Florida Vacation Recap

Jack and I are in our 3rd Uber of the trip. We didn’t rent a car this time and probably saved $200 at least. Plus my sister gave us lots of rides so that helped 🙂

Today is our last day in Florida, we leave earlyyyyyyy tomorrow! I dreamt we overslept and missed our flight and I lost Jack. Not too cool.

We’re in the Uber heading to meet Jack’s cousins for an alligator air boat ride plus some dune buggy all-terrain-type tour. Should be fun!!! I’m wearing flip flops omg.

We had a great week here, the beach was fun and yesterday we snorkeled the whole morning. There were hundreds of fish all around us! On Thursday we visited the Miami Zoo, or Zoo Miami as it’s known. It’s really nice and we had fun with MY cousins and my sister riding the huge family bike through the zoo. It was hysterical.

We also spent a lot of time in the pool and walking along the beach. Very chill vacation. Today will probably be the busiest day. Oh, and I slept 10 hours and 10 minutes according to my Fitbit! Yikes! But sooooo needed.

Tomorrow we land and 15 minutes later meet to pickup Moca! Yippee! Back to the routine! (Update: flight delayed 3 .5 hours so far due to lightning)

And on Tuesday Jack gets his braces omg. He had spacers put in a week ago so no more gum or chewy candy or anything for maybe a year and a half! I keep forgetting. 

me: Jack do you want some gum?

Jack: (stares at me)

me: Well? Here… (I hand him sour patch gum)

Jack: Mom. I can’t have gum for 2 years.

me: Oh shoot sorry. Heh heh.

He shakes his head at me.

(Later)

me: Which kind of gum do you want? Fruity or mint?

Jack: (stares at me)

me: oops, sighhhhhh! Sorry.

Jack: Two years!

I think this will go on for 2 years. At least. :O

I looked at the weather for next week and it’s all thunderstorms here. Boo-ya Florida! We win! We got lucky this week. And I have some tan lines for a change. They won’t last but I’ll enjoy them while I have them 🙂 Jack is somewhat allergic to either the son block or the dive mask. Ugh poor kid. His face is all irritated. 😦

Hopefully Jack enjoyed his time down here with me and my cousins and his cousins and aunt and uncle. Maybe we will see them again soon! 

Hopefully you’re all enjoying your summer (if you live in the U.S.) or tell me what season it is wherever you’re living! 

Here are some pics from the week…

Can we please get through security without an incident?

I will have an answer to that question in about 3 hours. We’re leaving for Florida later today, and as Jack and I talked about packing, and the general logistics of the airport and our luggage, we paused to remember and laugh about all of the other times we’ve gone through security with slight “issues”. We tried to remember if we ever had a time that we went through security without a hitch. There haven’t been many times. Sadly.

me: I remember the time you threw up all over the security guard and the conveyor belt in Kansas City. Sigh… I had throw up in my shoes. You were 3 and I raced back to the bathroom with you to clean you up. It was hopeless.

Jack: And then I threw up the entire plane ride, right?

me: Every 15 minutes for a 3-hour flight. It was the worst. I also remember the time you tried to bring a switchblade comb on the plane and the guard gave us a hard time, remember?

Jack: It was a spinny thing that we got from Disney.

me: No, it was a pop up comb. I remember.

Jack: Mom, I wasn’t even old enough to have one of those. I just got that like 2 years ago.

me: That’s when it happened. Why are there so many issues with security?

Jack: I remember when I was flying with Dad and my sunblock exploded in my backpack. I cleaned it, but the xray machine could still see it. They had to search Dad. He wasn’t happy.

me: Hahahahaha. Remember that time we met the guy on the plane that let you use his iPad? It was when Angry Birds first came out. When was that?

Jack: 2010, no 2011.

me: Yeah and then he was trying to show off and rode on the conveyor belt and you tried to follow him.

Jack: He was doing handstands haha!

me: His mom said he was showing off for us. That was funny. But you’re not supposed to ride on the luggage conveyor belts! Geez..

Jack: I remember you packed me a bunch of apples when I was going to Hawaii with dad. You know you’re not supposed to bring fruit in or out of that state!

me: I didn’t know that. Did you eat them?

Jack: Yeah I had to eat them all before we landed and about a pound of cheese!

me: Well I didn’t know if they would have nut-free food on the plane Jack, I had to pack something…

Jack: Well that was too much fruit.

me: And there was the time that security didn’t like that you had a nerf gun. I totally remember the security guard checking it out. But geez, it’s plastic and orange! They finally let you go through.

Jack: I don’t remember that…

me: Let’s see if you can get to Florida tonight without an incident. Okay? No contraband in your carry on luggage.

Jack: I can’t promise anything.

Update… 7/5/17… we were going through security in HPN, and naturally the guard pulls Jack’s red backpack off the conveyor belt and holds it up. “Whose bag is this??”

me: (pointing at Jack) His. Sighhhh.

Nothing came of it but they did have a thorough search. Not sure what flagged it though, they weren’t talking!

I also remembered what we call the “applesauce incident”. One guard wouldn’t let us through security with two little containers of applesauce. They were 3 oz each! His supervisor yelled at him and. Are him give us the applesauce back. 20 minute delay that trip if I remember correctly. Ugh!!!

 Update a few weeks later… I just remembered that on the flight home MY suitcase caused an uproar in security at Ft. Lauderdale Int. Airport… I had packed a huge bag of shells and it looked like a big green blob on the scanner photo. Many different supervisors had to come inspect it and then my bag had to be dismantled and checked with that bomb litmus paper lol. Took FOReverrrrrr. Must run in the family! :O

First day of camp – 2017

me: How was the first day?

Jack: Ok.

me: What did you do?

Jack: Stuff.

me: Zipline?

Jack: No.

me: Archery?

Jack: No.

me: Boats?

Jack: No.

me: So you swam the entire day??

Jack: Just one hour.

me: What did you do for the rest of the hours?

Jack: Camp stuff!

me: And the teenage years begin.

Any advice?? 🙂

Stories that start with…

Now ask yourself, why should a mom ever have to hear any of this?

Ever?

Jack has literally started conversations with these openers…

Sigh.

• Remember Evan that I was in the bus crash with?
• Oh, that was when the tarantula disappeared…
• Owwww, i think I just broke it again! 
• I knew that was a bomb squad van…they’re black

I’m sure there are more that I’ve blocked out! 😫
  

Germany: Day 1

We landed in Germany at around 3 am our time, 8 am local time. Koln (Cologne) is a very pretty city with lots to see and do! We visited the Dom Cathedral…

…and walked for miles looking at shops (including the beer museum, nutcracker store, and a few local gallerys). 

We stopped at a street stall and ate curry Wurst with pommes frittes (same words for French fries that they use in France). Yes curry wurst is a thing. 

We also visited our German sales team, saw their office, and had a quick sushi dinner with them and picked up some groceries at a local market.

Now it’s 8:30pm here and 3:30pm back home. Time to catch up on Zzzs.

I had been waiting for Jack to call for about 20 minutes. Where was that boy? He had instructions to get off the bus, feed Bella, change her water, scoop her litter and then call me. I was getting wonky after only 4 hours of sleep on the plane last night, if that.

Finally he called.

me: Hi Jack! Want to FaceTime?

Jack: Nah…

Too late I had already dialed in.

me: Hey there you are! How was Bella? 

Jack: Good. She’s eating. I changed her water and scooped her litter. 

me: Awesome, thanks! Why didn’t you call me when you were home? (I noticed he was back at his friend’s house)

Jack: I didn’t want to. Bella was eating. 

me: That’s ok. You’re walking in circles over there eh? What are you doing? Any homework?

Jack: Nope! Gotta go use the bathroom.

me: Oh ok. Um…Talk to you later. Love you.

Jack: Bye, love you too.

And that was it! Guess he’s not missing me yet! I’m now officially deliriously tired. 🙂 tomorrow we officially start working at a big international tradeshow. Should be interesting!

Here are a few more pics! Enjoy!

Double the lightingness

Is that a word?

Jack: I love my room… I can’t believe I’m so used to it and I’m not in the other small room anymore.

me: I’m glad you like it. I had fun setting it up for you.

Jack and I are in his room right now getting ready for bed. Bella is hanging with us. Moca is in her crate snoozing already. She actually dragged her tired butt in there around 8:45 haha.

me: Can you hand me the Chap Stick and a tissue? (Still at the tail end end end of a nasty 3-week cold)

Jack: (hands me the stuff) This room is so functional! 

me: All we need is a mini fridge and a snack bar.

We always Joke that his new room is like a small apartment. Bathroom, TV, etc.

Jack: We could put the mini fridge next to you and it could double as a night stand.

me: Mhmm.

Jack: (going to pee) Awwwwww! That is rancid! Still smells like asparagus!!!

me: (bleh) Jack flush the toilet.

Jack: (coming back into the room without flushing) Nope, you told me not too.

me: That’s only for middle of the night so you don’t set Moca off thinking it’s morning.

Jack: (flops on the bed with his book) Ahhhhhhh! So functional. And I love this book light with the two lights. It’s like double the lightingness.

me: Hahaha…

7 browser tabs that describe my life

7. Relaxation Methods for kids http://www.innerhealthstudio.com/relaxation-for-children.html

Jack: I’m already relaxed, and that doesn’t work anyway!

6.  Positive Affirmations http://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/2015/powerfully-positive-affirmations-for-kids/

Jack: I am awesome! No need to affirm.

5. Five essential commands you can teach your dog. https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/obedience/5-essential-commands-you-can-teach-your-dog

Jack: Mom, you’re not doing it right. Show her the treat!!!!

me: sigh.

4. School lunch Calendar. https://www.trumbullps.org/Attachments/food/menu/mid.pdf

me: Jack, I don’t have time to pack you a lunch, so you’ll have to eat school lunch today.

Jack: That food is for scrubs. I guess I’ll go hungry!

me: I think it’s taco day.

Jack: Oh never mind, their tacos are awesome!

3. Webster Arena Parking. http://www.websterbankarena.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205157093

Jack: I don’t even like twenty one pilots, that is the worst present ever!

me: Well, I didn’t know that. And if I can’t sell the tickets, we are going.

(Later)

Jack: Mom, I changed my mind, I really really really want to go!

Me: sigh

2. Invisible fence company. http://www.freedomfence-ny.com/

Jack: That’s awesome! I can’t wait until I can just let Moca outside, and not have to walk her.

me: You still have to walk her.

Jack: Awww. 

1.  Which Oyster Ticket to purchase in London. http://www.sandyhookpromise.org/startwithhelloweekemail

Jack and I are going to London in April. Just me and him. No dog. No cat. Just a real vacation. I may even delete my work email for that week. Ha!

Jack: OMG I can’t believe we’re really going to London! 

me: We can visit all the Doctor Who spots and go on the London Eye!

Jack: Where are we staying?

me: In a hotel.

Jack: Very funny. 

Can I keep blogging about you?

Jack has been reading my old blog posts and really enjoying them! He’s reading the ones from 2010 and 2011, which happened to be the only ones that I actually had printed as books. The rest are all digital unfortunately. Each year that goes by makes it a more costly expense. But I think it is something I should do for myself and have the suckers printed!

Me: Jack is it OK that I keep writing about you?

Jack: I guess so, it’s kind of embarrassing.

Just as I suspected, I knew there would come a day when me writing about his every thought and saying might be a bit too much for him to see in print, and know that it’s out there for anyone to read. Sigh

However, he is cracking up reading these and we love to read our favorite ones out loud to each other and have a good laugh. He really did say some shit didn’t he?

Me: so when do you think I should stop writing, maybe when you’re a teenager? So like, when you’re 13?

Jack: yeah, when I’m a teenager is good, but maybe stop when I’m 18!

That is not the response I expected ha ha but we’ll see how it goes into next year and how he feels about that. Right now he’s reading the post from when he was younger, and not necessarily the posts from the last year or so. Maybe that will make a difference. I’m still glad that I did it, because it is a journal of sorts and it has a lot of detail about his personality and our relationship. So it’s very special. But I know there will come a point when hearing his own shit written down and read back to him is not going to be his most favorite thing ha ha.

I’ll respect his wishes at that point, because really the blog is all about him.

What does a sneeze smell like?

Our actual conversation on the way to school. I really can’t make this sh*t up.

Jack: The car smells like my sneezes.

me: What does that mean?

Jack: Like how my own sneeze smells.

me: Does it smell like melted butter?

Jack: No, that doesn’t even make sense.

:O

An answer for everything

me: Jack, I don’t want you walking around getting ready for bed with your iPod stuck to your face. Put it down and use it when you’re done.

Jack: But I’m just watching videos!

me: Take a little break and use it later or tomorrow please.

Jack: But why?

me: Because if you have that glued to your face all day you’re not giving yourself a chance to be creative and use your own imagination. It’s doing all the thinking for you and you’re not creating anything with your own brain.

Jack: But I get all my creative ideas from the videos I watch.

me: I … Uh… Sigh.

Sometimes I just run out of arguments.