Summer Vacation- Part I

So I confess, I'm really behind on my blogging and there is really no legitimate excuse for it. I need to catch up before our next vacation and before the holidays sneak up on me..........

AUGUST 2010

Summer vacation. A warm get away to revel in the joy of school being over for a spell, time to spend close to family with no threat of distractions, and for me, no cooking or cleaning for a whole week. We usually don't take a "real" summer vacation, maybe just a weekend here or there, but this year with Lauren and Jace being bound to school for the majority of the summer we thought we'd treat ourselves. We spent the first part of our week away in Carlsbad, California. Jace is a HUGE Lego fan and we thought it would be fun to visit Legoland. We had been there once before when then kids were younger and had a fun time. After this trip, however, we realized it is definately geared more towards younger children and we are pretty much over that!

Day 1- we drove to the beach- it was cold and overcast but we stayed for a bit and let the kids play in the sand

Our first night in Carlsbad on the pier

Day 2- Jace ready for Legoland

Jace and the Bionicle

We barely survived this ride- OK I'm lying, but it was fun to make fun of!

Grandpa, Jace and Jason put out their fire first!

Lauren and Jace bothering the old Lego man that's trying to nap....

Lauren by the Lego buildings....

Jace and Jason pedaled their way to the finish!

G & G weren't far behind- I think someone gave up!

Jace had a run in with Darth Vader

Jace saved up his money for this.......

That night we ate dinner at Hungry Hunter in Oceanside.

Jace couldn't wait to eat!

Day 3- we went back to Legoland and went to the water park. Not much there besides a few slides, but we had fun until it got too busy.

Jace in the lazy river......

Lauren lounging with her soda

Jace catching some rays

Lauren and Jace in front of the slides

Jason and Jace

After we left the water park we headed back to the beach. This time it was warm and sunny!

Jace running from the waves

Jason, Lauren and Jace frolicking in the water

Jace catching some serious air!

Jace's first time boogie boarding- he thought it was awesome!

Lauren liked it too

Me & Jason

That night we drove down to San Diego and went to Old Town for dinner. Jace tried on this mask at one of the shops- NACH-OOOO!!

Grandpa and Jace waiting patiently for the girls to be done shopping in Old Town.

So that pretty much sums up the first half. Part II will hopefully be coming very soon!

NEON TREES- FREMONT STREET

AUGUST 12, 2010



"Bye, bye miss american pie- drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry" thunders in our ears while giants dance in the screens sheltering this famous street. But that's not the reason we've braved Fremont, we've come to see the Neon Trees. Our friends the Pisciotta's and the Stewart's have also joined the fun for this FREE concert.

Their name up in lights on the canopy

waiting patiently for the concert to start

Lauren, her friend Shelby and Tyler- the singer of Neon Trees

Shelby, Lauren and Elaine- the drummer

me and Tyler

Lauren and Shelby with Chris- the guitarist

Lauren, Shelby and Jace with Branden- the bassist

me, Jace and Chris

me and Branden

The concert was great! It was the second time Jason and I had seen them. For Jace it was his first proper concert and while he enjoyed it, he thought it was quite loud. We waited around and got pics with the band- yes we are groupies! It was a fun night for everyone.....

BACK 2 SCHOOL!!!!

AUGUST 30, 2010
So yet another school year has bloomed. Seemed as if it were just yesterday (in my defense it was only 3 weeks ago thanks to the master plan of year around school) we celebrated the last day of school, yet here we are again at the dawn of the 2010-2011 school year.


LAUREN:

What can I say, she is growing up WAY too fast. She started 6th grade this year which means...... the dreaded MIDDLE SCHOOL! After I picked her up on the first day, I asked her how she liked it and she said that she pretty much loved it and it's sooo cool changing classes etc. Even better is the fact that she has at least one friend in every class and she gets to have lunch with all of her 6th grade friends. At her school they have to wear uniforms- basically any solid colored polo shirt with navy(jean), khaki, black,or white solid pant/short. Makes picking out what to wear each day a breeze but takes away from letting you express your personality through your style. I guess most of us had an identity crisis in middle school anyway so this uniform is probably a good thing!!





JACE:

Jace is excited to be moving up to 4th grade- almost the big man on campus! He ended up getting the same teacher Lauren had for 4th grade, which is great! Even better is the fact that he has his best friend Brett in his class! When I picked him up on the first day I asked him if he had a good day and he answered with "I guess so." Gotta love boys!


CHANDRA:

I started my Studio I class and so far so good. This semester I will get 2 classes done then next semester I will take 2 classes and that will finish up all of my requirements for the Interior Design degree. Of course I won't be able to graduate then because of some pesky general ed classes that are looming over my head nagging me to take them- and I will after I'm done with these 2 semesters!!

ZION and more.....

Court of the Patriarchs

“One hardly knows just how to think of it. Never before has such a naked mountain of rock entered into our minds! Without a shred of disguise its transcendent form rises preeminent. There is almost nothing to compare to it. Niagara has the beauty of energy; the Grand Canyon, of immensity; the Yellowstone, of singularity; the Yosemite, of altitude; the ocean, of power; this Great Temple, of eternity—” -Frederick S. Dellenbaugh

With a craving for a bit of nature we packed our bags and drove north on the I-15 to Zion National Park. Last summer we made a visit and succeeded at the small, touristy hikes, therefore we agreed that we were up for something a little more challenging this time. We began at the River Walk/Temple of Sinawave trail and walked the mile in to where the trail ends. From this point on you are wading through the river, hiking on rocky banks and at times crawling over large rocks. Since we got a late start we didn't know for sure how far to extend ourselves up the canyon knowing that we would also have to hike back out. Since this is the tail end of the Narrows hike I was determined to see some super narrow canyon. At every turn of the river we decided that maybe ONE more turn would be the one. Finally we made it to the Orderviile Y and walked up into the narrow canyon that was about 12 ft wide. After a few snacks and some water we put ourselves in reverse and trekked back down the river proud that we had made it so far. I told the kids that maybe next summer we'd attempt the full Narrows hike from the top...... I guess we will have to wait and see!

Walking down the trail....

Beginning our hike in the river

Gorgeous canyon walls that surrounded us

Jason and Jace crossing the river

Lauren and I crossing the river

Mr. Skinnyton....

Lauren and Jace in the "narrow" canyon

Jace, me and Lauren

Family photo

Lauren resting on a rock at the end of our hike

Jace you rock!!




That night after our hike at Zion we drove up to our cabin in Cedar City. The next day we drove up over the mountain and stopped to admire Cedar Breaks for a bit.

This furry squirrel was waiting to greet us

Lauren and Jace at Cedar Breaks



Since our Zion pass was still valid we drove the back road on the 89 highway and into Zion from the top and went through the tunnel. We had lunch outside at the lodge and enjoyed the great scenery. It even sprinkled on us for a bit.

Jace after lunch

Jace liked this little waterfall on the trail to Weeping Rock

At Weeping Rock

Jason and Jace at Court of the Patriarchs

Jace, me and Lauren at Court of the Patriarchs

It was so nice outside heading out of Zion that we rolled down all the windows and nearly blew the kids away...... and they loved it! Sadly we had to return to the dust ball we call home but we get to look forward to going back again someday......