We stayed in california only 3 nights but oh how quickly my body forgot what heat is... I fell asleep as we were leaving california - in a sweatshirt and long capris underneath a blanket. I kept having this dream of something burning - that's when I woke up. My feet were on the window... well so much for 68 degrees in June. The temp here in Phoenix said 111 - how I missed summer!
Today we went to the Cabazon Dinosaur Museum. The kids were running around in heaven - and yes this time the dinos were child friendly - no half eaten people!! I will upload pics as soon as I can.
We are only 3 days from being home. I feel as though I have run a marathon and this is the last stretch... and yet I have no energy to keep running! It was so loud in the car today Blaine put me on speaker just so his entire office could laugh - glad to know my pain is cheap entertainment!
Well it is time to go down and clean out the van - you have no idea the amount of work that means - and rearrange all our stuff. Unfortunately each stop we've made has added a person full of stuff to the already overloaded van! By the time we reach TX someone will be kicked out so we have room - PICK ME, PICK ME!
Ok, good night everyone and we love you and miss you!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
daily bible verse
Ok I get a daily bible verse on my phone each morning. This morning, as I am running around the beach, I got my daily message:
Proverbs 23: 22
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother as she gets old.
I feel guilty right now...
Proverbs 23: 22
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother as she gets old.
I feel guilty right now...
we are headed EAST,,,
Finally we are making our way back home! Hopefully we will be back in tx Friday and home by saturday:-)
day 7 - listen to what we get to hear
Heather found a diego movie... we have watched it non stop for 4 days now!! Listen to what we get to hear while we watch DIEGO!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
hunter vs birds
We had a great time at the aquarium. All the kids got to see lots of great animals and sea creatures! Nothing hilarious happened until...
We were eating outdoors at the bubba gump seafood place enjoying the local scenery when about 5 dove came and joined us. "How cute" and "let's feed the birds" was said by the kids... so we did. They were staying close by during our meal just in case the kids dropped anything. All of a sudden, hunter accidentally dropped his chicken that he was so despirately trying to eat. The birds hopped on that chicken piece and had it devoured in a split second. What happened next should be logged in a serial killer book. Hunter swiftly grabbed one knife then another and was on the ground before chris could react. You should have seen the look in his eyes - still gives me chills... Luckily chris grabbed him before any birds were murdered - Ro and Krystal he is ready to hunt!!
After that we decided it was time to go before the 2 year old got arrested... we are now headed back to the island to go to the beach (do not ask why we left to go to longbeach in the first place).
We were eating outdoors at the bubba gump seafood place enjoying the local scenery when about 5 dove came and joined us. "How cute" and "let's feed the birds" was said by the kids... so we did. They were staying close by during our meal just in case the kids dropped anything. All of a sudden, hunter accidentally dropped his chicken that he was so despirately trying to eat. The birds hopped on that chicken piece and had it devoured in a split second. What happened next should be logged in a serial killer book. Hunter swiftly grabbed one knife then another and was on the ground before chris could react. You should have seen the look in his eyes - still gives me chills... Luckily chris grabbed him before any birds were murdered - Ro and Krystal he is ready to hunt!!
After that we decided it was time to go before the 2 year old got arrested... we are now headed back to the island to go to the beach (do not ask why we left to go to longbeach in the first place).
we are not in tx anymore...
I promise to NEVER complain about toll prices again - we just paid $5.50 for a toll!
day 6 - on to the beach
Yesterday was our first day to actually get to go back to the same hotel for two nights - whooop! Everyone was asleep by 9 pm last night - I couldn't even stay awake for my new jersey housewives...
Refreshed and ready to face another day - we are on our way to the Long Island beach. Moni insisted we head to this beach (even though we are staying on an island surrounded by beach). But yet once again I am just along for the ride...
We miss everyone! I will post pics as soon as we make it to the beach.
Refreshed and ready to face another day - we are on our way to the Long Island beach. Moni insisted we head to this beach (even though we are staying on an island surrounded by beach). But yet once again I am just along for the ride...
We miss everyone! I will post pics as soon as we make it to the beach.
Monday, June 28, 2010
heather's story of the zoo
Now all who know heather realize that order is her life... well heather started at the zoo with that life but ended with poop from jackson all down her side, a crick in her neck from holding her 40 lb son for 5 hours and jackson in a diff outift than when we started - and yes the color code was officially thrown off... I still am waiting for her and jackson to disappear only to arrive hours later at the san antonio airport and never call me again!
chris's story of the zoo
I decided to separate the next few blogs to give individual accounts of today [from my point of view of course]
so chris decided at the start of the trip that we should color code kids to keep up with the hundred we have - makes sense right...until we realize today after we have packed all our clothes that san diego weather and tx weather slightly different. notice the blue boys in sleeveless shirts and the girls in pink skirts and shorts - TODAYS high = 68 degrees but that did not stop us from going even though most people at the zoo had parkas and gloves on. Not us though - guess you can add that to our list of mommy of the year awards...
Chris was so tired by the end that she was yelling at kids that weren't in the group - I guess her exhaustion left her colorblind.
so chris decided at the start of the trip that we should color code kids to keep up with the hundred we have - makes sense right...until we realize today after we have packed all our clothes that san diego weather and tx weather slightly different. notice the blue boys in sleeveless shirts and the girls in pink skirts and shorts - TODAYS high = 68 degrees but that did not stop us from going even though most people at the zoo had parkas and gloves on. Not us though - guess you can add that to our list of mommy of the year awards...
Chris was so tired by the end that she was yelling at kids that weren't in the group - I guess her exhaustion left her colorblind.
hills and moni = not a good combination
So not only does she need a stool but now it has gotten even worse. I am afraid Moni is coming home more broken than when we left...
Please for chris, heather and myself, give us some hilarious comments on this one...
Please for chris, heather and myself, give us some hilarious comments on this one...
Sunday, June 27, 2010
we made it to california
It is 8:52pm and I just wanted to let everyone know we made it out of the desert and are outside of barstow, ca. We had to stop for a sanity break - believe me we are all starting to crack a little but we are trying to remain strong for the last half of our trip.
We did make a unanimous decision that maybe we tried to put a little tooo much on our agenda... (I know I know). So we are bypassing the sequoia national forest (boooooo... but we have to) and LA which I am devastated b/c we all know how much I love celebrities!
We won't make it to san diego until around midnight so do not panic if you do not hear from us for a bit. Everyone is hopeful that tomorrow will be a no van zone and just a relaxful day at a beach!!
Goodnight!
We did make a unanimous decision that maybe we tried to put a little tooo much on our agenda... (I know I know). So we are bypassing the sequoia national forest (boooooo... but we have to) and LA which I am devastated b/c we all know how much I love celebrities!
We won't make it to san diego until around midnight so do not panic if you do not hear from us for a bit. Everyone is hopeful that tomorrow will be a no van zone and just a relaxful day at a beach!!
Goodnight!
hello mohave desert
What does white skin plus death valley desert heat rays = ?? Me and chris getting lobster toned skin and we still have 100 miles on this road (you have no idea the amount of expletives that keep going through my head as I hear my skin sizzling). Christi who is driving has a red knuckle lined tone and she is getting a great farmer tan! We had reservations about this road but we had no idea the scary heat filled desert we would be driving into - all warm and fuzzy feelings about getting to california went out the window when I saw emergency call boxes every quarter mile along with 10 cars on the side of the road with hoods open within the first 15 minutes... and yet here we are smack dab in the middle getting of this desert... who knew I would need spf 150 just for riding in the front seat...
If I can move my arms by the time we get out of the inferno, I will try to send a pic of everyone!
If I can move my arms by the time we get out of the inferno, I will try to send a pic of everyone!
day 4...
Well it is 3 pm here in vegas and we just finished with lunch (oh how I love riding with those who do not believe in a schedule...). At least the kids ate their entire meal - since they were 4 hours past normal lunch time!! And, we had to stop and eat somewhere (makes sense to me - I mean we don't have two ice chests loaded down with food... but hey I am just along for the ride.
So vegas definitely made money off our group (some more than others)... it was a blast - especially swimming in the pool with only 3 adults and 5 kids under 6 (once again please don't judge our parenting skills - we are doing the best we can).
We are now stopping at target for a stool for Moni - apparently she keeps shrinking or vehicles keep getting bigger - either way she can no longer get in/out of the van. We are about to leave vegas and head to CALIFORNIA! I think we are all over our momentary lapse in sanity (at least for the moment) it was touch and go last night when the kids had been in the car from 9:30 am until midnight and someone insisted on driving down the vegas strip so the kids could see (I won't mention every time I had to say close your eyes kids or no Jaimi that is not a bathing suit on that girl and hailey a peep show just means surprise.. please remember for those of you planning a road trip - vegas is not a great place for kids!
Onto california! We love everyone and we miss you!!
So vegas definitely made money off our group (some more than others)... it was a blast - especially swimming in the pool with only 3 adults and 5 kids under 6 (once again please don't judge our parenting skills - we are doing the best we can).
We are now stopping at target for a stool for Moni - apparently she keeps shrinking or vehicles keep getting bigger - either way she can no longer get in/out of the van. We are about to leave vegas and head to CALIFORNIA! I think we are all over our momentary lapse in sanity (at least for the moment) it was touch and go last night when the kids had been in the car from 9:30 am until midnight and someone insisted on driving down the vegas strip so the kids could see (I won't mention every time I had to say close your eyes kids or no Jaimi that is not a bathing suit on that girl and hailey a peep show just means surprise.. please remember for those of you planning a road trip - vegas is not a great place for kids!
Onto california! We love everyone and we miss you!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
vegas baby...
We made it to las vegas and it is 11:30 here. Heather and I are playing the slots...
What happens in vegas stays in vegas.
Goodnight and we love you!
What happens in vegas stays in vegas.
Goodnight and we love you!
day 3 scene 3
Notice the smiles... ok so we got to the visitor center and were nicely told the viewing point was right around the corner. So off we go. As we are walking with a skip in our step ever so eager to finally see the grand canyon (and not fear whiplash) we manage to almost fall in step with each other - the entire group became one. Slowly our conversations died off as everyone started sweating struggling for oxygen and wondering who in the hello puts a scenic view 30 miles away from the visitor center? It reminded me of an old story about a woman who buys these aggie tickets b/c they were great seats real close... Sorry I digressed for a minute - back to the adventure. No one mentioned the hike to the view and yet here we were just following along behind other stupid people who listened to the very dumb, misguided, almost sadistic tourist guide.
Finally we arrive at the most fantastic, awesome view ever and we actually enjoyed the peace and serenity for a record breaking 5 seconds before taylor slips at the edge, moni almost lost consciousness, hunter started yelling let's juuuuummmmmppppp, and heather and I had blue fingers from clinging to our sons so tight.
day 3 scene 2...
We are all accounted for again (thanks to speedy and the tackle heard round the world)... we have managed to cram 11 people with the ever growing stuff we must keep accumulating and are peacefully gazing at the beautiful mountains near the grand canyon. As all 10 passengers are looking out the side windows in awe of the amazing dead elk that Moni wanted everyone to see, I stopped to wonder how is the driver noticing the detail we are?? As the thought enters my mind, we stop (no stop sign and not on the side of the road rather in the middle). Ummm mom you cannot look at the side of a cliff while driving!! Apparently Moni disagrees with me....
Now fast forward past the almost 50 car pile up we caused, and we have safely navigated to the GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER, sounds like a helpful happening place to go when visiting the grand canyon???
Now fast forward past the almost 50 car pile up we caused, and we have safely navigated to the GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER, sounds like a helpful happening place to go when visiting the grand canyon???
the grand canyon
Well today has been an adventure. You know how when you go away for the weekend you are ready to come home to your own house by Sunday... Well it's Sunday for me and almost everyone else and yet I am not on my way home, I am headed in the wrong direction. At this point everyone on board has officially had their first melt down. Unfortunately none have happened at the same time (oh happy day). So for me to feel a little better, I need everyone at home to imagine the past day. So let's start "once upon a time"
Moni is lying in bed peacefully. She hears chris say "since the kids are sleeping I am going to go do the laundry will you watch the kids?" The door closes. Moni falls back into her great dream of a streak of winning at blackjack when she is snapped back to reality as she hears the door close a second time. She counts 1, 2, 3, 4... wait no 5! She bolts from the bed (remember who we are referring to) and puts in a world record breaking 100 m dash out the room, down the hallway to tackle Hunter before he got to the road!
Moni is lying in bed peacefully. She hears chris say "since the kids are sleeping I am going to go do the laundry will you watch the kids?" The door closes. Moni falls back into her great dream of a streak of winning at blackjack when she is snapped back to reality as she hears the door close a second time. She counts 1, 2, 3, 4... wait no 5! She bolts from the bed (remember who we are referring to) and puts in a world record breaking 100 m dash out the room, down the hallway to tackle Hunter before he got to the road!
day 3
We stayed last night in the prettiest place I have ever seen, flagstaff arizona. It was gorgeous! It is a place tucked away in the mountains. Really really nice! Ok back to the usual - chaos, crying kids and fighting adults!
Friday, June 25, 2010
dinosaurs in arizona
Now after 5 hours of driving and countless begging to get out of the car, Moni spotted a small, unusual to say the least, dinosaur park so of course we stopped. But as we drove closer something seemed odd... but it was too late - the boys spotted dinos so we had no choice except to stop. The main dino as we drove in looked really cool from the road - it even had prey in its mouth. As we pulled up, I noticed the prey was a half eaten naked human! It got better after that... we get out of the car and the boys run full speed over to another dino. This time there is a sharp tooth taking a chunk of flesh out of a triceratops. The kids never noticed the blood and gore - they were too excited about the fact there are dinos in arizona. So please don't judge our parenting skills, it has been a long two days, and this was free entertainment for the kids. Try to focus on their excitement and not the triceratop carcass they are crawling all over...
Disclaimer: due to graphic content this is for a mature audience only (rusty and blaine you are out)
Disclaimer: due to graphic content this is for a mature audience only (rusty and blaine you are out)
hello mountains!
Finally we have left the flat, dry, hot plains and are moving into the mountains (unless I have lost my sanity and it is just a mirage). Heather was beginning to have a nervous tick everytime she saw a tumble weed.
Since the last post we went into an area I like to think about as a twilight zone. Our gps kept saying there was a gas station in 200 miles - for about 2 hours! Chris started hyperventilating about our gas tank falling below 1/2 a tank.
So needless to say it is nice to change our scenery. I do have some video clips to upload but I have not quite learned how to do it yet...
Since the last post we went into an area I like to think about as a twilight zone. Our gps kept saying there was a gas station in 200 miles - for about 2 hours! Chris started hyperventilating about our gas tank falling below 1/2 a tank.
So needless to say it is nice to change our scenery. I do have some video clips to upload but I have not quite learned how to do it yet...
goodbye roswell
After 4 hours in the walmart parking lot (at least that is how it felt) we are leaving roswell. Please note the wonderful picture by the alien where 2/7 kids are crying...
aliens everywhere...
We survived our first night and now we are up and moving. We are at walmart in roswell. They have alien pictures everywhere!
Mom has already hollered sh** in front of the kids, Jaimi keeps repeating over and over "I'm hungry or I'm thirsty". I am really questioning why I agreed to this... and it's only 8:45 on day 2.
Right now I think rusty's comment "head to the nearest liquor store, put on your earphones and drink heavily" might be my survival tactic... Chris wants to know if that applies to the driver as well...
Not to mention we have 7 kids sitting in the walmart parking lot b/c we needed more stuff... Did I mention the 15 passeneger van is full of stuff??? If we add much more someone will be voted off the van - please vote me!
Mom has already hollered sh** in front of the kids, Jaimi keeps repeating over and over "I'm hungry or I'm thirsty". I am really questioning why I agreed to this... and it's only 8:45 on day 2.
Right now I think rusty's comment "head to the nearest liquor store, put on your earphones and drink heavily" might be my survival tactic... Chris wants to know if that applies to the driver as well...
Not to mention we have 7 kids sitting in the walmart parking lot b/c we needed more stuff... Did I mention the 15 passeneger van is full of stuff??? If we add much more someone will be voted off the van - please vote me!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
recap of day 1
Well it's the end of our first day and everything went well except...
Jaimi towards the end was begging Jackson to share just one of his binkies - even though she has been binkie free for over a year. I guess old habits die hard.
Jackson who is used to a rather quiet house started telling even me to hush and be quiet so he could sleep.
Ami asked several times for a plane ticket home, and the rest of us contemplated whether we should have asked that as well..
One lonely husband texted "goodnight sexy mama" except he sent it to the wrong wife - priceless!
But everyone survived and is now peacefully sleeping. A great start to our fun-filled 10 day trip! Let's see how long the happiness lasts!
Goodnight everyone and we love you.
Jaimi towards the end was begging Jackson to share just one of his binkies - even though she has been binkie free for over a year. I guess old habits die hard.
Jackson who is used to a rather quiet house started telling even me to hush and be quiet so he could sleep.
Ami asked several times for a plane ticket home, and the rest of us contemplated whether we should have asked that as well..
One lonely husband texted "goodnight sexy mama" except he sent it to the wrong wife - priceless!
But everyone survived and is now peacefully sleeping. A great start to our fun-filled 10 day trip! Let's see how long the happiness lasts!
Goodnight everyone and we love you.
trying to sit down and eat dinner...
What was Moni thinking - we have been in the car for 8 hours and Mom wants to stop and have a sit down dinner... so here we are in carlsbad eating. Now the picture below is fuzzy b/c everyone is moving around crazy. Jackson is crawling on heather, hunter is screaming and waving 3 knives, and jc is seeing how much he can destroy on the table in record breaking time. Needless to say ami and I are betting on how quickly we get kicked out - so far we have lasted 10 minutes.
This pic is for Paul and Grandma and Pop!
This pic is for Paul and Grandma and Pop!
chris thinks we should have stopped for gas....
Just kidding - we didn't run out yet - but we are definitely in the middle of no where. Chris is so scared of running out of gas, we have stopped every time the tank dropped below 3/4 full!!!
We made it to our first stop and still have everyone accounted for.... but it was touch and go. Let me recap the story:
Me - "jaimi it is time to go"
Jaimi - "EG can't I just stay here?"
Me - "sure we will pick you up in 10 days"
I go to get jc and we all start leaving - except jaimi... I go back and ask Jaimi what she's doing. She says "EG you said I could stay"... Now I know - no sarcasm to the 4 year old... Going to be a long trip.
Here's a picture of the beautiful scenery though.
We made it to our first stop and still have everyone accounted for.... but it was touch and go. Let me recap the story:
Me - "jaimi it is time to go"
Jaimi - "EG can't I just stay here?"
Me - "sure we will pick you up in 10 days"
I go to get jc and we all start leaving - except jaimi... I go back and ask Jaimi what she's doing. She says "EG you said I could stay"... Now I know - no sarcasm to the 4 year old... Going to be a long trip.
Here's a picture of the beautiful scenery though.
picture of day 1
Here is a picture of all of us (except me of course - I am taking the picture) before starting the trip. Let's see how long the smiles last...
help me...
I think back to the movie "nightmare on elm street" where no one wanted to sleep... right now, I would happily face freddy krueger...
Chris has already asked to be dropped off at the border - as if heather and I would let her get out and us be stuck with all the kids!
We have been on the road since 12:05 and I have counted 15 times where I have said hush, please stop talking or we are turning this car around!!!
I promise to post pics as soon as I figure out how to do that with my phone.
We love all of you!
Chris has already asked to be dropped off at the border - as if heather and I would let her get out and us be stuck with all the kids!
We have been on the road since 12:05 and I have counted 15 times where I have said hush, please stop talking or we are turning this car around!!!
I promise to post pics as soon as I figure out how to do that with my phone.
We love all of you!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
no turning back
Well blaine, jc and I are headed to meet heather so jc and I have a ride...
I think I packed every toy possible - but I am sure the one toy I forgot will be the bff that jc cannot live without - good thing walmart or target are national chains...
I am soooo excited and yet very, very nervous about the close quarters we will be in... oh well, no turning back now!
We leave in 18.5 hours - whoop!
I think I packed every toy possible - but I am sure the one toy I forgot will be the bff that jc cannot live without - good thing walmart or target are national chains...
I am soooo excited and yet very, very nervous about the close quarters we will be in... oh well, no turning back now!
We leave in 18.5 hours - whoop!
Monday, June 21, 2010
countdown continues
Ok - I am at walmart trying to find cheap entertainment for 3 two year olds, 1 six year old, 1 four year old, 1 ten year old, and 1 fourteen year old. Not to mention sanity helpers for the four adults - scary...
We have only 3 days 1 hour and 45 minutes!!
We have only 3 days 1 hour and 45 minutes!!
Friday, June 18, 2010
itinerary
Here is the official itinerary:
Thursday 6/24
Leave san antonio ~ noon
Stop in fort stockton ~ 5:30
Travel to carlsbad, nm and stop for the night
Friday 6/25
Travel to roswell, nm and eat lunch with the aliens
Head to alberquerque and stop to stretch
Stop for the night in flagstaff, nm
Saturday 6/26
Travel to grand canyon
Tour grand canyon until ~ 2
Head to las vegas, nv
Stay the night in las vegas, nv (what happens in vegas...)
Sunday 6/27
Stay in vegas until evening
Travel to porterville, ca (~ 5 hour trip)
Stay in porterville, ca
Monday 6/28
Tour the sequoia national forest
Travel to santa monica (~ 3 hours)
Stay the night in santa monica
Tuesday 6/29 - 6/30
Travel to los angeles (~ 2 hours)
Disneyland
Beach
Museums
Cavavon dinosaur land
Stay both nights in la
Thursday 7/1
Head to san diego (~ 2 hours)
Tour san diego zoo
Travel to phoenix, az (~ 6 hours)
Stay the night in phoenix, az
Friday 7/2
Travel to las cruces, nm (~ 6 hours)
Stay the night in las cruces, nm
Saturday 7/3
Travel to carlsbad, nm (~ 4 hours)
Tour carlsbad caverns until ~ 2 pm
Travel home to san antonio arriving late Saturday night
Thursday 6/24
Leave san antonio ~ noon
Stop in fort stockton ~ 5:30
Travel to carlsbad, nm and stop for the night
Friday 6/25
Travel to roswell, nm and eat lunch with the aliens
Head to alberquerque and stop to stretch
Stop for the night in flagstaff, nm
Saturday 6/26
Travel to grand canyon
Tour grand canyon until ~ 2
Head to las vegas, nv
Stay the night in las vegas, nv (what happens in vegas...)
Sunday 6/27
Stay in vegas until evening
Travel to porterville, ca (~ 5 hour trip)
Stay in porterville, ca
Monday 6/28
Tour the sequoia national forest
Travel to santa monica (~ 3 hours)
Stay the night in santa monica
Tuesday 6/29 - 6/30
Travel to los angeles (~ 2 hours)
Disneyland
Beach
Museums
Cavavon dinosaur land
Stay both nights in la
Thursday 7/1
Head to san diego (~ 2 hours)
Tour san diego zoo
Travel to phoenix, az (~ 6 hours)
Stay the night in phoenix, az
Friday 7/2
Travel to las cruces, nm (~ 6 hours)
Stay the night in las cruces, nm
Saturday 7/3
Travel to carlsbad, nm (~ 4 hours)
Tour carlsbad caverns until ~ 2 pm
Travel home to san antonio arriving late Saturday night
planning for chaos
Ok everyone... I decided to keep a blog of our adventures during this crazy west coast adventure we are about to embark on! This is for all those too scared to come with us (yes rusty I am referring to you).
I am going to post pics and even video so you can enjoy the trip with us! Let the countdown begin - we leave in 6 days 15 minutes!!
Summer chaos trip 2010 here we come!
I am going to post pics and even video so you can enjoy the trip with us! Let the countdown begin - we leave in 6 days 15 minutes!!
Summer chaos trip 2010 here we come!
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