Field Trip Down Under

On Monday, it's back to work for the Tzuhsimama. I know, I know, you're upset about this.
As a last hurrah, I took the kids on the final field trip of the season - Howe Caverns. We drove about 3 hours east (the last 30 minutes through winding roads - poor back seat passengers).
We travelled underground in an elevator and had a 90 minute tour of the caverns, complete with a boat ride. It was very cool.
And what natural underworld attraction would be complete without a souvenir opportunity? Photo of the Family! $8.36!

Eight is Enough

Last week, The Lawyer, Kids, The Professor (aka Aunt Suzie), Cousin Big Al, & I went on a big ole Griswold vacation to Rehoboth Beach Delaware. We rented a condo a block from the beach and spent lots of time wave chasing, digging holes, reading, trolling the streets and EATING. Note that there was no actual swimming in the ocean. I love swimming in the ocean but every time I got in past my knees, one of the girls was standing on the shore SCREAMING at me to "BE CAREFUL!" "DON'T GO ANY FARTHER, THERE ARE SHARKS IN THE OCEAN!" "MAAAAAMAAAAAA, COME BACK, YOU'RE GOING TO GET LOST!"

This is about as far as we were allowed to venture without being tethered to the lifeguard station.


Elly was obsessed with finding treasures. We went to one beach that had a tide pool. She was in heaven.


Lewie spent hours letting the waves crash into him. A true Pisces.


He was in heaven!


One day the beach was full of little jellyfish. Then this one washed up. It was bigger than a dinner plate and really cool looking. We were lucky to see it; within a couple of minutes another wave took it back out to sea.


Ana and Frances hung out in the sand, digging holes! They only took a couple of dips a day.


Ana enjoying the waves


The elusive Professor took photos and retreated under the beach umbrella with the Lawyer to read ...... or at least that appeared to be what they were doing......... hmmmmmmm. And that's the rarely captured Lawyer in the background.


Al tried to impress the ladies with his "muscles." They were flocking .......... or not, whatever.


He also loved getting buried so just his head and green-nail polished-toenails showed. Charming, I know.


The boardwalk with it's french fries. ice cream, arcade, crap-buying opportunities.


Into every vacation, some lazing in the condo must fall. Lewis is just a little bit obsessed with Ana's ds.


Frances preparing for middle school.


The kids were also crazy for FunLand, with it's games and cheesy rides. They won TWENTY FOUR, 24, TWENTY FOUR stuffed animals. A nice addition to the 6,599 they have already at home.


There are LOTS of shopping outlets in Rehoboth. One day the lawyer told me that she was going to go and get some new crocs for the kids and herself. This is what she came home with........... She calls them "crocsiders." Have you ever seen anything more hideous? This is why she needs Frances or me to accompany her on shopping trips.


Whew, that was a lot of work..........

99 things

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Written something that was published
11. Bungee jumped or parachuted
12. Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge
13. Been in a fist fight
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Seen the Rings of Saturn with a telescope
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a tree house or snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Rode in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Fired a gun
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal
44. Visited Africa
45. Cried yourself to sleep
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Visited the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Pretended you cooked something from scratch when you didn't
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold something door to door
62. Gone whale or dolphin watching
64. Donated blood, marrow, etc
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Held onto a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten frog legs or caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Time Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Done something illegal
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Sang a solo Does doing it in 5th grade count??!
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Climbed a mountain
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had surgery
89. Directly saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Seen a loved one die
94. Given birth to a baby
95. Visited the Alamo
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Sent a text message while driving
99. Been stung by a bee