Vacation: Part One

Robert and I rarely go on vacations. Other than visiting family and friends for a weekend or holidays once in a while, we've probably only been on 3 actual vacations in the 13 years we've been together. The first was to Disney World in 2002, when Mariko, Steve and Shizuka (our exchange student from Japan) were there for band competition. Robert and I drove down with Doug, Sarah & William and spent several fun-filled days there. The second was last winter when we flew out to spend Christmas with Mariko in beautiful Palo Alto, California. The third was just recently. We'd been trying to arrange time to visit with Rachel and family for nearly 3 years now, but between her busy Signing Time schedule and Robert's work schedule, it just never worked out. So when I sent a prospective schedule to Rachel at the end of July, she said she had an amazingly open time frame right then. I bought the plane tickets so fast Robert couldn't believe it. Like I mentioned in a previous post, William was more excited counting down the days to going to visit Rachel than he was to his birthday!

We flew out the day after his birthday, and to everyone who said 'hi' to him, he announced he was 'going on a plane to see Rachel'. We got in late in the evening, exhausted. Friday morning I went out to get my hair cut & styled~ my favorite style to date! Rachel had a meeting and Aaron had to work, so Robert & I took the kids and went to lunch and then bowling with Leah, Lucy and their summer nanny.



Sarah, Lucy & Leah


helping Lucy get the ball ready


Go Lucy!


Even with the kid-rail up, William managed to get the ball stuck in the gutter?!



Lucy, on her way to a Spare!!!


Sarah's turn for a spare!


Way to go Sarah!


William was so excited every time he had a turn!


Robert's strike


I was getting a picture of the screen, but caught his grimace as well~ that did a number on his back!


Leah's spare!!


Looking good Sarah!


And they all fell down... all that Wii Bowling paid off!

That evening, we brought the kids over to Rachel's sister Emilie's house for the cousin's pizza and a movie night. William was so happy to see Alex and make some new friends with Leah & Lucy's other cousins. From there, Robert & I went to dinner with Rachel & Aaron at Market Street Grill which they said is one of their favorite places to eat. I know why. It was sooooo wonderful!


The new 'do

After dinner we went to pick up the kids and ended up having a songfest at Emilie's. Such fun!

*Stay tuned~ more updates to come, including our family's preview of Baby Signing Time Volumes 3 & 4, which will be coming out in October! Meanwhile, for a sneak peek of Baby Signing Time online at http://www.signingtime.com/baby-signingtime-preview/index.html and a chance to win one of the very first copies, enter the Baby Signing Time blog contest at: http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2008/09/blog-competition/