Sea World

On Wednesday, we decided to head South to San Diego and go to Sea World. It's been many years since we've been to Sea World and I loved it! I must say, it was better than I remembered. We had a fun filled day with lots to do and see.
Here are the kids with Penguin Pete as we walked into the park. We headed right for the Shamu show. Since we got there a little early, my friend Christy Ball (they were in Southern California too) son was asked to be part of the show. It was a great opportunity for him and us as we got to sit in 'reserved' seating right down in front! Here is a great shot of Shamu, this is really where are seats were!! It was fabulous!!!

And then there were two...... Shamu's that is. They never mentioned another name so I wonder if all the whales are called Shamu. I think the technical name for them is Orka whales!

This was an amazing show, I can't believe the things they can train the whales to do. I think in my next life, I'll be a trainer here, maybe with the dolphins : )

The boy in the red jacket is Brandon, Christy's son.

Double flip!!! I can't believe I got this shot, my camera isn't the best so I must have just clicked at the right moment!! Usually, I get the big splash after they've gone into the water. Again, Brandon is here, he's on the big screen!!

We saw sharks.....

Went to the dolphin show, which was spectacular!! Here is the trainer riding two of the dolphins around the pool.

Another trick...... Having swam with dolphins twice, I can say I would LOVE to have been involved with this show. I think they are so amazing! My next life!

Another perfect shot, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

We went of a few rides, this one is called Atlantis. If you look closely, you can see me on the boat. I have my arms up, top left!

I had been sitting out with Jace and Baylie who weren't tall enough to go on this ride. Ali came back soaked every time, but the kids said I wouldn't get wet if I sat in the back or the row in front of the back. Ali ended up in front every time! Yeah, they were just saying that to get me on. I love rides but didn't feel like getting soaked!
Look at the kids turned around laughing at me!! Yep, got wet!! Ali is once again in the front, right with a white hoodie.

We ate lunch right next to these sea turtles. The kids feed them lettuce, since the Sea World employees told us that is one of the things they eat. You'll notice a piece of lettuce over by the one that is dry.

The flamingos were beautiful

Here's Chris touching a manta ray, with Emily watching closely. The kids thought this was cool, although they were awfully slimy!! I think all the kids finally mustered up the courage to touch them.

They had two VW bugs painted like Shamu where I had the kids stop for a pose. The license plate even says shamu.

This was my favorite day of the whole week. I love Sea World and could have spent more than one day here. The weather was perfect and the park wasn't crowded at all.

Angel Stadium

One thing I wanted to do before we left Anaheim, was take the kids to see Angel stadium, where the California Angels play(now known as the Los Angeles Angels). I remember vaguely going to games as a little girl when we lived there. I remember getting free rain ponchos and I remember chanting, "Rudy, Rudy!" Although, I can't remember what the actual players name is who we were yelling that for, and I remember standing and singing "take me out to the ball game" during the seventh inning stretch. Chris had the opportunity to see them play back in 2007, the last time we were in Anaheim. It was just a quick stop on the way back to Idaho but it was a fun little stop.
Here are a few pictures.....

Jace, getting ready to knock this one out of the park!

Our cute kids

more of our cute kids.

They had fun running around, standing on the large baseballs, pretending to swing a bat, standing under the large hat, and I had fun sharing the memories from when I was a little girl. Go Angels!!!!

Homecoming 2010

Last Saturday was homecoming for Hillcrest and as we all know, getting ready for the big dance is quite a process. After I did Lindsay's hair for commencement, I decided it would be worth it to have someone do her hair to avoid a little stress (yes, my stress). We called a lady who used to be in our ward, Megan Searle and she was more than happy to do it for us. We went to her house about 3 pm since Lindsay's date was picking her up at 4:45. Here are a few shots of Megan working her magic on Lindsay's hair. Tucking bobby pins in

Don't forget the hair spray!

and, Ta~dah!! Megan and Lindsay. Thanks Megan you saved my sanity!

We came home and put her make up on.........

She's ready to go, and looks fabulous, I might add!

Ready and waiting

One more quick check in the mirror before Brody arrives, yep lookin' good!

Lindsay and Brody Wright. This is one of my favorites, Brody has such a great smile!

Pinning on his boutonniere

One more picture before they walk out the door

There they go......... Little did Lindsay know what a great evening Brody and the other boys had in store for the girls!

Yes, I think it's normal that every 16 year old boy picks his date up in a convertible Porsche!

This picture is out of order but they went to the hanger that Brody's parents own and got to take a sunset plane ride!

Lindsay with Brody and Clay Riggs with Callie Evans, getting ready for their ride

Lindsay and Brody in front of the plane.

Dinner was inside the hanger. Brody's parents went all out with the decorations and food.

An archway for pictures

Here is a picture of the whole group that went to the hanger for dinner and a plane ride. The majority of them are the group that Lindsay runs around with. Lindsay is the first girl on the bottom of the stairs, her BFF Avery, is 3 girls up from her!

What a great night these kids had! After the hanger they went to the dance and then stopped at McDonalds for ice cream. I am still getting used to the fact that I even have a daughter that is old enough to date, but I'm glad she has had such great experiences. I've had a great time getting to look for dresses with her, helping her with her make up and jewelry and of course, being a great photographer when the boys arrive (even if she's a little embarrassed by the amount of pictures I take). Next dance is a girls choice and I've offered our home for the dinner, we'll see if she takes me up on it!

6:30 AM

This year, we have been reading the scriptures with the kids at 6:30 am, before school. The other morning, they were all bundled up in blankets and still extremely tired, but I thought the girls looks so cute huddled on the couch, I had to grab my camera and snap a shot of them.
Lindsay, Emily, Kenna and Ali Lindsay sets her alarm and then proceeds to the other girls' rooms to get them up. I am proud of the kids for getting up early each morning to come and enjoy reading the scriptures together. We are always tired but there is never complaining. (There has been twice when Kenna hasn't come up but she says she doesn't remember Lindsay going in her room to wake her up, yeah right)

This has become one of my favorite times in the day!

A sneak peek

The other day, we got Lindsay's dress for homecoming back from the seamstress and I had her try it on. Jace ran over and wanted his picture taken with her because she looked so "bootiful!" The picture was just too cute not to post so........... TA~DAH, here she is modeling her dress, with her proud little brother. There will be many more pictures coming Saturday, which is dance day!

It's about time!

Back in March, of 2009, I blogged about Makenna making a quilt for one of her YW projects, then in May of 2009, I wrote about her finishing the top. I am FINALLY blogging about this quilt being complete!! Aunt Susan came over to help her put it on the quilt frame and show her how to tie. Then last Saturday, she headed to grandma Jacksons to bind it.
Here is Aunt Susan threading the needle for Kenna, while Chris, Ali and Emily watch. Aunt Susan and Kenna

Everyone who helped in the tying of this quilt.

Kenna and Chris finishing the last few blocks

Makenna proudly showing off the finished quilt!

It only took her a year and a half to get it done, but it turned out SUPER CUTE!! This was really a group effort. She did the cutting of the squares, then we went to Caldwell where Aunt Anjela helped her sew the top together, Aunt Susan came to help put it on the quilt frames, Aunt Susan, Me, Chris, and Emily all helped her tie it and grandma Jackson helped her bind it. I'm grateful that she had the desire to get it complete, one step closer to her YW medallion!

An invitation and reply

Homecoming is quickly approaching and last Thursday evening, Kenna got a call to get Lindsay out of the house so a young man could come over to ask her to the dance. After fibbing to her about needing something for the next days cross country meet, Lindsay reluctantly took Kenna to walmart. As Kenna was wandering around walmart, we understand Lindsay was not happy with her and even threatened to leave her if she didn't hurry, the boys (he came with 3 friends) had made their way downstairs to set up the invitation.
When Lindsay came home, this is her reaction and what she found......

The boys had filled up the bathtub and added 17 goldfish (18 really but one died), then hung up a poster saying, "out of all the fish in the sea, I pick you to go to homecoming with me." It was rather funny when Lindsay got home and saw this, she immediately turned to Kenna and said, "you're a liar!" but she was laughing and had a huge smile on her face!

So, we then had to think of a way to answer his invitation and here is what we came up with......
Lindsay blowing up balloons....................

Making the poster...................

We piled the balloons on her for the picture, there were 75 pink 12inch balloons (I have to admit that I did the majority of the balloon blowing up, and I only popped 1 which made our total 74)

In Brody's (the young man who asked her) room setting up the response............

Our sign said, "I'm tickled pink that you asked and can "bear"ly wait for our homecoming date!" That is why all the balloons were pink and there was a huge bag of gummy bears. She was going to stuff his car with the balloons, poster and gummy bears but he had gone somewhere when she went to his house, so she ended up decorating his room instead.

We already have a dress picked out and it is at the seamstresses being altered! I don't have any pictures of it so you will have to wait to see it until the big day!!! I can tell you, it's PINK!