Guilty of Blog Neglect

I've been so busy! Having a great time, but I'm worn out and ready for a lazy day. Today's plan: Sit, lay, eat, repeat. We had my Brother-In-Law and my nephew here for a week, so we did some fun touristy stuff and never slowed down. My daughter also turned 17 a couple of days ago. And... I was trying to keep up with the house and getting my daughter to school and back too. Plus, I had to get three flat tires repaired. Yeah, I said three! Had to keep up appearances and pretend we live like normal people who do their dishes and clean their bathrooms every day. I think I pulled off the illusion nicely. But, I'm worn out!

We went to Knotts Berry Farm... that one I told you about while my husband took over tourguide duty. Then hubby went back to work (two jobs and no time off left me as chief entertainer and taxi driver). So, I took them to the beach (twice), San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, and SeaWorld. I think I walked 500 miles these past few days.

Oh, Sea World was hilarious! Princess Gracie thought that the Shamu trainer was her daddy. She was yelling "Daddy!" repeatedly and clapping and just thrilled to see her daddy swimming with the fishy. What a guy... that daddy is sure special!


I'm all proud of myself for keeping up with the Farmer and the kid. But, wow, being pregnant sure gets in the way of being a tourist. Of course I was always carrying a bunch of stuff, pushing the stroller and/or had Gracie on the leash, taking pictures, and stopping in every ladies room in Southern California. I took plenty of photos... no, not of the ladies' rooms!.... here are a few...


Oh, I got this awesome shot at Sea World during the dolphin show. They ask a volunteer family to participate. The mom and dad stand on the little bridge on the left side of the photo with the Sea World Entertainer guy (in the hat) and the little boy gets to pet the dolphin. Cute! Anyway, the dad stood in front of the mom and so she was leaning around the dad to see the boy... click the photo so you can see it larger and check out Mommy.... actually.... don't look with a full bladder, you'll wet yourself.... take a little potty break then come back and click the pic and take a peek at Mom.

What? No Pregnant Discount?

Yesterday was a long day. Fun, but long. This pregnant woman was really feeling it around mid-day and I wasn't done having fun yet!

First thing in the morning, I took my van to the tire shop to repair a slow leak. It was so annoying. In the last month, I learned how to check my tire pressure and fill my tire up with air. In fact, I'm so freaking amazing, I got really good at it! Maybe cuz of all the practice. Stupid tire started to leak faster and faster. I decided, that's enough, I'm getting it repaired or a new tire or something. So, off we went to the tire place before hitting the road.

Got the tire repaired. It had a nail in it. We all piled in and headed to Knott's Berry Farm for a day of fun, sun, and roller coasters! Woooo Hoooo!

But, at the ticket booth, what's this? No Pregnant Woman Who Can't Go on the Roller Coasters discount? But... I won't be taking up a seat on the best rides! I promise! I'm just a walking coatrack for my family! I will just be following them around, holding all their sodas, cameras, hats, etc while they get their thrills. Dang it. What is wrong with the world these days? Fine, here's my plastic, lemme in so I can at least pee in every ladie's room and use up $30 worth of toilet paper.

By the way, kudos to the Ladies Room Maintenance Crew at Knotts! Best restrooms in any amusement park I've ever been to! Dollywood in Tennessee was really good too, but Knotts Potty Facilities really kick ass! Plenty of them, stocked, and most importantly, clean! I inspected all of them, so I think I'm qualified to judge.

We had a fabulous day. I forgot that when I'm busy baking a bun in the oven, my skin sunburns so much more easily. Ooops! Ouch! The kids had a great time on the coasters, the place wasn't very full of people so lines were minimal. Miss Gracie loved the performances, especially in Camp Snoopy!

Lexie won a bear doing one of those carnival games that they have. First try and she walked away with the biggest bear they had. Crazy girl!

After seven hours of wandering around the amusement park, I think I walked a hundred miles or so. The park finally closed. The kids said "Awwwww" And we began our 5 mile hike to the van in the parking lot.

Got to the mini-van, and guess what. FLAT TIRE!!! Oh yeah, same one I had fixed before we left so that we wouldn't get a flat.

Luckily, my brother-in-law was with us, visiting while on vacation... he sure came in handy! Nothing like using your vactioning BIL. He changed the tire and put on the spare and we headed home. He told me I was restricted to driving no more than 55. Um.... are you kidding me? This is California! I do 55 in town! Fine, I did 55 on the freeway. Old people and semi trucks passed me. I didn't look at the people driving cuz I didn't want to see how many of them were flipping me off. I'm sure I would have lost count half way home. But, we made it!

And Knotts ended up being a really fun day. Even though we had to cart home a bear bigger than life and drive home on the spare tire. We wore out the kids, ahhhh, sweet silence all night long!

So, if you ever go to Knotts Berry Farm, don't bother asking for the Pregnant Woman Discount. They don't have one. And bring an extra tire. And sunscreen.