Anniversary Trip - Day 4 - The end

So, it seems we did not document the last day with any photographs, so it will just be narrative.

We got up some time around 8 and went looking for breakfast. We had intended to go back to the Continental because we'd eaten a great breakfast there a couple years ago, but apparently they don't open 'til 10 or so. So we just ended up going to Manhatten bagel. Prior to leaving the hotel, I had been having a bit of an allergy attack. While walking around looking for breakfast, I started to realize that part of my face was going numb. My upper lip, right top part of my mouth and teeth and it kept growing into my nose, eye and up into my head. It was quite freaky. I figured it had to be related to blowing my nose and that maybe I just hit a nerve or something. Those of you that know me well know that I blow my nose quite vigorously! Well, anyway, breakfast was good, if not exactly what we planned and despite the numbness, I was still able to chew.
We went back to the hotel, packed up and started riding, but I was in more and more increasing pain/worry about my head. I had to get M. to pull over at a rest stop and I got some medicine. It was really weird and bad. I also took my earrings out and left my sunglasses off because I wasn't sure what exactly was causing the problem. About an hour later, we reached our first stop - Stoudt's brewery near Lancaster and the pain had started to ebb and the numbness was starting to go away. Phew! For one, I thought there might be something seriously wrong with me, and for two, at the least, it was going to make for a very miserable ride home. (BTW, this has happened to me again since, and I have been trying very hard to only blow my nose gently. Has any one else every experienced or heard of this??)
So anyway, we were at Stoudt's, but they weren't quite open yet, so we took a walk around their antique section. Antiques are a weird thing for me. I really don't get why people place so much value on old stuff. Furniture I get because all the new stuff is such garbage, but why do people pay bunches of money for... old bottles? old figurines, nick-knacks, and various other objects that just get dusty. I digress...
We had a yummy appetizer and beers at Stoudts and then we were off to LBC - Lancaster Brewing Company. We got wings and another beer there. Then I did what I never thought I would do, but it was getting hot... I took my jacket off. I always wear my bike jacket. It has these skid pads and stuff that are supposed to protect you if you fall off... I just feel better with it on. Those people you see riding bikes in tank tops and shorts... not me. But I did this time, and it was nice.
Our last stop was in Gettysburg to ABC - Appalachian Brewing Company. This place was very pretty and we had a great lunch. But we stayed a little too long, which forced us to stay on the bike pretty much for the next 3 hours straight.
We arrived home around 9 pm and I was so excited to see the kiddos. C. started nursing right away, which was very relieving. One of my biggest fears was that he'd forget how to nurse while we were away.
So that is that. It was mostly nice. I won't go on such a big trip on that bike again, but it was nice to have done it. I'd like to go back to all the places we went and spend more time. I enjoyed spending a chunk of time just with hubby. Who knows when we'll get the chance to do it again!

Day Three

This recap business is hanging over my head! Okay, so day three...

We had an absolutely delightful breakfast on the porch of Porches, the B&B we stayed in at New Hope(notice all the porches.) Despite my initial frustration of having no hairdryer, it really was adorable, quaint and breakfast rocked. Including the coffee. However, that didn't stop us from visiting the Starbucks around the corner. After breakfast, we took a walking tour of New Hope and went across the river to Lambersville, NJ.

Then it was time to get back on the bike and take the slow way to Philly, which included stopping at several of M's old haunts during his stay in Perkasie 2 years ago.

We parked the bike up on the sidewalk in down town Philly and got checked in. We went downstairs to get a drink, only to discover the hotel bar was under construction. So, we headed down to an Irish pub just a few blocks away. We were having a great time, but I just really wanted to freshen up. Remember, we were supposed to do that dress up dinner anniversary thing... well, you know those best laid plans... We headed back and we did freshen up, but I just wasn't feeling the outfit I brought, so it was jeans again. M. took me to this happening place where he ordered me a "Pim's cup." He'd been talking about it for months. It was indeed very good, cucumber slice and all. We had an excellent appetizer of Ahi tuna. I don't recall why we left, but we went in search of steak and ended up at a place called "Prime Rib." It basically reminded me of Morton's or Ruth Chris... everything is ala carte and expensive, but also delicious. There was a roudy table of guys for a bachelor party behind us that were creating quite a scene. Not quite the romantic dinner we had in mind, but certainly entertaining. Despite the commotion (that got us free drinks), I was able to give M. his gift. Which was a new wedding band. He lost his original at the beach 2 years ago after I had finally gotten it sized up. He hadn't worn it for several years. So, here we were, 10 years later and finally correctly ringed up. :)

It was getting late, but I really wanted to make the most of our last night out. I forced M. into going back to the Irish pub, but the atmosphere had completely changed and was, well, just annoying. So, our last night we made it to about 12:30. Not once did we have that night we were expecting of partying to the wee sma's. In actuality, despite all of our various stops at locations that serve libations, we were very conservative. When one is on two wheels, it is best to be a little careful that you don't fall off.

Day 4 at a later date.

Day Two

So, where'd we leave off? Going to bed early the first night.... right.

So the second day, we had a great breakfast (minus the coffee) and got on the road a little after nine. Our next destination was Wagner's Winery and Brewery. We've been there several times, and it's always fun. But we're not normally there before noon.

We got there right as it opened and had a nice, though lengthy wine tasting (some of those folks love to listen to themselves talk) and then moved on to the beer. Same guy did another long beer tasting and then when we bought a pitcher and some snacks, you would have thought he'd never seen a cash register before...

Outside on their giant deck, we shared our beer and I got this:

Now, some of you may be wondering... what? That looks like the engagement ring you got over 10 years ago... and you would be correct. I bent a prong about 3 years ago and have not been wearing my ring since then. So, I'm very happy to have her back.

This place has some swans that are really mean and bite you when you get close, so of course...

He actually bit my leg throuogh my jeans and gave me a nasty bruise.

So, we got back on the road and managed to stay dry for a while, but it caught up with us eventually. It was during this time I was thinking... Cindy goes to Hawaii, Shannon goes to Costa Rica...why am I riding a motorcycle in the rain in Pennsylvania??? But negativity doesn't help anything. We found a place to stop for late lunch near the Poconos. I don't remember the name, but it was another brewery. Then it was on to New Hope. Despite the rain, there was a lot of nice scenery on the way. We went along the river and saw numerous old, beautiful houses. We finally made it to our B&B by 7:30 pm. This was "supposed" to be our nice dinner out since it was out actual anniversary. However, upon getting into our room, I realized there was no hair dryer... Hmmm. And the lady on duty had left the premises. Plus it was still raining outside and there was no way I was getting back on that bike. So, we readjusted our expectations and decided we'd do our special dinner tomorrow in Philly. We bar hopped for a while, but again, just ended up coming back to our room around 11 or so. Riding a bike is hard work!

Day three recap... sometime. :)

Anniversary Trip Recap

So, my life has been crazy since we got back from this trip, but I felt like I was leaving ya'll hanging with no recap...

We headed out early on Thursday...7:30 am, and froze all the way to get breakfast. After a great breakfast, we got back on the bike and froze again for another 2 hours, including getting a ticket. Not the greatest way to start out. We made it to Ellicotville, NY to our first microbrewery for lunch. It was finally not uncomfortably cold on the bike, but it was getting to be a long day, and I was really looking forwarded to getting in and settled. But as we were driving right by some wineries on our way in, we stopped at two. By the time we got to the hotel, we realized that the other wineries were already closed. So, we showered, walked around the adorable town of Hammondsport, had a delicious dinner, and headed home early. The intent had been to go to the Irish pub and stay til the wee sma's, but we were just too tired... This ended up being somewhat of a theme...
So, that was Day 1.
I'll post about Day 2 tomorrow... hopefully.

10 years... and counting

Inspired by greg's post of his trip to Costa Rico for his 10th anniversary, I thought I'd share our less exotic plans to celebrate 10 great years. We were originally intending on going for a week sans kiddos, but given the fact that C. is only 8 months old and still a very avid nursling, we trimmed the itinerary down to 4 days. We are going for a (motor)bike trip up through the Finger Lakes region of NY (read:wineries) down through Eastern PA to New Hope, then onto Philly and then back home. We have lots of little stops planned along the way (read: pumping) and are excited to visit some old haunts and find some new places that will mark the event. While I have still have some reservations for leaving my little ones behind, I am looking forward to making some wonderful memories with my husband. I'll let you know how it all works out. Happy Anniversary to me (and Cindy/Tim, Shannon/Greg and Megan/Matt!)

Night weaning

C. is a little over 8 months now. 8 months! I can't believe it. And yes, I have just now started to night wean him. I remember this being a 2 week tortorous process with N. But with her, we didn't use these wonderful contraptions called nuks or binks or nunnies or paci's or whatever they're called in your neck of the woods. So, it hasn't been too bad. If he wakes up and I haven't gone to bed yet or I'm rational enough, I put his bink in while he's still in his bed and pat his belly and he'll go back to sleep, usually. For those middle of the night wakings, I usually just grab him out of his bed, tuck him in beside me and stick the bink in. By 5 am or so, I'll go ahead and feed him. So, this is where all of you who had their babies sleeping through the night in their own cribs by 2 months think I'm totally insane. Then there's a the other camp who'll find this normal, and then the other side who thinks I'm pushing him out too fast. Oh, the joys of parenting and making your own decisions! As much as I complained about having N. in our bed for so long (over 2 years), a big part of me realizes how quickly this stage will go and I enjoy cuddling with my little (giant) baby, because I know soon he will be walking and talking and sleeping in his own bed. Since he's my last baby, baring any whoopsies, I want to enjoy him...even if it means a little less sleep.

Too many balls in the air? Or Airhead?

I feel the need to temper the seriousness of my last post with some self deprecating humor...

How to tell when you have too many balls in the air?
1) you show up to a pediatrician appointment on time, but an entire week early just because they called you the day before to remind you of the appt and you didn't check your calendar.
2) you listen to the same CD every time you turn on music because you don't have time to rummage around looking for other CD's that are likely not in the correct cases anyway.
3) you give yourself immense kudos for remembering to give your kids their medicine for 5 whole days in a row without missing any doses
4) you are so on autopilot that you drive to daycare the same way you've been going for three years, only to have to turn around because that road has been closed for TWO WEEKS.
5) you get all the kids in the car and all your "errand" stuff together for the post office and bank, only to realize that they are both closed due to some kind of holiday only they celebrate.
6) you haven't worn earrings for 2 months because you can't find any backs. where do those things disappear to?
7) you have not yet purchased the 2009 photo album, but keep getting pictures developed anyway
8) you put your dogs on rations because you're not sure when you'll be able to get to the store to get them more dogfood.
9) despite the calendar reminder to "meal plan," you just pull chicken and hope for the best...maybe the hubby will cook... and then you go out to dinner.
10) you get to work and go to the bathroom to brush your teeth when you look in the mirror and realize that your black shirt is INSIDE OUT. and turning it around requires extensive babywipe application to all the deodorent marks.

Yes, all of those things have happened to me in the recent past... or perhaps I've happened to them?