Road trip through California!!!!

Saturday and Sunday we were in Los Angelos, Beverlly Hills. 3:00am I woke up to an achie body. I thought all no; the day we leave for our trip. I picked myself out of the bed. Duane was driving Rachael Walker and I to the Columbus airport. We got $10.00 plane tickets. Yeah, round trip and taxes our bill came to $40.48. Once we got to California we went and got our car. A convertable Ford Mustang. It was in the 50-60's most of the week with rain. We had the top down twice. Our drive to Los Angeles was gorgeous!!!! It had hill with eith windmills, animals, or orange tress and grape orchards on them. About twenty minutes before we got to Los Angelos we went through some mountains. They were SOOOOOOOOOOOO pretty. On the way back; they bit us with a chill. They closed the road due to snow in the mountains. So, we had to go 6o miles out of our way to the nearest interstate up. Not what we wanted to do; but the scenery was different and great!!

Sunday morning was sight seeing day!! We headed to see the "Hollywood" sign. We were very close to it and couldn't see it for the fog. Bummer!!! It was a crazy drive up this mountian that had a one way street for two ways. People in Beverly Hills are crazy and rude!!! On this road they drive fast (hoping no one is going the oppoiste direciton) and the honk if you don't move before the light turns or if you are going too slow.
Here are the pictures of Saturday and Sunday:

First/second day

Here is Monday and Tuesday:
We left the hotel at 5:30 am (their time)making sure we left before traffic. Five miles or so out of Los Angeles; our faithful route five was closed due to snow in the mountains. They detoured us to Route 101 (60 miles out of our way and in/out of little towns). I don't want to tell you what time we ended up in San Francisco because it was WAY to long in the car! We did stop 45 minutes before San Franciso to do some outlet malls. I will let the pictures tell the rest. We had a great time!!!

3/4 day

Here are pictures of Duane, Alicia,Wesley and Michael's time:

Fun with dad and Alicia!!!

Here is also the little note that Alicia sent to the family. I just cut and paste it; I hope she doesn't mind!!!! :)
Hello again. I finally have a little something to write about, so better not let the chance slip by. I was able to go to Cincinnati this past Sat-Tues and help with Duane and Katie’s boys while Katie went out to California with her cousin. I flew Skybus again for $10 each way. Let me tell you, that’s the way to go…way better than a 7-8 hour drive and gas money. It only took 50 min there and about an hour back home. If I wasn’t so cheap, I could have checked in my bags for another $5 and not have had to carry the suitcase down 2 flights of stairs, across the tarmac, and up a flight of stairs into the plane. By the time I had to haul it over my head into the overhead compartment, my arm was just about done in. I just couldn’t seem to make that final shove. Thankfully, there is usually a nice guy around to helpJ (I did much better on the way home since I only had to carry it up one flight of stairs.) Anyway, when I got off the flight into Columbus, Katie was waiting to board her plane so I got to talk to her before she left. Duane had taken her to the airport and picked me up at the same time. We pretty much just lazed around Sat. We did go to Target (Michael’s favorite store). He was so cute looking/playing with everything.



Sunday we went to the Franklin church in the morning and then to Vi and Bennie’s that evening. Once again Emily favored us with a special. It was very pretty. It was a song Mim and I have sung together before. Emilie and I tried to entertain Wesley during the service since Duane had taken Michael out. Wesley was everywhere and doing everything. He didn’t cry at all, but certainly didn’t want to stay in one place for long. He is such a sweetie pie. He loves to smile. We then went to Vi’s for pizza bread, I made and brought along. Anne also joined us. Michael had to start out saying how much he didn’t like Cookie, but by the end of the night he was feeding him out of his hand and bringing him pieces of dog food. Cookie actually was taking the food nicely from him and not snapping at his fingers. I don’t know if I would have been so brave.



Monday was the true test. No daddy around. Michael asked for him when he got up, but was fine the rest of the day. We met Rebecca and Aaron for lunch at Steak and Shake. I don’t know how Katie/Kris, etc do it with 2 that close in age. I wasn’t brave enough to go anywhere else by myself. I knew I had help if needed with someone else there. Besides carrying the baby, that diaper bag has to weigh 20lbs. I should have been used to it after my suitcaseJ They both fell asleep on the way home and slept for 2 ½ hours. They played very well then that afternoon/evening. Michael slept in a portable crib in the playroom and he decided to play in it most of the rest of the day. He found a way to swing his leg over the side and get out on the couch. He did this over and over. He can certainly climb anywhere he chooses. He wanted Wesley in with him too, so they played like that for awhile—until Michael would bonk Wesley on the head, etc. When I would hear Wesley start crying, immediately Michael would say, “I sorry Wes, I sorry.” It was pretty cute. I took them each a book, but Michael was determined Wesley wasn’t going to be able to play with his. When I would tell him he had to let him have it, he would shake his head and throw a different book at him. Not sure what he saw it Wesley’s book, as it was plastic and definitely for a baby; and he repeatedly told me he was a “big boy.” I did try to put Wesley down for another nap that evening since he was fussy, but Michael kept going into his room and I would hear them both laughing. Michael would keep running out to whisper to me “Wes is awake, get him up.” I finally obeyed!



I heard Michael talking to himself and went to see what he was doing. He got his monkey (Mikey) and sat him down beside him and said he was going to read the Bible to him. He then proceded to take out all the little notes I’ve accumulated through the years from Ashley and Brittany and say, “this is trash.” I told him it wasn’t trash, but the next thing I knew it was all crumpled up in his little hand and he was on the way to the trash can, saying, “trash, throw away.” It was pretty cute. He was also singing what I assume was Jesus Loves Me and then it kind of turned into “I love you, you love me.” Not sure if Jesus and Barney go well together or not!?



Michael is being potty trained, so that was a new experience for me. No little boys around here for me to take care of. I think I cleaned up about as much urine as I did in the hospital!!!! That boy is a peeing machine. He was standing (naked---a favorite pastime) on the kitchen chair eating his chicken nuggets, and the next thing I know he was shooting a stream across the room. Just so you know….a paper towel doesn’t absorb that much…..maybe it wasn’t Bounty extra quiltedJ



Duane took off Tuesday since the lady that was supposed to baby-sit the boys that afternoon when I left couldn’t keep them. We ended up going to Chucky Cheeses and let Michael use up some old tokens Duane had. For future reference----the time to go is 10am when nobody else is there. A much more enjoyable experience then with tons of other kids. I headed out about 1 that afternoon. I took Katie’s car and left it at the airport for her to drive home. I really had a good time and enjoyed staying with the boys. They are both so cute and fun. Of course, maybe I’m biased!? I did pay for taking off though. I worked until 7 tonight trying to get caught up. My carpal tunnel was bothering me so much I finally stopped. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get the rest done. Well, better go. alicia