Road Trip

Elena and I took off a couple of weeks ago and went to my parents house for a few days. I had the week off from watching sweet Aerin, so I did all my tutoring on Monday and Tuesday and we left Tuesday night. Unfortunately, Dan couldn't go with us because of school. We sure missed him! Everything is more fun when he is with us. :) We were both very happy to see him Sunday night.

Here are some pictures of our activities:

P. F. Chang's. Somehow this is the only picture that I took with my sister Bethany although she was with us everyday and we loved getting to spend time with her.

Each time that we were home and my dad would walk into the room, Elena would say, "Gan-da, paw-no" ("Grandad, piano") and lead him right over to the piano so that they could play it together. Very cute.

Mom (Granny) and I took Elena to Mt Trashmore. That's right - that's really it's name. It is the best park in town. Mt Trashmore is a man-made hill that used to be a landfill. They covered it with dirt and, in doing so, created a man-made lake. There's a jogging/walking trail, a couple of playgrounds, an outdoor skate park, and, of course, a "mountain".

This is the playground that we went to there: Kids Cove. It's huge and always brimming with kids.

This is a picture of us half-way up the mountain. Fun fact: It's nearly 70 feet above sea level at the top! :)

This is a photo of Elena in paradise. She loves books!

On Friday we went to Busch Gardens and watched my dad's show. I think I probably need to explain this a little, plus I want to "brag on" him - as they say in NC. My cool daddy makes physics fun for thousands of middle and high schoolers each year. He created a program where they could learn about the physics of roller coasters and amusement park rides, so lots of kids in the area get to take field trips to B.G. As part of the field trip (on Fridays in April and May), he does a show with physics demonstrations, videos of rides on the big screen, and dancers. It culminates in him being sandwiched between two beds of nails and having a cinder block put on top and then smashed with a sledge hammer. I love my dad. :) In this picture he (white shirt and tie) is just talking to a volunteer while the dancers are setting something up behind him.

Playing in the wading pool at Land of the Dragons:

On the net climb (also at Land of the Dragons in Busch Gardens):

A picture with her grandparents:

The carousel was the only ride that she went on this time. Next time we'll be more adventurous.

When we first arrived at the beach on Saturday, she was amazed by how much "agua" she saw and a little distressed by the sand under her feet. I don't think she remembered the beach from last year.

Video of Elena at the beach:

UPDATE:

So I actually started this entry May 6th, but I never actually got around to finishing it. Tonight -May 14- I am finally posting it and...we are actually back in Virginia. So, I guess you'll be seeing similar photos again soon, but this time Dan will be in them. :)