Colorado Springs

We bought tickets back in April for the BYU/Air Force game this past weekend. It is only a 9 hour drive from here so it was doable. Mike didn't get out of the hospital until late so we drove as far as Salina KS on Thursday. Up on Friday to go the rest of the way. We wanted to stay in Manitou Springs and had this fun little motel called the Rainbow Inn. It was on the main drag into Manitou Springs and allowed pets. Since Lacie will have to stay in the kennel when we go to Disneyland we decided to take her with us on this trip. She loves roadtrips. First day we went to explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Let me tell you, I am so glad for modern conveniences, though they were pretty cool. Went to this place called The Mason Jar which claims to have the best country fried steak in the nation. It was pretty good.

 

After dinner we wanted to check out all the shops. However we found it was similar to Keystone SD where they all closed up around 6p except for the dining establishments. So we were just able to walk up and down looking through the windows.

 

Saturday morning we dropped Lacie off at doggie day care and went horseback riding through Garden of the Gods. It was real pretty. About an hour on a horse is about all I can stand. Wasn't planning on getting as dusty as I did with all the red rock dust. The girls had an absolute blast though.

 

Saturday afternoon was the BYU/AF game. Unfortunately we were sitting on the side facing the sun and it was hot. Didn't matter that we were at an elevation of 6000 feet and the wind was blowing....it was still hot. Seeing the jets fly over was pretty cool but we ended up leaving during the 4th quarter because the cougars were loosing. I did run into an old high school friend though. We wanted to get some miles behind us that night so we made it as far as Hays KS before stopping for the night.

 

The game was a bust, but the weekend in and of itself was a lot of fun.

Labor Day Fun

It seems weird to spend Labor Day at home this year. This is normally the time we are doing our annual Disneyland trip. However, we are doing that later this year so we spent the holiday at home. Our ward had a breakfast at the lake at Shawnee Mission Park. We had pancakes, breakfast cassarole, fruits, muffins, donuts and juice. We however cooked up some of our own bacon and brought it with us. We had an inflatable jumer for the kids, volleyball, and the guys played touch football. It was an absolute beautiful morning!

 

The weather was perfect and the lake looked absolutely divine so we decided to go back that afternoon for a little boating. You can only have non-motorized watercraft so we hauled our inflatable raft over for a little fun. We even took little Lacie for a cruise. Not so sure she liked the water but this was her first time in a lake. We then took her over to the off-leash dog area and walked down to their "swimming beach". I think she was the smallest one there.

 

After an exhausting day outdoors we came home, showered, got KFC and watched Boise State win their football game. All in all a great holiday!

Haylie First Day 3rd Grade

Haylie is starting school today at Cedar Creek Elementary. She is now officially a 3rd grader. She has Mrs Harris for her teacher which I am totally stoked about. Savannah had Mrs Harris when she was in 4th grade and I'd go to the school one day a week to help out with both teachers for an entire day. Had a blast. Looking forward to doing it again this year.

 

Our Middle Schooler

Today starts the first day of school for Savannah. Mission Trail Middle School Timberwolves. She is so excited. They had a pancake breakfast for the 6th graders done by our local Chris Cakes. We got to meet the wolf mascot and our local Fox 4 news station was there for the story of this brand new school. Its going to be an awesome year!

 

Today Was the Day

Our sweet 11 year old got her braces today. She was so excited. She chose BYU blue, pink and lilac for her band colors. Here's looking toward the next 24 months!

 

Western Caribbean Cruise

We were able to spend a week with 21 of our 23 extended family members (including my 94 year old grandmother), cruising the caribbean. This was #10 for me but the first time on Carnival Cruise Lines. Our ship was the Carnival Legend. Our family got into Tampa FL early on Saturday morning so we spent the day at Busch Gardens. But for the life of me I can't find what I did with the collage! Needless to say it was hot, humid, and crowded. At one point we were actually ready to leave. However, we got in on a really good deal. With each ticket we also got an all day, all-you-can-eat/drink wristband for no extra charge so that was pretty nice. Once we got on the ship we went around to take pictures before it got too crowded.

 

We grabbed some lunch on the Lido deck and at 4p watched the city of Tampa go by. VERY expensive homes down that road. I thought the little lighthouse at the end was a nice touch. Not sure if it actually does any good but just there for looks. The kids had to take advantage of the pool right away.

 

Read on for the week in pictures. Everyone had an uber-fabulous time and we are so grateful for the generousity of my grandmother in allowing all of us to do this. Thanks Grammy!

Day 2 Random Ship Pics

Day 2 was a sail day so we spent our day with activities on the ship. These are just random pics of that day.

 

Day 3 Cayman Islands

Part of our day in Grand Cayman we spent in Stingray City. That was an awesome experience. Haylie was able to hold and kiss one of the stingrays. It was pretty cool that out in the middle of this big ocean there was a sandbar that was only 3 feet deep where we snorkeled. Kids were so excited and had their snorkel gear on way ahead of time.

 

This was our 2nd time to the Boatswain Turtle Farm. Our tour guide talked a little about the turtles (they eat them a lot) then we were able to actually pick them up. Funny thing is, they like to have their chin rubbed.

 

Day 4 Cozumel

This was our 4th time to Cozumel Mexico so we really weren't interested in sightseeing. We got off the ship and did a little shopping in the area. Had to have lunch at Pancho's Backyard again. Best mexican food I've ever had. We didn't want to go downtown, but the shopping area was really built up since we were there in 2007. Cute little beach side area off the restaurant with palm trees, white sand, and lounge chairs to people watch.

 

Random Pics

Just some pictures of our cabin #4-154, the elevator in the atrium, and the divinely sinful Warm Chocolate Melting Cake that we had every night for dessert.

 

Day 5 Mahagony Bay (Roatan)

Today was spent on Isla Roatan which is off the coast of Honduras. We decided to make this a beach day instead of taking a shore excursion. This was a man made beach and shopping area done by Carnival so there wasn't much to see, but it was a beautiful beach.

 

Day 6 Belize

We spent the day in Belize and went snorkeling at Goff's Caye. This was absolutely amazing. This is the biggest coral reef next to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. We saw SO many things. We have been snorkeling lots of times, but this was probably the most picturesque. The water was so beautiful. This was a little island that we spent a few hours on out in the middle of nowhere.

 

Day 6 Formal Night

There were two formal nights on board where you had to dress very nicely for dinner. No we didn't want to do the tux and gown thing but we did wear our Sunday best.

 

Day 6

Camp Carnival had a Family Digital Scavenger Hunt while on board where you had to take pictures of everything on the list. We had to do the chicken dance in the pool, take a picture of every deck, do a conga line, and go down the water slide. Haylie got her face painted and our waiter made some cute napkin items.

 

Day 7

These were some pictures taken around the ship on Saturday. Caught a beautiful sunset somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. We played cards A LOT. Learned a new game from my sister called Progressive Rummy. LOVED IT!

 

Day 8 Tampa Lowry Park Zoo

We all got off the boat Sunday morning. Most of the group was headed back to Salt Lake City with one family headed to Portland OR. We were on a later flight back home so we went to the Lowry Park Zoo. It is rated as the #1 zoo in the country and it was pretty neat. The girls were able to feed a giraffe and the birds. A freak rainstorm hit Tampa while we were waiting at the airport so we go a little bit of a late start but not too bad. We had an awesome time!

 

Summer 2010

Finished up swimming lessons in July. Savannah has passed off all 6 levels. Haylie will be in Level 5 next year. Way to go girls!

 

A Celebration of Heritage

Today is July 24 and no, we did not celebrate the pioneers arriving in Utah. Our family went to discover the heritage of our current area; Leavenworth, KS. Now if you know anything about the military; Leavenworth is where individuals in the military were sent to fulfill their debt to society. Leavenworth is only a 30 minute drive north of our home. It is the first city incorporated in the state of Kansas and Fort Leavenworth is known as the post that opened the West and is the oldest fort in continuous use west of the Mississippi. Melissa Ethridge was raised in this city. Lewis and Clark passed through in July 1804, Abraham Lincoln came in 1859 seeking the Republican nomination for President, John Wilkes Booth performed here in 1863, Susan B Anthony ran a newspaper. The Federal Penitentiary has held such criminals as George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Manuel Noreiga, and the Bird Man of Alcatraz: Robert Stroud served 28 years at Leavenworth before being transferred to Alcatraz. Buffalo Bill Cody is a native son, Wild Bill Hickok lived here for a time and met Calamity Jane while she was here. Fred Harvey of the Harvey House restaurants bought a mansion and lived there until his death. Generals Custer, Sherman, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Patton and Powell have walked these streets. The prison was the largest maximum security prison in the US until 2005. The walls are 40 feet high and 40 feet below ground. Fort Leavenworth is open to the public, but everyone over 16 must show a picture ID. They have a museum on site with relics from history (including the carriage Abraham Lincoln rode in). President Regan donated 3 pieces of the Berlin Wall to the Fort.

 

We took the local city trolley tour around town with a very informative driver. Passed some very historic homes, and the girls took a ride on the C.W. Parker Carousel. Charles Wallace Parker made Leavenworth, KS the carousel capital of the world by producing more carousels in Leavenworth than in any other city in the US. He brought his amusement company to Leavenworth in 1910. On display was the oldest operating, hand cranked, wooden carousel built around 1860 which is on loan from the National Carousel Association. We had lunch at Homer's which has been around since 1931. I didn't have one but their root beer floats looked divine.

 

What a wonderful day to experience the history of Kansas.

Fun in the Sun

Schlitterbahn Vacation Village is awesome. They completed Phase 1 in 2009. Not sure when the entire area is to be complete. When it is, it will having shopping, dining, a riverwalk, the water park, and even "tree house" hotel rooms you can stay overnight in. But for now the waterpark was a lot of fun. The main lazy river actually has tidal waves coming every few seconds that send you around the whole river. That was a blast. There was about an hour wait to do the "roller coaster" slide but the other three were only about a 15 minute wait. Would like to go again during the middle of the week when it isn't so crowded. I think when it is all finished it is going to give Great Wolf Lodge (just across the freeway) a run for its money.

 

Sometimes You Win.....

And sometimes you lose. Got the babysitter last night so we could enjoy another Royals Game. It was Buck Night which means that hot dogs, small drinks, peanuts, and twinkies are all just $1. It was also Fireworks Friday when they do an awesome fireworks show after the game. And it was 50/50 night. The KC Royals raise money for a particular charity and patrons can buy a raffle ticket for $1. They sell them up until the 5th inning. At the 8th inning they put the winning number up on the jumbo tron. The charity gets half the money collected and the winning individual gets the other half. They were raising money for the Kansa City School for the Deaf. Last night someone took home $4900. It is always fun to have a national team in our city even if we do lose the game.

 

The Joys of Being a Girl

You know I have never agreed with moms piercing their babies ears. I think that is cruel and unusual punishment. Granted, they will never even remember the trauma they went through, but all they know is that someone is causing them severe pain and mom is allowing it to happen. I on the other hand had to wait until I was 12 to do it. We changed the rules a bit in our home. Figured if at 8 they were old enough to be baptized then they were old enough to make that decision to get pierced ears or not. Savannah was absolutely thrilled when she got it done. As you can see though, Haylie was a totally different story. Oh there were tears!! I don't think it helped that we had to wait behind 3 other women and there was only one employee in the store at the time AND only one piercing gun was working so it took twice as long. By the time it was her turn she was just a basket case. However, after the initial trauma was over she was all smiles and she came home with 38 pairs of earrings (and NOT clip ons).

 

Happy #11 Savannah!

Savannah actually turned 11 in June but we were on a family trip to Mt Rushmore so her birthday party with friends was postponed until July. She invited several from school class and several from church. She originally wanted a "Twilight" theme to her party but I couldn't find anyone that had that kind of cake. So we just went with a girly pink.

 

We had moms drop the girls off at the De Soto Aquatic Center for a couple of hours of swim time, then it was back home for pizza, cake, ice cream, and presents. We all had a great time.