Vacation ~ We Are Family

We woke up today and knew we had a 4 1/2 hour drive ahead. So, we hit the road early.  I love the mountains in California and the desert landscape.

And the windmills in Palm Springs!  I always love the windmills!  There is something so magical about them.  

These kids were off the chain today.  They were so hyper in the car.  So, one of my jobs is to find a great park.    This park was in Redlands and it rocked!

Leave it to the California park to have surf board type play thing.

And you know the big kid had to try it.

And this thing was so cool and just an accident waiting to happen.  You brace yourself in there and someone spins you around.  I'm surprised you don't have to sign a waiver before you get on it.

Emily just sat in it, but didn't want to be spun around.  Smart girl.

We made it to Rosie's and it's just gorgeous here.  It's so removed from the lights and city of LA.  It's beautiful country side.  But, this girl, is more beautiful.  I love my Aunt Rosie to pieces.  Growing up, she was as close to me as my sister.  Her and I have always been so close.  

We got our suits on and headed to the country club.  It was mine and David's first time at a country club.  You'd think we'd act more proper, but nope, David still throws the kids around.

The kids all played so well together.  Chase loves having cousins around.

And this is Rosie and John's new house.  They have 70 Italian Cyprus trees.  Holy moly!  They look so cool!

Rosie has these steps in her backyard and you climb up and get this gorgeous view.

These are the steps down to her house.

Rosie made us a delicious dinner of pasta, salad, meatballs, bread. Oh gosh, it was so good. We ate on the patio and it was just perfect out.

The kids played on their playground.

And here's the pretty sunset from up the stairs.

Rosie got me a birthday cake.  She's so sweet.  It was tasty too!  I haven't had a birthday cake with my name on it in ages.

These cousins are so cute.  They are having a blast together.  And are all sleeping in the fun room together.  

They are all adorable.  They are so cute together.  I wish we lived closer and could see them more often.  But, we can't afford this state. So, we'll take our yearly visits and be happy.

It was lovely to spend the day with everyone.  I'm so glad we got over a third of the drive done yesterday, so that we could get her at a decent time and spend the whole day with them.  I love them all to pieces.

Vacation!!!! ~ Going Back to Cali

It's day one of vacation, but before that, I'm loving Snapchat. Yes, I know I'm super late to the game, but I just figured it out and I'm having fun. I've been abducted by aliens!

Ok, now on to vacation.  So, we are headed to California, Newport Beach.  We will have the upper house and our friends will have the lower level house.  But, we are meeting them on Sunday.  We decided to go a day earlier and go to my Aunt Rosie's, but that's tomorrow.  Then, we decided to go another day earlier.  It's a 7 1/2 hour drive to the ocean from our house.  It's a long drive with little kids.  So, we decided to try something new and break it up in the middle.  

We were going to stay in Indio, California which is 4 hours into our trip, but there wasn't a room available because of a giant The Who, Rolling Stone and Paul McCartney concert.  Now, that would be cool!  But, we are not there.  We are in Ehernberg, Arizona.  Literally, 2 miles from the California state line.  We got a Best Western for $61!  And it includes breakfast.  Why so cheap, we'll come here and you'll find out.  Well, the hotel is fine.  It's a Best Western, they are always fine. But, there is nothing else here, and I mean nothing.

We got here and the only food is Wendy's which we didn't want, so I made sandwiches for everyone in our hotel room.  Then, we went down to the pool.

And other than this hotel, the Wendy's and the Flying J truck stop/gas station, that's about the whole town of Ehrenberg.  But, the kids could care less that a semi is parked behind them and the pool is in a parking lot.  They were jumping in and having fun.

Luckily, it was just the 5 of us as I don't think anybody else could fit in the hot tub.

David and I are in the hot tub and we are exhausted and ready for bed.  It's 7:05.  So, we told the kids that we have daylight savings time change when we hit California in 2 miles, so our clocks aren't changed yet, but it's really 9:05. Although, we are never two hours ahead of California, but they don't get that and they totally believe us!  They said they weren't very tired, so I told them they could stay up until 10:30 or 11:00 (8:30 or 9), but that's it.  And they are excited they get to stay up so late!  HAHAHAHA!!!  I win evil mother of the year award!

Around Our House

I know it's been awhile since I blogged when I get the text from my Mom. Then, the very next day, my Dad calls and asks where I've been. And I know my mother and father in law check daily. It's nice to be missed.

Not a ton has been going on around here.

Rio is happy to interfere with Emily's homework.  He really is a great cat.  We are all enjoying him so much.  He's funny and mischievous and full of spunk, especially at 3 AM. 

We saw this at Sam's Club the other night.  Is it a dress?  Is it a mannequin?  Is it a Christmas tree?  I don't know.  And for $100, I don't have any idea what kind of person will think this is a must buy; maybe in New York City's Fashion District, but not in Prescott Valley.

Our church had a "county fair" last night.  Full of water slides, without water since it's about 65 at night right now.  But, they were still fun and there were obstacle courses and this bungee thing that Emily loves! 

Noah liked the cotton candy.  So did I.  I love cotton candy.

Ben got a snow cone.

After all the inflatable slides and bounce houses, Ben got on the bungee jump.  Noah didn't want to do it.

Next weekend, we are headed to wet n wild with friends.  Then, we leave for Newport Beach for fall break in 12 days!  Can't wait.  My feet need the sand.

Around Our House

I've always loved cats. The only cat David has ever lived with was our cat Max, who was anything but nice. You pet him the wrong way and he'd bit you. He'd attack you out of no where. He wasn't the most loveable cat, but we loved him just the same. We haven't had a cat in about 6 years, so my kids have never really known or remembered having a cat around. Rio is such a character and a really great cat. David tells me some funny story about what Rio did that morning almost every day when I wake up. David shuts the bedroom door when he gets up in the morning, and all I need to do is get up, go to the bathroom and I see his little paws reaching for me under the door.

I love watching everyone become cat people.

A big project that we've been putting off is moving our shed.  When we put it up, we didn't level it, just put it on the rocks and put some 2x4's where needed.  Well, now, they've swelled up and are rotted and the floor was never level in the shed.

So, we bought pavers and decided to move the shed onto those. David had the good idea to put the pavers behind the shed and just move it onto the pavers.  This way, we only move it once.  Genius.  So, that's what we did.  He got it cleared of rock this morning.  

Together, we got the pavers laid.  I went through with a little rake and got each square foot as flat as I could.  He came along behind me placing each paver.  We wanted it done right, but it didn't need to be perfection.  It was only holding a shed.  So, we didn't bother with sand or anything to make everything level.  Compared to what it was before, it was 100% better.

David got the last one in place.  

We emptied the shed and borrowed some techniques from the Alaskan Bush People.  We used some old round tree steaks as rollers and rolled the shed onto the pavers.  It worked perfectly!  Four good pushes and it was in place!

And just like that, a project that we've put off for about two years is done!  David hosed out the shed and moved everything back in.  He also hung over the side of the roof and sprayed a hornets nest.  It was a productive day!  

A Fun Day

We're not very spontaneous people. Pretty much everything is planned ahead of time. We didn't have much going on for Labor Day weekend. It was Sunday. We were all sitting around. I saw a gift card for Olive Garden in my wallet. And thought, let's go! So, we did!

We headed to Target first to spend Noah's birthday gift card from Aunt Pam. Oh, Pam, he had a blast! He got some tsum tsum's and Darth Maul for his video game. He loved it. Thank you!

Then, we headed to Olive Garden with a gift card from Gwynne! Thanks, Gwynne and Enrique!

 

Emily always wants to go to mini golf, but it's like $5 a person.  On holiday weekends, they always do a .99 promo.  So, we went! 

 

 

Noah hit like 5 hole in ones.  Emily was trying so hard and couldn't get one.  She was getting so mad at him.  Every time, we turned around, he was doing a victory dance for another hole in one.  I think my Dad needs to take him golfing.

 

Ben was more interested in climbing on and in everything around. 

 I think he's too tall for this mini house. 

 

Then, they all had a free attraction coupon from good grades at school, so they all choose soft play.  Which is like a 3 story tall fun house. 

 

And that was it.  I figure we are good for awhile!
It was a nice way to spend the evening, and it's good to mix things up sometimes.