Gramma comes for a Visit!

My mom came for a visit this week! We were all so excited when my dad called and said he booked tickets and mom was coming in a few days! It was a last minute trip so we did not have much time to get all excited- we were just really excited! Seven days with Gramma Ruth- so fun! It has gone way too fast and tomorrow she has to get on the plane- crummy I say!

Gramma arrived to full spring glory here in Louisville and being the gardener that she is.... she loved all the trees and blossoms everywhere. If I only took her on drives to see gardens and houses she would be one happy Gramma! Her favourite was the Azaleas and Dogwood trees.

We took her to the Zoo, Science Centre and Schmiff's candy shop with the kids.  When the kids were in school we spend one whole day shopping and looking at all the little knick knacks we wanted!  We even could look at scrap-booking paper or fabric and not be in a rush!    

Gramma helped both girls sew a skirt each and Megan finish her quilt she started at Christmas.  Luke managed to beat Gramma at Ping Pong (often) and impress her with his Lego creations!

Tears will happen when she gets on the plane and the house will be a little too quiet!  We'll have to look forward to our time when we fly home in June and get back into our busy routine until then!

Spring Break Part 3

As for BUSCH GARDENS.... I had no idea what this place was until we got here and I have no desire to go near roller-coasters again anytime soon. Of course I did not ride any... (I detest rides and my back would not cope- I have the life long excuse to not get on any ride!) but the kids sure had their fill. The Griffin is one of the world's steepest and fastest rides... Keith had to work hard to get Megan and Luke on the rides, but now they just run off and beg to get in line again. The weather has been very HOT... 30*c degrees hot... we've gone through lots of sunscreen and water. Keith and the kids got stuck on one of the rides for 45 minutes- spring break glitches- and of course they were stuck at the TOP of the ride- and were the last people off the ride as they climbed down 85 feet of stairs!!! No one was freaked out and we did get free meals vouchers out of the deal.... but what a way to remember a roller coaster ride! This park is beyond description- just google it. There were some neat shows to see and lots of rides for the kids.

We are thankful for a real spring break trip- never have done something like this before! Keith still had to keep up with his school reading and Advanced Greek Grammar translations, but we had lots of time for fun too. Now we're back to reality and the rest of the school term- which does not seem very long when I consult the calendar! The kids are sure looking forward to going back to Canada for a month... it will happen soon enough :)

Spring Break part 2

Virginia Beach was a neat way to spend Easter Sunday. I love watching the waves and the kids tried to make the best use of the sand while we were there. No beach compares to a NZ beach, but we were just happy to be on the ocean... It was Keith's first time getting to the Atlantic Ocean- as well as the kids. I was completely amazed at the vast number of hotels and people on the beach- no plans to return during the summer... too busy for us!

Spring Break 2010 - Part 1

Spring Break 2010....
We've had an amazing time away for family time and some fun. We drove 10 hours to Williamsburg, Virginia- somehow 10 hours does not seem all that long on an interstate road. The kids were so excited to go somewhere... we have not been outside Kentucky since we arrived in August. Now Keith did drive me across the bridge to Indiana one January afternoon, but that has been the limit of our travels until now. I've often wondered if the kids have retained their NZ ability to pack their own bags and get themselves out the door to travel ... yep- they still amaze me! They were in the van and ready to go before Keith and I....

We have enjoyed visiting historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Busch Gardens, Jamestown and Yorktown. The highlight for me of course was the beach, but the kids sure liked Busch Gardens. The heat has been remarkable to say the least- not all the leaves are on the trees yet and at 10 pm at night you can sit outside with no jersey... not complaining- just thankful for a pool and A/C :)

Colonial Williamsburg was really old and really historic. We can't tell you about all the sites because we are too cheap to pay the big bucks to go inside all the really old places... BUT it was beautiful with all the spring blossoms and old historic buildings. We did get to watch a fife and drum march and walk through some of the William and Mary College in Williamsburg. The political and slave history here is remarkable and well documented.

We also visited Jamestown and Yorktown... I sure do not know my history very well, but I know more now than a week ago :) Did you know that Jamestown - the first British settlement - is over 400 years old??