Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Turtle Bay- 2010

On our way home we made a stop at Turtle Bay in Redding. We hit it at a great time because they have an exhibit on GPS and Geocacheing.
(yes I am talking about it again, I think it is so fun)This exhibit was huge, and set up like a maze but also like a map with Mt. Hood in the top corner and different lakes and monuments.
You had to first get your tracking card and then start down the first corridor.

Along the way you learn about different things pertaining to using a GPS, or hiking, or Geocacheing, ect.

Their are 6 different locations you are lead to that, in order to continue, you have to solve a puzzle, look for a hidden cache box or decipher a code, that will ultimately give you a 4 digit pass code that unlocks the door to the next corridor. The kids had so much fun punching their cards at each location. I reverted back to being 14 and my inner "Goonie" came out. I may or may not have squealed once or twice when we found the secret pass codes.




When you have finished the trek you can use your final coordinates and punch them into a GPS unit they let you borrow and go outside into the surrounding wetlands and do an outdoor geocache....we choose not to because it was about 100 degrees outside. Such a great adventure and a nice break in the road trip home.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

cali

Our last Summer trip is done and I have more pictures than I can possibly post but I'm gonna squeeze in a ton! And pictures are gonna be almost all you get because I truly can't put into words how fun this trip was and how much we were all spoiled. We for sure can call it a vacation!! Thanks Jan, Allen, Garrett and GiGi
( nudy-patudy!)

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( Ellie....finally able to swim without a cast. More on that later.)

(Connor in his homemade pirate ship w/plank.)
(This boy L.O.V.E.S the water! )
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Monday, August 16, 2010

hula girl

We're on our annual summer vacation to California.
Having to much fun.

These are from today, while Grandma Jan and Macie were playing dress-up by the pool.

I forget how much I miss the heat, awesome shopping and Allen's cooking!



Monday, August 9, 2010


We are just squeezing every ounce out of Summer right now. We're trying to finish all of our summer goals and do some major organizing in our house all while getting ready for school to start. (My kids are so excited)
Anyway to end our busy week last week, on Saturday we took the kids up to Chiloquin's Train Mountain for COMMUNITY RAILROAD DAY!!
It was only the second time they have ever opened it up to the community like that. If you haven't been to this place yet it is a must for little ones. We got to do the basic train ride but they stoped us half way and had us hop off the train because they had some fun stands set up, and yummy food, and...Macie's favorite....
horse drawn carriage rides.
Then it was back on a train to finish the ride. It was really fun. I would have to say my kids (and husband) loved the tunnel the best.
Last year they opened up around Christmas time and put a snowplow on the front of all the trains. We asked if they were going to do it again this year and they are. I am thinking it would be a fun addition to our Polar Express Christmas tradition.
At the end of the day we all felt a little like this:

Sunday, August 8, 2010

BYU-I in the house

Scott and I take each of our kids on a date every month. Last week it was a Mommy-Ellie date. Earlier that day she thought she was going to be getting her cast off, so when the doctor told her 2 more weeks and put on a new one she was crushed!
So to cheer her up we both got our "Fancy Nancy" on, curled our hair... and I even let her put on a little bit of make-up. A HUGE treat to her! Then it was off to watch the BYU-I Alliance dance team.
We had a blast! They danced to a lot of songs that Ellie knew and she was dancing in her seat the whole time. Her favorites were the ones to Wicked and Mama Mia.
Such a fun girl to hang out with.
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**Note to self, remember that taking a girl with a glow in the dark cast to a theater that turns the lights off between every act.....may be slightly embarrassing!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

milestones


Guess who started to laugh today?
And guess who got him to laugh?


That's right....his Mama.

Baahahah!


sips of summer

Last week we set up a lemonade stand and let the kids and some of their friends have at it!
. And boy did they sell it, whether people wanted it or not they bought some.
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Who could say no to these cute little faces?
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