Category Archives: Travels

2017 Camping Trip

by July 27, 2017

A couple of weeks ago we took the kiddos camping for 3 nights. I was scared. And I had to order stuff from Amazon, and make runs to target and walmart to get everything we needed. I saw this quote once, “camping, where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person”, and there’s some truth to that. That being said we still have nothing compared to our neighbor campers, we definitely need a tent shelter for our food, some adorable enamel dishes, camping stove oh and a large SUV to fit all this shit. Oh and did I mention I took a day to grocery shop and prep meals prior to going? But I’m just complaining/rambling because all in all it was a really really good trip. In fact Jonas asks me every night if we can go camping again. First off, he’s 2 how in the world is he old enough to say full sentences much less remember things???? So I have a feeling this camping thing is probably sticking around here and really that’s okay. There was a time when we were putting the kids down for a nap and it was SO hot in our tent and then a storm came rolling in and this amazing breeze flew into the tent and it was magical. 

Things I don’t want to forget about this trip:

  • Jonas calling himself ‘Jonas fish’ when he was swimming, which he wanted to do all the time
  • The kids being rockstars when we head to put up and put down the tents by just being kids outdoors, playing imagination with sticks, pinecones, chasing birds and just getting dirty. 
  • Jonas wanting to hug all of the bears (boo boo, yogi and cindy, not the real ones, we thankfully didn’t see real ones) at the camping resort
  • Nola having a special stick that she played with the entire time we were there and we ended up taking it home with us because we are suckers
  • Surviving 3 nights of people putting off fireworks
  • Surviving in a tent in a major thunderstorm
  • Nola being brave and standing under the bucket every time it pours water in the splash pad 
  • The time we got ice cream cones and then were reminded why we always get ice cream in dishes 
  • Watching the old school yogi cartoons outdoors

Here’s a video I compiled of all the footage I had while we were there. It’s long, so sorry about that, but my kiddos love these!

camping resort
kid’s star tank tops

Lambing Days

by June 25, 2017

So I found a new way to get real depressed, forget to post photos of last year’s lambing days and decide to do both years in one post. AND then you realize how much your kids have grown and you will most likely cry yourself to sleep. Only kind of kidding guys, but let me tell you, you blink and your kids are no longer babies!! My kids love going to Eugsters and we make it a tradition to go to lambing days in the spring and the fall festival. And just a side note, lambs are born mainly in the spring hence the yearly lambing days in the April, isn’t that interesting!!! Now as far as why that is, don’t ask me there’s google for that.

Here’s some photos from the past TWO years from the Lambing days if you care to see:

2016:

DSC_0018 This photo is worth documenting even if I look ridiculous, because don’t be fooled, though I’ll want to hold anyone’s baby, I not the biggest fan of holding large-ish squirmy animals, BUT I’M DOING IT!!!
DSC_0020 Hands down the funniest photo I have ever seen!!!!! My family in the background is doing there own thing and I’m the only one posing!!!! It’s probably because I’m so proud of myself for STILL holding this animal. DSC_0079 DSC_0085 This girl of ours just loves animals.
DSC_0091 Doing a stand-off. DSC_0101 DSC_0117 Gosh I love those babies of mine!! DSC_0123 DSC_0132 IMG_0080

2017:

DSC_0028 This year was the perfect age for Jonas, because each time we went somewhere else it kept on getting better. trucks! animals! sandbox!!!!! play set! 2 is a good age guys!
DSC_0053 DSC_0049 This was the best family photo we could get.
DSC_0041 And here we are again holding another baby lamb. I am willing to do a lot for my kiddos 🙂 DSC_0030 Is this not the most adorable photo! DSC_0057 Nola did not want to let go of that sweet chick. Oh and you got to love her cross necklace 🙂 we came here after church. DSC_0059 DSC_0083 DSC_0074 DSC_0078 DSC_0077 It’s pretty fun watching your kiddos when they are having so much fun!

If you made it through all these photos I congratulate you!! Eugsters we love you and will see you again in the fall!

Animal Kingdom

by May 23, 2017

We were told that we would need 2 days in Magic Kingdom and so we bought the 2 day pass right away. But I’m going to be straight up with you all, I just don’t need 2 days at Magic Kingdom. I have so many friends who love Disney and go yearly and for days and days in a row and I really adore these people, but I just don’t understand them. I want to understand you!! I think I’m more on the every 3 year plan (probably more like 4) and thankfully CJ is on the same page with me on this one. We agreed after a full day at Magic Kingdom we didn’t really want to go back and decided to check out Animal Kingdom. If you know our family well, you know our kiddos are animal obsessed so this seemed like the obvious choice. But now looking back we also love food and kind of wish we went to Epcot. Fine it’s just me who loves food, I guess we did the right choice with the animals.

Initially because we didn’t seem to do as much as we did at Magic Kingdom, I felt Animal Kingdom wasn’t worth the money and I would have preferred another pool day. But as the day progressed CJ and I both agreed it ended up being a really laid-back, but wonderful day. The highlights of the day was the safari, The Festival of the Lion King (it was awesome and Nola’s favorite), the Boneyard (playground/sandbox where our kids played for hours and did not want to leave) and Finding Nemo the Musical. I should also mention that the day we went they weren’t doing their brand new show, River of Lights, that’s suppose to be amazing which I was supper bummed about and coming soon is an Avatar ride that looks pretty amazing (yes I am a huge fan of that movie).

Here’s some photos of the day if you care to see:

IMG_2364 Here we are in front of the Tree of Life DSC_0193 It’s a dream of mine to go as a family on a legit safari, but for now this will do!! DSC_0180 DSC_0175 DSC_0171 I love this photo of our little guy DSC_0164 DSC_0161 Cj’s such a great daddy IMG_2368 This time I got the dole whip with rum in it so this was just mama’s treat!! Well done Disney you know how to get the parents through the day at these parks! DSC_0204 Nola was dying to get this treat, I wouldn’t say this is an “un-messy” treat however 🙂 IMG_2373 Basically I was in heaven for awhile holding my napping toddler. I will never sick of doing that. IMG_2372 DSC_0242 This sandbox was really small smooth stones. He didn’t want to leave ever. IMG_2377 We decided going to Disney was their treat, but ended up feeling like jerks and decided they could get a stuffed animal to add to their 100 million ones they have already. But I am glad we got them, they love them and play with them actually, hip hip hooray!

Florida Pool Day

by April 5, 2017

Our Florida trip was really short, too short in fact, so we only had 1 pool day. But our pool day was everything we hoped it would be and it makes me look forward to more days like this this summer. Both kids had fun swimming around and we were shocked when we realized we were out swimming for hours! We ate poolside, had smoothies and then headed to our room for naps. It kind of was a perfect. After naps we headed to Disney Springs, which has tons of fun restaurants and shops. It was actually a lot of fun just walking around, eating, getting treats and listening to live music. I also think we were just on a high because we were able to wear shorts and eat al fresco.

DSC_0084 love these two DSC_0088 Can’t tell you how much I love this photo!! They were just excited to be outside, going swimming and I can only imagine smiles and squealing happening while I took it.
DSC_0091 DSC_0095 DSC_0099 DSC_0113 Clearly from the lounge chairs we were staying in fancy place 🙂 not! But honestly it was a lot better than we had expected!! We stayed at the Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and though you shouldn’t expect anything grand, it definitely gave us all that we needed: transportation to the airport, transportation to all the parks & Disney Springs and had food and a pool!  DSC_0117 We stayed in the country section, so obviously it was expected to pose by the monstrous country boot.
DSC_0146 Here we are at Disney Springs. Man we loved that place! DSC_0151 DSC_0152 Late night treats at Sprinkles, where only our family opts out of cupcakes to get ice cream and root beer floats. From this photo, as you can imagine, we needed to get home because how much fun and sugar can you really have in one day?!!

Disney, the Happiest Place on Earth?!…Kidding It Was Pretty Great!

by March 30, 2017

Am I the only one who gets confused by what to call Disney? I just say we are going to Disney World, but technically the correct terminology is Magic Kingdom. So just know if I say we went to Disney World what I meant is the place with Cinderella’s castle. Even though I know, I know, saying Disney World is the whole complex including Epcot, Animal Kingdom, the list goes on. I honestly think this all happened because when we lived in CA DisneyLand is just DisneyLand. And there you have it friends a glimpse of my inner conversations.

Anyways, I truly believe if you live in the Midwest a getaway is a great idea during the long winter season just so you can remember how the sun feels. So we took a quick trip to Florida in the beginning of March. While we were there the weather was pretty perfect. The best way to describe it was the end of the summer, transitioning into fall weather, mid to upper 70’s. And lucky for us, on our pool day it hit the 80’s. I probably could have been ok with slightly warmer weather, but going to the parks this weather was perfect.

We had no illusions, we know that if  we were going to Disney with a 2 and 4 year old it was going to kick our ass. So we put on our boxing gloves and comfiest shoes and got mentally ready. We got there half on hour before the park opened and left after the fireworks. That’s right friends, 12 hours of magic, er, whatever you want to call it (insert winking emoji). We hit every ride, show, parade, treats we had on our list plus some, so I call it a successful day.

Here’s some photos of the day if you care to see:

IMG_2304 This little dude fell asleep on the way to the park. Love snuggling this baby bear for as long as I can.  IMG_1537 We see the castle!! Get excited people! DSC_0008 Watching the opening show before the park officially opened. IMG_2312 When someone offers to take family photo you never turn that down.  IMG_2321 This is a little blurry but I love this one so much!! My two little Mickey loves! We are in line to the Enchanted Tales with Belle. DSC_0012 DSC_0015 Jonas with Princess Belle!! DSC_0043 After we rode Dumbo. That was such a long wait, but thankfully they have a playground the kiddos can play on and we get paged when the line is only 15 minutes long or so, such a lifesaver. But truthfully it was still too long for me! DSC_0021 DSC_0018 We found the Dole Whip!! And lets just say by the time I looked down from this photo the kids finished this off. Next one I got I made sure had rum in it 🙂 DSC_0062 After the parade we found this area and it was everything we needed and more. We could let the kids loose, eat snacks and relax a little. DSC_0071 DSC_0053 Love this photo, Jonas always snacking, haha!! DSC_0046 I love Jonas’s whole mannerism here, cracking me up. We are waiting to go into the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. We also went to Mickey’s PhilharMagic which Jonas hated so much. Poor guy was so scared of the spraying of water, etc. At the end he just kept his head in my arm crying, he couldn’t handle it anymore. Nola on the other hand loved it! IMG_1605 This is the best we could get before the fireworks. I can only imagine because we were tired and probably on a sugar high. We were lucky and found an awesome spot to sit and watch the show, we also found out Jonas does not like fireworks either, bless his sweet heart. Lets just say he is very afraid of loud noises. I had to cover his ears the entire time and he kept on trying to leave and saying, “all done!!”  DSC_0079

Overall we had a really really good day and we were so glad we were able to do everything we wanted to do and more. The weather was amazing and the kids were troopers!! Nola loved the castle, the Peter Pan ride and the parade. Funny side note, Nola loves Cinderella’s castle here more than the legit castles we saw in France, though she did state she did like those as well. We were surprised how she so quickly lost the eye for authenticity as far as castles go, but will let it slide :). Disney will do it to you I guess! Jonas’s highlight seemed to be the Peter Pan ride as well! And his dislikes were anything that was loud. My highlight was watching my kids absorbing everything. To see happiness and excitement in your kid’s eyes will fill your heart like no other.