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I [heart] Davids · Travel

Travel

When I travel somewhere, Dave Travel

Vegas Trip

I recently had to go to Las Vegas for a work trip. My best girlfriends met up with me and we got to hang out when I wasn’t working. It was so totally awesome!

We stayed at the Cosmopolitan, which is amazingly luxurious. We spent our free time at the pool and wandering the various bars in the hotel. The girls were good humans and took a nice, long walk each morning, stopping to get us affordable food from somewhere outside of the hotel. I didn’t. I laid in bed as much as possible.

I am actually happy to say I didn’t leave the hotel until my conference was over. Our flight was at 6 AM the next morning, so we planned a 4 AM departure. Going to sleep seemed silly, so we walked the strip, gambled away some money, and ate a wonderful meal at midnight. It was the best. I love you, ladies.

Vegas Suite

Check out our suite in Las Vegas – amazing!!!

Photos of our Christmas trip to Virginia Beach. Dave, Mom, Henry and I came up to visit Granma for the Christmas holiday.

We hit the Virginia Aquarium again. We had planned to go to the Norfolk Zoo but it was 40 degrees and pouring down rain. Luckily, the major Restless Planet renovations at the aquarium have been completed so this visit we got to see some new animals like the Komodo dragon!

Cute freshwater turtle
Cute turtle

Contemplating the water
Watching the back bay

Kaleidoscope Hallway
kaleidoscope Hall

Sea Turtles
Turtle Tank

Watching Turtles and Fish

Visiting the Komodo Dragon
Komodo Dragon

Neat feature
Up close and personal

Tropical Tunnel
Walk-through Tropical Aquarium

At the gift shop
Fistful of Sharks

Doing his best to avoid Santa
Avoiding Santy Claws


My first day in Aledo is going great. I’m so enjoying spending time just chatting mom stuff with Linz. And the boys are having a great time together. Henry is loving playing with Fred and Polly, the two labs.

The babies are down for naps and next up, drinks for the adults!!

On Christmas Eve we went to the Virginia Aquarium. When I was in college, it was called the Virginia Marine Science Museum and I worked there every summer as part of my Bonner Scholar work requirements.

I loved being there. I love the fishes and the wildlife. And I was nearly brought to tears in a fit of sentimentality when I saw Henry gazing with wonder into the tanks. I really hope to pass on my love of science and fishes to the little guy.

Here he is getting eaten by a shark. Doesn’t he look surprised?
Eaten by a shark

These egrets, along with a host of other interesting birds, were in the aviary.
Bird about to be...

...in flight!

At the Norfolk Canyon tank, taking in the sharks.
Watching sharks with Mommy

Watching the giant sea turtles with Daddy. I think we could have sat there all day.
Father and son watch the sea turtles

Walking to the South Building.
The boardwalk at the Virginia Aquarium

In the Marsh Pavilion we found this fun stuffed otter. The real ones were all asleep in a pile, so they weren’t that much fun to look at.
Should I otter touch that, Mommy?

After a hard day of sitting in his stroller and being carried, Henry needed a breather. The kids play area was perfect!
Playing in the kids area

Our best find of the day, however, was a stuffed “turkey buzzard,” which is what his Granma Jo calls him all the time. Must get photo!

Five teefs

Granpy and Henry

Unky Eric, Henry and Dave

Spaztastic

Granma and Henry

Monkey see, monkey do

We had a great time in Cleveland this past week. Leslie’s wedding was gorgeous and beautiful and made me cry, and the reception was a blast. Unfortunately, I had no camera so no photos to show of the handsome couple.

We wound up our week of fun with the drive back home on Sunday. We left Stow at 11:30 AM and got home at 12:30 AM. That’s right, folks, a thirteen hour trip. It should have been about an eight hour drive but we had to stop for Henro multiple times and the traffic was awful. We ended up getting off the highway and taking backroads through some of West Virginia and most of Virginia and Carolina. But we did eventually make it home, safe and sound!

Destin Trip

I had a great weekend with Amy and Ali in Destin. It was a funny trip. I flew to Atlanta, then Amy and I drove to Birmingham. The next morning the three of us drove down to Destin. On Sunday, we all drove back to Birmingham, then Amy and I drove back to Atlanta, and I flew home. Still, we had nearly two full days out in Destin.

We didn’t stay in Niceville very long.
Welcome to Niceville

There were a dozen rattlesnakes in this roadside attraction.
Roadside attraction

The bridge over the bay to Destin.
Midbay bridge

At lunch on Friday.
Amy and Jeni

Our condo at Silver Beach Towers.
Living in Safari Style

The view from our porch. You can see the pool, the hot tub and the beach.
Beachside Pool

At Cafe Rendez-Vous on Saturday.
Hanging at the bar

In Seaside.
Us in Seaside

We went on a few outings while we were at the cabin. We browsed the shops in Blowing Rock, and had a lovely pizza lunch at Mellow Mushroom.
We hit the Watauga County Farmers’ Market on Saturday.

Farmers Market

Mom hunts for the perfect apple

Apple Festival not that exciting, really

Play me some of that mountain music

spinning thread

And on the way out of town, mom and I stopped to do some good old-fashioned gem mining. She’s been wanting to do this for years so I surprised her on the way out of town with this adventure. We had a great time and ordered more than one stone to be cut. I hope they turn out nice!!!

Mom uses a sharp eye to sift through her stones

Our haul - two bags full!

Amethysts, rubies, aquamarine, oh my!

Boone Cabin

My mom and I definitely enjoyed the few days we spent at the cabin with Dave and his parents – very relaxing. And it was great for Henry to have three grandparents there to spoil him!

Price Lake, along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Colors at Price Lake

Price Lake with Rhododendrons in foreground

The view from the cabin
The view from the cabin

Henry and me

This is also when we did the dress rehearsal for Henry’s Halloween costume.

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