Monday, April 28, 2008
Chase and I went on the school’s Learning Enrichment Accelerated Program (I think) field trip. The kids in LEAP are the only kids that are ever allowed to go out of state over night. That includes the high school seniors. So, it is a privilege to be allowed to go on this exciting, educational trip.
Chase and I, along with 9 other adults and 21 other students left Oklahoma City at 4:40 p.m. We arrived at 11:00 p.m. after getting the rental bus. We arrived at the Embassy Suites, checked in and got settled in and fell asleep around 3:00 am.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
We (the entire group) left the hotel for the Franklin Institute around 9:30. The Franklin Institute is similar to the Omniplex in OKC except it is larger, there is more to do. The food was expensive and not very good. We did see a movie at the I-Max inside the Franklin Institute called Sea Monsters. It was about pre-historic dinosaurs. It was fairly interesting. That was my favorite activity at the Franklin Institute. I was ready to leave when it was time to go. We left around 4:00 p.m. Chase was shaking his pedometer to add steps, which he should not be doing. Wearing the pedometer is a requirement. He has a lot of homework to do on this trip, things like logging miles driven, gallons per mile, gasoline prices, writing paragraphs, essays, and sentences, etc.
We do not have to do anything tonight except get to our hotel, eat dinner and probably swim. Tomorrow we go to New York! I am excited about that!
When we arrived at Homewood Suites, we were told we would not be able to use the pool. They did have a jacuzzi with lukewarm water. We did not do much that evening and I think we were able to go to bed fairly early.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. we took a bus to the Port Authority (approximately a 45 minute ride in a bus standing in the middle isle). The bus driver pulled in, he let about 10 of our guys out of the bus. This included Chase and Kyle along with the 8th grade boys and dads. The bus driver stopped me and he said he just needs to move up a little. I think, oh okay. I did not understand that would mean we could be separated but it did. My group of people went downstairs with Mrs. Benda. The other group apparently went upstairs. Our cell phones were not working very well since we were in the basement. We finally were able to reach one of the other parents in the other group and reunite.
Then, we walked several blocks to get our hop on hop off passes (near 48th & Broadway, I believe). Chase almost got ran over by a Taxi driver. Being in New York is just like what you see on TV. New Yorkers WILL run you over if you do not get out of their way. We waited in line for the tour bus to pick us up. We got on the bus in Time Square, we were on the tour bus for about 1 hour. I cannot remember anything we drove by (my notes were written Thursday evening after an incredibly exhausting day).
When we got off of the bus tour we went to the Empire State building. We paid $10 per person to move ahead in line and see a movie (approximately 10 minutes about New York). It was similar to the Star Wars ride at MGM (Magical Gas Making according to Reagan). It was fun. Then we went up to the 80th floor of the Empire State building. Then, we walked quickly up 6 more flights of stairs to the top. I thought I would be scared to death because I am afraid of heights, but instead I was too concerned about losing my kids. You can pay $15 more to go up to the 102nd floor observatory. Chase wanted to but we did not have time. The group was ready to go back down. I was able to get some really good photos on top of the Empire State building.
Then, when split up and went our separate ways. The 6th graders did decide to stick together again on this day. We all walked across the street and purchased hot dogs and drinks from the street vendor. (2 hot dogs, 2 Gatorades for $10.) The hot dogs were good.
We shopped at a couple of shops very quickly. This is when I purchased 8 t-shirts for $10. Two or three of them ended up having holes in them. But, that is still a pretty good deal. Then, we hopped on the hop on hop off bus and went to Little Italy the trip took approximately 45 minutes to an hour. We barely had time to sit down to eat pizza. We ate quickly. The pizza slices were large. We only ordered 2 large pizzas, 1 pepperoni, 1 cheese. With drinks for 13 people. It only cost $60. Chase and several others from our group purchased sorbet from a street vendor. It is similar to ice cream. I took a small bite of Chase’s. It was strawberry. He liked it okay, but I did not. Then, we walked back to get on the tour bus. We waited for a tour bus for a long time. We were worried about missing our group for our 6:00 night bus tour. Going to a few shops, eating the pizza and sorbet took us 4 hours. Most of that time was on the tour bus or waiting for a tour bus.
The night tour bus trip was about 2 hours. We got on around 7 pm. It took us through Brooklyn and Manhattan. We drove past Seinfeld’s Diner. It was between 22nd and 23rd on 3rd in New York City right before we got off the tour bus. Chase was helping me remember some of this stuff. I said the tour was mildly entertaining. He said, “No.” Plus, it was very cold. The weather was in the 60’s during the day and dropped at night.
When, we got finished with the night tour around 9 p.m. we headed back to the hotel. Chase and Kyle were hungry and quickly purchased a shish-ka-bob. They think it was chicken. They said it was good. $4 each.
We walked a few blocks back to the Port Authority, rode bus to hotel, walked right behind the hotel to a Panera Bread. It was our only option. Then, back to our rooms. We got to bed around midnight because we had to be packed and ready to leave the next morning, Thursday, at 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
We went to the Port Authority, then walked a few blocks to a subway station. We purchase tickets (cards to swipe). I think it cost $2.05 per person. Then, we got on the subway during rush hour. I hated the subway. People packed in like sardines, yuck! One Dad had his wallet stolen. He had his hand on his wallet almost the entire time. But, the pick pocket got it anyway. No talking to any body on the subway. Hold your money and your loved ones close!
We had taken the subway to see the Statue of Liberty. We stood in line for approx. 1.5 hours, from 10:20 to 12:05. The ferry ride was about 10 minutes. We got to the Island at 12:15. We only had 30 minutes to take pictures, use the bathroom and look around because the ferry to take us to Ellis Island left at 1:00. We missed it because not everyone was back in time to take it. There is a museum at Ellis Island (I believe it is the one in the Hitched with Will Smith and Kevin James where the girl sees her family members name on the list of immigrants coming to America). Since we missed that ferry we decided to go back to New York (meaning back to where we got on the ferry, where the subways ended.) We got back on the subway to go back to the Port Authority, to buy a bus ticket, to take us back to the hotel to get the vans. Hallelujah! It was really cool to see the Statue of Liberty. I was able to get some good pictures.
We left the hotel around 4 p.m. (I think) to drive to Lancaster, PA. We arrived in Lancaster at 7:45 the traffic was bad when we left Philadelphia.
We had reservations to eat at the Amish restaurant for 6 p.m. Obviously, we missed our reservation but they were kind enough to stay open for us. Thank goodness. We were all starving. Many of us had gone back into our hotel before we left to get a snack for the ride to Lancaster. I’m glad Chase and I did.
Anyway, the Amish restaurant wasn’t very Amish. Chase says it looked like Swadley’s, which cracks me up because basically he is correct. We might have more of an Amish experience if we had arrived on time. I am not sure, though. The food was pretty good. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. We had fried chicken, bow tie noodles (very good), carrots (soaked in butter), rolls, and for dessert we had apple cobbler or we could have an Amish desert. I forgot the name of it. I had the apple cobbler. It was okay.
From the Lancaster, PA, we drove about 1 hour to Grantville, to the Hampton Inn. We all went to sleep. I think it was around 11:30 p.m.
Friday, May 2, 2008
We went to the Hershey Museum first. Then, we went to Hershey Park. Chase, Kyle, and I hung out by ourselves. We ate pizza for lunch. Chase and Kyle both won prizes for throwing the football through a hole. Chase won 2 footballs. Kyle won 2 bears but the guy let him trade up to an eagle for free for one of the bears (he just offered – we did not ask). I thought that was nice of him. When it got a little warmer around 4 ish Chase and Kyle rode the Tidal Force water ride. They were soaked from head to toe. Then, they stood on the bridge where the water rushes over it. They told me to go with them because if you stand by the plexiglass, you won’t get wet but it looks really cool to see the water rushing right at you. I went with them. They were right. It was really cool! The day we went was the first day the amusement park was open. It was not crowded at all. We barely had to wait in line all day. And, the weather was perfect! It was so much fun!
We went back to the Hershey Museum to pick up our chocolate Hershey’s kisses that we had put together in the gear boxes. We also rode a 10 minute ride that explained how the chocolate is made. The boys tossed Chase’s football around while we waited for the other group to arrive. We left the park around 6:30 p.m. and drove back to Philadelphia to the same Embassy Suites hotel we had stayed at on Monday night. We stopped to eat dinner at the Ruby Tuesday right across the street. They had a paid police office on duty (interesting). Then, we went back to the hotel and to bed.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
We left the hotel around 10:30 a.m. (I was probably awake by 7:00 a.m. again). We drove to Historic Philadelphia. We broke up into groups and went where we wanted. All the sites and museums were closer that I first realized. Several of us went to The City Tavern. We ate lunch there. We had a salad, a turkey pot pie and apple cobbler. The food was very good. The water was not. The food was served in pewter dishes. They gave us a deal on the meal since there were 15 of us. It cost $12.95 plus tax per person. Normally, I think it would have been $14.95 plus tax per person plus tip.
The coolest part of the meal was that the Tavern is where Washington, Jefferson, and the other founders of our country gathered together to eat dinner and discuss their plans to break away from England.
I left my back pack upstairs while we ate. Fortunately, I needed a Kleenex before we finished and was able to go upstairs to retrieve it. I can not believe I did that. I had my travel pouch with my money, my camera, and the backpack, plus I was having to prod Kyle to get up to stay with the group. (I had to do this the entire trip. I wished I had a cattle prod to use on him and Chase, especially in New York!)
After lunch, we walked back to see Carpenter’s Hall and the Military Museum. Carpenter Hall was pretty cool. The military museum was closed. It was only open from 3-5 p.m. that day. So we went to Independence Hall, then looked at a couple of statues then back to Independence Hall. We had a tour scheduled for 3:00. We were supposed to meet at 2:45 so we waited for everyone else. The tour was 30 minutes long. It was cool also. The tour guide gave us the history info for 15 minutes in one room then we went in to see the Hall. There was a court room. The guide was standing in an iron stand thing. He said that is where the prisoners “stood trial.” Which is why we call it “standing trial” today. Then we turned around and went into another room. The room where the Constitution was drafted (I think). After that we split into smaller groups again. We went and took pictures at the Liberty Bell.
Then we found a vendor on the street that sold Philly cheese steaks. We all three bought one. They were really big (1 foot long). We got the Philly cheese steak, l large Gatorade and a 3 small cookies for $9.95 each. They were really yummy! Then, we went to ride the carriage ride. Our guide was Angie; her horse’s name was Tom. The carriage ride was fun and relaxing. The 40 minute ride cost $40 plus $5 tip. The guide showed us some historical stuff and the cemetery that is in the movie National Treasure and some historical stuff. It was much smaller in real life.
Then, we met the rest of the group again at 6:00 p.m. We drove to the mall. Half of the group went shopping the other half of us went to the movies to see Iron Man.
After the movie, we drove back to our hotel. We arrived around 11:00 p.m David sent Chase and me some cookies. That was very sweet of him! There were some not-so-nice looking people walking around in the lobby. Jackson’s dad, Mr. Sharp, who is a police officer, suggested we all stay in our rooms. I, of course, thought that was a great idea. Mr. Sharp mentioned that he did not think the security guard on duty would be much help if we needed him. Chase and I joked about that later. We agreed with Mr. Sharp. The security officer was about 5 foot 0 inches tall and he looked like he was 80 years old.
Also, that night, in the middle of the night, I could have sworn something crawled across me, like a mouse or something. I grabbed my cell phone to use it as a light. I did not find anything. I made myself NOT think about it so I could go back to sleep.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
We loaded up the vans and left for the airport around 10:15 a.m. When we arrived in Detroit, we had approximately 30 minutes to get to our next gate. The kids had to use the bathroom, of course. We were literally running to our next gate to catch our flight home. It was a long way away.
I was so happy to get home!!
Things I learned on the trip:
Eat when you have the chance.
Use the bathroom when you are near one.
Don’t count on staying on schedule (everything takes longer with 32 people).
Always request to have your own map (if there are maps available).
Always take your ipod for nights you can not sleep.
You will learn interesting facts about the kids your kid goes to school with.
You will miss your husband and youngest child as much as you thought you would.
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