Eubanks Family Vacation 2012

My family’s vacation track record was pretty crappy. Bad things always happen on family vacations.

Mom and dad said a while ago they weren’t taking us anymore.

That’s what they thought. Like I said before I hijacked their vacation!

So we loaded up EARLY on the 4th of July (SO LAME DAD) and headed out… but not before mom made all of the beds in the house, you know, so when the burglars come in, they don’t judge us for NEVER making our beds.

Seriously, we NEVER make our beds, except when we are leaving for 10 days!! Makes no sense to me, but whatever momma wants right?

The gps says 11 hours to GA so off we go.

Dad drove and mom and I slept in the back for the first part.

That’s mom under the blanket… hahaa

After a while, mom took over the driving, and I moved to the front to try and write a paper (only worked for a little before I got carsick)

and soon, a very iconic part of ym childhood came into view.

The GA peach butt

Growing up in GA and traveling to MD every year, this always meant we were getting close to home. Even as a 27 year old I got excited knowing we were almost to Jefferson.

We finally made it to GA and headed to our friend’s house, then over to Pott’s farm for some dinner. A little fun fact, one of my favorite artists these days is Brantley Gilbert (remember when I met him?) He grew up in my old home town, and was friends with the family who owns the farm and their sons. The farm makes it into a couple of his songs. It was pretty cool to drive around the place being mentioned in the songs.

Thursday we spent it with Daddy Brooks. Daddy Brooks was my adopted granddad when I lived in GA. I spent many a Sunday afternoon at his house beating him and his wife Inez in Uno.

We went to visit him and he had the most adorable kitten, named , Kitty. I played with Kitty, mom and dad played cards with Dorsey and Diane and Austin fished.

I was in love

Friday was a big day. The main reason we were in GA was so my mom could cash in her big Christmas present. A chance to drive a real NASCAR on a real NASCAR track. So at 4am Mom, Dad and I drove to Atlanta. 

She did it! She went 138 mph! Totally bad ass and crazier than I would ever do! (working on getting the videos compiled into one – then I will post it)

Getting in

There she goes

After, yikes I look tired and in need of some makeup!

After that, it was my turn for an adventure.

I wanted to go to the GA aquarium, and the coca-cola factory.

The aquarium was awesome, but I think I like the Baltimore one better.

Massive manta rays

Whale shark

A little backstory: I lived in GA for 7 years, for 7 years I talked about going to the Coca-cola museum, for 7 years I didn’t get taken. Then when we visited, I mentioned it, but it never happened.  My parents visited, alone, and went and I was so crazy mad! So I said WE ARE GOING! So we went. And it was cool, but we were getting tired, it was crowded, and just wasn’t living up to the hype I gave it.

The tasting room was cool, and kinda gross sometimes, you could taste sodas from all over the world. Some were good, others were down right nasty!!

The shining moment was in the tasting room, they had Barqs Red Cream Soda. I love this stuff, I used to drink it all the time in Mississippi when I visited my Aunt Nonnie and Great Grandmother Mary. I can’t find it now, I may have tasted, 3 or 4 full glasses

that is my dad’s hand btw

We were exhausted and headed back home. Saturday we had lunch with an old friend, and then got ready for a big dinner that Janice made for us and many people we really wanted to see this trip. It is so hard when you go back because you want to see so many people but there isn’t much time. This was a good compromise.

Austin spent a lot of time fishing at the pond behind the house we were staying at. The southern lifestyle works for him, he loves it and says he is going back there when he gets of the service.

Sunday we went to church, our old church, and then headed to Florida.

But not before Austin said goodbye to his best buddies Sassy and Sissy

I didn’t take many pics in Florida, but we spent all day Monday at the beach, Tuesday we went shopping and hung out around the house, and Wed, the boys and I loaded up and drove home. We left mom to stay with her friend Bonnie. Florida was great because we didn’t have to do anything, we just relaxed.

Austin with his new friend chuck

Birthdays, dads and a high jacked vacation

This weekend we celebrated my Grandmother’s 80th birthday! I still don’t believe she is that old. She sure doesn’t act it! I wanted to throw a big party and invite her friends and our family, but she didn’t want that. So small family outing it was.

We went to a local BBQ place. I made her cake. She got some crazy gifts from my uncle, which was hilarious. All around a good time.

Ozzy really Uncle Mickey?

 

Father’s day was last weekend. We went to church, then down to both sets of grandparents to celebrate. We gave my dad an Orioles shirt and money towards O’s tickets.  We have already planned the game we are going to! We had a big meal and then took naps  and sat around annoying each other… and by annoying each other I mean Austin using my grandparent’s little claw thingy to annoy everyone else!

 

In other news: My parents swore off family vacations a while ago. They vacation without us children now. This year my mom informs me that they are driving to GA, spending a few days there, then driving to FL and spending a few days there then my dad is driving home and she is staying there.

Well, I decided I wanted to go too. So I worked it all out, got the time off, made sure my dad would drive back early enough for me to get to work on time and then invited my brother. I didn’t think he would be down to go , but his leave matches up perfectly, so he said yes.

So the Eubanks’ are going on a road trip, we haven’t actually done this in a few years, so maybe we have all matured and this will be painless….maybe. Dad changed the dates on me, so now we are leaving on the 4th of July… slightly more lame, but getting to go back to GA and see where I grew up, and see old friends will be worth missing fireworks with my friends this year.

I am sure there will be fun stories.

Sweet Summertime

Well my summer this year has a theme. Country music and sun.

I plan to do a lot of running and spending time at the pool.

Some friends of mine are also renting a boat and spending the day on the water in a couple weeks.

I am hoping to get a trip to the beach in, even if it is just Ocean City.

The highlight though, has to be, the concerts.

This summer I am going to see some great names in country music and I couldn’t be more excited!

First up is Dierks Bentley. He is playing a free concert at the Washington Nationals stadium after the game. ( I guess in theory it isn’t free, since we have to pay for a ticket to the game, but we are getting cheapo ones since we are only interested in the music really.)

Then I was talked into seeing Toby Keith and Brantley Gilbert. Now I love Brantley, but I am not a Toby Keith fan really. I like his pre 9-11 music, but he just kind of gets on my nerves now. However, I love Brantley so I did as I was told and built a dang bridge and bought a ticket to the concert! I can’t wait to see BG again, and hopefully his set is a bit longer and he plays some of my favorites!

Then comes the highlight, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw! Seeing either one of those guys alone would be fine with me, but TOGETHER?! Holy cow! I can’t wait!!!

 

Brad Paisley is another personal favorite of mine, and I haven’t seen him yet, but that changes this summer!

Most of these are lawn seats, which means you aren’t up close seeing them, but you can still hear them and the party is more fun on the lawn anyway!

I hope to be able to end the summer with a little Jason Aldean. My dad’s friend works for his tour and hopefully will be able to hook me up with a ticket. If not, I am sure dad and I will buy a lawn seat and head out anyway!

 

***all pictures are from google image search***

Happy Birthday Ladies

My girlies turned 3 on April 28th.

Seems like just yesterday I started nannying for them and now they are 3!

They had a farm themed party, with pony rides and a petting zoo. I didn’t get to go, since I was home for a wedding, but I helped with the cake  

Their mom made the cake and cupcakes and I decorated the cake into a barn while she worked on the cupcakes into sheep, chicks and piggies. I think it turned out great.

It was nice to get a little cake decorating in, its been a while!

(this pic stolen from their mom’s blog)

I love these little girls. They make me laugh every single day! The things they come up with are so funny. I love being a part of their life!

This is for you Mom

My mom is adorable. She has been trying so hard to get up to speed with technology. She is doing quite well too! She now texts, facebooks (a little too well sometimes – STALKER!) and emails.

Her emails are my favorite though. When I email I hardly ever put a subject unless it is to someone I don’t know well. I never write a greeting. I guess I am rude. Probably. Whatever, usually its just a quick question or thought.

My mom’s emails are the best, very formal and cute.

Love it.

Dear mom, I love you!

Love, Angela

I got this subtle (or not so much) hint from her the other day that I should stop slacking at blogging.

Point taken (but really mom, my writing is rambling )

So Sunday I plan to run another half marathon. The Marine Corps Half, and I was hoping to go sub two hours.

My body has other ideas about this, and I am not sure it is going to happen. I am going to try, but my knee/IT band hasn’t been cooperating during training, so I don’t feel I am trained enough to go sub 2, in heat and hills, but we shall see. Maybe a fire will be lit under my butt/feet and I will kick some major ASSphalt.

I broke in my PINK shoes on a run this weekend This seriously makes me so happy. Don't judge me!

My good friend Heather got married a few weeks ago. I was asked to do a reading, and I was so nervous!! I don’t like public speaking. It was really cold the day of the wedding, and my dress was more summery, so between the nerves and the cold, my leg started to shake while reading. But I think most didn’t notice. The wedding was awesome! So fun and great to see two friends married.

 

Loved her cake

Little bro looking sharp – in an ensemble he assembled from dad’s closet.

I love that picture of Heather… she is so quiet normally, it was great to see her excitement that she was married!!

Mom and Austin getting down!

I dared Austin to Party Boy dad – Austin didn’t think dad would dance back… he did!!! (p.s. that link might be disturbing and not safe for work as it has the dude from Jack@$$ in a thong. Be warned)

Austin caught the garter, the funny part was he didn’t know he had to put it on the girl who caught the bouquet (who was almost me for the record – shew dodged that awkward moment)

My bestest was up for the wedding too, so seeing her was the best!

Her nephew is my boyfriend, he kept tackling me and giving me hugs. Love that kid.

Aubrey and I decided to show Owen how to do airplane. Awesome! Except, I don’t have abs, so OUCH!!

So that’s life lately. I have a couple more things to share soon! Sit tight! School starts again soon, so I better get them posted soon right?!