10th Anniversary Trip to Bermuda - Day 1

JB and I flew out this morning heading to Bermuda. We arrived this afternoon around 3:00 Bermuda time (1 hour difference from home). This was our first flight over the Atlantic and it was amazing landing on the island. JB videoed the landing – we could feel the descent, but weren’t able to see land until we were close enough to touch down. The water is absolutely beautiful – the bluest water I’ve ever seen.It was very different riding on the wrong side of the road with the driver on the passenger side of the car on our drive from the airport to the hotel. That is definitely going to take some getting used to! We are staying at Grotto Bay BeachResort in an ocean front room. We are so close to the ocean, JB could jump off the balcony to the ocean if he wanted too! It is pretty chilly here, colder than what I expected or maybe its just because it was so windy today. We walked along the beach and toured the resort before changing and heading to dinner. It is very expensive to eat here (like we expected), but at least we do know there is some food JB will eat.Unfortunately the island is far behind us in terms of technology and high speed internet, so we have to be in the main building to connect to the web. And since its so expensive to call internationally, we’re going to experience some iphone withdrawals!

Here is a picture of the ocean from the airplane

This is the bridge that connect the airport to the island where our resort is.

This is JB on our balcony overlooking the ocean

This is the beach at our resort

Bermuda, Here We Come...

To celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, Jonathan and I decided to take a trip. We weren't able to have a big honeymoon, so what better time than now to take a nice trip. Where to? Well it started with Hawaii - but that's too far away, too long of a flight and too expensive. Bahamas, Carribean, Cancun - nope. None of those would do for JB. So, how about Niagra Falls? too cold in December. So, where to? Since we couldn't come to an agreement, I had settled for a cabin in the mountains when JB brought up Bermuda. "How about Bermuda?" he asked. I didn't know anything about Bermuda, except for the Bermuda Triangle, so I decided to do a little research. Nice place, not too far away, still a little expensive, but doable. So here we are, the night before our flight and I'm so excited! I'm going to miss the kids like crazy, but thankfully Nanny will be here to take care of them.

DC

I had an energy tax credit conference in Washington DC this past week, so we found it to be the perfect time to take the whole family to tour our nation's capitol, and no better time than around Veteran's Day. I spent 2 1/2 days in my conference, while JB took the kids and Nanny to tour the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Aquarium (don't waste your money here), and the American History Museum (albeit only briefly since this one only interested JB). We stayed 3 nights at the Ritz Carlton due to the location of my conference. Have your ever stayed there? Talk about Ritz!! I've never been in a place that advertises a bath menu where the butler will draw your bath for you. Seriously--people actually need someone else to turn on their bathwater?!? After my conference ended, we moved over to the Holiday Inn - more suitable to my liking.
On Veteran's Day, we visited the National Archives, saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and visited all the Veteran Memorials. It was quite touching to see all the veterans that gather for remembrance. On Friday, we went back to the Natural History Museum (Nathan's favorite plus I was jealous that I didn't get to go earlier in the week!), toured the Capitol, went to the Supreme Court, went to Union Station and rode the metro back to our hotel. We spent Saturday morning at the National zoo - do you think we can go on a trip without finding a nearby zoo?? Then we started back on our drive home. It was an exhausting trip, but its always fun to spend time with the kids and make vacations educational.

Halloween

This year's costumes were from our favorite cartoon - Scooby Doo. Reagan was Scooby Doo, Nathan was Shaggy, JB was Fred, I was Daphne and Nanny was Velma. Thanks to Julie for supplying the Mystery Machine - her father's restored VW bus. We celebrated at our church's Trunk or Treat and fall festival. The kids had fun playing games and riding on the hay ride, and best of all - getting candy. As soon as we got home, JB and the kids started planning next years costumes...so where will we get the Bat Mobile?

Monkeying Around at Monkey Joes

I took the day off from work today to spend with the kids since Nathan's school is out for a teacher's workday. JB and I went to Nathan's parent/teacher conference, then the kids and I met Kristi and Lexi in Charlotte at Monkey Joes. It was a fun day jumping, climbing and sliding on the inflatables.

Atlanta, GA

Since the kids weren't able to travel with us to Atlanta last month, we planned a surprise weekend trip for them this past weekend. We left for our trip right after work on Friday and made the drive down 85. I hate the traffic in Charlotte! - our biggest traffic holdup was within an hour of home! Not a great way to start a trip!
On Saturday, we started our day at the GA Aquarium - what a wonderful place. The kids and I loved the beluga whales and the whale sharks best of all. We also visited the Atlanta Zoo. It took us 45 minutes to find a parking spot (at least Reagan was able to get a nap in), but frustration had already set in before we saw the first animal. The kids enjoyed seeing animals that we don't have in our zoo at home - pandas, penguins and tons of killer snakes, like the king cobra. We ate at the Varsity - the local hotspot, so I hear. We went based on recommendation of a co-worker - I guess he doesn't like me so much! The atmosphere was neat, but the food was awful!
This was a quick vacation, but it was worth the smiles on our kids faces.

Farmer Fall Festival

Nathan's school held its annual fall festival fundraiser this past Saturday. JB and I volunteered to help with games. We were scheduled to help with the tic tac toe game in Nathan's classroom. JB took over the task of manning the game, so I could walk around the school with the kids and play the various games. The kids had a great time especially jumping and sliding in the bouncy inflatables. Farmer School knows how to put on a great fall festival.