Vacation...

This past week, the hubs and I took a vacation. Nothing too extreme or extravagant. We couldn't go far, DH was needed back at work on Thursday and on call Friday. So, we took a short road trip to Williamsburg, VA to visit Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.

We left early Monday morning (after daybreak of course...we're not ridiculous) and the ride down was pretty uneventful. Of course, you run into rush hour traffic around 8-9 am on Monday morning going around Baltimore and Washington DC...so that's annoying. But it was a beautiful and sunny morning and perfect for a drive.

We arrived at Colonial Williamsburg around 2:30 that afternoon and discovered to our immense pleasure and surprise that active members of the military and a certain number of dependents get in FREE...Yep my favorite four letter word :)! Score. I was planning on just a 10% discount, but free is EVEN better. Just make sure the military member has his/her ID and each dependent has theirs. Technically, to walk around Williamsburg, it's free...but in order to see the houses and take some of the tours...you need a pass...so I think it's worth the $39 adult fee, regardless. (This is for entrance into the Governor's Palace...I don't think it's worth it without seeing this too!)
Go to http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/ for more information. There are also online discounts and ways to plan your visit. We just toured and visited what seemed interesting to us...but there are shows, reenactments, and various other events that go on as well!

Unfortunately, we weren't able to take any pictures that day...since my camera had decided to be ridiculous and not work :( Bummer. The day was great. We had a good time and it was really interesting.

We left around 5:15pm and checked into our hotel...PS you CAN stay in the Williamsburg Hotel or one of the guest houses in the town itself, but since we were planning on going to Busch Gardens the next day...I didn't see the point. *shrug* Maybe next time.

We had dinner at the Seafare Restaurant in Williamsburg which was pretty tasty! 1 whole bottle of wine later and we called it a night.

Tuesday, we went to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. http://buschgardens.com/bgw/Purchase/Visitors.aspx
Again, it was free to active military members, with ID and up to 4 dependents. But you do have to sign up for their Hero’s Program...go to http://www.herosalute.com/ for more information.
Lots of things for kiddos to do..but at $51.95 for out of state visitors. ages 3-9 yo...I don’t see the benefit. Regular adult out of state tickets are $61.95; and I guess I can see where you'd get your money’s worth.

This wolf reminded me of my Banya dog...although Banya isn't so scary and scraggly looking :)!
One ride you HAVE to go on (as long as you aren’t afraid of heights) is the “griffen” !! DH made me go on it with him and I have to admit...it was pretty fantastic...shhhh!!! Don’t tell the hubby though!

PS there are passes you can get for all three tourist locales: Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA...It's like $125 and for a week you can jump back and forth between the three places...might be worth looking into for non-military members!

After Busch Gardens...we went to *Uno Chicago Grill* for dinner. Fabulous pizza.

By this time...I missed my puppers way too much and we left the next morning. I had a blast and would recommend this trip to anyone!

After we got home, we played with the pups for a bit...they were so cute...they missed us so much...although their Uncle Tim and Dh's dad did a great job taking care of them for us! Then we went to a matinee movie (The A*Team) and Sushi for dinner.

Thursday Dh had to work...I did NOTHING all day. Literally didn't get out of bed until 11am. *sigh* taking full advantage of being off work...yay!

Friday I did shopping and got a pedicure while Dh had some boy/nerd time and then I made dinner for us and Dh's friend W.

Saturday was more of the same as Thursday...nothing, sleeping in until 10...watched Food Network all day!

Today, my last day of vacation, I have to work. For one, I can't sleep. I've been up since 3:30am, we've got church at 9:30 and I have to do dishes, wash floors, vacuum carpets, and do laundry. Daycare starts bright and early tomorrow morning...I have a feeling 5:30am will come pretty quick! Can't wait. I've missed these kidlets so much! It's crazy how quiet it gets when then all go home and don't come back for a week!

Thanks to the Hampton Inn for a great hotel stay, clean rooms, sheets and towels and a great Continental breakfast! Thanks to the hubs for putting up with me and my neurotic ways...especially on vacay...and to our wonderful family for helping with the mutters so we could get away! :)

Camp...

Labor Day weekend 2009; my first long weekend married, but without my husband. I have to tell ya...this is getting old. I love that he is so passionate about his work and I am glad to be a part of the whole process but seriously, when is family more important than the job?

Anyway, the pups had fun. They enjoyed eating different bugs than they find at home and were exhausted by the time dinner rolled around.
Uncle Tim made the mistake of letting Banya on the couch and they couldn't get her off. She decided she owned anything and everything on the couch...including the pillows.

Panzer just lounged around on the floor...there wasn't room for them both on the couch.

For some strange reason, they both dislike stairs and so refused to go upstairs to bed; even though I had a nice comfy bed all made up for them.

Panzer was so tired, he fell asleep like this...yes with his bone IN his mouth. Gosh my babies are so cute. I wish their daddy were here to see them this silly.

Yard and Things...

So, I seeded the "mud pit" last week; and thought since I totally overwatered it and then it rained for several days that I wasted my time; but I checked on it the other day and there are little grass shoots! Whoopie!! I am so excited to see grass growing over there. NO MORE MUD PIT! Soon it'll look like we have a real yard again. I do have to mow the rest of the yard, but these little buggers are really growing.

I am going away for the weekend, with the pups. It's been a while since I've gotten away and I'm glad to have the long weekend to do it. I'm joining my mom, my brother, and his girlfriend at our family's cabin for the weekend. I haven't been there for some 6 years and I think the dogs will really like it. I'm a little concerned with having to use the outhouse. But it seems my illness has started to return my body to normal, so it shouldn't be too bad. I have class tonight (for which I have to write two short papers today) and tomorrow I should have time to pack up sheets and foods (do a little shopping) and then Saturday it's off to the cabin. I gave the dogs their flea/tick treatment earlier this week, so I hope it is in full effect because I've heard ticks are bad this year. My brother will just have to help me look them over for the little buggers.

Oh and tomorrow's my birthday! I can't believe I'm 27! I still feel like that awkward 16 year old sometimes, ya know? I do feel a little bad though, because apparantly the in-laws were planning a surprise party for me this weekend, but I'm going out of town. Whoops! I guess that's what they get for trying to surprise me!! Such a nice thought though!