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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

And then there were four

We're home, safe and sound, except for a bunch of lingering mosquito bites. It's usually nice to get home after a trip, but this time it's just way too quiet with our puny group of four and we're all missing the Texas family like crazy. A few trip highlights, in pictures: The girls could not wait to get there. They asked if we were going to Texas every single day for weeks, then insisted on pushing the luggage cart since we were clearly too slow. IMG_0947 They were little angels on the plane ride out there (the same could not exactly be said for the plane ride home, ahem): IMG_0956 The eight cousins started playing like they'd just seen each other yesterday. It was a rare moment when they weren't all moving in a hundred directions, but we did get them all to pause on the stairs for a minute so we could snap a group shot: IMG_0971 The weather in Texas was perfect this week, so we got to splash in the water almost every day, at three local waterparks (three!! the girls want to move there today): IMG_0979 IMG_1068 IMG_1229 IMG_1266 IMG_1276 We ate well (understatement of the year). Ahhhhh: IMG_1285 IMG_1049 IMG_1077 IMG_1079 There were numerous injuries, too many to count. Here's Ree sporting her collision-induced bloody nose and tough-girl look: IMG_1053 We found matching outfits for the kiddos and got a good shot of them all together. I'm thinking this one might get framed and hung on Ma and Pa's wall! IMG_1124_4x6 We saw the TerraCotta Warriors exhibit from China at the museum, wow that was some luck. We also frolicked with butterflies and spent a lot of time counting mosquito bites, which according to the museum, could have come from any one of the 55 local species. IMG_1321 IMG_1347 IMG_1363 IMG_1301 IMG_1354 And the kids played and played and played some more: IMG_1060 IMG_1104 IMG_1084 IMG_1109 IMG_1113 IMG_1292 IMG_1185 The last day came much too soon, and we sadly said goodbye and headed for home: IMG_1383 Great, great trip. We miss everyone and hope to see y'all again soon. I have about a zillion more pics, which can be seen here (thumbnails, detail, slideshow). All the pics were taken with the purse camera, since we didn't want to lug the big D300. Also, the quote of the trip came from Ro, who was walking around the museum surreptitiously scratching her hiney. At one point she came up to me, sweetly put her hand in mine, then looked at our hands, grinned up at me and said "Mama, my fingers smell like butt." Gah!!

35 comments:

  1. What a great family vacay!!! The kids are at such fun ages to play together! Hope you're able to get together again soon!

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  2. What a great trip! Looks like everyone had tons of fun. We're heading to CA for our summer vacation and can't wait!!!!!!!

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  3. Great pics, looks like you all had a blast. Are those CARES Harnesses for the girls on the plane? Awesome product! I don't have any kids, but worked in a baby gear store for a while. the CARES were always sold out when they first hit the market!

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  4. E, yes they are the CARES flight harnesses, oh man we love those things. They're great for when the girls get crazy rambunctious, plus the airline attendents always tell us the girls have the safest seats on the plane when they're wearing them.

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  5. Anonymous6/10/2009

    It was a wonderful week. It is always so great to see all the "kids" and grandkids have such a wonderful time being together.

    The only negative thing of the whole visit was that it had to come to an end; but now we can look forward to the next time.

    The pictures are great!

    Ma

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  6. Such a gorgeous family!

    Great CARES harness tip... ordering one now for our trip in July.

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  7. I'm still doubled over from that last comment (the butt smelling one). It sounded strangely familiar.LOL

    What a wonderful trip - lovely family. Lucky you!

    I have to know what purse camera you use? I was just thinking as I looked at your pics that it must have been the D300 and then you surprised me.

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  8. Looks like you all had a lot of fun, and like you should be exhausted!

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  9. Anonymous6/10/2009

    Okay, I have to know......what happened on the flight home????!!!

    Stace

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  10. Had to laugh about the stinky fingers. My daughter came up to me during an eye exam, interrupted the Dr. and asked me to smell her stinky fingers! LOL

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  11. Oh my goodness! That last quote is a winner!
    Glad you had a fabulous time! :)

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  12. That's a lot of very happy looking children!

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  13. Anonymous6/10/2009

    Hey we're dealing with Texas sized mosquitoes here in Alaska too.

    Glad you had a great time!

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  14. Glad you had a good family visit. I hope we can spend more time together next time.

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  15. I was going to make some comment about the great food at Big Daddy's BBQ but got so sidetracked with the butt comment! Good one Ro.

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  16. So glad you guys had a great time! One of my favorite childhood memories is spending time with all of my cousins. Ros comment just about made me spit out my water! LOL!!

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  17. Where are the cute tops from?

    It looks like y'all had a blast. Stinky fingers and all!

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  18. Anonymous6/10/2009

    They are so stinking cute. I was so sorry that darn migraine kept us from meeting up with you all. Next time for sure!!

    Amy

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  19. Kids are so funny!! It looks like you all had so much fun. I love family get togethers. Your family is mighty good-lookin'!

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  20. Thanks guys!

    Wanda: The purse camera is a Canon PowerShot SD880 IS. It takes great pics and awesome video too. Love it (and I am really dang picky about cameras, ask TubaDad how many he's had to return now, eesh).

    Stace: Just two seriously wound-up, really active girls who kept me hopping the entire flight. It was a loooooong travel day... Oh, and one of the girls had a teensy accident during the flight, so she was going commando and her skirt was too big, so every time she ran it fell down around her ankles. I think everyone on that plane got mooned at one point or another.

    In Due Time: The little flowered tops are from Walmart.

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  21. Julio's Salsa! Yummy!!! Did you have Julio's chips too???? I love Julio's chips! We never keep them in the house because they are so good we want to eat them all!!!! Just looking at the picture makes me want to run to the store and get a bag!

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  22. My fingers smell like butt. That might make me laugh all day today!! HA HA HA HA

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  23. What beautiful photos of your girls and all the cousins! Looks like you really had a blast!

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  24. Were those corn nuggets on the bbq plate? Darn, I love the south! I live too far south now for corn nuggets, but YUM!!!! I love some good bbq. (Now I'm thinking maybe it was fried okra?)

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  25. Ellie Monster: It was fried okra! Never had it before, but I actually really liked it. Crazy.

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  26. Too much fun! Wow. My hubby was loving the food pic. He is a Texan and misses the food. Looks like with all those kids, it could only be a good time!

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  27. Love fried okra! Yum-o! And we stumbled into a Terracotta warriors exhibit in DC back when the Tongginator was 2. What a treat. Glad y'all had such a nice family vacation.

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  28. Oh, and we have the CARES thing, too. LOVE it!

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  29. Looks like you all had a great time.....no wonder the girls wanted to move there....LOTS of cousins to play with!!

    They look so cute pushing the cart with their backpacks:)

    Lisa

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  30. Looks like you all had a blast. Love the picture of Julio's salsa! Welcome home.

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  31. I really need to stop reading your blog in the wee hours of the night so I don't have self-induced pain from stifling the snickering and snorting ("my hand smells like butt"-OMG!)

    I was at a checkout when Caroline looked at the rather wrinkled woman helping us and said, "You're old!" Man, I miss the days when she couldn't-or even wouldn't-talk!

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  32. Oh my gosh....I nearly spit my coffee all over the screen . . my fingers smell like butt !!

    Reminds me of the old Art Linkletter or Bill Cosby had a show with kids too.

    What a great trip. Lots of fun family memories.

    In one of the pics, Ma is carrying a camera around her neck, I bet there are oodles of family pics. "Oodles" - that is a word, isn't it?

    Blessings,
    Gail

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  33. So, I've been a blog stalker.....uh, I mean blog follower for years. Since, before you left for the girls! I've only commented a few times, but I've enjoyed seeing those beautiful girls. I remember when your ENTIRE family traveled to China to get them, and I thought that it was so cool that everyone was so excited. Anyway, we are starting a second adoption of an older boy in China (don't have a referral yet). Blog is http://www.onechinesebrother.blogspot.com/ I also listed you on our blogroll, hope you don't mind! Sincerely,
    Heather

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  34. The girls are so cute - great pictures. The quote of the trip made me laugh until I cried. Thanks for the great laugh on a Friday afternoon!

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