My Trip to See My Family

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Barbara L

Traveling Welcome Wagon
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
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Location
Somewhere, US
Well, I got back yesterday. I already miss my daughter, grandkids, dad, and sister! I don't miss the higher prices (like gas 40 cents a gallon higher than ours).

Highlights of my trip:

Andrew's 10th birthday. I moved back here before either he or Hannah were born, and I have never been there for one of their birthdays. :( I got to see him play in one of his Little League baseball games that day, and we had a little family party later.

I got to see Hannah (6 3/4 years old) learn to ride a bike. She's riding like a pro now. That same day, I finally learned how to crochet. :cool:

We went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. I hadn't been in so long, and there were a lot of changes. We all had such a good time. Afterwards, we stopped by my dad's store, in Escondido, then we went across the street to Filippi's Pizza. I have been dying for Filippi's Pizza ever since I moved back here.

Reading bedtime stories with Hannah. Hannah has taken to reading just like her brother, mom, and grandma (me) did. You should hear her! She read to me much of the time, and sometimes we went back-and-forth. She was reading words like "harvesting," "stethoscope," etc. She didn't know what some of the words were, but after we talked about them, she remembered them later. Like "sigh." The way she read with feeling really surprised me. Most of the 4th graders I taught didn't even do that.

Hannah and I started a little thing one night when she was reading (I think) "A Bug's Life" to me. Someone in the story sneezed. Ever since then, if I kiss her on the nose, as soon as I kiss it, she gives a little, "Choo!" It is so cute!

We got to go up to Riverside to see my aunt and cousins. We had a great time there.

We played tons of games--board games, Farkle (a dice game), Uno Attack, Guestures, Malarky, etc. Andrew beat me several times at Stratego. When we decided to play checkers, Andrew said, "I'm going to beat you!" I mopped the floor with him and said, "You learned to never say 'I'm going to beat you' to someone you haven't played with before! He did win the 2nd game. :)

I got to go to my home church for Easter. It was a really nice service.

We went fishing on the Oceanside pier. Nancy's boyfriend caught a couple before we got there, but I was the only one who caught one after we got there. It was very tiny (I said, "I found Nemo!") and went back of course. The interesting thing (for which I was glad) was that the hook didn't even go into the fish's mouth. He was just holding onto my bait!

Nancy, my sister, and I went to one of the Indian casinos one night. My sister had been before and had gotten a coupon for a free buffet, and Nancy and I got a free buffet for signing up for a player's card. It was the BEST buffet I have ever seen in my life. New York steak, crab legs, sushi (I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was really good), stuffed avocados, chocolate fountains, great salad ingredients, --you name it, they had it. Everything was so fresh and perfectly prepared.

After the buffet, we hit the slots (We each planned on spending a set amount and the card games had too high a minimum--our money would have been gone way too quickly!). I played the penny slots and left $100 ahead. Unfortunately, for Nancy and Diana, they came away with lighter pockets. But we all had a great time, and the meal was spectacular.

Nancy babysits a little boy, and since his 11-year-old sister was off for spring break, she was there too. She wrote a really cute play, and she, Andrew, and Hannah performed it for us. Andrew wasn't really into it, but he did a good job. Hannah is a natural actress! She was amazing!

The best part of the whole trip was just talking and being so close to Nancy and the kids. It was one of the nicest two weeks I have ever had.

I will put some pictures up in Member Photos as soon as I can.

:)Barbara
 
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Sounds like you had a wonderful time Barbara and so memorable!! Seems lady luck was smiling at you with all those bonuses in your trip. Glad it was special for you. You were looking forward to it so much.
 
Barbara, what a marvelous time you had! It is such a great feeling to get back home and be together with your family again.

It sounds like you formed a special bond with the little ones as well. Their lives are better now for knowing you.

Anytime you walk away from a casino with their money in your pocket it's a great feeling.

Looking forward to the pictures.
 
Dear Barbara, I'm so glad you had a great trip and visit. Hope it won't be so long next time. And now to the new job? Hope that will turn out to be just as great.
 
ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh! I've been waiting for this posting!!

I am so thrilled for you, being able to experience all you did - your grandchildren must have loved having you there. What an honor!
I'm excited you found nemo....you know, we've all been looking......lol

and the casino - woo hoo to you! So nice that they wanted to "give" you money and food!

I am so happy that you were able to have this amazing trip, Barb.
 
Barb, I just prayed this is how your visit would be..You needed this and your daughter and grandbabies needed it to..I'm looking forward to pictures and hearing more about your wonderful time.
hugs,
kades
 
I posted some pictures in Member Photos. I will probably have more to post (sorry! lol) when my daughter sends the ones we took with her camera when mine ran out of space.

:)Barbara
 
Barbara, I just knew you would have a wonderful time in the beautiful city of San Diego and surrounding city's.

I love the Ocean and S.D. Bay. The Zoo and the Animal Park. The Military Bases and the weather...I lived there from age 5 until I was 22 and Paul received orders to North Carolina .We have been back many times but as Tourests..it has changed so much.
Marge[/B]
 
I know what you mean Marge. I grew up in San Diego and Vista, and a lot has changed. I was almost as surprised at what was still the same. I would be totally in the dark about where we were (because of the changes), and then all of the sudden we were in an area that hadn't changed a bit! The palm tree in my dad's front yard is so tall now! When we moved there, we could sit on the couch and look over the top of the tree. What we saw when we looked over the top of the tree was a big field full of cows and cranes, but for the last 30 years there are just a lot of apartments there.

:)Barbara
 
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