Category Archives: Vacation

Paradise Point and the Jet Ski

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Let me immediately disabuse you of the notion that we spent the past week in actual paradise: everyone knows that’s in Hawaii. We were in San Diego.

A week of fun in the California sun – complete with muppets and grandparents. (So I totally stole away to the spa.) Continue reading

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The Riverfront Carousel

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One of the more challenging aspects of a small town vacation with rambunctious newly minted 4-year-olds is finding an intellectually stimulating activity that will still drain the preschoolers of a good deal of energy.

To the park! Continue reading

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Banishment from the Ball Pit

Ball Pit

We arrived at our destination and immediately realized that the “Economy” rental car selection was not actually a feasible option. So one upgrade later, and after schlepping tiny people and all accompanying suitcases, seats and miscellaneous stuff out to our new Subaru DadMobile, it became apparent our Dollar had not stretched far enough – the keys and the car did not match.

So we kicked off our vacation with a stunning tour of the PDX short-term parking garage, as part of a life-size matching game. (Age-appropriate development games for the muppets every step of the way.) Continue reading

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Leaving on a Jet Plane

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I could hear the boys squirming in bed long before the alarm went off. I rolled over to drowsily check the video monitor; Destroy had located his die-cast toy plane and was flying it around the perimeter of his pillow.

The moment permission to arise was granted the two were up like a shot – rocketing into our room abuzz with pre-flight excitement. Each muppet received a personalized backpack and was informed they could bring one toy in their carry-on.

From the kitchen I heard Jon explain, “No, you probably shouldn’t bring the hacksaw. The security people won’t like that.”

Plastic weaponry denied, breakfast consumed and an ungodly amount of baggage and it was time to embark upon our adventure. Continue reading

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Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

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(Do you want to build a snowman?)

Despite the growing consternation about the water desperation in California, we decided to bundle up the boys and head for the hills – Tahoe. (If the drought got too bad, we’d just hit the state line and cross right over. Nevada’s got plenty of water, right?)

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Being Awesome at the Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare Adventure

First Visit

The timing around our summer vacation was twofold. Preschool takes a week off between the end of summer school and the start of a new school year; and I take a great masochistic pleasure in running the Disneyland Half Marathon.

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What I Did Over My Summer Vacation

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For a week I wore no pants. My makeup was the slight burn of the sun turning to tan. My hair was dried by the air and styled by the salty sea breeze. We only went indoors to sleep.

But now, it has come time to return to reality. To a world of work and preschool, where pumpkin spice lattes replacing the sweet juices of pineapple and watermelon. Continue reading

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After these messages, we’ll be riiiight back.

IMG_2945I just got back from vacation.

I could sit here and regale you with the wondrous tales of tropical islands and the Happiest Place on Earth.

Or.

I could go stand in a hot shower until the water turns cold before climbing back into MY bed for one last hurrah of comfort and relaxation before life resumes to our routine tomorrow at daybreak.

Guess which one I’m choosing? Continue reading

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TechMom Tuesday: iPad Minis for the Mini People

TechMomI write a monthly column over at AlliOSNews. It’s a techie site – extolling all the goodies and gunpowder on the Apple OS. (SHINY TOY!) I’m TechMom. And these are my stories on how technology is really used. This is what you must deal with as I am a Silicon Valley nerd by day.

(I’m well aware it’s Friday.  If you want TechMom Tuesday on Tuesdays, head on over to AlliOSNews for all things Apple. TechMom Tuesday is typically published the first Tuesday of every month. I reserve the right to rant more or less as the technical goings-on, well…go on. This month it’s late because I was off celebrating America’s Independence Day the first week, and then my editor was on vacation the next.) Continue reading

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The Oregon Trail (or crossing California with tiny people)

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As we celebrated the birth of our nation this past holiday weekend, I thought it only appropriate to harken back to the days of yore. To revisit a significant period in our nation’s history and perhaps discuss the impact it has on us today.

I am, of course, referring to the late 1980s when oodles of children sat at their Apple IIgs’ and played Oregon Trail from Disc 1 of 2 they’d just inserted into the floppy drive. Continue reading

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