Hotlanta or bust.......

After a few weeks of catching our breath from our England trip it was time to enjoy a weekend with great friends and venture to Atlanta....after our successful Mountain Trip we couldn't wait to plan our next adventure and what an adventure it was.

Again we decided to not tell the kids where we were going or who we were going with....trust me 5 kiddos all bubbling with excitement before a road trip weeks before we leave was not something I think I wanted to handle.  Friday came and our friends met us at our house, after a quick switcharoo of kids in cars (we have Boo Boo and her best friend, while our friends had Bambeano and their twins) and off we went.

We had a busy but fun week end planned, hotel and pool, Coca Cola factory, Braves game and Georgia Aquarium were all on the agenda.  After a pit stop on the way for bathroom breaks and a stop at the mall for our Braves gear, we arrived at the hotel and checked in.   It was way past my lunch and those who don't know me should know when I don't eat I get cranky as ever!!!!!  I am not exaggerating just ask Bombshell and after this trip our friends can probably attest to this too.  A quick drop off of bags we made our way for a late lunch at a local pub that Bombshell had spotted driving round to the hotel, ahhhhh the refreshing wine and food NOW I was a happy camper.

We walked a few blocks down to the World of Coke and made our way to the entrance.   Damn this place was busy.... I am not sure how I felt about the place.  On some aspects I felt like cattle being herded from one exhibit to another, they obviously have not got the Disney memo.   The kids seemed to enjoy it so that was the main thing especially when it came to try the various drinks, the place was a mad house, it was a special treat for some of the kiddos who do not normally have the treat of soda.

After the hustle and bustle of the World of Coke we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for our next adventure a Major League Baseball game, Atlanta Braves vs, Philadelphia Phillies.  So with the cars in valet a call was made to have the cars brought round while we started to get ready and then we would make our way to Turner Field, or so I thought............Bring on meltdown #2 for the girl who hasn't eaten.

Our friends car made it round and some of the kids were bundled in while we still waited for my car, 5 minutes nothing, 10 minutes nothing, 15 minutes nothing so I went to the desk to ask about my car and if it was coming anytime soon.  Just when I thought I would not experience any more madhouses I was never  more wrong.  There was a family reunion trying to find out where their two rental vans were, one had "disappeared".....hmm not a good sign....finally I got the attention of an attendant and asked her for a status on my car, she asked my ticket number and disappeared, it looked like she went to the board of car keys but alas my car keys were not hanging there so without giving me any update she proceeded to the back of the office (where I could still see) and started to talk to the "runners" who collect the cars and the "runners" were glancing back at me....ARE YOU KIDDING ME not so much of an update!!!!!!!

Finally I collared another lady and told her that I was not being told of anything related to my car, she proceeded to call up to the main entrance and try and describe my car and keys.  I was just about done with all the mayhem and heat (we were in the underground garage).  Finally Bombshell had this "bright" idea that as there were 4 vehicles all the same model as mine we would go up as one was bound to mine.....Considering none on the key chains she described were mine I was not as hopeful.  Sure enough after traipsing back upstairs round to the front not only were there no vehicles the same model as mine but mine was NOT there, how's that for a surprise, they lost my car!!!!!!

Back downstairs we went and en route I received a text from our friends confirming they could see my car, it was now miraculously found.  I was so mad, hot and disgruntled I grabbed the keys from the attendant who had the gall to gleefully say "we found your car" and stormed off, and no I did not leave a tip, are you kidding me, this took about 30 minutes of my life away!!!!!

We made our way to Turner Field and parked, the place was bigger than I imagined and there were so many fans.  The last MLB game I went to was NY Yankees in 1994 when Bombshell and I were living in White Plains, NY.  Our seats were a far walk away but when we got seated they were great views.  The kids were in front and the adults sat behind.  Braves came away with the win and we stayed for fireworks.  It was touch and go whether we were going to leave after the 6th inning and make our way back to the hotel.  You see our hotel rooms both faced Turner Field, but as it turned out the kids wanted to stay.  I am torn on whether this was a good idea or not, the fireworks and atmosphere of being there was phenomenal and the kids made the jumbo tron but the exit from the parking lot was not the best experience to say the least.

The next day we had to be up fairly early as we were meeting the manager at the Georgia Aquarium.  The food service and catering is run by the company Bombshell and I work at.  The place was huge and enjoyable from the start to finish.  Lots of great educational pieces for the kids and the exhibits, especially the
Ocean Voyager with the underwater tunnel after taking in about half of the exhibits, grabbing some lunch and letting the kids run off some steam, we decided to make our way back to the hotel for some pool time and chill before returning back to the Aquarium for the Dolphin Tale Show.

While I chilled at the pool our ever so resourceful friends and cooked up an idea to consume the adult beverages we brought with us on the trip.......Welcome the new Deer Park "chardonnay" water only available on a Bowden/Woodward road trip.  So while we enjoyed relaxing on the side of the pool we also enjoyed some quiet time enjoying our chilled wine while the husbands entertained the kiddos, this is what I call HEAVEN :)  Thanks guys we owe you.....

So after some quick showers we left for the Aquarium to catch the show and finish off the exhibits before dinner.  I really enjoyed the dolphins but could have done without the theatricals and singing but it was still good.  Of course before leaving we had to hit up the gift shop Bambeano and Boo Boo both getting cuddly toys, for a shock while I scored a Christmas tree ornament and Bombshell bought we a stuffed toy too, how sweet.

Dinner choice was picked by Bombshell it was a little Italian pizza place that he had tried out while he visited Atlanta on business.  He raved about the place so we were all up for trying.  Must be good if the have a police officer outside directing traffic and parking it was that busy.  No frills here just BYOB and find a table.  We arrived and the place was heaving and we had 5 hungry kiddos but with pizza how wrong good you go. We entered and made our way to the kitchen out back where they had large bench tables family style.  SO the 9 of us sat and waited patiently for others to leave and seated at a table where another party were at the end.  Bombshell ordered the pizza and no joke 5 minutes or so the pizzas arrived.

Most people now my husband is a trained chef and loves experimenting and trying new foods.  I on the other hand am the most pickiest eater there is, just call me plain Jane.   I will admit since I started dating Bombshell some 18 years ago he had broaden my palette but I still like my comfort food.  So the pizzas arrived a cheese one for the kids and the some others, that I shall call froo froo pizzas.  Our friends and Bombshell started eating while I sat and sulked....I just wanted my plain old pepperoni pizza.  The kids were fast running out of the cheese and Bambeano also wanted pepperoni.  My super husband stopped what he was eating and went up and ordered another "plain Jane" pepperoni pizza, ah the things he does to make me happy (or should we say to have an easy life, I prefer the 1st option)

So after dinner we made our way back to the hotel and decided to give the kids a  treat and take them back down to the pool for a late night swim.  The adults enjoyed some down time with adult beverages again and just chilled.  After some time we took the kids back up to the rooms to get them settled while the guys went for a drink at the hotel bar.  I was exhausted and it wasn't long before I fell asleep.

The next morning we had to get packed up and leave our 2nd road trip adventure behind.  I later found out that the guys returned back to the room sometime after midnight and could not get in the rooms.  With the rooms joining the just took one key but it turned out Mummy safety mode was in full force as the security bolt was placed over the door.  They tried and tried to wake my friend up even calling the front desk to call the room with no success so it resorted to banging the door VERY loudly until one of us woke up, three guesses it was NOT me......I slept through the whole thing :)

All packed up and ready to go we left Atlanta behind and started thinking about where we could have our next road trip and when......THANKS GUYS for another successful road trip it was a blast

Summer is definately here........

Wow you can tell summer is finally here...school is out and the heat has arrived and I have been lax in my blog writing.  The time just flies.

Kids finished school June 9 so this year we planned our vacation to go back home to England.  We haven't been home for 2.5 years and the last time we went home during the summer Bambeano was 10 months old (he is now nearly 7).  Now flying home for the typical 10 days doesn't cut it as we rush around catching up with family, friends and try and have a vacation.

This year was different I was going to fly early with the kids and we would be there over 3 weeks and Bombshell would follow soon after.  The preparations in the house were exciting (kids) and panicky (me), not that I was nervous about flying on my own with the kids but the weather was forecasted as typical British Summer (RAIN), OMG what was I to pack.

A few weeks before the trip a curve ball came our way, my meticulous planning was out the window.  You see with school out I didn't need to have kids in camp Bombshell would be off work Monday and Tuesday and could watch the kids before driving to my work Tuesday and taking us to the airport, but no nothing could be that simple....This should have been a sign.......

Monday he did stay off with the kids but then he had to fly to Florida for a conference so he came to my work and we dropped him off......now for Tuesday, what now!!!!!!!  A great neighbor's daughter stepped in and came by at 6.45am Tuesday to watch the kids while I went to work.....taking 3 weeks off work left me thin for other vacation days......(I only had 20 days this year with a change in vacation schedule not being calendar year)  at 11.30am VACATION FINALLY STARTS!!!!!!

The trip to the airport was fraught with the kids fighting, normal I know but with the prospect of a 7.5 hr flight this was not something I was looking forward too.  Having nipped that in the bud we were off to the airport.  Parking was a nightmare but we were able to secure daily parking given that Bombshell was coming back from Florida Wednesday late so he would pick up the car, kids fighting had stopped so I finally could relax, or so I thought.

Checking in was not as smooth as I would have liked.  The seating layout of the plane is 2, 4, 2 so I had secured 3 seats together in the block of 4, not my ideal situation as the seats are cramped but at least we would be together....yeah that didn't work out.  I get to the desk and we have all been moved around.  I am on a block of 2 fortunately the same row as Boo Boo but there was an aisle and a seat between us....now where in the world was Bambeano's seat.  My 6 year old, that's right a child ticket, was moved 6 rows behind us but over on the left side of the plane, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!  I asked the desk agent to seat us together and the responses was we cannot help you, you will have to go to the gate.

Off the gate I go and I am met with another disappointing response from US Airways.....
"I'm sorry but I cannot move the person at the window as they requested it"
My response...."But my children and I were all sat together and have been moved and how can a 6 year old be separated from his family"
Their response....."You will have to work with the flight attendants"
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!  In the meantime I have 2 worried children......my game plane was to give Bambeano my seat and see if I can at least get the kids together, then with it being a night flight, get them settled and hopefully they will sleep.

I get on the flight and the attendant was less than funny, gives me high fives that I am away form my kids on the long flight that it would be every mother's dream, where do they pick these crazy people,  with the kids settled together a kind lady gives up her aisle seat and let's Boo Boo move to the aisle now the kids are separated only by the aisle.  Now on to sort my seat to get closer to the kids.....

The airplane is full and patiently waiting to push back form the gate.  It appears now there is a spare seat next to Boo Boo but I am told by the attendant they are waiting for one more passenger, surely I could take the seat (in the block of 4) and they could have my aisle seat.  NO I was emphatically told!!!!

Well here comes the passenger.......a English (I can spot them a mile off) man, DRUNK, seriously you were going to a) allow him on board, b) have him sit next to my 10 year old, not if I have my way.  I patiently watched the unfolding events as well as try and keep Bombshell informed (we had been texting).  The drunk passes Boo Boo's row and comes the 6 rows back to my row, starts fumbling his pockets.  The flight attendant asks him to take a seat he is holding up the plane, he responds he is looking for his ticket (he was adamant he was in our row).  This went on for what seems 5-10 minutes before the attendant got very agitated and told the passenger sternly to sit down and points to the seat by Boo Boo.  I popped up from my seat on the opposite side of the plane and said I would take the seat he could take my aisle seat, the relief on my kids face was all I needed to know that this Mama Bear did good. 

The drunk proceeded to fall into the laps of the passengers in my aisle while I whipped my bag and moved quickly over to my kids.  Boo Boo moved over one seat and Bambeano sat next to her then we had the aisle between us.

After the crazy beginnings of our vacation I could finally relax and the kids did FANTASTIC on the plane, no fighting and Boo Boo being very motherly and helping her brother.  I was settled with a glass of wine VACATION HAS OFFICALLY STARTED!!!!!!!