My Life

Day trip to Mt. Charleston

Took a little trip up to Mt. Charleston this week.  We only brought sweatshirts thinking that it would be all good.  That there would only be a little bit of snow left on the ground if any.

Well......it was windy and chilly oh yeah, and snowy!  the big kids thought it was great but wished we had brought some mittens.  Um, yeah if we owned any!  Brandon will only wear crocs and I forgot to put socks on the poor kid, so he lasted just a minute.

 

It was all good though, because he and Claire and the grownups hung out in the car while the crazies played.

Brandon = good when he's eating something.

 

They would keep coming back to the car to warm up before heading out some more.

There was a little bit of whining and crying.

Something about cold, wet feet and not being able to feel their toes.

  All children have now seen, touched and played in the snow.

I'd call it a successful day.
   
 

August Camping Trip

Camping is not really my favorite thing to do.  But I can swing it, and deal.  We were invited to spend one of the last weekends before school started up at Steve's parents lot on Cedar Mountain.  The kids had a blast even though it was COLD.  We were freezing in the night and I swore I didn't sleep a wink.  The kids whined to go home when the evening rolled around.  I thought I might just talk Steve into packing up Saturday night.  No go.

We braved the wind and cold and had a decent time.

Played a little horse shoe.

Went fishing....

Brandon had his own way of doing things.  Thought he should hold the end of his pole IN the water.

I spent lots of time telling kids to keep their sticks out of the fire!

Oh, and getting a few pictures taken by Brandon.

My kids think they have to be the photographer.

So here I am in my windblown, no shower having, makeup less glory.

 

Wrapping Up the Beach House Pictures

•  We took an unplanned trip to Disneyland while there.  It was crowded and warm but not miserable.  The kids could hang and they had a blast!
• Went to the San Diego zoo.  Brandon our little animal lover was in heaven.
• I took my camera to neither park.  I let the kids be the photographers with the point and shoot.
• Brandon hid under the covers in the loft.  We all thought he snuck outside.  We were frantically calling his name.  Wondering where  he would go so quickly.  After a second inspection of the loft, I pulled up the covers and there sat Brandon quiet as can be.  He thought it was funny.  The rest of us, not so much. 

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves....

Kade had a run in with a wave and would NOT go back into the water to boogie board.  He spent the rest of the time digging holes.  It was pretty serious business for him.

until next year.

We're looking forward to it!

San Diego Part 2

This is where we stayed.....

it was so comfortable and roomy, the kids started calling it home.

They all agreed that we could trade in our home in Vegas and live there forever :)

When we weren't playing in the water, the kids played UNO, or watched endless videos, or played on the computer.  It really was a perfect place for the family.

I was in love with the balcony, and the ocean breeze and my good book....

And these flowers that grew on the trees just outside our door.

San Diego Part 1

We wanted to go tide pooling, after a little research, we decided to go to Cabrillo National Park.

It was amazing.  The kids had a blast looking for sealife amongst the rocks.  I have to admit, it was a tiny bit nerve wracking with the tall ledges.  Sometimes it could be just one little slip and into the ocean a child could fall.  We walked around and found some safer spots.  Definitely a cool place to check out.  Next time everyone will wear shoes with traction :)

The kids used my gym card that goes on the key chain to scrap these suckers off.  Apparently they don't like that.  We read it on the way out.  Oops.  We did find lots of crabs.  No luck on star fish or octopus.

The kids could have stayed for hours.

They also had a lighthouse to tour, which was interesting.

After viewing the lighthouse, Kade was quite upset that we weren't going back to the tide pools.

Brandon was alright with it.  He was pretty sure a crab was going to bite his toes.

50 Sandy Piggies

With September fast approaching and all the work necessary to get the kids off to school and preschool up and running, and my mind back into the daily schedule, I am so thankful that we had a chance to really have a vacation and relax in a beautiful place.  This is one of my favorites.  It makes wish I was still there.

Back to Reality

This photo pretty much sums it up.....we had a blast!

It's nice to go, and even better to come home.  I've missed my own bed.

When I get through the editing, I'll share more.

Are you sick of NYC yet?

Well, I still have more to share :)

One morning we were walking to Alice's Teacup to get some breakfast.  On the way, I spotted one of these signs and laughed right out loud.  I told Steve I had to get a picture of that.  Well.....three days later my body hurt SO BAD from the constant walking and standing, that it wasn't that important to me anymore.  Actually I believe I only took 30 something photos.  Lame huh?

Some general observations:

• the subways are tricky at first, but we didn't ever get lost.  Steve is a good map boy.
• the whole subway system is actually cool.  Everyone uses them. 
• City trips are sometimes intense.  We would stink at the amazing race.....too much pressure.  Luckily, the two of us realize that during these intense moments, it is the situation that is getting on our nerves, not one another.
• There is amazing architecture.  Lots of visually appealing buildings.
•  I appreciate my personal space. 
• I can see why you must be aggressive, unfriendly, and somewhat self absorbed to live in that type of environment.
• We would not do well with our 4 kids using that system.  Every trip anywhere (the grocery, bank, etc. ) would be a major ordeal.
• We would definitely be in better shape :)
• We passed by some elders, we both gave them a friendly smile (nobody smiles!) Our encounter was brief, but I felt good.  That has got to be a hard gig!
• Central park is beautiful.
• Many are very colorful in their choice of language.  We heard lots of f bombs in casual conversation.
• We stayed in the tiniest of hotel rooms.  Everything was space efficient.  Tables were close together in restaurants, there was hardly ever any room for passing in the fronts of stores.
• I loved the farmer's markets.  So pretty and appealing to have fresh produce.  Too bad we didn't have a fridge in our room.
• Everyone had these honking chains to secure their bicycles.  Seriously....not your average bike chain and lock.  Chains that you would use to tow a vehicle.  They are no joke!
• I loved Wicked!  We also saw Mary Poppins (that was Steve's choice) I would have loved to see Hairspray, Grease or Lion King.  But by night 3, I was beat.  I kept thinking that my kids would LOVE these musicals.

Times Square

Empire State Building

view of the skyline from Ellis Island

the one and only image of Central Park

Lady Liberty

This was my first trip past Utah that I remember.  We traveled when I was little to Oklahoma, but that about sums up my traveling experiences.  So when we were flying over the ENTIRE us of a, it was kinda tripping me out.  We would periodically check the flight map to see what city we were flying over and try to fathom that we were going 600 or so miles per hour.  It is quite amazing that one can get from one side of the country to the other in roughly 5 hours.

I never thought I would make it to see Lady Liberty.  She was beautiful.  It was worth the 1 1/2 wait in line with the sun blaring down, while in line  there were a couple of men preaching through megaphones as they had a large audience that was not going anywhere.  There were people playing musical instruments for cash.  Spidey and a man holding a boa wanting money for a pet.  Seriously.....what won't people do for money?  Anyways......Steve gets sea sick.  One time he took a deep sea fishing trip with his Dad and brothers and was miserable the entire time.  He said he has never puked so much in his life, and was so happy to return to the ground.  He vowed never to go on a small boat again.  Well......the ferry wasn't that small, but it was pretty rocky initially.  He handled it well and we made it to the island.

It ended up being a half day ordeal, but she was worth it.

BTW, I never knew she was made of copper.  The things you learn.

World Trade Center Memorial

Of all the places we visited, this wall of photos had such an impact on me visually.  The numbers of  who died on 9-11 became people staring out at me.  This was just one part of the wall, it continued on the other side.  So many lost, so many who were loved, so many whose families were impacted on a personal level.

The memorial museum was sobering.  They had images and quotes from those who survived, recorded voices of 911 operators and those trapped in the buildings.  Belongings that were retrieved from the wreckage.  It brought it all back.  The feelings of that time, the horror and shock of it all.  There was a definite feeling of quiet and reverence. 

We spent all morning trying to get down to this place, and had forgotten our IDs (apparently you need those in order to take the audio tour).  We decided to return the following day but it happened to be later in the afternoon, and all of the audio tours were sold out.  We tried.....I was kind of disappointed, but the museum was just as good.

tiles created by children

the fire station next to the memorial and closest to the site.  I'm sure this is one of the many stations that responded.

Part of a beautiful memorial wall on the side of  that station.....names engraved of the deceased below the picture.