When I was in Florida recently I was looking through my mom's books for something to read. I picked one up and my mom said, "that was Kathy's. I think you'd like that one."
Kathy was Auntie Kathy, my mom's sister. She passed away a few years ago, far too soon, at the age of 60 from breast cancer. Auntie Kathy was a librarian, an aspiring writer and an overall book enthusiast and bibliophile. History, romance, adventure and science fiction, she loved it all. Kathy wasn't a book snob though, and wasn't embarrassed to be entertained by "fluffy" books or escapist fun. In fact, she introduced me to Clive Cussler, king of all adventure fluff.
Shortly after having my first baby, I was complaining to Kathy about how Noah took so long to nurse I felt like I was wasting time. (No bashing on me for not being the perfect mother enjoying our quiet nursing time... Noah seriously nursed for HOURS. One nursing session would often take an hour from start to finish! Of course, he was my first and I didn't know what the heck I was doing, so maybe that was part of it!) Kathy asked why I wasn't reading when I nursed. When I said I didn't have time to poke around at the library, or read book reviews, or find out what was good, she simply said "get a pen." She proceeded to rattle off her list of favorite books and authors. A few I had read, but most I had not. It was like someone had done the hard work for me. I wrote it all down in a little notebook I carried in my purse at the time (I had pregnancy brain then and couldn't remember anything so Jason bought me a little notebook to jot down things like "buy light bulbs" and "bathroom needs a rug".) I still have it. For ten years it has bounced around from car to junk drawer to my desk. I rarely add to it, but every time I go to throw it away I find Kathy's list in the back and I tuck that little notebook away again.
Jump ahead ten years and my pregnancy brain is now more aptly called busy mommy brain and I still find it frustrating to find good books. So there I stood in Florida, holding a book that was Kathy's. Ok, maybe this wasn't the book she actually held in her hands, it could be for all I know, but as I stood there I remembered my little red notebook from a decade earlier. Staring at the cover of the book I felt a strange stirring in my heart, a strange connection to Kathy. To think I could read a book she had read, one she had loved. I started reading the book, and my mom was right, I do love it. I just went digging through my kitchen and found my little red notebook. There are 38 titles and/or authors just waiting for me. A gift to me from her. It's a little book club for one... Auntie Kathy's Book Club.
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Proof in the pics... cont.
Are they standing on a whale out there? Walking on water? This was a huge sand bar that they waded out to, and I remained on the shore as photographer. The water was a little chilly for me and I was afraid of dropping the camera.
No trip to Florida is complete without a visit to see the Boys of Summer! Here we are at the Red Sox spring training opener against the Minnesota Twins. They sure do pack them in at Twins Stadium and I was jammed up against two very large farmers from Minnesota. Minnesotans sure do love their kettle corn.
The Sox lost, but that didn't stop Noah from trying to get a 9th inning rally going much to the delight of the remaining Twins and Sox fans around us!
Proof in the pics... cont.
Jason and I actually did have our belated Valentine's Day celebration with the sunset. We had a picnic and watched the sun go down. And then got silly and took some pictures of ourselves. Jason nearly pulled a muscle taking this one!
Here is a classic Brady Bunch pose on the beach. Remember the episode when they sang on the talent show? The kids did pretty well considering they had no idea what I was talking about!
You must go shell searching while in Florida! Here Jason and Ben match up their findings to the laminated shell "map" Nana has. You mean shells actually have names?
The proof is in the pictures
Just in case anyone needed more proof that the drive, planning and effort were worth it, here's a sampling of what we did on our vacation.
The main attraction, otherwise known as Nana and Pepere. Our big outing where bathing suits were not an option... Sunday brunch. After a few quick reminders on "buffet etiquette" Noah hit the Belgian waffle chef, Alanya was a perfect lady using her manners, and Ben actually stopped darting around and sat still for once to enjoy his breakfast.
Here's the gang coming down the Lazy River! It was a little cool, but we all had a ball at the water park.
The big event here was Ben got up the courage to head up the tower and try the big slides. Once he actually did it, we could barely get him to leave. Noah finally had a buddy to ride the slides with! Alanya preferred the river and the splash area. Next year we'll get her up there.
Jason must have snapped this when I wasn't looking. My little baby is getting so big!
Florida by the numbers
After a wonderful trip to Florida, we had to race up the Eastern seaboard yesterday to try and beat a major snowstorm. We pulled in at 6:30 pm and the snow started a few hours later. We woke up to about a foot of snow and no school. Beach day to snow day in what seems like overnight. I am spending the day doing laundry, picking up and putting things away, but in the meantime... a quick "Florida by the numbers"....
1,601 - The number of miles exactly from our driveway to my parent's driveway.
26:13 - The number of hours it took us to drive straight through from New Hampshire to Florida. Actual driving time was 23:55 hours.
10 - The number of stops we needed to take on the way down. Our quickest pit stop was 6 minutes in Santee, South Carolina. For all five of us to get out of the car and get in to use a bathroom, we really can't knock much time off this. And believe me, we tried!
$230.95 - The total cost of gas for the trip.
$1.87 - The average price we paid for gas. Flagler, Florida had the most expensive at $2.09 and we paid the least, $1.77, just north of Richmond, VA. Last year we paid $3.30 a gallon in Daytona, Florida!
8 - The number of days the kids got to swim!
1,601 - The number of miles exactly from our driveway to my parent's driveway.
26:13 - The number of hours it took us to drive straight through from New Hampshire to Florida. Actual driving time was 23:55 hours.
10 - The number of stops we needed to take on the way down. Our quickest pit stop was 6 minutes in Santee, South Carolina. For all five of us to get out of the car and get in to use a bathroom, we really can't knock much time off this. And believe me, we tried!
$230.95 - The total cost of gas for the trip.
$1.87 - The average price we paid for gas. Flagler, Florida had the most expensive at $2.09 and we paid the least, $1.77, just north of Richmond, VA. Last year we paid $3.30 a gallon in Daytona, Florida!
8 - The number of days the kids got to swim!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
"Heart" Healthy Saturday
I woke up this morning and there was a Valentine on my nightstand from Noah. He also worked on a Valentine gift for me… cleaning out his closet. He took countless trips up and down the stairs getting rid of papers and trash. This truly was a gift because I get a rash every time I have to open his closet! Alanya also got in on the action and cleaned her room for me. She makes a bed better than anyone in this house! Ben on the other hand marches to his own drummer, and his room is still a mess. I love his independence. No one is going to pressure him into anything he doesn't want to do.
I got a heartfelt poetic reflection from my husband. He’s a romantic, but can’t stand this holiday. About two weeks ago he sent me an email from work that was worthy of a greeting card. I suggested he save it and print it out again for Valentine’s Day. Instead of going out or buying each other gifts, we decided we would find a few hours in Florida when we can leave the kids with my parents and go have a picnic on the beach, just the two of us. That sounds way better than some grocery store flowers or drugstore candy to me.
I got a heartfelt poetic reflection from my husband. He’s a romantic, but can’t stand this holiday. About two weeks ago he sent me an email from work that was worthy of a greeting card. I suggested he save it and print it out again for Valentine’s Day. Instead of going out or buying each other gifts, we decided we would find a few hours in Florida when we can leave the kids with my parents and go have a picnic on the beach, just the two of us. That sounds way better than some grocery store flowers or drugstore candy to me.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Florida... Road trip survival kit
Last year after we completed our second round trip drive to Florida and back, I actually did something smart. I created a document and wrote down all the things I learned. What I brought that worked, what I should have brought, how I should have packed it. I just found the list and I'm thrilled I did this as you really do forget the specifics of what to bring and all the possible scenarios that could pop up. The biggest issue for us has been that Alanya gets car sick, and we have cleaned up more vomit on Interstate 95 than you probably care to know about. The first thing on the list surprisingly enough is a "Vomit Care Kit". For the record, she finally is old enough now that we feel more comfortable about giving her medications, so we do give her Dramimine now and so far so good. So for anyone out there planning a major road trip, here is my survival list.
Vomit Care Kit – Febreeze, Gallon Ziploc with top turned down, Wet Wipes, Paper Towels, Dramamine and Trash bags. Some of these things are useful for other parts of the trip, but are essential if vomit does arise. The febreeze is a must-take now. The last thing you want to do is sit in a car for hours when it smells. Buy a small bottle and find a place to put it. You'll be happy you did. The gallon ziploc with the top turned down (one of my cyberfriends pointed out the necessity of having it already open!) lives in the pocket in front of Alanya. If necessary, write "vomit bag" on it so it doesn't get used for something else by mistake (have done that too!). The wet wipes are good for cleaning people and car interiors. Although the Lysol ones would be nice for the car, you can make do with the people ones for both tasks. Paper towels are necessary for mopping up, and we suggest two dozen grocery shopping bags for garbage, bagging dirty clothes, and anything else that comes up. The dramamine should be chewable, just in case a tired cranky child revolts and refuses liquids or pills.
Items for Adult Passenger – earplugs, eye mask, pillow, blanket, crosswords, notebook and pen, Trip-Tik, book light, phones and charger. The adult passenger has two primary jobs, sleeping and entertaining the driver. I am a very light sleeper, so the sleeping aids are a must. Earplugs drown out kids and road noise. I made an eye mask out of an old dark colored towel and an elastic headband. We also bring a small pillow and a small fleece blanket as the driver will often keep the car cool to stay awake. Once the passenger is rested, he now needs to entertain. We save crossword puzzles from the paper for a week or so and do them together. The notebook and pen are for logging expenses, gas purchases, and time travelled, as well as brilliant ideas that pop up in the middle of the night. Jason and I still have a list of dream trips we want to take from last year. The AAA trip-tik or any other map is obvious, but the AAA version shows rest areas, rest areas with bathrooms (yes, there is a difference!) as well as exits with food and services. A small book light is good so the driver isn't inundated with the blinding overhead light, and the phones and charger is obvious to have nearby.
Important extras that need to be accessible – Advil, Children's chewable tylenol or advil, Band-aids, Immodium, Tissues, Paper Towels (select-a-size for napkins), glasses and sunglasses. All of these items should be within reach of the adult passenger so they can be retrieved without stopping. Ok, maybe not the Immodium, that likely requires a stop, but the rest should be in grabbing distance.
Food – Prepackage 5 of each kind of snack. Prepare a second set and put in a plastic shoebox for the return trip. Wraps are easy to put together on the road for lunch (pb, hummus, turkey). I've learned through trial and error how to pack the food. We bring lots of food, primarily so we aren't tempted to spend money along the way. One year, everyone had a snack container and I'd open a large bag and fill everyone's container, but this proved messy, and it left me with open bags. After a few refills, the kids thought they could pick and choose and it took more time than it needed to. Last year I came up with the 5 of each kind approach and it worked well. But the lightening bolt idea was packing the snacks for the return trip before we left. We take two days to drive back, so having snacks on hand is even more important to save money. As soon as we arrive in Florida, I take the box of snacks out of the car and put it in my parent's garage and it stays there until we are ready to leave. I also can't emphasize enough that when you are in the car for so long, you need real food, fresh food. You can only live so long on cheez-its and granola bars. We bring grapes, apples, orange slices, baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and bananas. Also good is nuts, dried fruits, cheese sticks and gogurts. Last year, 20 hours into our trip we stopped for lunch and we pulled out a pack of wholewheat tortillas, some turkey, hummus and filled it with veggies. Much better than a cheeseburger and fries.
Drinks – Use straight ice on the beverages in the hard cooler. (Cold packs for the food.) Fill all water bottles with water and refill smaller containers. Again, we learned here when at 4 in the morning we wanted an ice cold Diet Coke or Starbucks frappucino and they were lukewarm. Beverages need to be in straight ice. The food on the other hand will do fine with the cold packs. Limit the drinks with the kids or you will be stopping more than you care to. We give all of them a water bottle to hold at their seat, and refill from a gallon in the car when needed. A juice box or a soda as a treat will perk them up if you stop to let them run around. The kids need to get out and move, so every time you stop, jog up and down the sidewalk a few times to get the wiggles out, or play tag while waiting for others who are finishing up in the bathroom. Tired and sleepy kids make good companions on road trips.
Kids – dvds, blankets, pillows, book lights and activity bags. The importance of the dvd player can not be over emphasized on a trip like this. We actually have two, one with a double screen for the boys in the backseat, and one with a single screen for Alanya in the middle. She really doesn't watch it much because of her car sickness, but it will distract her when she is in a good mood to watch it. And as far as dvd's, I should start asking around now to see what I can borrow from friends. I try to borrow some, and I have also gotten some from the library. The only problem is you can only check out a dvd for one week, so I have to go online while in Florida and try to renew them during the vacation. If by chance someone put a hold on one of the movies, I won't be able to renew, and will get a fine, so this isn't the best option. They each bring a small blanket and neck pillow (I made them each one out of fleece last year). They also bring a stuffed animal or two, a notebook, pen, book to read, game boy... whatever they bring though must fit in their backpack and their backpack must be with them at their seat.
Packing – Pack all the things you definitely won’t need on the ride together and put those bags on the bottom. (Exception, easily accessible clothes for vomit-prone children). This seems sort of obvious, but sometimes obvious goes right out the window on a trip like this. We have stood in the rain in the parking lot of a Waffle House in South Carolina trying to dig through the back of the van looking for something... anything... to put on Alanya. Have one change of clothes for everyone in one bag on top.
Now that we are approaching one week away, I'll actually start piling things in a staging area, and I'm sure I'll be updating this list as I get going. Stay tuned!
Vomit Care Kit – Febreeze, Gallon Ziploc with top turned down, Wet Wipes, Paper Towels, Dramamine and Trash bags. Some of these things are useful for other parts of the trip, but are essential if vomit does arise. The febreeze is a must-take now. The last thing you want to do is sit in a car for hours when it smells. Buy a small bottle and find a place to put it. You'll be happy you did. The gallon ziploc with the top turned down (one of my cyberfriends pointed out the necessity of having it already open!) lives in the pocket in front of Alanya. If necessary, write "vomit bag" on it so it doesn't get used for something else by mistake (have done that too!). The wet wipes are good for cleaning people and car interiors. Although the Lysol ones would be nice for the car, you can make do with the people ones for both tasks. Paper towels are necessary for mopping up, and we suggest two dozen grocery shopping bags for garbage, bagging dirty clothes, and anything else that comes up. The dramamine should be chewable, just in case a tired cranky child revolts and refuses liquids or pills.
Items for Adult Passenger – earplugs, eye mask, pillow, blanket, crosswords, notebook and pen, Trip-Tik, book light, phones and charger. The adult passenger has two primary jobs, sleeping and entertaining the driver. I am a very light sleeper, so the sleeping aids are a must. Earplugs drown out kids and road noise. I made an eye mask out of an old dark colored towel and an elastic headband. We also bring a small pillow and a small fleece blanket as the driver will often keep the car cool to stay awake. Once the passenger is rested, he now needs to entertain. We save crossword puzzles from the paper for a week or so and do them together. The notebook and pen are for logging expenses, gas purchases, and time travelled, as well as brilliant ideas that pop up in the middle of the night. Jason and I still have a list of dream trips we want to take from last year. The AAA trip-tik or any other map is obvious, but the AAA version shows rest areas, rest areas with bathrooms (yes, there is a difference!) as well as exits with food and services. A small book light is good so the driver isn't inundated with the blinding overhead light, and the phones and charger is obvious to have nearby.
Important extras that need to be accessible – Advil, Children's chewable tylenol or advil, Band-aids, Immodium, Tissues, Paper Towels (select-a-size for napkins), glasses and sunglasses. All of these items should be within reach of the adult passenger so they can be retrieved without stopping. Ok, maybe not the Immodium, that likely requires a stop, but the rest should be in grabbing distance.
Food – Prepackage 5 of each kind of snack. Prepare a second set and put in a plastic shoebox for the return trip. Wraps are easy to put together on the road for lunch (pb, hummus, turkey). I've learned through trial and error how to pack the food. We bring lots of food, primarily so we aren't tempted to spend money along the way. One year, everyone had a snack container and I'd open a large bag and fill everyone's container, but this proved messy, and it left me with open bags. After a few refills, the kids thought they could pick and choose and it took more time than it needed to. Last year I came up with the 5 of each kind approach and it worked well. But the lightening bolt idea was packing the snacks for the return trip before we left. We take two days to drive back, so having snacks on hand is even more important to save money. As soon as we arrive in Florida, I take the box of snacks out of the car and put it in my parent's garage and it stays there until we are ready to leave. I also can't emphasize enough that when you are in the car for so long, you need real food, fresh food. You can only live so long on cheez-its and granola bars. We bring grapes, apples, orange slices, baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and bananas. Also good is nuts, dried fruits, cheese sticks and gogurts. Last year, 20 hours into our trip we stopped for lunch and we pulled out a pack of wholewheat tortillas, some turkey, hummus and filled it with veggies. Much better than a cheeseburger and fries.
Drinks – Use straight ice on the beverages in the hard cooler. (Cold packs for the food.) Fill all water bottles with water and refill smaller containers. Again, we learned here when at 4 in the morning we wanted an ice cold Diet Coke or Starbucks frappucino and they were lukewarm. Beverages need to be in straight ice. The food on the other hand will do fine with the cold packs. Limit the drinks with the kids or you will be stopping more than you care to. We give all of them a water bottle to hold at their seat, and refill from a gallon in the car when needed. A juice box or a soda as a treat will perk them up if you stop to let them run around. The kids need to get out and move, so every time you stop, jog up and down the sidewalk a few times to get the wiggles out, or play tag while waiting for others who are finishing up in the bathroom. Tired and sleepy kids make good companions on road trips.
Kids – dvds, blankets, pillows, book lights and activity bags. The importance of the dvd player can not be over emphasized on a trip like this. We actually have two, one with a double screen for the boys in the backseat, and one with a single screen for Alanya in the middle. She really doesn't watch it much because of her car sickness, but it will distract her when she is in a good mood to watch it. And as far as dvd's, I should start asking around now to see what I can borrow from friends. I try to borrow some, and I have also gotten some from the library. The only problem is you can only check out a dvd for one week, so I have to go online while in Florida and try to renew them during the vacation. If by chance someone put a hold on one of the movies, I won't be able to renew, and will get a fine, so this isn't the best option. They each bring a small blanket and neck pillow (I made them each one out of fleece last year). They also bring a stuffed animal or two, a notebook, pen, book to read, game boy... whatever they bring though must fit in their backpack and their backpack must be with them at their seat.
Packing – Pack all the things you definitely won’t need on the ride together and put those bags on the bottom. (Exception, easily accessible clothes for vomit-prone children). This seems sort of obvious, but sometimes obvious goes right out the window on a trip like this. We have stood in the rain in the parking lot of a Waffle House in South Carolina trying to dig through the back of the van looking for something... anything... to put on Alanya. Have one change of clothes for everyone in one bag on top.
Now that we are approaching one week away, I'll actually start piling things in a staging area, and I'm sure I'll be updating this list as I get going. Stay tuned!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Florida... 12 days until takeoff
Ok, so takeoff isn't the right word, but "12 days until backing out of the garage" doesn't sound as good. Yes, we drive to Florida, and yes we know people think we are crazy. Yes, I have looked at a map and I know we live way up in New Hampshire at the tippy top and my parents are in Florida way down at the bottom. Yes, it's a lot of advance planning and the ride itself takes 27 hours to get there of straight driving. So why do we do it?
There really are two main reasons. The first is obviously the money. We require five round trip plane tickets which if we were lucky a few years ago we could get for under a thousand dollars. Not anymore. Then once we are down there we need to rent a car as the five of us can't all fit in my parent's car, so that is about another $500 for the week. For just getting there, that's a lot of money, particularly if we like to go down every winter. When the kids were little we tried skipping a year, but we missed it too much. Our week in February in the sun does so much for our emotional health, we won't give it up. When we drive, we figure we can get there for about $500. Last year we paid around $3 a gallon for gas, and spent around $200 on fuel. On the way home, we get a hotel room in North Carolina and do the drive in two days, so another $100 for that. Tolls, about $100 roughly. And we'll throw in another $100 for stops for food, Starbucks, and more Starbucks. (How do you think we get there in 27 hours without stopping?)
We've heard the arguments about the cost of wear and tear on the car, and knowing Jason he has worked up a spread sheet on it, but in reality, what the heck is a car for if you don't drive it?
The other reason we like to drive has to do with the time it takes to get there. We know we "lose" days of our vacation when we are in the car instead of sitting on the beach. But the trip itself has become part of the vacation. When was the last time you sat with your husband and kids and just talked for hours? Or played word games? Or sang songs? Or did crosswords together? When was the last time you and your husband told each other your dreams while your kids snored quietly in the back? Those hours are special too. Jason said he actually prefers to drive because he has 27 hours to leave work behind, and when he finally sits down on the beach, he is ready to enjoy it.
Yes, getting on a plane is convenient and quick and we do like to fly. But there is something about the drive that does something for our family. We find each other again.
Coming soon... Laura's road trip survival list!
There really are two main reasons. The first is obviously the money. We require five round trip plane tickets which if we were lucky a few years ago we could get for under a thousand dollars. Not anymore. Then once we are down there we need to rent a car as the five of us can't all fit in my parent's car, so that is about another $500 for the week. For just getting there, that's a lot of money, particularly if we like to go down every winter. When the kids were little we tried skipping a year, but we missed it too much. Our week in February in the sun does so much for our emotional health, we won't give it up. When we drive, we figure we can get there for about $500. Last year we paid around $3 a gallon for gas, and spent around $200 on fuel. On the way home, we get a hotel room in North Carolina and do the drive in two days, so another $100 for that. Tolls, about $100 roughly. And we'll throw in another $100 for stops for food, Starbucks, and more Starbucks. (How do you think we get there in 27 hours without stopping?)
We've heard the arguments about the cost of wear and tear on the car, and knowing Jason he has worked up a spread sheet on it, but in reality, what the heck is a car for if you don't drive it?
The other reason we like to drive has to do with the time it takes to get there. We know we "lose" days of our vacation when we are in the car instead of sitting on the beach. But the trip itself has become part of the vacation. When was the last time you sat with your husband and kids and just talked for hours? Or played word games? Or sang songs? Or did crosswords together? When was the last time you and your husband told each other your dreams while your kids snored quietly in the back? Those hours are special too. Jason said he actually prefers to drive because he has 27 hours to leave work behind, and when he finally sits down on the beach, he is ready to enjoy it.
Yes, getting on a plane is convenient and quick and we do like to fly. But there is something about the drive that does something for our family. We find each other again.
Coming soon... Laura's road trip survival list!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Meet Bruce
This is Bruce, our trusty 2001 Honda Odyssey. Find it a bit odd that we named our car? Me too. But apparently Jason's family always names their cars. There was Miss Piggy, a big old cargo van and Cecelia, an old red panel truck. Three years ago we were on the final leg of our first drive home from Florida and we were saying how lucky we were to have such a great reliable car. We started to toss around names, and nothing quite fit. Then little Alanya, then three years old, yelled out, "Bruce!" This was during the heyday of Finding Nemo, and in the movie Bruce is a big, lumbering, grey shark with a heart of gold. The name fit perfectly, and from then on Bruce it was.
We bought Bruce a month before our second child was born and I remember back then with only one child it felt like a living room on wheels. It still does, particularly when we take our 27 hour 1,510 mile one way trek to Florida. We get to know Bruce really well during that trip. We'll be leaving again soon in a few weeks and I have to bring Bruce in for an oil change and a once over before we go. It's Bruce's time to shine.
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