Monday, August 8, 2011

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon ... Here is the amazing Grand Canyon ...I think that this is the South Rim area...I will admit I was lost and we were just lucky to find a place that was fenced but still get 1000000 dirty looks for taking our kids here!!  We went to the first area that was fenced pretty good but each time you went further down the path the less fencing there was .... And don't mind the smudges on the pictures as one of our kids got ahold of it and we didn't realize it!!  




Cooper was in this picture behind Ryan even though right off to the left there is a gap where there is no fencing we noticed after he tried to run away from us in that direction .....We are more than ever thankful we survived this trip and saw this amazing site God created and met our goal that none of our kids were injured!!!!!

Chloe and her twin

This is Random - This was Chloe's last play date with her best friend Lily in Arizona.  These girls were amazing together and just loved each other.  We have been home for 2 months and Chloe still asks to play with Lily off and on as they really just loved each other!!  We miss you Lily and your family!!!!

Bedrock City - Who doesn't love the Flintstones???????

Ryan really wanted to see the Grand Canyon before we moved from Arizona  Me, I could care less about a really deep hole but I will admit it was a fun, long, day trip!  This is the first part as we drove through a town called Bedrock City.  First thing you think of when you hear Bedrock has to be FLINTSTONES!!  I know most of you will appreciate this as we grew up on this show but our kids had no idea who the Flintstones were but they LOVED this run down, cheap place for them to run and be free from the van!!  This is a must stop about 30 minutes south of the Grand Canyon!!!!








That is Reese on the left and Chloe on the right ...It was windy can you tell??





So after all this fun I am not really sure the kids enjoyed the Grand Canyon because as far as they were concerned they could call this the Grand Canyon and would have been completely satisfied!!
Since I am so behind this really happened in April 2011.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

***Seaworld Vacation***

We took a trip to San Diego, California for a few days!  We had planned this trip as I thought Easter was usually at the beginning of April but was way off this year apparently!  It was busy in San Diego but well worth the trip!
Our first night there we went to Seaport Village and met up with some friends Ryan met at Swedish School.  Our kids LOVE each other and play so well together!  It was such a great night we stayed for hours talking because it was the first time we had been to dinner as complete families!  One of the spouses (usually me - Carrie) was always missing!

 Cute Scandinavian store
 The kids were big helpers when it came to pushing the strollers
 Kids wanting to swim to the boats for a ride!
This guy would hold completely still until you tipped him then he had this squeaker in his mouth and would talk with sounds.  The kids are up shaking his hands since we put money in his box to make him move as the kids thought he was a statue!  

Day 2 - Seaworld


 Had to hit up the rides first of course!  
 This show was AMAZING!!  Better than Shamu!!  It is called Blue Horizon and my kids loved it as it was a story but with so much action it keeps them entertained the whole 25 minutes and if you want to get soaked of course by the animals you will!!!



 They had these performers diving from on top and some swinging on ropes and bars all over the water it was really cool!!  They also had live birds that would fly back and forth over the crowd!
 The blue pilot whales that are professionals at getting the audience wet!!
 It was HOT this day - hence Ryker sporting the pink hat - he wouldn't leave his hat on!  
 Reese would NOT take her eyes off of the princess of the story! See picture below...
I am surprised Reese doesn't have a huge smile on her face I must have missed it because she love this Princess - well each one as we watched this show 3 times!!

That afternoon we hit the beach!!  LOTS of surfers on this beach but it was perfect for the kids!!  A bit breezy for Ryan and I but so much fun!!


 Cooper and Chloe LOVED the water...They didn't come out much which means Ryan got to stay in the cold water a lot!!
 Running back and forth on the sand...
 Chloe was so excited she was running all over the place!!
That is Cooper in this picture ....He would go out and see how big the waves would be and let them kind of push him - but not fall down and then run into the sand - probably to get warm!!

Day 3


 Have to see the SHARKS when you are there!! They are great!! 
 Love this escalator so you can just watch and not worry about walking right?  The cool part is the sharks swimming over you hence what Chloe is looking at!!  






And here is SHAMU ..... 


As you can see I am not the greatest at timing on taking the pictures!!  I had Reese in my lap who wanted to take them for me...

That night we went out with the Baca Family!  I think the people at the restaurant might have given us our dinner for free had we stayed there any longer!!  Our kids weren't that bad but they just love to play together and have so much fun!!
 Sorry on the next picture also there is a nice smudge courtesy of Reese playing with the camera!!

 Had to get a picture in front of the Shamu VW Bug.
 Not sure why but this ride is the coolest thing to all the kids!!  So Ryan and I took turns on it with the kids!  Didn't go so well in between as the other ones were jealous!


 Walked through the aquarium and Reese was infatuated with the Piranha's having silver sparkles!!

 Signs just for fun...Bottom one says Welcome to California (aka get ready for border checks we had three on the way!!)

We took a different route home on Highway 95 just like we lived by in Idaho!!  Still had a border check on that one too!  We have a picture of the border as we were pretty close to it but it didn't show up that well!