrooms was nice, etc. And the $900 was good as well.
Jaimee's favorite (only?) movie is Finding Nemo. And she loved anything she saw with Nemo and any of his little sea friends. It was great seeing her react. She also loved seeing Mickey and Minnie. It is impossible to even come close to describe how fun it was to see her with Mickey and Minnie.
The good thing about a family with a baby is that Disney (and the other parks too) - do baby swaps. That means that you all stand in line and when it is finally your time to go - someone stays with the baby, the rest go on the ride. Then as soon as they are done, someone else stays with the baby and they all go another time. Randy and I were good with that! We would enjoy the ride once -- and for the most part the kids all got to enjoy the rides multiple times. There were a couple times when Rhiannon sat out with the baby.
When it was time to come home we were hearing about a big snow storm. So we pulled out our phones and started listening to the TV to hear what was going on. We left bright and early on our departure day - and drove and drove and DROVE! We were watching live doppler radar on the phone and realizing our best choice would be to drive as long as we possibly could to try to beat the storm.
This time we parted with the marrieds in Nashville -- they headed their way (to Orland Park) and we headed on back to Muscatine. They got home about 3:30 a.m. after driving straight through with only stops for gas (with a quick potty and grab a snack). We drove until 4:30 a.m. and finally were hitting into snow. Got to the point that you couldn't see the road or the sides of the road or the ditch that runs along side of the road or other cars that drive on the road or the snowplow that you KNOW is running ahead of you ... Nick was driving at that time. He navigated us to a motel in Lincoln, IL where we crashed into our beds so thankful to be safe, warm and able to stretch out.
The next day was more of the same type of driving, but only about 3-4 hours of it (sorta slower pace driving). We got home and put our things away - then the guys went and picked up the dogs from the kennel. Not sure who was happier - the guys to get their dogs or the dogs to get their guys. Ryan and Rhiannon left their dogs home. A neighbor they just met a couple of months ago watched the dogs. They also have a Shiba Inu - so they brought their dog down to run and play in the back yard with Tucker and Rory. Sent Rhiannon movies of the dogs playing in the snow and laying on the couch etc.
The last couple of days of vacation Rhiannon had a sore throat and headache - cold coming on. (Can't imagine why!) - then Jaimee showed signs of the same thing on the ride back. Randy succumbed to the illness almost immediately upon arriving home. Between him sneezing and coughing all over, and a coworker when I went back to work ... I am now doing the same song and dance. UGH! Nick has it too.
Anyway, we're back and into the old routine. We had stamping night last night. It was really fun. We had SEVEN projects. The plan was that everyone could make three cards of their choice. But as it turned out there were plenty of cut projects so we let everyone make as many as they could. It was great! Some brought refreshments for the holidays and of course that was just the 'icing on the cake'! (Not to mention I was so hungry!!)
Hope your days are well and your life is full of the gift of family and love and God's grace!
V
When viewing the photos below - if you hover on the picture you can read the captions.
We started off by meeting Ryan and Rhiannon in Paducah, KY - made a stop in Nashville to have lunch with friends of the marrieds -- Luis and Nicole! We headed over to Savannah, GA where we met up with Stephanie (Randy's sister) and Steve. It was rather late and dark *sad frown* but they were generous enough to take us on a nice driving tour of some of the historic parts of Savannah. I could tell in the dark that it seemed like a place I would LOVE to see in the light of day.
It was good to see where Steph and Steve live - I like seeing people's homes and then when I talk to them (by computer, etc.) I can picture them in their environment. Their house is really cute - with lots of character and crown molding and beautiful fireplace.
We had 'sort of planned' to go manatee/dolphin hunting in a kayak - but Keith wasn't there (he was in Iowa) and it was WAY to cold to even think at all endearingly about a water sport. We did stop at Daytona and while it was none to warm, it was the most comfortable weather time we had. So thankful for that bit of sun and warmth while we walked the beach there.
On over to the Orlando area where through the magic of Ryan's incredible 'deal finding powers' - we spent the night at a nice motel. The next day we went to the magical land of Disney. Randy had done the 'online check in' - so we were free to go do the parks. Arriving back at our motel room around 11 p.m. (tired, and oh so tired!) we found that our reservation had been messed up. We had reserved a room (that holds six) in the tower of the Contemporary, with a bay view. The room they reserved for us had a bed ... A bed ... I guess maybe it could have been a bed for six, but not this six!
After some persistant 'Ludke-ism', they found us TWO rooms in the new wing of the contemporary. And they made noise like they would 'comp' us for the problem. A good night's rest and some more persistant 'Ludke-ism' - we ended up being comped back about $900 for their error. We all felt like it turned out okay. Being so tired at the end of the day - it was good to have the extra room to spread out. Two bathrooms was nice, etc. And the $900 was good as well.
Jaimee's favorite (only?) movie is Finding Nemo. And she loved anything she saw with Nemo and any of his little sea friends. It was great seeing her react. She also loved seeing Mickey and Minnie. It is impossible to even come close to describe how fun it was to see her with Mickey and Minnie.
The good thing about a family with a baby is that Disney (and the other parks too) - do baby swaps. That means that you all stand in line and when it is finally your time to go - someone stays with the baby, the rest go on the ride. Then as soon as they are done, someone else stays with the baby and they all go another time. Randy and I were good with that! We would enjoy the ride once -- and for the most part the kids all got to enjoy the rides multiple times. There were a couple times when Rhiannon sat out with the baby.
When it was time to come home we were hearing about a big snow storm. So we pulled out our phones and started listening to the TV to hear what was going on. We left bright and early on our departure day - and drove and drove and DROVE! We were watching live doppler radar on the phone and realizing our best choice would be to drive as long as we possibly could to try to beat the storm.
This time we parted with the marrieds in Nashville -- they headed their way (to Orland Park) and we headed on back to Muscatine. They got home about 3:30 a.m. after driving straight through with only stops for gas (with a quick potty and grab a snack). We drove until 4:30 a.m. and finally were hitting into snow. Got to the point that you couldn't see the road or the sides of the road or the ditch that runs along side of the road or other cars that drive on the road or the snowplow that you KNOW is running ahead of you ... Nick was driving at that time. He navigated us to a motel in Lincoln, IL where we crashed into our beds so thankful to be safe, warm and able to stretch out.
The next day was more of the same type of driving, but only about 3-4 hours of it (sorta slower pace driving). We got home and put our things away - then the guys went and picked up the dogs from the kennel. Not sure who was happier - the guys to get their dogs or the dogs to get their guys. Ryan and Rhiannon left their dogs home. A neighbor they just met a couple of months ago watched the dogs. They also have a Shiba Inu - so they brought their dog down to run and play in the back yard with Tucker and Rory. Sent Rhiannon movies of the dogs playing in the snow and laying on the couch etc.
The last couple of days of vacation Rhiannon had a sore throat and headache - cold coming on. (Can't imagine why!) - then Jaimee showed signs of the same thing on the ride back. Randy succumbed to the illness almost immediately upon arriving home. Between him sneezing and coughing all over, and a coworker when I went back to work ... I am now doing the same song and dance. UGH! Nick has it too.
Anyway, we're back and into the old routine. We had stamping night last night. It was really fun. We had SEVEN projects. The plan was that everyone could make three cards of their choice. But as it turned out there were plenty of cut projects so we let everyone make as many as they could. It was great! Some brought refreshments for the holidays and of course that was just the 'icing on the cake'! (Not to mention I was so hungry!!)
Hope your days are well and your life is full of the gift of family and love and God's grace!
V
When viewing the photos below - if you hover on the picture you can read the captions.
