Feeding the Mouth Parts

L-o-n-g driving day..or it seemed that way! : )

We drove from Pigeon Forge to Memphis, Tennessee.  We stayed last night in Germantown-on the Tennessee side.  It's a beautiful little city (and has shopping, heehee!).  I swear my husband is trying to get in good with me.

Yesterday morning (in Pigeon Forge), we were in Outlet Land (even Champion and Under Armour-we don't have those at home!) (and since we lost our Nautica-I went there too!).  Anyway-I discovered the kids were out of clothes, as in..they'd worn them all.  Unless they were going to wear their beach cover up shirts (with choice of red Arkansas or red Phillies), and I'd have to do laundry.

He said we should buy them some clothes. : )  This is always good, but I'm a sale girl.  I have coupons for my coupons-I plan with online discounts (this coming weekend is Sales Tax Free!), and it's a total game for me.  I got my coupon book (since I'm a lifetime member), and went in the first store.  I didn't want to do big shopping since our van had NO extra room, and our driver insists on a clear back window. : )  You usually have to spend at least $75 to get the first level of discount (other than store rewards), so I didn't do as well as I'd liked.  I did score $25 in Gymbucks though! : )

We just love the lobster tank : )

Check out those tail flippers!

..and he had a little claw broken off one of his smaller legs.

We also played around at Red Lobster with the very black and blue lobsters.  We examined their mouth parts, claws, little secondary claws, touched their eyes (I promise we disinfected!), and did you know they have bristles like a whale and teeth-they appear to have three mouth parts! (not googling..still tired!) They also have to be "burped" before they go back in the water!  Apparently the air in their tummies can kill them.  You hold up their big claws, kinda shake them up and down (and they flail and splash water a-l-l over you!), then you drop them back in.  And..he didn't die.  (He crawled to the window to give us the evil eye us for having him out so long!)

Anyway, I continued and we got the kids some tennis shoes, and the boys some shirts.  By lunchtime (we couldn't have been there more than an hour...maybe an hour and a half?), we left and ate in the car to make up the time.

..We've had this awful trouble with Mary Claire's blood sugar for the past two days.  I'd already set her basal up to 200% of normal, and was checking and correcting every hour, but we weren't getting anywhere.  We are talking units of insulin at a time..not tenths of units.  I was starting to get panicky.  I'd just changed her site the day before, so I was assuming it was good?  But yesterday, somewhere along Interstate 40, I changed her again.  I was so worried-it was my last full insulin pen.  It had to work, or I was going to get desperate.

I am also down to my last alcohol pads.  I don't count when I pack for a trip-I just pack them in her supplies case as tightly as I can.  But we've never been gone this long!  I know I can buy some, so that's not scary.  It's her site I want to hold on.  I do have one more set for changing her site, thank goodness.  I'd have to use the bottoms of some insulin pens or reuse a cartridge though!  (Goes without saying..no hotel swimming till we get home!)

Today is our drive home.  We are going to the Pottery Barn and William Sonoma outlets (the originals!) in Memphis before we hit the road.  They always have some amazing deals I can't live without.  (Last time they had the pink and lavender chenille raised dot drapes for $14!) (I didn't get them..but want them now!)

I think we have five hours of drive time?  I never remember.  It will turn into seven or eight with all our bathroom and snack breaks.  I know, I know..they cause each other-it's a vicious cycle.  But when your child cries for a drink, you can't resist. : (

I have to tell you..I'm SO excited to be going home!  I miss my house, with room for us to all move around.  Rooms and beds for everyone.  My own laundry room.  (I know, weird, just go with it!)  ahh..home.  I'll have to remember how to cook!  Ok...we should plan to get home after dinner so I don't have to turn old food into a miracle in under an hour!

Hey there, it's Yogi Bear!

First things first!  I got all the pictures from DC “scrapbooked” on My Digital Studio!  I didn’t quite get them the way Amy had them, but I gave up-it was too hard to get the different sizes to fit together like puzzle pieces!  I have already scrapped most of the trip/pictures as we’ve been driving.  What else would I do as we drive? : )  Here are the DC (quickly put together!) pages:

Second...what a gorgeous drive today!  We left DC, and traveled down Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway towards Tennessee.  We took the scenic route..and paid fifteen dollars for it..I had no idea!  It is a national park (Shenandoah), so there is maintenance I guess.  I will say the roads were perfect, some newly paved.  And the views?  Amazing is not adequate!

I also learned a little about mountains. : )  When you stand near the top of Skyline Drive, you can see two mountain ridges-both part of the Appalachian Mountains.  To the west you can see the long, straight, parallel ridges of Massanutten Mountain.  To the south you see the ragged, jumbled Blue Ridge Mountains.  The geologic origins create the contrast!  The mountains of Shenandoah National Park contain some of North America’s oldest rock formations-and are home to more plant species that ALL of Europe, including 100 tree and more than 900 wildflower species!

Blue Ridge Mountains

Massanutten Mountain

**Ok, after a little research..I found out that the Massanutten Mountain is made of rock layers (think piled up deck of cards or wrinkled throw rug) that are folded downward in a “U” shape (called a syncline), which accounts for it’s double ridge shape.  And ..the ridges are capped with sandstone, which is resistant to weathering and erosion.  So they aren’t likely to weather anytime soon.  (csmres.jmu.edu/geollab).  So, they stay relatively flat, unlike the Blue Ridge Mountains which are older (the oldest mountains in the world!), and have been weathered much longer by the constant wind blowing across the exposed ridgetops, torrents of rain, freezing and thawing water in crevices, and chemical decomposition to reduce them from Sierra size (up to 14, 000 ft) to their current low profile (at an average of 3-4000 feet).  (from virtualblueridge.com)**  You are SO welcome for your geology lesson for today. : )

..We always rent Redbox movies while we are traveling.  It makes for a super-pleasant car ride!  Today, the kids were watching Yogi Bear (you’ll remember I didn’t love this movie) while we drove through the parkway and through Virginia.  It seemed campy/woodsy and apropos.  Well..guess what we drove by?  Jellystone National Park!  Seriously.  I couldn’t make this up.  The kids had asked me a few miles back if Jellystone was a real place-and I said, “No-it’s just a pretend park similar to Yellowstone National Park.”  Eating.  My.  Words.  Haha!  There are apparently lots of Jellystone National Parks (yes, we stopped to get more info and shop the store, which had CLeaN bathrooms!).  They are campsites plus pool, waterslides, parks, etc.  Very  nice!

I even got Mary Claire a patch for her brownie vest with Cindy Bear on it!  It seemed kinda scouty there. : )

I must give out a Cleanest Rest Stop Restroom Award.  We visited it today.  I’m never impressed with a rest stop (it’s usually only used in desperation!), but today-Bathroom Nirvana! : )   First, it was clean.  No tp on the floor, the trash can was recently emptied. There was no bad smell.  It had a clean window with bright light.  The stalls were white and clean (free of graffiti!).  The floor was clean, mirrors clean, toilets clean.  (I wouldn’t be surprised if it only opened a few days ago.)  Congratulations, Virginia Rest Area Mile 158 South on Interstate 81!  You deserve kudos!  I must contact Virginia now.

*PS-Yes, we come to Washington, DC, and single-handedly impacted our country.  The budget crisis is averted (debt ceiling raised)-we only had to be here for the weekend to impress our strong dissatisfaction with the unmeeting of the minds.  Now for it to pass congress.  You are welcome (I think..).

**Don’t forget to register for the contest!  Up for grabs: a Vera Bradley (Imperial Toile) Clip Zip ID Tag!  You have your choice of the two prints I picked up : )  Leave a comment with your name before Wednesday, August 3 at midnight! : )  (..it's not letting me add a picture!  I'm having internet trouble, so I'll try again tomorrow..I'm sleepy!  They are both chocolate brown with ivory, one is leaves, one is floral!)

Changing Lives

Washington DC always makes for a long day.  We rode the train (exciting if you are a little boy!), saw museums, monuments, and even fit in the zoo!

I'm trying to get the pictures ready..I was planning to try something new.  Amy uses software to get the biggest, most beautiful collages together, and I was thinking I could try (even though I have a Mac!).  It's taking me wayy longer than I thought, so I'll keep working.  We have a super-long drive tomorrow (to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!), so that should give me time to get them ready. ; )

Here are a few that I really like:

You can't learn anything from experiences you're not having.  -Louis L'Amour (and so..we give our kids experience!) : )

This was a display on medical devices that changed our lives.  Pregnancy tests...and a One-Touch Home Meter.  They've both changed my life.

Mary Claire with Michelle O'Bama's inaugural ball gown-it was beautiful.

The kids on the National Mall with the Capitol Building in the background-but it's all washed out.  (well..I know it's there.) : )

My kids in the National Zoo (sign)!  We are totally the zoo. ; )

And the big ferocious reason we took two extra Metro rides, and walked for a couple extra miles: a real, alive Tiger.  (and suffered at least 5 meltdowns and pee behind a tree on the way there)

Do you already know not to go to DC in the hot, steamy summer?  'Cause if you ask...I'd say to wait till fall.  or Christmas.  or even Easter for the Egg Roll?  Summer is so stinkin' hot!  I love it though, so we persevered.  In thin flip-flops...I gotta take a hint from the tourists and whatever book they read.  I should wear better shoes and a fanny pack.  Bahahahaha..  Not.

At least I didn't wear heels and a Chanel bag (Seriously, people-it's gravel.)  (Did you outlet shop yesterday or something?)

American Girl + Vera Bradley = Awesome Girls Day!

We made it safely to Washington, D.C. today!  We didn’t however make it to the National Mall to finish the museums. : (

But...we DiD make it to Tyson Corner (and American Girl and Vera Bradley and Lego and Pottery Barn Kids)!  Clay had to take Hercules into the mall so he didn’t bake again.  I think he’s learning all about responsibility..  Then we checked into our hotel (to drop Hercules and our luggage) and went to Leesburg!  Ahh..my kind of day.

Get This.  When we were in Vera Bradley at Tyson Corner (salivating all over the lovely luggage and pencils and notebooks and purses), this sweet employee suggested we check out the outlet.  WHAT??  (double-take!)  There’s an outlet?  (Change of plans!)  Umm..we had to find this place.  So..that resulted in an extra trip! : )

We drove out to Leesburg (about 45 minutes northwest of here) and split up so I could shop a tiny bit.  Ches took the kids to see the new Smurf movie in a brand new theater (personally, gag.  I did Smurfs in the 80's and didn't see the need for them to come back), the Cobb 12 (it was only 8 days old!) (and did I mention the American Girl DC Store has only been open one month?).  I headed over to the outlets, which were only a couple minutes away, and lo and behold.  Vera Bradley.  They were so stocked!  (and they had 500 boxes of stock in the back, and couldn't even open their doors!)  I was looking for this, but it's been discontinued, and the outlets said they can't keep them in stock.  I found Mini-Hipsters for $31, a Hipster for $35, and a Tiny Traveler in Blue Lagoon (hold on to your hats..) for $9.99.  Seriously! I also put my name on a list for a Tiny Traveler in Boysenberry.  They'll ship for free, since they couldn't get to their stock-it was PaCKeD in there!

My sweet girl and her girl, Megan, at the Washington, DC American Girl Store!

All three of us girls (that does NOT make me a grandma)

They had a great book selection!

Clay with Hercules..Herc is now a shopper. ; )  And doesn't Clay look positively thrilled to be here?

With Kanani, of Hawaii!  (I have called this girl Kalani since she came out.  Mary Claire politely told me today that there is no L in Kanani.)

She loves the Tiki set with the drinks

We loved this, but I will just make one.  And it won't be $34.  ; )

And they had CRAFTS!  We made scrunchies-we tied ribbons onto little fluffy rubber bands!  Super easy.  Do try this at home.

In the hotel with her new Very Berry Paisley Mini-Hipster!  It was to replace the meter purse I'd made-this one is already organized and ...wonderful! : ) (I even got the new attache in Very Berry..so we match!) heehee

Since I was so excited about Vera's Outlet...I decided to do a little give-away! : )  I picked up a little extra fun thing: a Clip Zip ID in Imperial Toile.  I got two: one for me, and one for YOU!  I thought I could clip it to my keychain, and it would hold an ID, debit card, some cash, and maybe my library card!  It would be perfect for a fast trip..or it would have been great for the water park or.. even tomorrow at the Smithsonian museums! : )

Would you like to win one for your very own?  I can't mail it till I get back..so let's take entries till Wednesday night at midnight.  I'll pick the winner on Thursday (after I get a good night's sleep!).  Enter by leaving a comment with your first name (and email if you don't have a blog where I can find you!).  You can FB, Tweet, or blog about it to earn extra entries.  Just leave your name with where you shared in an extra comment. : )

Hope you had a great day! (Today was my 20th reunion..but as you can see-I didn't make it!  Whew-time does fly.  Frankly, I'm totally happier now than I was back then-life does get better.  I couldn't have imagined that back then though!)  Where were you twenty years ago?