Family Vacation Part #1 - Japan to Florida

Loaded down with over packed bags we left for our first official family vacation today. Vin and I have been on the island for a year and 4 months so we are excited about the airplane trip and the adventures to come.

To actually get where we want to go we will be flying from Okinawa to Tokyo, Tokyo to San Francisco, SF to Chicago, and finally Chicago to Orlando. Total flying time 21.5 hours with an almost 2 year old and a smoker. I mention this part because they both become a major hurdle to family harmony once one is tired and bored and the other starts to jones for a smoke.

Other than being cramped together for hours on end the flights were pretty uneventful. There were the usual annoyances like zero air circulation, broken movie screens, and weird Japanese airline food but we managed in semi-good spirits. Vin busied himself with ripping up the in flight magazines and throwing his toys on the floor. I spent my time bent over retrieving the miscellaneous debris off the floor while Rob got stuck on diaper and food duty. We were all able to nap a little but mostly the flying adventure is a blurr of take off, landing, and dinging.

Tokyo to SF

When we arrived in SF we went to a hotel for a good days sleep. It was 9 a.m when we arrived and we slept till dinner time. We had a huge American dinner at Claim Jumper and then headed back to bed.

Our flight to Chicago the next day departed at 7:30 am. Vin obviously had baby amnesia and was very excited about getting on another airplane.

I'm ready to go. Let's fly!!

The flights were pretty much the same as the day before except everything was in English and the people were much more aloof and rude. Vin also decided to mix it up a bit with random fits of shrieking. When I say shrieking, imagine an annoyed cat or man on fire...that is about what it sounds like. It was weird and funny though because he would just randomly scream AUGH!! and wiggle around, then stop. We think he was only expressing what everyone always feels on long flights.

AUGH!!! = I want out of this place!

AUGH!!! = It smells in here!

AUGH!!! = Does that guy have bronchitis or what? Why is he not medicated? Why doesn't he cover his mouth for heaven sake!

AUGH!!! = My butt is asleep!

Post shriek, Groovin' to my Signing Time music.

We had a minor layover in Chicago so we let Vin run laps in the terminal in order to wear him out. He had a lot of fun running, climbing, and talking to strangers.

Checking out the airplanes with milk dripping down his chin.

Once we arrived in Orlando, Rob let Vin drive the rental car because we were just too tired.

He is a great driver and knew right where our rental house was.

Ok he did not actually drive but he sure wanted to. We arrived in Orlando at 6 p.m. and headed straight to the rental house. It was wonderful to finally stop for awhile and make ourselves comfortable. Look for the adventures to continue in Part #2 Florida.

Playing in the Sink

He Lives to Play and I'm Exhausted

My child is obsessed with playing; which I suppose is a good thing since playing is his job. Now if I can just figure out how to get him paid for playing we would be all set.


The weather has been fluctuating lately between sunny/beautiful and rainy/muggy/gross. When it is sunny we go to the playground. It is great for Vin to run, climb, and burn energy. It is great for me to chase after him and make sure he does not fall on his head. He loves to climb up on the very high things and lean out over the openings in order to give me a heart attack. It's great fun.

Whenever we leave the playground he looks back over his shoulder and says, "bye bye pyeah amarrow." I always feel really bad knowing that the chance we can play again tomorrow is slim because we have not had consecutive days of beautiful for quite awhile now.

When we are stuck inside he is very creative and comes up with other great things to keep himself occupied.

The Daddy Arm Swing

Mommy Water Bottle Toss for Distance

Or hat modeling

Then today he discovered a magical new way to torment me. I was folding laundry and realized that things were quiet...too quiet...and this is what I found...

There is never a dull moment when you have a child...I can't even imagine what it would be like to have two, or three, or more...you people are CRAZY!!!