El Fin

It's over. It's over. It's finally over. I love my family, I promise I do, but I've met my family vacation quota for the next 14 months at least. Those with acute perception will note that there was no blog for the entire second half of the trip. There is a reason for such. IT WAS HORRID! People in my family are very independent, we like to do our own thing go our own way, and be in control of everything. Now add our severe sarcasm to the mix, and well...it wasn't pretty. I cried more than once, and on one of the days I can promise you I didn't say more than 10 sentences all day. I believe now more than ever in my previously stated laws of vacations. Fortunately for you though we're back, and things are back to normal, all in separate rooms, not talking to each other. It's pleasant. Oh and speaking of unpleasant let me give a word to the wise, never ever ever stop at Taco Bell for dinner on a roadtrip. Especially not if you're in my family. I'm ever so thankful I got a working window seat. So yeah sorry there aren't many details and humorous anecdotes in this post, but just be thankful I still have mind enough left to write anything! I love you all, and remember Jesus is the source of a Merry Christmas.

P.S. I think I changed the comment thing so more people can comment even without that stupidgoogle account thing, so try if you like. Sorry!

P.P.S. I SAW BARBARA MANATEE! {yay}

Seriously? Day 3? That's all?

Today I decided to make an exectutive decision. It should be established that family vacations may not last for more than 24 hours. No sane person could possibly take any more. They just can't. Don't worry just yet, I have also declared a few exceptions and they might just make you happy. If you have an above-average I.Q. then the vacation time limit drops to 12 hours, it's just not beneficial to your health to attempt endurance of more time than that. Also those of you whose family contains either of the following: a baby, who cannot speak to you; or a toddler, who is cute beyond all belief and will do whatever you tell it to do, your time limit is extended to at least 48 hours. (Yes I am fully aware I got a little punctuation happy with that sentence.) That being said, I'm sure I don't have to tell you just how the day went. It wasn't bad I didn't try to bring bodily harm to anyone, but I am exhausted. Seriously I'm all funned out. I will say seeing the Grinchmas made my year (Jenna loves musicals), but finding a hour long detour on the way back to condo was not so pleasant. The last thing I saw as I dozed off in the front seat was the clock which read 5:03. hello! I'm so old. But I will say I rode the Dueling Dragons twice not 15 minutes after eating a cheeseburger the size of my head, and I didn't even puke a little. Yay Jenna. Anyways, today is practically over for me and for this I am greatful. Hope your week is going well and remember that Jesus and I love you!

Parade Day. whoo hoo.

Day numero dos. Let me just start by saying a picture's worth a thousand words. However, since I am a slight over-achiever I feel it essential to make it at least 1,200- ish. As you may or may not be able to tell from the picture, Dad drove today. 9 hours ago I might have been able to comment on this and it be found humorous, but now I will only say, we have seen almost 80% of Orlando. And it's a big city. I was so thankful to see the hotel again I did a mini happy dance. Marty began the day by refusing to wear his seatbelt longer than 2 minutes at a time, and he only increased in stubborn-ness as the day progressed. I'm pretty sure we only came into contact with around 10 english speaking people all day, and not one of those knows what Southern Hospitality is. My mom is paranoid and when there are 8 million people everywhere, that's not a good thing. I had to remind her several times that no one was going to get lost while standing in line. We most definately had our ups and downs accompanied by quite a few ins and outs, but obviously I survived and in good enough humor to record a Christmas medley. It's quite entertaining. I'm excited that tomorrow I get to see the Grinch (my Favorite!) and I get to ride the Hulk. Ohh ohh, we ate dinner at this weird place, and this old lady played the piano and sang, and she sang us the Alabama fight song. Quite the amusement. Actually I'm going to give the music from today the most amusing award. ( Suggestions for a better award name will be accepted) I'm tired and not feeling too creative so I'll leave you with the moral of the story... Never chase your family down a conveyor belt full of people and small children, you will run out of breath and they will not appreciate it.

Christmas "Vacation" Day One

Since thinking is something I enjoy, I decided maybe I should share my thoughts with others and share the joy. Well that and a whole lot of boredom. If you don't get joy from reading this, well sorry I can only do what I can do. (Profound I know. :P &ilu.



So this is it. Those 2 words that more often than not strike fear into the hearts of people everywhere: “Family Vacation”. Separately they’re fine. Family, Oh sure we love ‘em.. Vacation, we’re on it, but together? Now that’s trouble. Last night I was very dismayed to find out we would be Leaving at 5:00 AM. Not getting up, not loading up, but leaving. Holy Cow. So I set my trusty phone alarm (which to my professors’ joys has never failed me) It went off as planned at 4:30 (although I woke up just fine on my own at 3:15) and to my surprise I was the only one awake. Are you kidding me?! I have never seen my family get ready in such short an amount of time. Usually I spend Sunday mornings trying to hurry Katie and Jacob along so that I can be on time for church, (may I add not once has it ever worked). So here we are all SEVEN of us in our rental Bus (ok ok it’s actually a van, but seriously nerdy. I’m thankful I promise :P) And the time is 5:03. whoa. The sun isn’t even up! Amazingly enough, no one is in a foul mood. Not even me! I know right? We’re ready to roll, only.. the seatbelts are gay. They’re behind and over and backwards and cross-ways from the seat they go with. Not even kidding we used like 4 of us and almost 30 minutes to figure them out, and mine is still hooked into the middle seat. It was almost hysterical. The time is now 5:30, and we’re leaving. YAY! I’m going to sleep now. Wait a minute, why aren’t we moving? *open my eyes* we’re at the house?! Mom forgot her phone charger. This my friends is a sign of things to come. It’s 9:35 our time and we’ve already hit 2 convenient stores, McDonald’s, and had 2 bathroom breaks. I’m going to scream. Cock Pit: Dad, yeah let’s just say I’m glad I took Dramamine. Mom, if you know her, I need not say anything else on the subject. Back row: Marty, he’s got a headset turned up so loud I’m surprised you haven’t heard it yet. (Side note, mom’s yelling now.. and she’s done) and he’s sharing the seat with Jacob: he’s actually been quiet so far, except when he borrowed Katie’s Ipod and she wanted back but “no I’ve only had it an hour and a half” “ We’ve been driving two hours” “Katie no we haven’t we’re in Ozark “Jacob give it to me” ..You get the picture. Middle Row: Katie and Katie. Yeah that’s right a whole row to herself, well if you don’t count her luggage next to her. Other than the fact that’s she’s reading over my shoulder, she’s not doing too bad. Then there’s the front row (now you see why I said Bus) Myself, and Aunt Debbie. I’m not sure if you know me or not but my legs are long and the space in front of my seat is not. I’m squished but surviving. Aunt Debbie like myself has a love for music so when conserving our Ipods’ batteries, she would like the radio to be on something enjoyable, since Mom controls that, music we could have a problem later. I have only heard “are we almost there” 3 times, and “Where are we” maybe 4, so 3 coloring pages, 2 -30 minute naps, half a Collected Works of Edgar Allen Poe book, and one-fourth an Ipod battery considered, I’d say I’m not doing too bad. Just Pray. That’s all I can say. ;)
Time has elapsed. We are here, well technically. But still not to our timeshare. It is 2:13 our time. 3:13 theirs or maybe ours for the week, whatever. You haven’t really missed much. Lunch : Taco Bell and let me tell you I didn’t know it was possible to ruin chicken quesadillas, but my chicken was burnt, and I think the girl tried to spell her name with the slicer. I watched 2 movies, the second of which just ended and I’m wishing it had lasted a little longer. Dad: Playing a mixture of Mariachi band music and Spanish Talk Radio. Mom: DRIVING!! And alternating between hitting the gas as if she’s qualifying for the Indy 500 and swerving from side to side of the lane as if trying to miss the invisible squirrels in the road. CAN I PLEASE HAVE MORE DRAMAMINE AND A SPRITE?! Katie still trying to look over my shoulder, I’m getting paranoid. Aunt Debbie listening to my ipod and doing dances that died a long time ago. And every now and then a random “Jacob shut-up” and “MARTY.. MARTY.. quit singing so loud!!!” “ Put your seatbelt back on!”. “Tim just read what Mapquest wrote, no that is not a slight right, that’s a sharp right”. Someone please let me out now. I’m telling you I can walk. OHH MY GOODNESS, we’re here. I just want to get out of the car before I barf or scream or do something crazy. If you know my family, you feel my pain. Breaking news: : : Someone just broke something, and it wasn’t anything tangible, we have 2 more people than we’re supposed to have for our room occupancy, and my brother is laying in the floor, hiding in case “they want to count” while mom looks out all the windows in case someone comes to verify our number of people and Aunt Debbie is trying to create her own gas mask. Ohh My.