Sunday, May 27, 2012

FIRST THE ZOO, THEN ON TO LEGOLAND

Our daughter and SIL arrived in the early afternoon on Monday.  Long hard drive coming from Colorado Springs, but they did take their time and a short side trip to the Grand Canyon.  Coming across the dessert the temperature went to 113.  Scary, with the two little ones in the car, in case of trouble.  Nice evening, everyone got rested and the next day it was off to the …..

SD

We took two cars, and were off early so we arrived when it opened.  There were quite a few school buses, as school is still in session in California, and they were having field trips.  But it was not really crowded, and it was a great day.

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The highlight for me was the baby hippo riding on his momma’s back.  Actually they were just sitting there, but made great pictures.  And the kids loved it. 

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Unfortunately our daughter had picked up a bug that seemed to get worse as the day progressed, but refused to leave.  Said she would die before she disappointed the kids who have been looking forward to this for almost a year.  We did managed to see it all and got back home safe and sound.  She hit the bed and kids were still ready for a little pool time.

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Roinn enjoyed the water, but Kylee is still a “sitting on the step, makes me a happy girl”.  The next day we rested up, gave Chuck’s new smoker a try out.  Make some fantastic baby backs.  They were sooooo good, fallen off the bone good. 

Then it was LEGOLAND, here we come.  Roinn has been a Lego lover for years, and he is so into them.  It was amazing to watch his eyes light up no matter where he was looking.  Surprised us that we enjoyed seeing all the construction of the Legos. Figures and towns, Landmarks, all made of the little plastic pieces.

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Great place for the younger kids, and thankfully not too crowded.

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The people are real, the rides are fun, but the food and drinks are way too expensive! Hamburger…9 dollars!  We had snacks in our backpacks, and managed on those.

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This Memorial was almost life size.  Awesome.

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Kylee is a girly girl, but a real dare devil and loves the roller coasters.  She could have  gone all day, lucky she was just big enough for all of them, as long as an adult was with her. 

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They saved the waterpark for the second day, and unfortunately the weather was down right chilly.  Didn’t stop them though, the air might have been cool, but the water was heated, AND they had the whole place to themselves.  They took extra clothes and there is a family dryer that will blow you dry once your done.  Chuck and I passed on going the last day.  The old folks wear out fast.  It was a great visit, know the great grand babies enjoyed them selves to no end, which means we all enjoyed it. 

Till next week, travel safe, enjoy each day.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

WHEN YOU HIT THE BUTTON THINGS SHOULD WORK!

Well not always.  Tried to write the blog yesterday, and computer was trying it's best to play sick.  Finally got it off life support and now Livewriter has pennies on its eyelids.  Going to try doing it in Blogger, hope it goes through.  Which didn't work out too good, kept loosing them, and believe me each retry got shorter, when I finally went to publish a 4 line blog, consisting mostly of  %$#%*&%$#%@^, by golly there they all were.  Life is once again good, but it still call for a drink, make it a double.  
Pictures are of some of the flowers near Legoland.  There are so many nurseries in this area, seems no matter where you look there is something in bloom.  Also lots of wineries.   And I can also get my ocean fix so easy.  Love, love the ocean.  Think in another life I crawled up out of it and grew legs. It just seems to rejuvenate me.


Fields of Flowers, 
www.theflowerfields.com
but they bloomed early this year, so no longer doing tours.
Below, the parking lot.

Busy week getting everything ready for the kids visit.  You would think that I have bought all the food in the stores out, and they are only stay 6 days!  Made a run over to Pendleton Marine base and got the tickets for Legoland and the San Diego Zoo.  Great saving, almost half price, but still they are pricey.  And gas in California has jumped 30 to 40 cents over night.  Pushing 4.40 for regular, but diesel is 10 cents cheaper....well it was yesterday, what a bargain.  But the weather, it is wonderful, there is nothing like it any where. 

The kids should be here tomorrow, looking forward to seeing them again, the babies grow so fast.  Glad they are making it this week, next week they are closing the swimming pool for 4-5 days, due to resurfacing  the deck and poolside.  Memorial Day they are having a special tribute, and Chuck is taking part in it, along with the rest of the retired military that are still here.  They wanted them all in long dark pants and white shirts, well, that was two items that Chuck doesn't carry any longer.  So we stopped at the Goodwill, and for 12 bucks he now owns a pair along with a gorgeous white silk shirt.  And when we are done they will go into the parks yearly yard sale.  Each year the first of October they hold a big sale, and make quite a nice sum to support some of the activities that they have here. 

Yesterday went to town and had my toes and nails done.  None to happy, but hard to get your point across of what you do want, when all they hear is "5 dollar more".  Have yet to find one that I would consider going back to, just have to keep trying.  At least my hair is finally growning back.  We both took our "spots" to the doctor this week and everything checked out good.  Still have to get my boobs ironed and then, should be it for this year.  I know TMI........till next week. 

Saturday, May 12, 2012

COMPANY COMING

Our daughter and SIL are going to be taking their grandkids, (our greats) to Legoland next week, which just happens to be 40 miles from us.  They will be leaving Colorado Springs and the plan is to swing by the Grand Canyon for a quick look see and then make their way here.  They plan on staying about a week, so there will be some side trips in the planning.  The San Diego zoo is pretty high on the list.  Thank goodness it is not Disneyland, still not ready to do that one again.

The week seemed to only take 2 days to fly by, can not believe how fast the days seem to go.  Today our neighbors from across the street came back to the park, and we had a nice visit.  They have both been fighting the Big C, so it was good to get to spend some time with them, now that things are looking better.  They have a house in town, and do not live here any more, but hope to spend more time visiting.  We went with them to dinner at a Mexician restaurant, fun time, great food.  I had the special, which was shrimp wrapped in bacon, and a seafood enchilada.  That was a really great dinner.  Everyone was happy with theirs, but the my shrimp were out of this world. 

We also made plans to spend a few weeks in Hawaii come the end of October.  A lady in the park has for years, rented a 3 bedroom home on Oahu, and rents out several of the bedrooms, that makes it affordable for everyone.  She had one opening left, and we took a few seconds to make up our minds, we were going!   Seeing how we are only planning on staying close to “home” this summer, this would make up for it some.  Still plan on traveling slowly up the coast July and August, but not going further than our home town in northern California, of many years.  Not sure what our grandsons Little League schedule is like and he has become quite the little bowler, and will be competing in the state tournament in southern California some time in July.  Hope on working something out that he can spend some time traveling with us.  But once they reach their teen age years, they do get busy with their own lives.  Miss him bunches, but the memories that we have of all the time that we did get to spend together are priceless.

Till next week, travel safe, laugh loud, make each day the best of your life.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

REMEMBERING

It has been 7 years since we took our first 6 month extended trail run of possibly full timing.  We had been tossing the idea around for some time, but were unable to fully act on it, due to the fact that my father needed our help.  After he was reunited with my mother, who had passed away 6 years earlier, we were still a little leery of taking that final step.

With lots of thought and hope we decided that a extended travel vacation would help us decide.  If we both returned and were still inclined then we would take the final steps to make it all happen. 

Surviving the first 50 miles was the  biggest challenge on day one.  We had a new kitten, who we had tried to get her used to riding in the truck, but not with much success, and we did not want to try tranquilizers, so we decided that she would ride in her traveling cage.  Not good!  She messed all over it, and herself, which put us on the side of the road trying to clean a totally scared cat using bottled water and paper towels.  Yeah, it is funny now, believe me at the time it was not.  Once every thing was as clean as a case of water could make it, we decided that we would let her be free in the back seat, and have a litter box.  Well, when you have a wet cat, and clumping litter, it is just minutes before you have yet another problem.  The rest of the day fades in my memory. 

We traveled to Colorado Springs, on up into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia and made our way back to California.  We were in vacation mode, and we seen soooooo much.  There were many times we stopped just because we saw a golf course that needed playing.  We never made a reservation and always managed to find a RV park.  Do wish though that we had known about Escapees, rallies, even passport America was not part of our planning.  Basically we were wandering wanders.  But in a way we did things that we might not have done had we “know better”.  And thank you, Lord, for GPS. 

The week has gone flying by once again.  Yesterday we did a run to a fruit and veggie stand that we have found.  Lots of good stuff.  And avocados galore.  We are near the avocado capital, so there seem to always be plenty.  Yesterday it was 25 for 5 dollars.  That is one heck of a lot of guacamole.  Took a big bowl up for happy hour and it all went.  Tonight I fixed sole almandine and watermelon on the side for dinner.  Weird, but it was so good.

This week Chuck and I have been trying to shuck off the “older than dirt” feeling.  Our baby had his 50th birthday last Monday.  Seems like only yesterday it was his 1st. Till next week.