National Aquarium

Last year for Autumn's birthday she declared she wanted to go to the aquarium but we weren't able to find the time for all 4 of us to go together until December.  After debating about buying a membership or just paying for one visit, I opted for the membership.  At the time it was only a little bit extra and we could visit multiple times throughout the year.  Sound's perfect! I believe membership prices have increased, so weigh what is cost effective for you.  The membership is tied to your family members, so you can't let other people use your membership.

So far we have visited three times and there is still plenty of time left in the year.  We went back a couple of weeks ago once the new Blacktip Reef opened up.  Being members, for the month of August we were able to get in at 8:00 for an up close, non-crowded view and we were not disappointed.  

Here is a view from up above with the new 20 blacktip shark's.

The reef contains a ton of coral, but believe it or not all of it is handmade which I found impressive as it looks so real.

Here we are going up the elevator with another great view of the reef.  

There are multiple levels to just watch the numerous species that they have in the exhibit.  This was the below sea level view.

This is where we were able to see Calypso the 3 flipper sea turtle swim.  

You can also get an up close view of the coral and the smaller fish you can't see from up above.

We even got to see "Nemo".

I believe this was part of the Amazon exhibit, but I could be wrong.  See how close you can get to everything?  It was awesome.  No elbowing people so the kids could see.

I cracked up when I saw him doing this.  He was pretending he was a fish, but I thought he was kissing the window.

The frogs are always a favorite every time we go.

We even saw more than we bargained for.

This is by far one of my favorite places to just sit.  It always has been.  Maybe it's that inner Marine Biologist in me.

Logan love's the shark exhibit.  He could sit here forever.  

Finally we were able to see the Jelly exhibit.  Every time we go the line is insane.  This time wasn't a problem.

After lunch we headed across the Pier to one of our favorite restaurant's The Hard Rock Cafe.  

It just recently went through a renovation and re-opened in the Spring.  

It's pretty cool to just look around at all the stuff they have acquired.  Here is a jacket worn by Elton John.  The kids love watching the music video's.  They think it's cool.  Little do they know you use to be able to watch them on T.V.

I highly recommend the new exhibit and we can't wait to go back again.  If you decide to make the trek, going early before 11 a.m. of after 3 p.m. offers you the less crowded viewing experience.  If you are not a member, since they have the new exhibit and have advertised it heavily, the tickets especially on the weekends have been timed.  If you don't purchase tickets in advance you could have a couple of hours wait times to enter the aquarium.  If you park in the Lockwood garage's (One is on Lombard and the other is on Market St) remember to get your ticket validated in the machine on your way out the door.  And don't loose your ticket or you will have to pay the full $24 as I experienced the last time.

Vacation

This year we ventured to Broadkill Beach, Delaware.  Where?  That is the question I got I don't know how many times.  It is a town north of Lewes, DE near Primehook National Wildlife Refuge.  

Rise and shine Sunday morning we went down to the Broadkill store.

Every Saturday and Sunday they serve fresh homemade donuts. 

These were the best donuts I have ever had!

Our first full day we ventured on down to the beach.  The beach was rocky and very hard to walk on but the kids didn't seem to mind.

We found this guy, but he was already dead and stinking.  We were able to save one that got stranded on the beach with the tide and was struggling to make his way back in the 90 degree temps.  We attempted to go back to this beach one other day but the horse flies were so bad we left after 10 minutes.  Had we known this stretch of beach was bordered by marsh land I don't think we would have stayed here.  I got bit by more horse flies than mosquitoes.  

Oscar was the one that loved this beach!  He chased wave after wave coming in.

It was very hot the week we were here, which I didn't mind since we could just hop in water to cool off.  The second day we went to Cape Henlopen State Park to go play in the ocean.

Wish it hadn't been so hot or else we would have gone exploring.  Awesome place though to get to the beach.  They have bath houses and a snack bar.

This was Autumn having a good time until she went boarding and did a face plant.  

Logan was digging for sand crabs.

We took a break from the beach on Wednesday and went on a pirate adventure out of Lewes, DE.

Here are the pirates sneaking on the boat.

The kids loved it and looking for the treasure! Which they actually pulled a chest from the water!  The guys that did this were awesome and funny.

A stray pirate on another boat tried to attack us.  We had to retaliate back with water filled with jelly fish. But before we did we were sprayed and it had to be Logan with his hearing aids to get the full on blast.  Luckily he took it in full stride and his aids didn't get soaked.

After our second failed attempt at our beach we headed down to Lewes since we liked that beach from having spent time there last year.

When the tide goes out, you get these islands that the kids just love.  The only problem we encountered here was that the jellyfish were really bad this year.  So we just swam around them or scooped them up and put them on the beach.  They were BIG ones that filled a large bucket. 

Logan did get a chance to fly his kite one time.  There was never really enough wind.

We ended up spending 2 days at the water park, which I didn't mind (no sand! yay!).  

There was the kiddie play zone.

Water slides.

Even Daddy got in on the fun!

Of course we had to try out the go-karts.  I think this was Logan's favorite part.  The 2nd day we went I told him we would leave at 3 to go do go-karts.  That kid asked every 10 minutes what time it was.

Can't go to the beach without going to the boardwalk right?

Of course not!  We all had fun at Funland with the kids riding the rides and us all playing games in the arcade.  I could play skeetball all day!  I need one for the basement.

Another great vacation with lots of memories.  While we have enjoyed our time here on the Delaware and Maryland beaches, I think our next trip will be someplace different and new.  Time to do some exploring somewhere else and experience new things.  Just don't know where yet.  

Little Sad

I'm a little sad that this year I am not able to do Friday Fun day's with the kids. It was so much fun the first year when I wouldn't tell them where we were going, they would have to wait and see where we stopped.  They could guess but that was all.  It was a huge success.  Last year I decided to do something different and we registered for Park Quest 2012 through Maryland State Parks.  We explored a lot!  We saw places I had no idea existed and some are on the agenda to go back to this year if I can pull it off.

This year it's just gonna have to be a spontaneous fly by the seat of your pants type of deal.  I kind of regret taking my summer classes because realistically it SUCKS!  There I said, there I admit it.  It sucks when it is beautiful outside and I want to go exploring with my kids.  I know it will get me to my goal but geez. 

I have midterms tomorrow and I think we just might have to take a detour on the way home and see Monster's University.  Because it is much more enjoyable than Statistics.

A Granddaughter's Recollection of her Grandfather

On this father's day I wish all the dad's out there A Happy Father's Day!  Growing up I was envious of all my friend's that had dad's that played a role in their lives.  I always wondered why I couldn't be like them, simply to have the family structure.  But of course when one ages and matures, I realized that I was the lucky one.  I had a Dad and Grandfather in one.  

Growing up this man was my everything.

While he may not be my everything today, he is till quite a remarkable guy that has had a profound effect on my life. 

Growing up I looked forward to so many moments with him.  While he was still working every evening when it was warm out Randy and myself would meet him at the end of the road to hitch a ride in with him.  If it was too cold outside then there was a game of hide and seek to be had before we could eat dinner.  After dinner in the summer their were rows around the cove or across the cove to go to the little store to get ice cream.  There were also walks and bedtime stories, one being a memorable surprise of me having chopped my hair.  

Whenever I needed something specific at the store he was the one to take me.  Whether it be bathings suits to prom gowns he was the one.  One time we were sent to get snow boots but somehow we came back with a pair of burnt reddish-brown cowgirl boots that I was so proud of.  

He was my encyclopedia, my dictionary and my history book.  I know I bombarded him with non-stop questions growing up and he was nothing but patient.  I try to remember that when I am getting bombarded.  He taught me more than he could ever imagine.  He made sure I was cultured and had the experiences from eating at upscale restaurants to seeing plays so that I was well rounded.  I've seen more than most kids have even dreamed of seeing.  I'm trying to do the same with my kids but I don't know if they will get to see what I did. 

He has never been a man to sit still, even though he was slowed down in his older years, and has always had a desire to learn something new.  These are traits that I have taken away from all my time with him.  I make sure I am punctual because he always said it's better to be early than late.  Even though one time we were one week early to a camping outing in Williamsburg, VA.  

He is one of two people that get "me" that know what is at my core and how I feel and what makes me tick.  I've always been able to talk freely with him about everything and bounce things of him without him being judgmental and I've always respected and weighed his responses.  

I cherish the moments my kids get to spend with him. 

Whether it be on the boat

at the Zoo

or camping

I hope they carry these memories with them of the time they spent with Great-Granddad.  The kids are looking forward to seeing you this summer to make more memories.

I apologize for the tears I've made you shed for the mistakes I had to make to learn from.  But I want to thank you for being you that best possible Father and Grandfather a Granddaughter could ever have. 

Love you, Shan.

It's a Goal

Time always seems to fly by.  Summer has just begun and before you know it, the kids will be back in school.  A reason my blog has not been kept up to date is because of school.  

I just finished up a crazy semester of a business law class, microeconomics, and two accelerated non credit math classes.  It was challenging to say the least but I got it done.  

My crazy semester was all part of my bigger goal of getting my A.A. in Business Administration in December of this year. This was one of my many goal's for this year.  I registered for 2 classes this summer and 2 in the fall.  I don't think I get a break until then.  But I set the goal that if I was gonna do this I was doing it and doing it fast.  

 To be honest, I've actually enjoyed it.  I like to learn new things and to challenge myself.  I could seriously be a life long student.  That is part of the reason it has taken me so long to even get this A.A.  My major has changed umpteen times since I was a senior taking college courses.  I don't even know if Business Administration is a good fit for me but I was so close so I figured I should just get it done.  Whatever I choose to go on to, I think I will still get a minor in it.  This is all part of a bigger picture that I hope will come to fruition but only time will tell along with a lot of hard work.

With so much on my mind and on my plate I wonder if taking summer classes was the right choice, but we shall see.  Can't say that I am in love with my statistics class or my art class but I just have to keep pushing through.  I am very excited for my meteorology class!  I can't wait for that one.  That is why I think in moving forward that the degree I choose should be a science degree.  That is just what gets me and I enjoy all aspects so much.  

One of the things I have learned in starting back to school is that so much makes sense now that I have actually gone out in the real world and lived prior to completing school.  The second thing I have learned is I can not do what I am doing for the rest of my life.  I don't want to just have a job to collect a paycheck.  I want so much more for myself than that.  I want to feel passionate and enjoy going to work.  I loved my job for the first 3 years but once I tackled it and made it more efficient and organized I was bored and still am.  Sure a problem comes along every now and then that mentally challenges me, but I can't accept that for the rest of my life.  Sure there are plenty of people who would love my job and do well in it.  Personally for me, it just isn't for me.  Maybe I should feel thankful I figured it out before I was older, but now I am wondering what am I truly good at and just feeling a bit lost.

This Is a Little Late

I had intended to post to my blog back at the beginning of January but for some reason beyond my computer understanding I can not upload pictures.  It has been very frustrating and with school having started I have not been able to dedicate any time in figuring it out.  What good is a blog post without a picture.  

First off since this is a little late, Happy New Year's to everyone.  

I am not one to make resolutions for the new year.  Never has been an interest to me.  Why?  No one seems to stick with them anyways.  I've realized I need goals.  Goals that need work to achieve and make you feel accomplished once you reach them.  So I sat down and made my list.  Granted it's a mile long and some of the goals may seem little to other people but they have been things I have wanted to do but I have not even tackled.  So I figured to make it official they went on the list.  I have some big goals I want to reach but I'll wait to disclose those somewhere down the road.  

On another note, or maybe not, school started on January 14th.  I keep doubting myself in my abilility to keep up with the coursework but I hope I can.  See this is one of my goals.  I want to have my Associates in Business Administration by the end of the Fall 2013 semester.  Is it a reach?  Heck yeah!  That is why I am taking 2 non-credit accelerated math classes, so I can take my Statistics class in the summer.  I am also taking Legal Environment of Business and Microeconomics this semester.  This summer I will take Statistics and another class and finish up this fall with two more classes I need.  Where I go after that is still up in the air.  I just need to reach this goal first to see what direction I would like to go.   In the mean time I have my nose pretty much buried in textbooks.

On some more news.  Zoe our female dog seems to have issues with her anal glands.  Not something I am enjoying.  She had an abscess of her right one in September and then the left one last week.  Rob and I even spent time watching YouTube videos to see if we could express it.  Didn't work too well and I had to take her to the vet.  So the vet pretty much scares me and says this is not normal and there is a chance this is a tumor and could be cancer.  Say what?  Apparently the right one get impacted as well and that abscessed Friday night.  So took her to Mountain View Animal Emergency in Hagerstown and they were able to express the right and lanced the left.  She is now doing better and that so called tumor is gone but she has to wear the cone to keep her from licking.  

Hopefully the cone of shame can come off soon.  Just when we think we can trust her so licks.  So that is what is currently going on now.  Off to finish this weeks homework so I can actually work on a project this weekend.

A Journey for Life

Sometimes you stumble on something that you just can believe.  There are tons of products out there claiming to do this or do that so you take the plunge and find out it didn't do any better of a job then what you already had or was doing.  Take for instance all the weight loss claims on the market.  Seriously, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.  I've tried various methods including the food shipped to your home(I starved on that one), the drinks and so on.  Of course none of them worked for me in the long run.  Now don't get me wrong I wasn't trying to eat myself skinny, I was also working out on a regular basis but it just wasn't helping me reach my goals.   Two years after having Logan the pounds just starting adding up to where I had clothes in the closet but I was too uncomfortable in the them to wear them. 

Labor Day weekend of 2011 I decided to make the first change in my health.  I quit smoking!  Boy was that hard.  I still crave to this day, but I just don't give in.  If I've been nicotine free for that long why go back.  With having quit smoking I gained some more weight.  After being thoroughly frustrated with my efforts I caved in and purchased Turbo Jam by Beachbody.  You've heard of P90x and Insanity haven't you, well they have other workout programs as well.  I was skeptical but what have I got to loose? In late April/May I started my journey.  In June I joined a challenge group through my coach and started on Shakeology.  Since I have started I am down 12 lbs and 10 inches total.  To me that is progress.  I have never achieved results like this.  I keep track of what I eat and eat like I am suppose to. I also follow the exercise program and have a support network of people to inspire and hold me accountable. 

To me this isn't just about loosing weight.  It's about getting my health back.  Being able to do things without being out of breath and having the strength and stamina.  Maintaining a lower blood pressure and cholesterol through clean eating and drinking shakeology. I don't want to be a part of the negative statistics when it comes to the obesity epidemic.  I want to do what I can to ensure a longer healthier life.

 I am just beginning my journey to better health but I am so impressed that I decided to become a coach.  I want to help people reach their goals, I want to hold them accountable because I know that is what helps me, I want to see them succeed.  And you know what? Even the men's water polo team drinks shakeology and work's out with P90x. 

If you are ready to start your journey with me please contact me.  My website is beachbodycoach.com/SBlanchard, facebook.com/shanblanchard or email me at sblanchard4238@yahoo.com.