My Vacation A to Z --- (B)

B is for BAGS

I should have taken a picture, but we were LOADED DOWN!! Well.... the girls and I were, at least! David only had his one small carry-on bag and he was PROUD of it!! LOL!! My girls and I each had a carry-on bag AND a personal bag! We also "checked" Miranda's BIG suitcase that we used to put our bulky items like shoes, hair dryer, straighner, make up, etc. I learned quickly that the next time I fly... I am purchasing a small carry-on bag that ROLLS!!!

B is for BOARDWALK

In Atlantic City, we of course walked on the boardwalk. We didn't walk too far because it was SO HOT!! We did eat pizza there and walked in a few souvenier shops, too.

My family loves to keep walking while I stop to take pictures! LOL

B is for BOATS

When we were in Philadelphia, we visited the marina where David and his family kept their boat when he was a kid. We were shocked to see how much it had grown!! The last time we were there, there were hardly any boats. The marina is on the Delaware River.

David's brother lives on a lake and this is his boat dock. You can't really tell, but his boat is parked there.

B is for BOYFRIEND

David's mom has a male "friend" that she won't say is her boyfriend, but we all know the real truth! LOL!! We were so excited to get to meet him for the first time! He is SO SWEET!!

B is for BAD EDDIE

Hahaa! You're probably wondering why this is on my list! Well..... there is a story...

While we were visiting with David's mom, she mentioned that she was waiting for "Bad Eddie" to come and mow her lawn... (the little bit of lawn that she has!). We laughed when she said this and asked her... "Why is he called 'Bad Eddie'?" She said that he grew up in the neighborhood and when he was little, he had thrown a rock thru one of her windows right after they had moved into the house! (We're talking over 50 years ago!) And that she has been calling him "Bad Eddie" ever since!! He now has a lawn care business and she hired him to take care of her lawn. We couldn't help but laugh! While we were there, "Bad Eddie" showed up to do his job and we couldn't wait to get a peek at him thru the window!! It was funny!

B is for BRIDGES

We crossed over LOTS of bridges and I thought I took more pictures of than I did of different ones that we saw, but it turns out that I didn't take as many as I thought I did! Philadelphia has a beautiful BLUE bridge that I just love! I missed my opportunity to get a photo of it.

To the right here, is the Brooklyn Bridge. We found it by accident as we were trying to get to the Staten Island Ferry! (Hint: Don't bother following your GPS in NYC! (Or any big city!) It's worthless!!)

This is the Manhattan Bridge.

More of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was kinda' glad that we made that wrong turn, because I kinda' wanted to see this famous bridge!

We had to drive down this road and turn around. This is on the way back towards the ferry area. This was also about the point that David said... "I feel like I am in a video game!" (referring to driving in NYC!) He did REALLY WELL, tho!

B is for BAPTIST

On Sunday, while we were still in Philadelphia, we went to church with David's mom. David grew up going to a Methodist church. Within the past couple of years, that church had to close it's doors due to financial reasons and David's mom had to find another church. She ended up visiting a Baptist church and eventually joined it. We enjoyed our visit at her church, very much! Everyone was so friendly!

B is for BALTIMORE

We had to pass thru Baltimore to get from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. And then again, to get to NYC from Virginia.

B is for BEN FRANKLIN

There is a LOT of Ben Franklin history in Philadelphia. We visited "Franklin Court". Here, you can see the site where his house once stood. It features a steel-framed outline of Franklin's home, a museum with a print shop, a working post office where you can send letters hand-stamped with with Franklin's original postmark and more.

This is a walkway where Ben Franklin passed thru on a daily basis.

B is for BATTERY PARK

This is in Lower Manhattan and where you go to ride the ferry. I didn't take many pictures here. We were too busy trying to figure out where we were going!!

B is for BLOOMINGDALES

I know that this famous department store has been in many movies, but the one that comes to mind the most for me is the movie "Splash" with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah.

B is for BAGELS

This was our Friday morning breakfast! David's brother had told us that NYC bagels were yummy, and they were!! A huge bagel filled with cream cheese!!! YUM!!

B is for BRYANT PARK

This is where the "Concert in the Park" was going to be the next morning for Good Morning America. We weren't interested in the singer, so we didn't bother to attend the concert... but, this is where it was to be.

My Vacation From A to Z --- A

A is for Airport

I didn't get a picture of the Atlanta airport because it was dark when we arrived. But, I took these pictures as we waited to board our plane.

Miranda says..... "MOM!!!" ... and hides her face!

This is the Philadelphia Airport, as we came over a bridge.

We were looking for where to return the rental car.

A is for Airplanes

This was our plane to Philadelphia. It was 5:00 in the morning on Saturday, July 30. We didn't board the plane until 6:40!

This was our plane to go home, back to Atlanta. It was 9:00 in the morning.

While we waited for our flight to Atlanta, we had a good view of one of the runways. We saw many UPS planes land and then FINALLY saw a FedEx Plane! (David works for FedEx)

We even saw the ATLANTA FALCONS plane!!! I was excited to see this one!! Of course, it was weird to see it at the "Philadelphia" airport and not the Atlanta one! Haha!

Ashley, as she waits to go home.

Miranda & David stare out the window, watching the planes go by.

I couldn't help but take a photo out the window of the plane! I love looking at the clouds!

A is for Atlantic City

After we landed in Philly, we got our rental car and drove to Atlantic City. The girls had never been there before and it was only an hour away.... or so we "thought"! Little did we know that everyone and their brother would be going to "the shore" (as they call it!) for the weekend! Luckily, they weren't all going to Atlantic City. But, we still got caught up in all of the traffic for people heading to "Wildwood, NJ". This picture was taken after we finally broke thru the traffic!!

Our first look at the city.

Getting closer!

Now, to find a place to park!!

A is for American History Museum

I loved this old camper! I wish I had looked to see what year it was from.

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz".

Betsy Ross, sewing the American Flag.

Dumbo from either Disney World or Disney Land. I should have looked to see which one! I loved this ride as a kid! I still remember riding it with my older cousin and how he wouldn't let me control whether we went up or down!

Michael Jackson's hat.

The beautiful Farrah Fawcett's swimsuit from her famous poster. When I was a young teen, I wanted her hair! Now.... I want her hair AND her body!! LOL!

Eddie Van Halen's guitar -- "Frankenstein"

I had never heard of this lady until we saw this exhibit, but she and I share a love for doll houses!

I would have been in HEAVEN with a doll house like this! Although, I still have one that my Daddy made for me. It is about a 1/4 of the size of this one!

A is for Air & Space Museum

It's always fun to go into this museum! David used to fly planes, so he has a big interest in them. He is also interested in the Space Program. I just like looking at them all!

A is for ABC News Studios

In New York City, we were SO excited to find the ABC studios! Our plan was to be outside early in the morning so that we could be on TV and meet the Good Morning America gang, but.... we didn't realize that since it was Friday, they would all be at the park for the Summer Concert! Oh well.

A is for Accents

I was wondering during our whole trip, when someone would say something about our "Southern Accents" (Since we were going to be up north!). It wasn't until we had returned to Philadelphia at the end of the week. We had stopped by the hospital that David's mom works at to surprise her. (She thought that we were getting back later in the day!) She was totally surprised to see us and enjoyed introducing us to the people that she works with. (She works in the Human Relations dept.) One of the ladies that she introduced us to, greeted us and then said.... "Say something, again! I want to hear your accent!" It was kind of awkward. She didn't seem to think that we had one!