Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts

6/10/12

Happy Birthday to the Most Amazing Man

Who else did you think I was talking about? Scott of course.


He is becoming that Renaissance man that were both my grandfather and my own dad. Yes, my mom married her father and I married mine. Dads: if you don't think you have an influence in your children's lives, you are sorely mistaken.













A man who can love like no one else.














A man who is not afraid to cook - or clean.












A man who has taught himself landscaping, carpentry and some plumbing and electrical to go with it. And shared his knowledge with his children.

Build a new whatever? OK, he's game.



Happy birthday, Scott.

10/13/11

Happy Birthday Dakota and Jamestown

This is our second birthday on the road - this time for a 12 year old!

We actually started the day before in Jamestown, going back to 1607 when the very first settlers arrived (13 years before the Pilgrams arrived) in what would become these United States of America.
Scott and the boys on the Susan Constant
Here, Jamestown has been recreated back to the 17th century where we walked among the settlers in their daily lives, whether it be in the kitchen where they prepared one meal a day and the other two meals would have been leftovers and possibly some fruits or vegetables and cheese, to the forge where we watched as one man stood making nails. Yes, nails.
They did used a version of raised beds back in the 17th century.
And the chickens were allowed to roam and fertilize the dead beds

We also experienced a little of the life of the Powahtan Indians and walked through their homes. It was amazing to see all the actual animal rugs. If the men in your family were very good hunters, you would have made the very best hides into large coats to keep you warm through the winter. The rest would have been laid across the beds - both for comfort as well as warmth. The bones from the animals were used as well. Primarily as tools, animal bones were also filled and shaped into fishing hooks.
Boys trying on the gear


We ended the day by celebrating at Red Robin, one of D's favorite places - singing and all.

On his birthday, after a short school day, we headed out for an adventurous day of hands on learning.
We started out in Yorktown, went and played video games (talk about two opposite ends of the spectrum), went to a military surplus store for D to pick out some of his own gifts, and ended the night with a new Royal Rangers group where he found a new friend with very similar hobbies. 

Not being a big sugar eater, D opted out of cake and just wanted some ice cream, so day 3 of his birthday, ended with a trip to the local ice cream shop.

In the end, D said this was the best birthday he's had without having his friends around. Whatever that means, I'll take it he had a good time.

6/12/11

OTR: Birthdays!

Life on the road can present all sorts of new issues. Living in 240 square feet is different. Really, I thought it would be harder, but we are managing - 12 days in now. Weird though - even in such a small space I have managed to loose both the youngest boys Nintendo DS along with a box of checks! I know they will show up, but in the meantime, a little weird.

Not so weird are birthdays on the road. Scott recently turned ... 40 something. And while he was counting down the days to his birthday, I was trying to figure out what to do to make his day special. Living in small quarters, we aren't bringing new things in unless something else goes out. So it comes down to experiences. We ended up going for a great lunch - referred by the woman who runs our campground and has lived here most of her life - and it was awesome.

We dined at the quaint little Chart Room. The food was truly amazing. We both opted for seafood - they sit right on the water (take a look at the photo t to the left). The fish was done perfectly as were the scallops and shrimp. Oh how my grandma would have loved their shrimp! She's the one who got me started. She weighed all of 90 lbs and could put away a pound of shrimp by herself if she was in the mood, but I digress - back to the birthday lunch.

We got the table right under the red letter "C" in Chart Room there. Our view from our table inside the restaurant were a couple docks, with the smaller boats there.

Papa sea lion

The boys up close and personal with the wildlife.
More entertaining though for the boys, were the gianormous Sea Lions sitting on their own dock. And the absolutely adorable sea otter checking us out! After lunch we took a little walk down to see them. WOW - he was a very big boy and seemed to enjoyed showing off for us. He's done this before I bet...
Sea Otter brave enough to stick around. His friends all left when they saw us.

After lunch, we headed out to the historic Battery Point Lighthouse. Originally built in 1856, it is still an active lighthouse and has been continuously lived in for over 150 years! They are open for tours daily, April thru September, but you better leave your dog behind and VERY important - go potty before you head over. They offer no facilities over there!

Here's an even cooler factoid about the lighthouse: You can only get there during low tide. Seriously.
The path to the lighthouse ...
When the water starts to rise, you need to start making plans to move it into high gear and get to the mainland, otherwise, you'll be wading back. The caretakers for the moment shared that they do have a little ATV that they use to get their belongings and groceries back and forth. Walking this rough terrain, I understand why they were so appreciative. 

To finish up a special day for a special guy, we went to see a new movie. Super 8. We really didn't know what it was about, other than it had the kids and an adventure. It turned out to be a good movie (with the exception of a little language that really wasn't necessary). I made me think of the movie Signs. I couldn't watch all of that one - freaked me out to much.
Super 8 though, held my attention and the boys thought they had seen their first "scary" movie and loved it. I love my boys!
I  think one of the most entertaining parts of the whole experience, was the theater. Yes, it had a video game area, but also a couple pool tables and a foosball table. It also had the "normal" sloped floor seats, I remember. Not the huge, have to walk up 2 flights of stairs, to get to your seat, seats. Bonus: It was also a little less than what we were used to paying. No coupons and an evening showing, along with a large popcorn was $33. Normally, that wouldn't even get 4 of us in unless it was a matinee.

All in all, I think it was a fun filled, entertaining day. Any thoughts on creative birthday ideas? I have a couple more coming up in the next few months for our younger passengers. Share?

4/7/11

Happy Birthday Evan

Happy 7th birthday young man! I wanted to share with the world what a joy you are to your mom and dad. We are so proud of the young man you are growing up to be...much like your amazing older brother. You do know that when he picks on you, it's because he adores you so much, right? Loving you tons!!




































Happy birthday little man.

2/18/11

Happy Birthday


Yes, birthday season on the farm is right around the corner. After our first year of trying to hold parties year round, we decided that we would close up shop during the coldest part of the year.

Well, March 1st is right around the corner and Opening Day of Party Season. We actually have a few already booked so hurry on over, pick your package and your date and give us a call or head on over to the Farm's Party Page and glean some info over there.

425-402-6781