Disneyland

Fall break was crammed full of fun. Colten, Caleb, Shandraya  our youngest three children and our oldest three grandchildren, Keegan, Kierra and Bentley went to California and had tons of fun. Our first stop was the resort in Anaheim. We got there on Saturday afternoon. Went swimming ate food and more swimming. Sunday was church and games. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we had fun at Disneyland and Disney California. I am so glad that my kids were there to help with the grandkids because they got so tired of walking. And we walked a lot! Our first ride was Splash Mountain and the picture didn't turn out as well as I wanted because Bentley was kind of hiding so I wanted to do it again and Kierra wasn't happy about that, but we did it anyway. I posted tons of pictures but not really. We took I think about 400 so it is just a little sample.

There was no wait so we went right back on. This picture didn't turn out great either because Kierra wasn't very happy. We went on all the rides on Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday went back to the favorites. I was really surprised that Bentley and Kierra loved tower of terror and we went on that ride three or four times.

 That's all of us in the front row. Kierra waving "hi" and the rest of us just enjoying a very fun ride.
We were close to the resort and so we went back there for an hour or so in the middle of the day for lunch and a quick rest. It was one of the best times ever at Disneyland. We didn't hear whinning, or any fighting, or can I have this or that, I'm hungry, or I'm tired. My grandkids are the absolute BEST!

 On the way to Disneyland in the bus/shuttle. We took this everyday back and forth from the resort to Disneyland.

After Disneyland we headed down to San Diego and went to the beach. Finding sand crabs and just playing around was fun. On Friday we went to the San Diego Zoo. The grand kids weren't too impressed with the animals and more walking. Good thing I bought sky tram passes and bus passes. We rode them a bunch and then went to the seal show and children's zoo area. I think they liked being able to be up close and pet the animals. Thank goodness they had sinks and soap just as you come out of the children's area because our hands were a little gross. I can hardly wait to take the next bunch of grand kids but I think for all of the walking I will make sure they are all a little older because I won't have Colten and Caleb to put them on their shoulders. I think the zoo and beach pictures will have to be another day.

House finally painted

Finally, no more blue house on the corner. It's all fresh and clean and a new color for us. It's gray and white and I only wish that it would stay looking nice.  But I guess that's my Cinderella side talking, just like I wish I only had to dust once and mop the floors once. Oh well I'll enjoy it for a little while.

Truck problems

I don't really like to complain a bunch but sometimes I just hate car problems and we have had way too many the last few days. The guys took the truck hunting and that is when it all started. They blew out a tire, couldn't get the spare down it had a broken gear on the release mechanism. So they had to walk out a couple of miles to the main road with the bad tire and catch a ride to the other car, go into Flagstaff and get it fixed. A few days later they tore the plastic guard under the front bumper off. When they got home Doug replaced that, bought two new tires, and had the truck aligned. We thought it was good to go. On the way to Yuma we noticed the truck still had a funny vibration so Doug thought something was still wrong with the tires but drivable just a little vibration that wasn't there before.Well other than the tires we  thought everything was good until we got to Yuma. The gas we got at Sam's Club was bad gas and the truck started pinging really bad. On top of that we had to follow a police escort going 50 miles an hour from Yuma to El Centro (55 miles) because of a wide load in front of us. In El Centro we found an autozone and bought some high octane booster to help the ping, but it didn't help, so we just went on to San Diego. Doug got up Saturday morning and found a mechanic to see what the problem was. He said it was one thing that ended up being something else. The pinging from the bad gas had caused a spark problem and cracked the pipe from the engine to the muffler. He welded that crack and thought that it would be ok. Then Doug went and had all of the tires rebalanced. Filled up the car with premium gas to help things out .(I'm sure he would have rather relaxed on his day off but was such a good sport about getting everything fixed). The weld job lasted for about 100 miles then the pinging  started up again and the truck sounds like a diesel engine. We made it home and the truck will go into Kelly's in the morning to see what other damage has been done. Cars, don't ya just love um. Wish I had the money to trade them all in and get a couple of new ones, but that's not going to happen.

Fun day at the Garlock's

Saturday, August 13th was so much fun thanks to Mike and Debbie Garlock. They invited our family to join with there's for a fun filled day of swimming, water slide and yummy food. Tiffany and I took a few hundred pictures and I am posting quite a few because pictures speak a thousand words.

Ist week of High School

I don't ever remember having such a busy week as this past one for Shandraya. School started off great and then it got really busy when Shandraya decided to run for Vice President of the Freshman class. There was tons to do to ensure that she got recognized  and voted for. Posters to make a speech to give, a catchy phrase that people would remember her and vote for her. Hand outs to make and Summit dance on top of all of that. She was so tired last Thursday night that she fell asleep on the couch and then got up and went to her bed around 6:30 and didn't even remember going downstairs.  Know one knew where she was when dance girls called and said that she hadn't shown up. We all thought that Doug had taken her. Needless to say she missed that dance class. But the good news is that she made Vice President of the Freshman class at Mesa High School. She has to be at school at 6:45 every morning and that morning was an extra early morning that started at 5:45am.She is super busy with the dance (Howdy Hop) last Friday night at school, seminary opening social, dance classes and school, Mia Maid activities. I don't know how she does it all and keeps a smile on her face. We sure do love her. I think that Trevor and Tiffany were probably just as busy but I don't remember. High School is such a great time in kids lives if they make the most of it. Some do some don't. On top of her busy week we all got to enjoy Tiffany and family here during most of the commotion. I will have to post some cute picture real soon. We loved  having them here and sure did enjoy the grand kids. They grow up so fast.

Mission call

Caleb got his mission call in the mail on Thursday August 2, 2011. Not sure what he was waiting for to open it but he finally decided to on Friday evening. He is going to the Tampa, FL mission. He reports to the MTC on November, 16th. We are so excited and proud of him.

Braces off, yeepee!!

Shandraya got her braces off this morning. She was supposed to get them off on Friday, but the orthodontics office called yesterday and they had a cancellation so Shandraya could come in a couple days early. She was so excited when I told her. Here is her before and after pictures. So fine.

Shandraya's fun summer

Shandraya started out her summer with a bang! Off to Texas with me to help Tiffany for one week, home for three days then off to girls camp,

home for one week then to EFY,

                                                                            

then home for one day and off to Time to Blossom. 

                                                                                
July has been much calmer. She is doing a dance class T-F this week and next week that is a lot of fun for her. She is excited to get back to dancing more again when school starts. She has missed it this summer. I have really enjoyed having her home the past few weeks. She is such a GREAT helper for me and the fact that she is just fun to be around. Always has a smile and doing cute things.