Puerto Rico Day 1

Our day started out nice and early (or late, depending on your point of view). Saturday, December 15, was Crafternoon with friends and then a fabulous evening party AND then we drove to the airport (in a crazy blizzard) for a midnight flight to Georgia JFK. Then, in theory, we had a quick layover and on to San Juan. But then whoever booked the flights (der) booked a later JFK-SJU flight, which would have thrown everything into disarray. So, instead of lazily waiting for our flight we had to run around in a panic trying to move flights and make sure our luggage made it. 

Luckily, we were able to switch to an earlier flight and had a completely boring flight to San Juan.

But not our luggage. whomp, whomp.

Never fear, we had the best luggage agent EVER help us and he promised to send our luggage on the next day, as early as he could do it. Way beyond the call of duty.

Our San Juan to Vieques flight was on a tiny plane. Ten seats, including the pilot. This is by far the smallest plane we have been on.

Hazel was very excited to be on such a tiny plane. She did ask me who was going to serve snacks since there wasn't a flight attendant. She also did not care for the lack of a safety presentation.

Geoff thought it was cool.

The view was amazing.

Beaches on one side, rain forest on the other.

That is our island in the front. See that random dude next to the pilot? Not a co-pilot. Just a dude.

More lovely scenery.

We made this leg of the trip safely. And got to take pictures with the tiny plane.

And the W. For Wilde.

Once making it safely to Vieques, we went to the house we rented. It was awesome. And had pets. This was the iguana named Johnny Marshmallow.

We did not name the spiders.

Since we didn't have luggage, Hazel and I made skirts out of our long-sleeved shirts. Hazel loved her's and wore it again later in the trip. In fairness, she looked adorable in her little shirt-skirt.

Eventually, Tutu and Auntie Michelle made it and we did stuff (maybe ate or read books, I don't know) and then went to bed.

Bike ride!

I love riding bikes and love this trail-a-bike we were gifted from the Wy-Omans. Hazel wanted to ride to Bountiful on Labor Day and it didn't take much to convince me. We took the long way (almost 20 miles) and had a great time. It might be time to get Hazel bike gear, maybe next season.











I don't know why this never published. But I am scheduling it now. Woot! Two blog posts in two days!

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday was the annual Santa party at my work. It was great fun, as always. Santa comes and we take pictures. Hazel said she would only take a picture if I took one too.

I win the most awkward Santa photo of the day. And there were a whole lotta upset kids and parents saving them. I am trying to take off my work badge, but it looks like I am pulling my own hair and bonus! stomach hanging out!

Bonus story: Santa was leaving as we were leaving. He ran down the hallway, jingling all the way. Hazel asked me where he was going and I said I didn't know, but that was the way to the stairs to the roof.

H: Really?
M: Yes, really.
H: Are you joking me, mom?
M: No. That really is the stairs to the roof.
H: I knew it! I thought I heard something up there.

So we go home, yadda yadda yadda. As I am tucking her in she questions me again.

H: Mom, is that really the way to the roof?
M: Yes! It really is the way.
H: Are you telling the truth?? I need to know.
M: Yes.
H: Really?
M: Yes!
H: I knew it! I knew he was going to the roof.

She goes to sleep, this morning comes into my room.

H: MOM! I REALLY need to know if that is the way to the roof.
M: YES!!
H: That is so great.

She is getting older, and starting to not believe in things. But, I will try to keep her believing in Santa as long as possible. I think Santa running to the stairs bought me some belief time.

BTW: It is a coworker in a red suit. And I am pretty sure he was just going to his office. But, the stairs to the roof are down the same hallway.

Happy

These two make me happy.

Ladybug!

Hazel found a ladybug, it is her friend and likes to ride on her nose.
I found a Blogger app and can post from my phone.

Japan Day #4

Our last day in Japan, we went in to Tokyo proper and walked around. With our stellar Japanese skillz, we were unable to figure out anything and thus ended up in a business district. We did find luggage storage and were able to buy train tickets to the airport, so we weren't complete failures but there are apparently much cooler places to be in Tokyo.

We saw a lot of big buildings. And very few people.

Walking in Tokyo

 Awesome storm drains. If my sister still reads my blog, she may appreciate these.

Flower drain #1

Flower drain #2

 We visited the Imperial Palace. It was lovely. They had a marathon going on, so we actually saw some people.

Posing like Jasmine in the Imperial Palace

 We wondered around some more, found a couple of shops. But weird shops, nothing souvenir-ish anywhere.

Statues in front of a health food store

 And then we went to the airport. They had a giant glass sculpture.

Giant glass sculpture in the airport

We made our flight to PDX, business class (woot!). Hazel and Meadow watched Hugo and possibly another kid-friendly movie. We all fell asleep (see: business class) and then woke up in Portland.

Hazel slept through breakfast, but the flight attendants gave us milk and fruit for her to eat when she woke up. Oddly, she woke up not hungry at all. Seriously, the kid is always hungry, so this is not a normal situation. We had her food, and all our stuff, and got off the plane. Since we were at the front of the plane, we were pretty close to the front of the line for passport control. We get to the guy checking documents and he asks us how long we were out of the country and we told him four days. It was all downhill from there. He questioned us on why we would go on such a long flight for such a short trip and did not think Disney was an appropriate answer. He then asked Geoff (three or four times in the course of his interviewing us) if he knew some other guy who had just been through the line because, "he also works for Delta in Salt Lake." Nope, don't know him. He asked Hazel what her name was, who her parents were (because, of course, we went to Japan to steal us a blonde kid. Who looks JUST LIKE ME!), how old she was, what year she was born (failed that one). It was ridiculous. And as I type it I am again outraged at his ridiculousness.

Moving on. We finally get through passport control and move on to get our baggage. Hazel starts to wake up a little more and has to use the bathroom. I ask the guard where it is, and awesomely, it is back on the other side of passport control. But, he tells us to just flash our papers and we can come right through. I take Hazel back through, use the bathroom and cut to the front of the line, which is crazy long at this point. Of course, we get the same guy again and I tell him that we just came through to use the bathroom and now we just want to get through to baggage. And he doesn't recognize us. Hazel is the only child in the area. He questioned us for 15 minutes. Three minutes prior. Finally, after looking at our passports again he admits that yes we are okay and we can go through. grrr..

We get our luggage and now have to go through agriculture screen. I normally fill out the paperwork but Geoff did it this time. He forgot that we bought food. Oh, and that Hazel has food from the airplane. Busted. We were fine (as in, okay) until they find his sausage in the luggage and then they bring up the $300 (or $500, I don't remember) fine (as in $$$$$$). Sausage was confiscated. Airplane food was confiscated. We were reprimanded, but not fined. 

You would think this would be enough. But then we have to go through TSA. No problem, we are experts at TSA screenings. Shoes off, except for Hazel, jackets off, watches/phones in the purse. And I beep. Oops forgot the watch. Still beeping. I am completely befuddled. I haven't had a lot of sleep, I have been dealing with security all morning/afternoon/whatever time of day it is. I raise my arms in confusion, revealing my metal-studded belt. Busted. The guy behind me completely cracks up. TSA dude comments on how my companion sees the humor in the situation. I tell him that I have never met that guy before, he is just mocking me. TSA dude tells me he will take care of it. Guy behind me goes through the metal detector, no beep. But, lucky him, he gets the full screening. TSA dude winked at me. Nice. Sorry, guy behind me. It is for America.*

We had a quick layover in Portland (love you, Portland!). Almost didn't make the flight, it was pretty full. But we got home, and even sat together. Came home, saw the eclipse, lost Nacho, found Nacho, and went to bed.

The End of the Tokyo Disney Adventure.

*We travel plenty, and deal with TSA plenty, most of them are delightful people who are just doing their job.  They almost never make Hazel go through the puffer machine, or the full-body scanner. But, man, some are jerks. Just like in real life.

Japan Day #3 - Disneysea

We went to the other Disney park, Disneysea. We had a map that showed it right behind Disneyland. Easy-peasy. We get to Disneyland and ask someone how to get the Disneysea. And thus began our Death March.* As has been pointed out, repeatedly, our Japanese is nonexistent. Our understanding of English spoken by Japanese natives is pretty close to nonexistent. We asked for directions on how to get to the entrance of Disneysea and were sent the longest way possible. Holy.moly. We walked for about an hour. It was hot. We could see the park, but there is only one entrance and it was not where we were.

At the end of the day, we left the entrance and headed out the way we thought we should go and found that we were incredibly close when we asked for directions. Even more frustrating. But, it was lovely and scenic and we got some exercise. Bright side!

A very long walk

 Finally we made it to the park and there was a giant globe and approximately a million people. This park was far more crowded, being a weekend and all.

This is not really a review of Disneysea, just a family documentation, so I won't go into all that is Disneysea. Google it or something. 

Family pic

The Mermaid Lagoon was AWESOME! I realize I overuse the word awesome, but this really was awesome. It is indoors and completely underwater themed. I think we visited three separate times.

 King Triton greets you at the entrance.

Mermaid Lagoon!

 I could not capture the awesomeness. Look for some pictures. Or go visit.

 They do a Little Mermaid show. It is a cirque de soleil kind of show. Acrobatic dancers and whatnot. The talking is all in Japanese, but the singing is in English. Oh, and Ursula is in English. I am not sure what to think of this...

 There is also a playground. They had all sorts of things to climb on and play with. Hazel was the first person we saw successfully climb this, she earned a round of applause and "oooohhhh" from the crowd. Which meant she had to do it many more times.

Snail rider

 They also had Ariel's cavern. With her whozits and whatsits galore. If you watched this movie a million times, or even just once, you would appreciate the completeness and attention to details.

 Prince Eric was kind of jerk, however.

Crawling around in the Jellyfish Cavern

We love Japan!

Geoff and Camel see eye to eye on many issues

Even Sinbad looks Japanese

A "parade" on the water. It was out of control. 

Jasmine's Magic Carpet

Not an employee

The only princess we met (or saw) was Jasmine. Too bad Hazel didn't have her costume on today! Jasmine, randomly, was imported straight from Texas, or the South. She spoke even less Japanese than we did. Hazel loved her. They had an awesome conversation, in English. Jasmine was fantastic and kind and totally made the trip.

Look into my eyes

Jasmine pose

aaahhhhhh.....

Oh, we are so cute

 Random story: We try to remember to take a ninja with us when we travel. My awesome friend makes them, see here. So, we had Flora with us on this trip. All around Disneysea were these little fold down seats that you could put your Duffy Bear on a take a picture. I had never heard of Duffy before, and neither had Hazel. But, man, Duffy was everywhere. And his girlfriend. Hazel wanted one like crazy. But, they were stupid expensive. Disney+Japan+Bad Exchange Rate+Hazel already owns a million stuffed toys=Didn't get one. Every once in a while (even after we returned home) she would sigh and say, "I wish I had a bear...." Then I made her promise to stop if I took her to Build-a-Bear and got a new outfit. DONE!

Duffy Photo Spot

Penultimate ride of the night was the Aladdin carousel. We were all exhausted by this point, and some of us were beyond tired, into the punchy stage.

 Oh, I meant pouty stage.

I don't have a picture but the last ride was a coaster. Fish coaster, I believe. The following picture is probably from standing in line. Hazel was so tired by this point that she was asleep while we were waiting. She woke up briefly while we were loading and then FELL ASLEEP on the roller coaster. It wasn't a big one but still. Best.sleeper.ever.

No smoking, fish!

*No Wilde vacation is complete without a Death March.