Planes, Trains and Automobiles (& Ferry's, Busses & Strollers)

So we are back!!!! Our vacation was split in 4 phases (with Phases two and three having several sub-trips) I do not have all the pictures yet...and will pst more when I have them all...but here is a gazillion pictures for the first round. We first flew in the middle of the night to Sweden to see my dear friends Courtney and Blake. The kids slept on the flight...but we didn't. We arrived at breakfast and of course we start this little picture-thon with Clifton eating bacon for breakfast.....pork would be a major theme of our entire vacation.

This is down the street from Courtney and Blakes...we were jet lagged but we wanted to see Sweden. By the way....it was chilly...TAKE THAT DOHA!!!!
Sweden is the most kid friendly place I have ever visited....of course all Swedes have Volvo like strollers meant for hills and cobblestone, but everywhere you go...I mean EVERYWHERE...there is stroller ramps and stroller places reserved on public transport. Maddie is loving this more than her dad...
One of the highlights of the vacation for Jacob was the fact that we rode tons of ferries, trains and busses (...these people are all about public transportation....very GREEN) This is Jacob on his first "boat"
Train


Of course his favorite mode of transportation is still daddy.
He also loves his wine....maybe a little too much.
Of course we were all excited about seeing trees and grass...it's been awhile...but Jacob took it to a whole other level when he had to take a picture at
EVERY
TREE
Some island that has a HUGE park
What else would they have at a butterfly garden than fish....which are apparently less scary than butterflies...who knew?

Maddie was a hoot this trip...she had a good time 99.9 percent of the time.



We learned to love the stroller ramps after a few trips in an elevator...they were the ONLY downside to Sweden....they smelled like piss. Courtney said it was for good reason.

Dad got a work out on all the hills...
I loved the roof
Wonder what Steve Martin would think of this???? (obscure father of the bride reference)
This is reindeer I think....a concept that is foriegn to Jacob....he thinks Santa only comes on camels
Old Town...which was hella cool
Troll much????
I think this is parliment.
and I think this is the palace....
and I know this is Courtney
Peace Out ducks
some sort of Swedish ice cream....I hate being lactose intolerant
Courtney, Blake and Jacob desperately trying to do a puzzle in our hotel room...sissy was NOT helping
Maddie's favorite president so far
Awwwww, aren't we cute


Now to the absolute highlight of the trip for Jacob.... a mini excavator
A worker truck
and of course a blue garbage truck...that is all he would tell people about Sweden for days....
On a scale from 1 to 10, I give Sweden a 9. Friendliest people in the world, very green and GREEN, kid friendly, Courtney and Blake live there, good and somewhat interesting food. I had to take off a point for the smelly elevators, small hotel rooms and the fact that it is dark only four hours a day.

So, then we took a plane to Frankfurt, THEN...our plane was broke in Germany and they had to find a replacement...which took awhile. But a few hours later we were on our way to Houston. I have no pictures of the beginning of phase 2...but phase 2b was my girls trip to New Orleans. The first night we stayed at Myrtles Plantation in St. Francesville. It is one of the most haunted places in the US. Now I have to include the first two pictures because my girls found it hilarious that I sit so close to the dash....kiss my you know what...

Myrtles was creepy, but awesome



This guys cell phone went off the entire tour....what a douche
The mirror is haunted...I was apparently excited about this....
Our room at the plantation
Hmmmmm at least my nose is booger free.
Jordan and I doing what we do.....and I mean that....
here is a retrospective of Jordan and Molly poses over the years.....




Okay back to Myrtles...they had to close us in at the restaurant...we were obnoxious...
Lisa was feeling no pain for the rest of the evening....her lines later in the night would include "concebatrate Molly" and "this guy is 7 foot 100"

My psychic is in the background. This guy was nails....I mean it. He was amazing....good news is that he said I would live a very long very active life.


This is the only picture I can give you from the back bedroom....the others were a little....well....not blog friendly....

For some unknown reason I was trying to be the girl from Napolean Dynamite



The party under our balcony
New Orleans is BACK baby and I didn't see one naked person the entire time....except Susie....but I digress
Trying to act incognito
because we put a sticker on her ass
I got side tracked by Lisa and Paula while getting dressed and apparently sat like this with my pants half on for abput 10 minutes...none of us noticed until the cameras came out.


Who's got the biggest Hooters?????
Phase 3 was Hot Springs at Clifton's dads place
Maddie took her first steps
Auntee Faye and the now infamous dirt pile

Clifton I'm going to kill you
Phase 3b was a quick trip to Mississippi to see the cousins and grandma.
Kim got more of a workout than planned

Jacob decided he could take Aunt Donna (Faye) for a ride
Maddie loves the Elkins

mater

Phase 3c was back to Hot Springs

Gran Pearly and Gran Sparky
check out the dog at this awesome shop
awwwwwww dirt

Seriously....thjis was a daily ritual
I love this picture
Gran Pearly has been "Jacobed"
Phase 4 was Dallas....we stayed at Great Wolf Lodge which has a massive water park... Maddie is a dare devil....Jacob is not.


Jacob's first major league game....the Rangers killed Boston and it was a blast...



After a few innings we caved and gave him the ipod so we could watch the rest of the game. Memaw and Pepaw watched Maddie...she was great with them. I need pictures from my parents, so you can see how great they all looked.

Jacob and his big gun
Wave pool


See the big bucket
wait for it...
and
BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacob did love this slide

Maddie ate one piece of a hotcake....which was amazing

We saw almost all of Clifton's family and a good part of mine....we need more pics. The flights were good coming home. The kids are having a hard time adjusting back...we have had some puking and sleepless nights. But it was worth it....I can't believe it will be a year till we get back. We miss all of you already....