What? We have to eat again?

Day 5: Warning! Lots of pictures!!! On this day we went to Sea World. I first wanted to show you that we were completely wrong in giving away the stroller when Abigail turned 4. Ha! We not only have one little one, but two little ones still in our family. Here they are to prove it. We had to rent a double stroller for the long day at Sea World. I did not even complain because I did not want to hear the cries when they were tired. And yes, they did get tired.

We started the day with FLAMINGOS! They were walking down the sidewalk right by us. Perfect start to the day. By the way it was cloudy and the park was EMPTY! Yes! Yet another perfectly picked day to go to the amusement park.

Penny & Pete are so cute!

Wait... does Pete have a mustache?

Then we got to pet a turtle that came from Africa! I know! I did not even know that some turtles come from Africa! Lucky us! (This picture is for Katie! The turtle's name is Theo!!!!!)

Sea World does this pay once and eat all day deal. It cost us $125 for all 6 of us to eat all day, as much as we wanted. It was a deal because if you eat once it is $70 or more, so if we eat twice it is more then paid for. Plus all of the drinks, desserts, fruit and sides that you wanted and could eat are included as long as you get them from the restaurants. Here is Abigail enjoying her first cake of the day. We decided no rules on food for the first meal, and after we said fruit or salad and no chicken strips. They made great choices and actually ate healthy meals when it was all put together. Maybe a few too veggies, and a few too many cakes and cookies, but overall it was great. Since we were going to be there all day anyway, it turned out to be a great deal.

After our first of 5 meals we went to see the pet show. It was cute with all of the dogs, cats and birds doing tricks. The kids liked it!

Here is Abigail and Jason petting Rays.

We had fun riding the rides...

Playing with Elmo, Ernie and other not pictured fury friends. I know Abigail looks scared but she wanted to ask Elmo to marry her and changed her mind but thought that he might know already, so she was embarrassed.

These were Abigail's favorite guys. They are from the Cirque show. She was amazed at what they could do. They were the best "monkey, fish guys" ever.

Here is a picture of Jason when Lewis decided that it was time to eat again! He said, "What?! We have to eat again?"

Here is my bird friend that I fed at the end of the day. He would not leave until he got something from us to eat.

Last but not least Lewis took the kids on the water ride Atlantis. It is a water ride followed by a short coaster ride. Everyone had a great time except for Haley. She was not a happy camper after the ride. She hated it so much that within 24 hours after the ride she had Abigail convinced that the ride had made her sick. Abigail was crying and telling me the coaster was making her sick and she was going to throw up and that she was having nightmares about the coaster.

Legos and Lifeguards

Day 4: We woke up early, had breakfast and headed out to Legoland. We had a week pass so we decided to do a few half days as to not get burned out. We got there when they opened and it was empty! It was so nice. The longest wait for a ride was maybe 5 minutes.

After spending over $80 on lunch we decided to leave and go to the beach for the afternoon because it was so sunny and warm. By the time we got there it was cloudy and windy. Funny. We set up our space just in time for the lifeguards to tell us to move because of the surfers. So we moved. I understand and follow all reasonable rules. Then we set up in the official swimming section and the kids went to swim with Lewis. I was settling in to read my book and a lifeguard comes over and and starts talking to me. I am paying no attention to what he is saying until I hear the words, "thanks for being willing to move...". WHAT? I had just moved here and I was all set. I don't want to move. My husband is in the water. I have to do what? I don't want to get up. Fine. By the way lifeguard, you suck. Okay, so I moved the 12 chairs, 3 blankets, 2 tons of beach toys, 6 coolers, 5 umbrellas and 27 towels all by myself to the newly approved spot... 4 feet to the right. Happy Lifeguard? Thanks for the help. Did I mention, you suck? Whatever. Have a good day. So I set it up and read my book and watched while he made other people move their whole setup too. As they got angry and moved their stuff I gave them the nod of understanding. Why don't they just set up some cones or flags?

The kids had a great time anyway. After two hours I had had enough and so we headed back to the house. We have no pictures from the beach from this day because Lewis forgot the camera. (Hey! I have to blame someone right?)

{Oh, did I mention that the house we rented was just across the street from the beach? Hey dad, why did we never get to stay somewhere like this when I was growing up? (Adam said it is because we had no money growing up. Ha! He is a character. Reading this over my shoulder while I type. Go to bed Adam.) We always camped and showered in the pool at the campsite. I have good memories though. It was fun and we had a great vacation almost every summer.}

After we got back we rented a movie and got Chinese take out for dinner. It was good and the kids actually liked the noodles. Thank heaven for small favors.

Who Likes The Beach?

Day 3: We left Vegas after breakfast and swimming at about 11:30 or so. We drove the 5 hours to this wonderful place:

The best part? The look on Abigail's face when she touched sand. She was in awe. I had forgotten that the last time we took her to the beach she was not even one yet. Oh, she was in heaven. She was just spinning and smiling and loving every single minute of it! She kept touching it and then running to me and kissing my check or my arm or my hand and saying thank-you. It was the sweetest thing ever.

How can I have a 5 year old and she doesn't remember going to the beach. I have seriously been slacking in this area! I need to be a better parent and take my children to see the world.

The had a great time wading in the water and splashing each other while I stood back and tried not to touch anything. I love the beach, but can I get it without the sand?

Vegas Baby!

Since this blog will one day be used for a tell-all book about my life I thought that I would add some posts about our family vacation. This way people will actually think that we liked to be together and that we had fun when we were together. So here it it. Day 1:

We rode in the car from Salt Lake to Nevada. Yea. We stopped in St. George for ice cream at the outlets and I did a little shopping, like 15 minutes worth. It was 104 and the kids were dying of heat. On to...

VEGAS BABY!!!

We got in and went to dinner and bowling with the kids. No late night for us. Vegas sure is different when you have four kids with you.

Day 2: Funny thing about day two. Lewis is missing. I know. The minute we got to Vegas he started to feel sick and he literally spent one whole day and night in bed and in the bathroom vomiting!! Sick, I know! So as the wonderful mother that I am (cricket sounds) I felt that it was my duty to take the kids to have a great day. We managed to get breakfast, go swimming, shower and get dressed, go to the mall for lunch and some shopping, head to the strip (yes, I took 4 children to the strip alone!!!), go to the M&M store, walk through MGM to see the lions and to see what a casino looks like inside, head back to the hotel, swim some more and then get dressed and ready for dinner all by myself. Wow. That made me tired just to type it. Here are some pics for you to see while I rest...

After all of that Lewis felt good enough to join us for dinner, although he did not eat much of anything and the rest of us were tired from the long day of fun that we had enjoyed. It was a good beginning of the trip. Something always has to go wrong on vacay, right?

Jason's Hair

He got $10 when he did it. Adam turned down $100 to have his done the same way.

A Visit With Grandma

On Friday we got to spend the day with Allison, Lewis' mom. We started out going to see Toy Story 3, and everyone loved it. Then we met Lewis for lunch at Red Robin. I left my camera in the car so we have no pictures from the day. But on Saturday I remembered my camera! We started the day with lunch at In-N-Out in Draper.

It was very crowded so we had to sit outside. At least Abigail had a good time. The we headed out to the zoo. We have only been to the zoo one other time as a family the whole time that we have lived in Utah, um almost 10 years! The kids have gone with their classes but we just never go up there. So we got to see Baby Zuri! She is so fun! We got there just in time to have front row seats at her little playtime.

She is so cute!

Then we walked around the zoo and the kids saw the animals. It is a tiny zoo but I think that they had a good time.

We rode the train.

On the way home Jason played with his new snake. (Oh yeah! He got a Mohawk!)

Haley loves her new "Snowy".

And Abigail played with stickers.

All in all it was an excellent day!

Speaking of Nutrition...

Does this look nutritious to you? I could not even eat it. I can't even tell you what it is!

Hair I Am...

Last week I went to the SNAU Conference (School Nutrition Association of Utah). It was held in northern Utah. Every morning I got up and drove the hour to get to the conference. I had some really good classes on new guidelines (most of which our school is already doing), the need for uniforms (we will have to start that next year), salt intake, phone etiquette, and dealing with rude, out of control parents. Wow, it was a great time. But that is not what this post is about. This post is about the hair that I saw at the conference.

Oh. My. Gosh. I have four pictures and they are all interesting. All of them include a great hair style and one includes a great suit as well! All I can say is Enjoy!

#1. I actually know this lady. She works for the state of Utah in the Child Nutrition area that focuses on day care situations. I like to call her mom. Yes, like my mom, Donna. Her hair is gray. She doesn't dye it although is she did she would look 10 years younger. (I have gone prematurely gray and I will NEVER allow people to see it!) The other reason is that her hair has not been cut in 30 years! Yes, I asked her. I don't know if you can tell but she has it braided and then slinked back and forth in a figure 8 four times! I know crazy long! When it is down she sits on it or gets it caught in stuff.

#2. This is a typical Utah hair style. I just hate it so I decided to add it to my line up of crazy things that I saw. Her hair is gray also, but it is dyed that way! What?? Yes she most likely thinks that it looks blond. Guess what? It doesn't!! It is also so teased that you can see the knots under the top layer of hair. Nice.

#3. This is my all time favorite nasty hair. It looks like a butt with a comb over. Why don't her friends tell her that she looks like this. This one is just sad.

#4. I am calling her "The one that got away... thank goodness". Wow. The suit is a red velvet (yes I said red velvet!!!) two piece with a corresponding top that matches the lining on the jacket. She was wearing men's dress shoes with this. And yes, she is jumping rope.

There we have the 2010 SNAU. Thanks for attending!

The Neighbors Moved Out....

Yea!!!! And the new neighbors seem nice!

Abi doing her "Thinker" pose

As Seen In West Valley

Keep telling yourself that they are the same thing!

Jason was Proud!

He made this diorama all by himself! He was so proud that he got an "A". It had to be a three dimensional diorama of the habit for his animal, which obviously was a zebra. Good job Jason!

Dinner With The Framptons

The REAL video of Abigail singing at Kinder graduation...

She is the one in yellow banging her head back and forth.

What is Parkour?

This is a question that I have heard about 20 times in the past week. Adam really wanted to learn so I found a local place that has lessons/open gym time with guys that are really good. It is Wednesday's from 8 to 10pm. You can pay by the time so there is no commitment issues. Tonight is his first time. I know he was very nervous when we got there. His friend was not there yet so he wanted me to stay until he arrived. All of the people that came in to do it were like between 16 and 20 and were ripped! I swear I have never seen abs like that on anyone at the gym.

apk or American Parkour explains it like this:

Def: Parkour is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.

• Parkour requires... consistent, disciplined training with an emphasis on functional strength, physical conditioning, balance, creativity, fluidity, control, precision, spatial awareness, and looking beyond the traditional use of objects.

• Parkour movements typically include... running, jumping, vaulting, climbing, balancing, and quadrupedal movement. Movements from other physical disciplines are often incorporated, but acrobatics or tricking alone do not constitute parkour.

• Parkour training focuses on... safety, longevity, personal responsibility, and self-improvement. It discourages reckless behavior, showing off, and dangerous stunts.

• Parkour practitioners value... community, humility, positive collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and the importance of play in human life, while demonstrating respect for all people, places, and spaces.

So basically Adam is going to be exercising? I am in! When I left him tonight he looked like he was having a great time. I hope it lasts!

Don't be scared by the image. I won't let him try this for at least a month! :)