Fall Foliage Vermont - Visiting Canada and heading home - 2025/10/04-05

Time to wrap up this Fall Foliage visit to Vermont with all our family. 

Fall Foliage in Vermont - Lake Carmi State Park and Vermont Orchards - 2025/10/04

Leaving Jay Peak, our group continued to the West, searching for more beautiful hillsides in Vermont. We weren't disappointed. 

Fall Foliage in Vermont - Couture Maple Sugar House and Jay Peak - 2025/10/04

Today we've got a lot on our plate with lots of driving and lots of searching for beautiful Vermont fall leaves! We're in Vermont visiting our friends Jake and Pauline Couture who own a maple sugar house and Bed & Breakfast. 

Fall Foliage Vermont, Stowe Mountain and Eden Lake - 2025/10/03

After leaving the Ben & Jerry's Factory, it's time to continue our fall leaf exploration. We're done down here in Waterbury, so let's head north. 

Fall Foliage in Vermont - Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour - 2025/10/03

Visiting Vermont, one of the must do stops is the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory! 

I was online at midnight, 2 weeks prior to make sure we could get reservations for a factory tour. With 10 people, we'll be taking up quite a bit of the tour group! 

Fall Foliage in Vermont at the Couture Bed and Breakfast with family 2025 Pt 2 - 2025/10/03

Welcome to Vermont! We're here with a whole bunch of family for fall foliage! We're visiting our friends the Coutures, who own a maple sugar farm and bed & breakfast. We've rented out the entire house and are ready for a fun day of adventure! 

Fall Foliage in Vermont 2025 - 2025/10/02

Happy Fall! As summer winds to an end everywhere in the US except Florida (it's still super hot here), it's the season where leaves turn from bright green to yellows, oranges, and reds, before falling off the trees for the season. We love going to different places to experience fall foliage and this year, we're headed to Vermont!

We were awake and out the door by 6:30am in order to get to the airport for our flight. 

We had to plan this trip months in advance, and you never know that far in advance what the fall foliage situation will be. For the past couple weeks, Theresa has been watching the color reports on explorefall.com to see what the reports are looking like. As our trip got closer, the predictions were looking really good that we'd be in areas with High and Peak Color! Perfect! 

Kids Cooking Class - Chick-n-Minis - Chick-fil-A Four Corners

We love that our local Chick-fil-A does such fun events. Tonight, it's kids cooking class! They are inviting kids 12 and under to come make one of their most popular menu items! 

It was a super popular event! It started at 5:30pm, so we arrived around 5:15pm. Mrs. Guen took our names and let us know we were already in the second round of kids! 

Even more Magic Mountain - Magic Mountain - 2025/06/24-25

Good morning! It's going to be a beautiful day to be at Magic Mountain! Once again we are awake early to go to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. It's really nice that Theresa has hotel status here. We've had some really good meals. Alli learned today that she could even have a smoothie for her drink today! Love it! 

Back to the Mountain - Magic Mountain - 2025/06/22-23

It was a fun morning playing volleyball with my friends, but it's Sunday and we're checking out of our hotel in El Segundo and driving north for a few more days at Magic Mountain! 

And because it's Sunday, Theresa is here with us! 

Even more Chuck E Cheese Summer of Fun Pass, Hanging out with Friends - Los Angeles - 2025/06/19-22

Continuing our stories from this summer of 2025. The hotel breakfast is just okay, so we're not always motivated to get up in time to go eat. Today is pancakes though, so Alli joins me. Ian will come if it's biscuits and gravy. 

Chuck E Cheese Summer of Fun Pass, Hanging out with Friends - Los Angeles - 2025/06/16

After having so much fun at the Magic Mountain and the Pasadena Chalk Festival last week, now, we're down in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Theresa is working, so I've got the kids during the day and we need something to do. Luckily for us, we've got the Chuck E Cheese Summer of Fun Pass! 

There's many different levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and we opted for the top tier, giving us 250 game credits per day, plus 50% off food! We've been making good use of our pass so far this year, but with all this free time, I think we're going to hit it a little harder. 

California Six Flags Magic Mountain - 2025/06/11

We got an even earlier start today so we could get up and have breakfast before we headed to Magic Mountain. Our server Antonia is so nice. We've seen her all three mornings and she's awesome. My eggs benedict were runny, just like they were supposed to be. 

We're headed to California - Six Flags Magic Mountain - 2025/06/09

Washington was fun, but now it's time to head to our next stop on this giant summer trip. So far we've stopped at Colorado, Las Vegas, and Washington, but now we're headed back to where the kids grew up. California! 

Washington - Going for a hike, Graduation Party - 2025/06/08

We're in Washington to celebrate Eli and Josh's gradation from High School. Yesterday was their graduation ceremony, but we've still got a couple days here in Washington before we leave. 

Jon mentioned going for a hike and Ian's ears perked up. Just like Theresa, he loves finding "free food" that people like. He remembers on a previous hike here that we found salmonberries growing alongside the trail. 

Joe - That was in August last time though Ian, so I don't know if any will be ripe yet. 

Ian - I still want to try and see. 

Flying to Washington - Eli and Josh's Graduation - 2025/06/04

Time for the next stop on our summer journey! Today we're flying to Washington! 
No, not in that plane Ian and Alli. 

Goodbye to Colorado - 2025/06/03

Theresa and I had a fun time while we were in Vegas. But the kids and grandparents had a fun time while we were gone too! 

One of the things Gram loves to do with the kids is have a formal tea party. 

Happy 25th Anniversary Theresa! 2025/05/27

 We're in Colorado with the family at the start of our summer vacation! But it's a special day for Theresa and I coming up. It's almost our 25th anniversary! And so, since Gram and Pop Pop offered to watch the kids, Theresa and I were free to go out and celebrate!

Welcome to Colorado - 2025/05/21

Welcome to Colorado! The first stop on our summer journey! The kids were super excited to be here because they really wanted to play with their cousin Avery. Whenever they get together, they like to take over the basement and have a "festival" where they make and create all sorts of things. They've been planned things in secret for weeks via FaceTime, so we know they're up to something good. 

Leaving Florida for our summer travels - 2025/05/20

What a summer it has been! We've been so busy traveling, I haven't stopped to write it all down. Now that we're back in Florida and getting into a routine, I have some time to settle down and get all this recorded. 

Happy Birthday Surprise weekend to me! The Broad, Hollywood Bowl Grease Sing-Along - Day 2 Part 2 - 2025/06/27

Time to continue the fun day that Theresa has planned for my surprise birthday weekend! We've got my family here from Colorado and Washington and we're exploring Los Angeles together! 

Happy Birthday Surprise weekend to me! Day 2 Part 1 - 2025/06/27

Theresa gathered all my family in Los Angeles for a birthday surprise! It was a big surprise to me because it wasn't my birthday for another month! But it's actually Megan's birthday today! 

Happy Surprise Birthday to me! - 2025/06/26

I've taken a break from blogging over the summer, but we're going to jump ahead a little bit in the summer to this story. 

We'd finished the Pasadena Chalk Festival, hung out at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and had just arrived back in Manhattan Beach at the hotel for the night. 

The next morning, Theresa said she got a text from the front desk that we'd need to move rooms.

Theresa - Let's go check out the room before we have to move all our stuff. 

Well that's odd, but okay. 

2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival - All the other artists - 2025/06/15

We had a fun time at the 2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival. 

We made our mural "Grogu Goes To Hogwarts" and had a lot of fun with it. There were so many other artists at the festival this year. I tried to get pictures of all of them. I'll post them here without too many comments on my part. There's 180 photos on this post, so I suspect it will take a little while to load. 

2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival - Silent Auction - 2025/06/15

As part of being an artist at the Pasadena Chalk Festival, you're highly encouraged to donate a canvas for the festival to raise money for the Lightbringer Project, a group that helps bring art to underserved kids in the community. 

The first year you participate in the Chalk Festival it's $30. Every year after that it's free! When you're there, they give you plenty of chalk, water, snacks during the day, breakfast, tote bags, shirts, and artist dinner on Thursday, and there's awards for the winners. They even give you a blank canvas to return with paint on it! Painting a canvas seems like a simple thing to do in return. 

2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival Day 2 - Happy Father's Day - 2025/06/15

Happy Father's Day! I love that I get to spend it with my kids doing something together at the Pasadena Chalk Festival! We started our "Grogu Goes to Hogwarts" mural yesterday, and today we'll be finishing it up! 

2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival Day 1 - 2025/06/14

It's time for the 2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival! I'm excited! We've got a fun mural this year. Last year we asked the question "What if Pokemon went to Disneyland?" 

This year, we wondered "What if Grogo went to Hogwarts?" 

I asked the kids what time they wanted to get started the night before. They said, "9 or 930? But we'll get up earlier for you if you want to. Since it's Father's Day."

I do want to get an earlier start to the day for sure. I know that working in the sun during the afternoons can be brutal, so it's easier to get a lot done in the morning when it's cool. By 7am, I was at our spot and getting the time-lapse camera set up and T and the kids were there a short time after. 

Pasadena Chalk Festival Artists Dinner and Prepping our Mural Site - 2025/06/12-13

It's Father's Day Weekend and time for the Pasadena Chalk Festival! 

On Thursday, we all made our way up to Pasadena. At 4pm, you're allowed to claim your spot. I contacted the organizer and asked to be near our friends Charlotte, Curt, and Ruston, and when we arrived, we all had spots together! And check it out! We're in the exact same spots as last year! 

Come see us at the 2025 Pasadena Chalk Festival this Saturday and Sunday!

Come on out to the Pasadena Chalk Festival this weekend to see us! 

It's this Saturday and Sunday at the Paseo in Pasadena! 

There's over 200 murals, drawn by 500+ artists, so you're sure to find something you enjoy. And on Saturday there's even a classic car show! 

Last year, we wondered "What would it look like if Pokemon visited Disneyland?"

This year, we're wondering "What would it look like if Grogo went to Hogwarts?"

Our murals from previous years. 

https://www.pasadenachalkfestival.org/about

Come find us in front of the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday.

Disney around the World - Day 6 Part 4 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018-10-19

Let's continue with part 4 of Day 6 while we visit Shanghai Disneyland and all the other Asian Disney parks. 

Disney around the World - Day 6 Part 3 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018-10-19

It's been a fun morning so far at Shanghai Disneyland. Let's continue through to the afternoon. There's a few shows that we don't want to miss. 

Disney around the World - Day 6 Part 2 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018-10-19

After a fun ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Shanghai Disneyland, let's head over to Adventure Isle and take on that one-of-a-kind Challenge Trail! 

Disney around the World - Day 6 Part 1 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018/10/19

It's the 6th day of our big Disney trip and we're in Shanghai China going to Disneyland! 

Disney around the World - Day 5 Part 5 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018/10/18

It's time to wrap up Day 5 of our around the world Disney trip. We're at Shanghai Disneyland, having done so many fun things already. 

Disney around the World - Day 5 Part 4 - Shanghai Disneyland 2018/10/18

Say what? Another update to the long awaited all around the world Disney trip? Yes, it's time to make another effort to get this trip report from 2018 (wow, 7 years ago) finished. This is the one that the kids ask me to finish writing most often, but it's also the most daunting with thousands and thousands of pictures to sort through. But let's take another crack at it. 

Gymnastics USA Olympics 2025

Today is a really big day for Alli and Ian! They've been working all year for today. It's the day of their Gymnastics Olympics! 

After all the gymnastics and tumbling training they've done for the past year, today they get to perform their skills in front of an audience! Hundreds of parents and other kids are all here to watch and perform in the Gymnastics USA 2025 Olympics! 

Sweetarts Jelly Beans Taste Test Comparison

Continuing our season of delicious jelly beans (we hope), today we are trying another new one. 
Sweetarts Jelly Beans! 

And like we always do, I bought a box of Sweetarts Candies to try along side it to see how close to the real thing these Sweetart Jelly Beans really are. I opted for the Chewy variety of Sweetarts because I thought that would match the Jelly Bean texture best. 

Skittles Jelly Beans Taste Test Comparison

Time for more Jellybeans? Absolutely!

Jellybeans have been really great so far this season with both Sour Patch Kids Jellybeans and Starburst Jellybeans tasting nearly identical to the real candies. But today we have a new challenger. 

Skittles Jellybeans! Will these new Jelly Beans be able to compare to the original Skittles candies? We definitely know a thing or two about Skittles, having tasted 13 different varieties consisting of 56 unique flavors! And that was just one taste test! 

So, we'll be comparing the Skittles jellybeans on the left, to the Skittles candies on the right and see how close they are to each other. 

Starburst Jelly Beans Taste Test Comparison

Well, we've already had some really tasty Jelly Beans this Easter season. I think we're going to try a few more before they all disappear until next year. 

Today, we're trying Starburst Jelly Beans! That yummy treat has some really good flavors, including the best Strawberry flavor you could want. 

We have tried so many different Starburst items, including Starburst Yogurt, Starburst Gum, Starburst Gelatin, Starburst Fruit By The Foot, Starburst Strawberry Sorbet Bars, Starburst Powdered Drink Mix, Freeze-Dried Starbursts, another Starburst Gelatin, Starburst Airs and Starburst Gummies, Starburst Ice Splash Sparkling Water, and even Starburst Cotton Candy.

Can these Starburst Jelly Beans match the flavor of one of the best fruity candies there is? Let's find out! 

Of course, we'll be comparing the Starburst Jellybeans to the real Starburst candies. 

Happy Mother's Day Theresa!

Happy Mother's Day to Theresa! 

The kids started the morning by coming into our bedroom and asking how she would like her coffee, iced or hot. Then they ran off to make it for her. 

Country Club Soda Taste Test - from the Dominican Republic

Today we're trying something really special! It's an international soda taste test! 

Country Club soda from the Dominican Republic! And there's 4 different flavors! Merengue, Uva, Frambuesa, and Naranja. 

Wait! 4 flavors? (I love that the caps match the sodas)