*This post is a little lengthy, with a lot of pictures.*
We left Sunday afternoon, and drove to Beckley, West Virginia. We stopped at a Pizza Hut along the way, where Easton seemed to celebrate turning 1 year old, by drinking out of a straw for the first time, and eating 1-1/2 pieces of pizza, and part of a breadstick! The majority of the trip went smoothly, until we got close to the hotel. We needed to get gas, but West Virginia was hit by a pretty bad storm the day before, and several areas were left without power, so finding a gas station wasn't the easiest thing. It didn't help that it was dark and raining either. We finally found a gas station, filled up, and headed to the hotel. Alvin went in to get our room, and was told that they were booked! Not something you want to hear at 11:30 pm, and after driving for 5-6 hours!! Apparently their power had went out earlier in the day, and they lost their reservations, so I guess they were just giving anybody that showed up a room. Thank goodness I had printed off my receipt and brought it along. Alvin showed it to them, and then they told him they would have to go knock on some doors to find an empty one.
Easton enjoying his birthday pizza.
Avari, Katie, and Owen checking out the water.
Easton loved crawling into the waves.
Avari loved playing in the waves.
Owen liked playing in the sand.
Helping the kids build a sand castle.
~1st Time for Everything~
Avari took a VERY long time to warm up to Adam.
While at the cabins, this past year, he helped her onto the back of his truck.
That's all it took!!
I think this is the first picture that we have gotten of Avari and Adam.
Tuesday morning, Katie, Avari, and I went to the store to get food for the week, while Alvin, Owen, and Easton stayed at the house. Since most of the guys at Adam's shop are overseas, he wasn't able to get off work, so he went in few at least a few hours everyday (except July 4th). Katie made hamburgers for lunch, and then we all headed to Busch Gardens for the rest of the afternoon/evening. I do know that we are definitely spoiled with Holiday World!! There is NO free parking, free drinks, or free water park at Busch Gardens, and admission is more expensive!! Luckily, Katie and Adam have season passes, so Katie drove our vehicle, and we didn't have to pay to park. Adam was able to get Owen and Avari in for free (Easton was already free), and we found a coupon online for $20 off tickets for Alvin and me. We didn't make it through the whole park, but the kids didn't seem to mind. I guess we will just have to hit those rides next time we visit.
The new baby Clydesdale.
His name is Aidan.
Inside a tree by one of the gift shops.
Avari refused to get in it.
This is where she sat instead.
The Griffon
You hang in the air like that, for a little bit, before it drops you.
Going down.
Alvin and I rode this one, and the Alpengeist. Both are really fun.
Alvin rode the Verbolten with Adam because the first to gave me a headache, so I decided to stop.
They said it was a lot of fun too. I think I will be riding it, when we go back sometime.
Katie and Owen, waiting for us to get off the Le Scoot.
Alvin, Owen, Avari, and I riding the Le Scoot.
Waiting for Entwined to start.
Owen and Avari really seemed to enjoy the show...
...while Easton just seemed to enjoy the food.
Entwined
It was a show about Good vs Evil.
Evil Witch with the Gingerbread Men and Hansel and Gretel.
The Good Witch and Little Red Riding Hood.
Owen with Goldilocks and one of the three bears.
Avari and Easton waiting for the water to shoot up.
Poor Easton got sprayed in the face a couple of times because he would put his face right over the hole. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind.
Owen checking out the tree house.
Me, Owen, and Avari
Avari, Owen, and Easton riding the lady bugs.
This is the first ride Easton actually didn't on! He really liked it, and didn't want to get off.
Owen and Avari riding the butterflies.
Owen and Avari riding the hot air balloons.
Worn out!!
Owen playing with sparklers, while wearing Adam's head light. Lol
Easton even got to play with the sparklers.
Avari liked the sparklers too.
Adam and Avari cooling off in the pool.
Wednesday afternoon, we walked around Colonial Williamsburg. It was neat looking at the colonial houses and buildings. We went into the old courthouse, but not any of the other buildings because we didn't feel like carrying the stroller up and down the steps. Plus, it was like 100 degrees outside, and the kids were getting hot, cranky, and tired. I would like to go back sometime when it's cooler outside, and walk in some of the other buildings there. Katie and Adam only live about five minutes away, so we went back to the house, and ate supper. Katie had made barbecue ribs and potatoes, and Avari told her that they were better than papaw's ribs!! Of course Katie had to let dad know! Although Avari scored points with Katie, she lost a few with dad! haha The evening we went back to Colonial Williamsburg to watch the fireworks. They were really neat and the kids really enjoyed watching them.
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!
Showing us how to load and shoot a gun.
Training his army.
The chair in the courthouse that Thomas Jefferson, among others, sat in.
The Court house
Adam and Owen
The Governor's Mansion
Owen and Avari walking through the flower garden maze
Avari, Easton, and Owen in the tunnel.
Thursday morning, we headed to Virginia Beach with Katie. Since Adam had to work, and is on stand by when he's not working, he wasn't able to go along. To get to Virginia Beach, you have to go through a tunnel. A tunnel that goes under the WATER!!! Although it was kind of neat, it was also a little freaky. Katie said they did that because it's a very busy channel, and this way the big naval ships can pass through easily. Of course, as we are going through it, Alvin has to say "I wonder how they keep this thing from leaking??" Although Katie and I were kind of wondering the same thing, we were really trying not to think about it. Owen and Avari thought it was really cool to drive under the water. Adam said further up, there's a 17 mile stretch that is all bridges and under water tunnels...we did not add that to our to-do list!
On the bridge leading to the under water tunnel.
The entrance of the tunnel.
Inside the underwater tunnel.
Once at Virginia Beach we went on a Captain Jack's Pirate Ship Cruise. It was a 1-/12 hours trip through the waters off of Virginia Beach. While on the boat, the pirates put on a show about Blackbeard the pirate. They sing, dance, and include the kids in several different activities to help get their treasure back from Blackbeard. They also gave the kids tattoos, and let them pick out a treasure from the chest, once they got it back. Owen and Avari were a little shy, and didn't want to participate in all the activities, but they said that they enjoyed it. Easton did good at first, but then got really fussy. I think he got a little hot because once Alvin gave him a freezer pop, he did a little better.
The pirate ship. It was called Lost Pearl.
Owen and Avari ready to set sail!
Easton is ready too!
Lowering the flag.
Owen and Avari showing off their new tattoos.
They both got swords.
Easton showing off his new tattoo.
Preparing to fire the cannon.
Shooting the Blackbeard.
Owen picking out his treasure.
He chose a gold coin.
Avari picking out her treasure.
She choose a ring.
The pirates even gave Easton a piece of treasure.
He got a ring.
After the pirate ship, we went to a restaurant called Rudees, which had really good food. Then we went to our hotel, changed into swimsuits, and headed to the beach. This was the kids' first time seeing the ocean. Once again, the kids LOVED the beach and water. I definitely think we have some water bugs! Owen said that he really liked building things in the sand. Avari said that she really liked the waves (or whales, as she calls them). Easton liked them both. He really liked the water, but only for short periods of time, then he wanted to play in the sand again. After a little bit, he wanted back in the water. I think we could have spent our whole vacation at the beach, and the kids would have been in heaven. While there, I even got to see a dolphin swim by!! Unfortunately, it was too far out, and didn't stay above water long enough for me to get a decent picture.
Katie, Owen, and Avari checking out the ocean.
Alvin, Easton, Avari, Katie, Owen
Easton loved playing in his little "pool".
Avari liked sitting at the edge of the water, and waiting for the waves to come in.
Easton liked doing that too.
The view from our room.
After we played at the beach for a while, we went back to the hotel to let the kids swim in the pool. Then we changed and went to CiCi's for supper. The kids must a really worked up an appetite swimming and playing in the ocean because I have never seen them eat as much as they did that night! Good thing we went to a buffet!
Friday, we went to the Virginia Aquarium before heading back to Katie and Adam's house. We all enjoyed the aquarium. Owen really liked watching the sharks, while Avari liked the huge sea turtles. Easton just seemed to enjoy anything that came up to the window at him. The aquarium has two building with a nature trail connecting the two of them. The one building has the majority of the aquatic life in it, while the other building has more educational exhibits in it, but did include the sea otter and blue crabs.
The seals
Checking out the fish and little turtles.
String rays, fish, and small sharks in the tunnel.
Male and female alligators.
Easton checking out the sea turtles.
Owen an Avari with the sea turtles.
Watching the sharks.
Owen wanted his picture taken with the sharks.
Trying to touch a stingray.
Easton touching a horseshoe crab.
The sea otters.
The blue crab.
Saturday morning, they took us to the Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis. If you don't have a military ID they have to search your vehicle, so Adam drove our Trailblazer, so that we could avoid that. : ) The museum was filled with army transportation from the Colonial days to the present. They also had military clothing, maps, and other items from each period. Adam showed us vehicles he drove in each time he was overseas. He also used the maps to shows us where he traveled while in Afghanistan, and in Iraq, as well as where the most dangerous areas were in each country. It was a really neat museum. Owen really liked looking at all the vehicles, especially the planes, jets, and helicopters. He wanted me to take his picture by almost every one of them! : )
A vehicle like the ones Adam drove and rode in, while overseas.
Bombs
Coke bomb
Supply carrier
Freight carrier
Sunday morning, we went to church, and then to Ponderosa, with my family. Owen and Avari wanted to ride to and from Ponderosa with my parents, so they just took them to their house after we ate. While Easton slept, Alvin and I unpacked and put things away. My parents brought Owen and Avari back later in the day. That evening we went to Homestead for supper.
The week went by way too fast, but it was great spending so much time with Katie and Adam...and Harper and Paisley too! We are very thankful to them for letting us invade their home for a week. We hope that they will let us do it again sometime.
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