Today we made a trip up to Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock for the annual Great Pumpkin Rescue. The kids had a good time, and we did too despite some moderately whiny attitudes. Of course, having kids up past their nap time is almost always going to net you a whiny afternoon. We had a good time nonethless!
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| Pumpkin Patch |
After a lengthy time in Sanibel, we're back home in Atlanta. Well, Marietta, specifically. The drive between the two points clocks in at about 10 hours according to Google. Back when the kids required multiple bottle feedings and diaper changing the trip lengthened to 12-13 hours, which borders on absurd - it pushed beyond the boundary which I feel comfortable driving in one day, but it's just short of the threshold for requiring an overnight stay, thus, I am forced to complete the drive in one whack.
This trip, however, seemed to fly by... the kids are (mostly) potty-trained, and must have bladders of steel as they don't require using the facilities more than once in 2-3 hours. We left yesterday morning at about 9 am and arrived in Marietta right at 7 pm - that includes stops for breakfast, lunch, gas, snacks and bathrooms. I think we made four stops total, each no more than 30 minutes and some less so.
In any event, the trip was very smooth -- great weather for driving and the kids were well-behaved. We opted not to depart at o'dark thirty, because...well, because I didn't feel like getting up early. We stayed up late to watch Survivor and I couldn't bring myself to rise at 5 or 6 in the morning after going to bed at 12:45am. So we had a nice morning breakfast (kids only) and got to bid grandma goodbye until January, when we plan to come down for great-grandmother's 90th birthday.
Oh, lest I forget. Friday night, we sat down to play the nightly games of Rummikub, and we were interrupted by a knock on the sliding glass door (the kids were sleeping on the lanai). Maya informed us that "somebody pooped". I should warn you that the rest of this paragraph is a bit pooptacular, to skip it if you can't stand schiße talk. I walked out to the lanai, and Devin was peering from under his covers, and I smelled the familiar stench. I assumed he had taken himself to task in his pull-ups. I was a bit mistaken. After consulting with Maya, who generally tells the truth in such matters, they were playing a game, in which they dared each other to poop "on the lifeguard stand", which was what they called the stoop on which the sliding glass door rests (I don't know why, that's just what they called it). Devin took up Maya's dare and dropped poop on the stoop, and then pulled up his pull-up cacare interruptus and was besmeared all up his back. Haz-mat teams were dispatched, children showered, stoop cleaned, punishments administered, and then we were able to resume Rummikub, but the night would not be the same.
We visited the Sanibel Lighthouse.
Here we are, looking for stranded boaters. Or a snack.
We stopped by Periwinkle Park Campground to check out the bird show, but alas it is only run in the winter months. But we still got to visit with the resident birds, and there are a lot of them! They are noisy too. The African Grey was the most talkative - he wolf-whistled at Maya, said, "Hello!" and asked for crackers.
And, since it's Sanibel, we did a great deal of shelling. More on that later.
I took a bike ride up the causeway and stopped at the first islet. This heron (?) appeared to be waiting for this fisherman (?) to drop a snook.
A view from the highest bridge, which can accommodate a 70' tall vessel underneath. It's a pretty monster climb.
Maya got to sit in the driver's seat of the ladder truck at the Sanibel Fire Department. Devin was not interested...
But Devin was definitely interested in the rear compartment where the other firefighters hang out!
Mommy is demonstrating how to swing your legs so you and make yourself swing higher!
Nothing makes Devin happier than being able to throw sand.
Maya is not too sure about waves.
Devin loves sand. I believe I've mentioned this before.
We toured the Sanibel Fire Department, and got to sit in the Ladder Truck and see all the rescue equipment, boats, ambulances, firefighter clothing, helmets, and, of course, the hoses!
We went kayaking on Commodore Creek with Uncle Chris and Aunt Vicki. We saw all manner of birds and even a shark or two!
