Depending on when we go, sometimes we bring our bikes and sometimes we pack a lunch – like this past time:

Either way, we always have fun and usually run across a wild animal or two along the way (ducks and turtles mostly).  Plus, it’s good exercise and always nice to get out and get some fresh air – we all know how fresh air makes kids sleep better at night, right?

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This post, A Walk in the Park, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 19, 2013. Tweet This

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Anyhow, it wasn’t long before the coffee caught up to me and I had to pee pretty bad. I tried to hold until we left, but I wasn’t going to make it. When I went into the bathroom, this was the first thing I saw:

That’s one way to make sure it doesn’t fall on anyone’s feet…..I guess.

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This post, That’s One Way To Do It…..I Guess, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 18, 2013. Tweet This

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Anyway, when we booked the trip and selected our flights, we were given the option to select our seats right then and there.  Since I wanted to make sure I sat with both boys and Chris was on the aisle across from us, I chose to select my seats instead of leaving it to chance.

Other than some delays, we flew American Airlines to California and there were no other issues.  But on the way home, that’s a different story.

Here are the three boys on their way into San Diego International on the day we left:

So, on our way home, we flew United Airlines and when we arrived at the airport in San Diego, we checked in at kiosk like we were told and proceeded through security to our gate.  I’m not sure what made him look at the tickets, but about 30 minutes before our flight was scheduled to leave, Chris told me we had a problem.  My heart sank.

He told me that none of our seats were together.  They were actually going to put all four of us in four separate rows.  Um, are you kidding me?  They knew that we had two children under the age of 13 and they were going to seat them all alone?  Like with strangers?  In a panic, I went to the United representative up at the counter and nicely explained that I have a five and eight year old and we need to, at the very least, be seated two and two.  He was very nice and was able to switch us around so that I was able to sit with my little guy and Chris sat with my eight year old.  My oldest wasn’t happy because he wanted to sit next to me, but hey – at least he wasn’t sitting alone.  They were four or five rows back, but it was only an hour long flight, so it wasn’t bad.

But that wasn’t the end of it.  We had a quick layover in San Francisco and then it was direct to Boston from there.  Well, actually it wasn’t as quick of a layover as it should have been because we were delayed a few hours because of east coast weather issues (rain).  And you guessed it – they tried to seat us in four separate rows………yet again.  On a five hour flight.

When we landed in San Francisco, Chris went to the counter.  Again, they were able to seat us two & two and yet again, my eight year old wasn’t happy, but my five year old was flipping out about not being able to sit next to me, so he ended up with Chris – up a few rows, but at least we were in the same vicinity on the plane.

I was sick to my stomach about the whole thing and I never even bothered to ask why they would pull something like that – especially when I took the time to pick out my seats ahead of time.  But I suppose it doesn’t really matter at this point because the fact that they knew we had small children and didn’t see anything wrong with trying to seat them with complete strangers was enough to guarantee that I will never, ever fly with them again.  Ever.

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This post, Why I Will Never Fly United Airlines Again, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 17, 2013. Tweet This

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First of all, the pool area was gorgeous. They are so lucky that they are able to swim there every single day.

The gruesome twosome had SO much fun!

This photo bomb by my oldest cracked me up:

The grills are down by the pool, so after the grill master cooked for us, we all ate poolside.

We got to have breakfast with my gorgeous sister in law the following morning, but sadly it was the last time we were able to see my brother in law & nephew until they come here at Christmas.  Sigh.

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This post, At the Pool…..Again!, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 16, 2013. Tweet This

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Anyways, in the breakfast area at the hotel, there were five or six tables, but there was one in the back with a C.H.I.P.S. statue next to it, and you know the boys wanted to sit at that table every single day.

Did the theme from the old tv show play in my head every single time I looked at it?  You bet it did.  And I took to calling the statue John….you know, as in the character from the show.  One morning over breakfast, the kids and I had a deep discussion about why I called him John.  I explained that it was a show about police officers that was on way back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth I was a kid and that there were two main characters on the show:  Ponch and John.  I thought that the statue looked more like John since his coloring was lighter, so I decided that he was John.  And that’s that.

What do you think?

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This post, Ponch or John?, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 15, 2013. Tweet This

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Once we were done at the Turtle Reef, we headed over to see the dolphins at Dolphin Point.  When we arrived, there were several dolphins and trainers in the water & the dolphins were doing tricks.  A minute or two after we got there, the dolphins made a huge splash and we got all wet, so we left.  Water doesn’t mix well with my hair (keratin) and I didn’t want to get wet again…..

So we headed for the Skytower ride.

From the Skytower, you can see hundreds of miles over Mission Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the gorgeous skyline of San Diego.

After the Skytower, we grabbed a quick snack (Shamu pretzels) and then headed for the Wild Arctic Ride.  Here is the description of the ride from the website:

Flight simulator meets daring adventure as you embark on a thrilling jet-helicopter ride. Soar through the breathtaking, perilous, icy landscapes of the Arctic Circle. Put yourself in your pilot’s hands as he maneuvers treacherous frozen peaks and valleys en route to Base Station Wild Arctic.

We all loved the ride and once we were finished, there was all sorts of arctic sea life on display inside the same building.  We got to see some beautiful Beluga Whales:

A Polar Bear:

And a Walrus:

Next to that ride/exhibit, was the Penguin Encounter, so we went over to check them out.

There are over 300 penguins, inside and outside, including Emperor penguins, smaller Adelie, Gentoo and Macaroni penguins.  They were all so darn cute.

There is even more that we never got to at SeaWorld.  The Sesame Street Bay of Play is filled with family-friendly fun and rides like Elmo’s Flying Fish, Oscar’s Rocking Eel and Abby’s Sea Star Spin. You can even have your picture taken with your Sesame Street pals.  We just didn’t have time to make it over there that day.  Plus, there are a few rides like Manta, Riptide Rescue and The Shipwreck Rapids that we never made it to.    We would have gone on The Shipwreck Rapids had we been dressed to get wet, but we weren’t, so we decided to skip it this time around.  Next time we will be dressed appropriately.

SeaWorld San Diego is located at 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA 92109. All shows, exhibits, aquariums and rides are included with park admission.  We paid $15 for parking, but they also offered up close parking for $20 (different rates apply for motorcycles and campers).  You can buy tickets at the park or online.

We had such an amazing day at SeaWorld and are looking forward to going back the next time we’re in the area.

**I received four complimentary passes to SeaWorld.  All opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own and were not influenced in any way.  No form of monetary compensation was exchanged**

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This post, Our Day at SeaWorld San Diego (Part Two), originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 14, 2013. Tweet This

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Mightly cool, right?

As we were walking away from Shamu’s pool area, an announcement came over a loud speaker that the Sea Lion show was starting in a few minutes, so we decided to take in the show before we went to any of the exhibits.

The  show was full of comedy!  They did live-action TV and music spoofs and the show lasted for about 25 minutes and it was really fun.  It’s amazing what those Sea Lions, Clyde and Seamore, can do!  We all loved it.

As soon as we left, we walked over to the Shark Encounter.  I know the boys had been dying to get in there since the first moment we stepped foot in the park, so I really couldn’t keep them waiting any longer.

We were able to get up close to many different kinds of sharks when we first walked in and that pretty much made the boys day.

Once we were done watching the sharks in the pools, we got to go through this amazing tunnel in which we were underneath the sharks as they swam all around us.  We stood on a moving sidewalk and it brought us from one end of the tunnel to the other.  It was a relatively short ride, but you can exit the building and go through the exhibit as many times as you’d like.  It was absolutely amazing to be that close to the sharks and see them swimming by so close to us.

We spent a good long time admiring the sharks, but once the boys had their fill, we headed next door to the Turtle Reef.  I’m a big fan of turtles, so I was really looking forward to heading inside the exhibit to see them.

In addition to all the turtles, there were some amazing tropical fish on display inside the building, too!

Inside the Turtle Reef exhibit, not only did we get to see all the tropical fish, but we got to see more than 60 threatened and endangered sea turtles!

The boys loved seeing this guy close up!

We also played “Turtlelink”, which is a touch-screen map that showed us about rescue efforts.  The boys really seemed to like it.  Turtle Reef also includes Race for the Beach, a video game where the kids could play against other to see what it’s like to be a  sea turtle.

We had such a fun-filled day at SeaWorld San Diego that I can’t fit it all into one post, so be sure to stop by tomorrow so that you can hear what else we did while we were in the park.

**I received four complimentary passes to Sea World.  All opinions expressed here are strictly my own and were not influenced in any way.  No form of monetary compensation was exchanged**

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This post, Spending the Day at SeaWorld San Diego (Part One), originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 13, 2013. Tweet This

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After looking at both menus, I decided that I needed to book Breakfast with Shamu.  The lunch menu actually sounded really good, but I have a picker eater in my midst, I thought my son would eat more from the breakfast menu than the lunch menu.

First off let me say that I am SO glad that I made reservations for this.  It was awesome.  First, I wanted to show you some of the pictures I took during breakfast and then I will give you the details.

Like I mentioned above, the breakfast menu was buffet style and it included things like french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, machaca, potatoes muffins, croissants, danish, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, milk, coffee, and a lot more.  There was so much food and we all had seconds and/or thirds.

What I liked was that they gave everyone a chance to get their food before they brought the killer whales out into the pool – that way no one missed anything.

Things you should know before booking a Shamu dining experience:

• Children under age 3 eat free but do require a reservation
• A SeaWorld admission ticket is required but not included
• Menus and prices are subject to change without notice
• All events are subject to change and/or cancellation
• Events are not cancelled due to inclement weather; programs will still be offered except in the event of lightning
• 24 hour cancellation policy

I paid $26 per adult and $16 for each of the kids – and if I ever make it back to Sea World, I would gladly pay it again in a heartbeat.  It was so cool to be that close to the killer whales.  Everyone was completely mesmerized.  Plus, all the food was amazing.  This experience was totally worth the money.

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This post, Breakfast With Shamu, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 12, 2013. Tweet This

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2012′s #1 cable TV series in Kids 2-5, “Doc McStuffins” tells the story of a nurturing six-year-old girl who heals stuffed animals and broken toys out of her backyard playhouse clinic.  Assisting Doc at the clinic are her trusty team of lovable stuffed animals including: Stuffy, an overly proud dragon; Lambie, her  cuddly best friend lamb; Hallie, a jolly and caring  hippo nurse; and Chilly, a snowman who spends a lot of time getting check-ups at the clinic.  Whether it’s a case of loose stitching, low batteries or a blow-up toy who has sprung a leak, Doc and her pals are always there to lend a helping hand, while imparting to young viewers the importance of taking care of oneself and others.

Win it: Thanks to the folks at Disney Junior and Shout Factory, one (1) lucky Masshole Mommy reader is going to win a copy of the Doc McStuffins: Time for Your Check Up! DVD of their own!

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave me a comment telling me your child’s favorite character on the show!  Easy peasy.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)!

2. Become a Facebook Fan of Mass Hole Mommy (1 entry)!

3.  Like Disney Junior on Facebook (1 entry)!

4.  Follow Disney Junior on Twitter (1 entry)!

5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post & be sure to tell me which post in comment (3 entries)!

6. Subscribe to my RSS feed (2 entries)!

7. Subscribe to receive emails about Masshole Mommy by email (bottom of the page) (5 entries)!

8. Grab my button and leave a link (2 entries)!

9. Subscribe to Masshole Mommy’s Youtube Channel (3 entries)!

10. Follow Masshole Mommy on Pinterest (1 entry)!

11. Tweet this giveaway and leave the link to the status in a comment here. Can be tweeted once per day and counts as one entry per tweet.

** Please leave a separate comment for each entry and remember to leave a valid email address in one of the entry comments. Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This giveaway will end at 9 pm (EST) on 06/08/13 and is open to US residents. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified by email. Thanks again to the folks at Disney and The Shout Factory for offering this fantastic giveaway!

**All opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own and were not influenced in any way.  No form of monetary compensation was exchanged.  Product was received in exchange for this post**

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This post, Doc McStuffins: Time for Your Check Up! DVD #Giveaway, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 11, 2013. Tweet This

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Possessing one of the most outstanding and instantly recognizable voices in music, singer, songwriter, and actor Josh Groban has entertained fans across the globe with his multi-platinum albums and DVDs (25 million sold worldwide), electrifying live performances, and comedic film and television appearances. The tour kicks off this fall, heading across the U.S. and Canada.

The “In the Round” tour, launching October 2^nd in Boise, ID will give fans a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Placed in the middle of the venue floor, a 360-degree stage will allow Josh to interact with fans from all sides of the venue and hear Groban sing classic songs that span his illustrious 12 year career. The “In the Round” tour builds on the concept of Groban’s 2011 “Straight To You” world tour, bringing the intimate feel of a theater experience to an arena setting.

Be sure to check out a special Mother’s Day sweepstakes where you can enter to win a pair of tickets to any stop on the “In the Round” tour, plus a meet and greet, but it ENDS 5/12, so don’t wait!  Enter here: http://bit.ly/GrobanSweeps

For more information about Josh Groban’s “In the Round” tour, or to buy tickets, check out the link below: http://bit.ly/GrobanRSVP

Win it: Thanks to the folks at Live Nation, one (1) lucky Masshole Mommy reader is going to win one (1) pair of two (2) tickets to any stop on the tour.

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave me a comment telling me which date & venue you’d like to attend!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)!

2. Become a Facebook Fan of Mass Hole Mommy (1 entry)!

3.  Like Josh Groban on Facebook (1 entry)!

4.  Follow Josh Groban on Twitter (1 entry)!

5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post & be sure to tell me which post in comment (3 entries)!

6. Subscribe to my RSS feed (2 entries)!

7. Subscribe to receive emails about Masshole Mommy by email (bottom of the page) (5 entries)!

8. Grab my button and leave a link (2 entries)!

9. Subscribe to Masshole Mommy’s Youtube Channel (3 entries)!

10. Follow Masshole Mommy on Pinterest (1 entry)!

11. Tweet this giveaway.  Here’s a sample tweet:  “I want to win tickets from @massholemommy to see @JoshGroban’s “In the Round” Tour this fall!#JoshGrobanTour”

** Please leave a separate comment for each entry and remember to leave a valid email address in one of the entry comments. Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This giveaway will end at 9 pm (EST) on 06/08/13 and is open to residents in the US and Canada only. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified by email. Thanks again to the folks at Live Nation for offering this fantastic giveaway!

**All opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own and were not influenced in any way.  No form of monetary compensation was exchanged**

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This post, #Win a Pair of Tickets to See Josh Groban at the Venue of Your Choice! #Giveaway #JoshGrobanTour, originally appeared on Masshole Mommy on May 11, 2013. Tweet This

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