Pumpkin Patch with G Mommy

Sunday we headed to the Pumpkin Patch again this time with G Mommy. Our nieces Rylee and Reese were able to come too. Good thing I had my sister's super speedy camera because with four kids, you need it to capture them somewhat smiling at the same time!



Just the cousins!


This one is my favorite! Jenna posing and Reese sticking her tongue out at Aunt Jen.



There were some dads there that helped all the kids on the merry-go-round and you can see that Rylee and Jenna loved it!



This is one of my favorite things to do every year and I was glad we got a semi-dry day to enjoy the patch!

A Day with Dad

Since Jason doesn't start his new job until Monday he decided to spend the day with Jackson. They went to the Fort Worth Zoo.

Jackson's favorite part was feeding the birds.

Texas - ou Weekend

So Saturday was the annual Texas - ou weekend here in Dallas. Our friend Steve was so kind to invite Jason and all that comes with him to the game. Really, you have to watch Jason at a Longhorn game to understand. At least there were no pillows to throw at the TV there.

Here is the view from his seats - horrible, right?



Anyway, what did I do while he was at the Fair / Game? Glad you asked! I was at an 8 am soccer game for Jenna which meant I had to be there around 7:30 am. It was super cold. Then I had to miss GameDay - which only a few people know that I live for that on a Saturday. Drove to Highland Village to do a couple of errands. Then take the kids to McDonalds. We have to go inside because they want a special toy. Of course, I get the trainee. This is all around kickoff. The guy messes up the order so I wrestle with do I say anything and wait or just take the order. I just took the order. Then we finally get to the house. Watch an hour of the game before Jackson's soccer game. At least I wasn't that parent with the radio going while their kid is playing soccer (there were two on Jackson's team). Jackson scored a goal and the main thing is he was 'focused'. All to get home to see the Longhorns pull out a win. All this while Jason was having not one but two Fletcher's corn dogs at the Fair.

He had fun and the kids were relatively good for me. All in all a good Saturday.

Halloween Party

Friday night was our annual Small Group Halloween Party. It was a great time for fellowship and family fun! Jenna was a girl from the 50's and Jackson was a red Power Ranger.

 

Since we have been back...

This is my attempt to get current on my blogging (or at least in the month of October).

We had soccer games, soccer pictures, Mary Poppins, and the Pumpkin Patch.

 

Jenna is having a successful soccer season despite the many reschedules due to rain. Jackson on the other hand has a good game, then the next game decided it was cool to be Wolverine on the field. That wouldn't be so bad if he didn't show his blades to the opposing players.



Jenna and I went to see the Broadway traveling show of Mary Poppins - loved it! Grandma, Jenna is ready for the real Broadway!

 

Finally, no rain so we could visit the two Pumpkin Patches in Flower Mound.

The Ship

Just in case anyone cares, this a collage of our cabin.

 

O Canada!

So our last official day on the boat was in Canadian waters. Once we hit Canadian waters the waters smoothed out - probably because we had to go a little slower. We did have dolphins and whales just outside our balcony. They would just turn on their sides and wave at us. It was exciting to just sit on the lounge chairs and see them pop out of the water. Our final port was Vancouver. We spent a couple of days just sightseeing. It was beautiful.

 

Click to enlarge - top left clockwise - Our hotel in Vancouver, the Olympic countdown, a steam powered clock that whistles every 15 minutes with steam, the Canadian officials boarding the ship once was past from US waters, Stanley Park Totem Poles, Inukshuk, Canada Place, Gassy Jack in Gastown, the library, lighthouse in Stanley Park, a whale waving at us, interesting welcome sign, beauty from Stanley Park, and a tree on top of an apartment building.

We stayed across the street from the arena that will host the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. On Saturday night was a professional football game so we had a good view of all the tailgate ceremonies. You could even hear the stadium noise outside.

We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. It was the first vacation since our honeymoon that we didn't have massive sightseeing scheduled. It was nice not to have to worry about missing seeing something. Thanks to our parents for watching the kids! We love you guys!

Alaska Day 6 - 8

Day 6 was another port day but was also spa day for me. We were in Skagway. I spent the morning at the spa and then we toured the town. There is this huge train car that they use to plow the snow off the tracks. It is gigantic. Cute little town.

 

Day 7 was Hoonah which required us to board the tenders to get to the dock. This port has this $100 zip line ride that lasts about 90 seconds. So because we are cheap and I have suddenly developed a fear of heights, we didn't do it. We did walk through the forest and the beach. It was a nice day in nature.

 

After we came back to the ship we participated in the 80's pop name that tune. If we rated just on knowing the answers we came in second to a couple that was two years younger than us. Of course, the host was from the UK and I still question if some of the songs were officially in the 80's. See all those hours watching MTV back when MTV played videos paid off!

Day 8 was Ketchikan. You can click to enlarge - top right is the "bridge to nowhere", bottom right is one of the two seals that were in the creek feasting on the salmon, bottom left is the salmon trying to make their way upstream, and left middle is Creek Street as seen from Married Man's Trail.

 

That night was the final formal dinner. Of course we didn't have the camera for the famous Baked Alaska celebration. Apparently everyone knew that was going to happen but since we were first time cruisers we were a little lost. In case you go, you have to wave your napkins.




This concludes the Alaska portion of our vacation. Come back to get the Canada portion of our vacation.