Metcalf Forever Family

Granville Public Market-bigger and better than Pike Place!

2010-08-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

We took the Aquabus-water taxi across and down the channel

More pics from Vancouver 25th Anniversary Trip

2010-08-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

I had to check out Lees Donuts-I got donut holes,
so I could try more flavors...all yummy!

Long Time No...blog....

2010-08-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

So it's been a crazy-busy past few months! Is there ever a time that my life isn't crazy busy?? Don't think so...so her goes the recap...then I will go back and expand on the events with more pictures and details later... hopefully...
June 1st we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary-that weekend we went up to Vancouver to spend a few days reminiscing about our honeymoon and how crazy young and in love we were when we got married--back then we took the Princess Margariete Ship up to Victoria and then went to Vancouver for a few days. This year we went to Langley and then stayed a night in downtown Vancouver.

Our beautiful view from the 19th floor balcony in Downtown Vancouver

Thursday Last day of our Cruise...

2010-04-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

So Thursday was the last full day of our cruise, the "fun day at sea" according to our Funship Times-Itinerary! We basically laid out in the sun, working on our tans, aka sunburns.. and ate as much of the unlimited soft ice cream/frozen yogurt, yummy food at the Paris all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, and got as many refills as I could drink on my "unlimited- $30 soda pop card". We also watched the cool ice carving demo. It started out as a 300lb block of ice and ended up as a native american chief. Later that night we took a few photos, joined our table group for one last time in the Destiny Dining Room and then let the girls go dancing at the T-Rex Club, again ;)

Wednesday Evening-

2010-04-07T23:59:00.000-07:00

When we got back to the ship we enjoyed the mexican port sunset from the back of the ship. Then can you believe they had a "late night Mexican Buffet?" It started at 11pm and went till 1am and everything was so yummy and I wish I could have eaten MORE!. The Paris buffet restaurant was full of yummy food, fancy decadent desserts, food sculptures, and even an ice sculpture!

More from our day in Ensenada

2010-04-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

We took our time heading back to the ship, and had fun taking lots of random photos along the way--

Ensenada--more day trip pics

2010-04-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

After we got dropped off by the tour bus in the "very safe" part of town, ie: one block up from the cruise ship dock, we decided to eat Mexican food at a "real" mexican food restaurant. Kelsey wanted to eat from an "authentic" taco cart on the street, but I said "no way." I really didn't want our "fun day at sea" to be, well let's just say...not so fun... so we settled for the sit down restaurant, that really wasn't that good, along with soda to drink (no tap water allowed either). After lunch we headed across the street to "SWEETBERRY" and the 3 of us split a berry yummy frozen yogurt topped with "Fruity Pebbles".

Then we took a walk around the block and picked up a couple more souvenirs.

Wednesday, Ensenada Mexico

2010-04-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

We were welcomed to Mexico by a GI-NORMOUS Mexican flag and so we left the ship by way of the "gangway" but this time onto the pier/port since we had booked a "shore excursion" to "La Bufadora--the Blow-hole" (said with an accent of course!) One of only 3 natural blowholes in the world...and a shopping trip to an authentic open-air flea market. We took a tour type bus with a tour guide named "Sunshine" to La Bufadora, about 45 mins outside of Ensenada, where we checked out the spray from the blowhole, had a few authentic photo ops, and then had 45 mins to bargain shop before boarding the bus.

Catalina Island

2010-04-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning we crossed the "Gangway" and boarded a "tender boat" to head over to Catalina Island. It was really cool because we watched some Parasailers just off the ship as we headed over to check out the Pier, Marina and a few souvenir Shops.

Spring Break Cruise-April 2010

2010-04-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

Over Spring Break, Kelsey, Catherine (her Bestie) and I went on a Carnival Funship Cruise for Kelsey's early graduation present! Our ship was aptly named "PARADISE"! We left from the Queen Mary port at Long Beach Calif, with a stop off at Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico and a "fun day at sea" (which really means get a sunburn while you still can, cuz your heading home to gray skies tomorrow!)

Here are just a few highlights, since we took a few hundred pics!

All Because 2 People Fell in Love

2010-02-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

Mom & Dad Metcalf: Charlottesville, VA

Married Over 50 Years ago in the
Idaho Falls Temple
Parents of 10

Grandparents of 59 or (or is it 60?) Grandkids

Great-Grandparents of way more than I can count now...

They taught their children the Importance of Families
& The Value of Work.

They showed them they were important by making time for family events and reunions and also demonstrated how to work hard and value a job well done.

Although they live apart now, due to Mom's Alzheimer's they are still connected on such a deep level and we all know they will be "Together Forever"

Visit with Mom & Dad-2006

2010-02-22T19:32:00.001-08:00

David with Mom and Dad----->

UVA Campus Building

Charlottesville,VA Visit 2005

2010-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

The Metcalf Family Home in Charlottesville, VA.

David was raised here from the time he was 4 years old years old.

They moved here when Dad Metcalf became a professor
at the University of Virginia.

They moved from Michigan to VA with 9 kids and then they had 1 more,
5 Brothers and 5 Sisters in all!
Brian, Lorrinda, Corinne, Rodney, Robert,
Anna, Laurie, David, Tanya & Shawn

Pictures from one of the many family reunions over the years..

2010-02-22T19:31:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to hike to a waterfall in the

Great Smoky Mountains, in Gatlinburg, TN

Mary Robison--My Grammy Mac

2010-02-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

So a little while ago, my Grammy Mac helped Alicia make a pie crust at her house, using her special pie pan, (with holes in the bottom) that was given to her by her mother. She learned to bake her 1st pie crust when she was 9 years old.

I baked my 1st real pie crust (from scratch) as an adult! She told us the pie pan we were using had belonged to her grandmother.

She sent home the pie pan with us as a gift!

Recently after a fall and some other medical issues, Grammy Mac and Papa Lee were relocated into a Retirement/Assisted Living Apartment in Mill Creek. It happens to be just 10 mins. from my house now!

Because they had to downsize, I was able to get a

few more sentimental items:

The Saltine Cracker Tin was used not only for storing crackers, but also by me, as a stool in the kitchen of their home on Lake Washington when I was 1-1/2 to 2 Years Old

The Rolling Pin goes with the Pie Tin and was always wrapped in a

flour-covered dish cloth

The Betty Crocker Cookbook is from 1972 (Kelly this is for you I just wanted to include it in my photos)

The Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chips are because Gram Mac was nearly famous for her extra crunchy, Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies, when we asked for the "secret recipe" she told us it was the one on the back of the Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Bag.
To think I had no idea all these years!!

She was also "famous" for her potato salad! Made with the finest chopped potatoes you've ever seen and just the right amount of everthying else she used. One of her "secret ingredients"
was a little bit of Dill Weed.

Kelsey's Senior Pictures, A Few of our Favorites!

2010-02-17T23:54:00.000-08:00

Somebody in the house has Senioritis! It's Kelsey who will be graduating just 4 short months from now~!! Yikes! Where did the time go?? Just a blink ago, she was going off to Kindergarten at Silver Firs, then before we knew it, Gateway Middle School and now it's nearly the end of her Senior year at Jackson High School.!!

I

These photos were taken by our good friend, Spring, who was so sweet to meet us while we were visiting in AZ. We started at 10a.m. and by 1:00pm when we were done, it was 112 degrees!! That's too Hot!! Thanks to Spring for helping us keep our cool...

YSA's and the CMC Go Bowling!

2010-02-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

YSA's= Young Single Adults and the CMC= Cool Married Couple!
David and I went on a "double date" with Brandon and his friend Kaitlyn for the Silver Lake Ward (preference)Bowling Activity. We had a lot of fun, even though, I am one of the worst bowlers in the world!!! (No Joke) I do much better when I go with the younger kids who "need" the bumpers up in the lane...I think I can actually break 100 then!!

8 is Great!

2010-02-17T17:33:00.000-08:00

Brady turned 8 in December, but we waited until Jana could come up for a visit to have her Baptism. It turned out to be a wonderful, special day for our family and friends who joined us. We're so grateful for all of the love and support that was shown to us. We are truly Blessed!

Brady's Baptism Day -Feb 6th 2010

2010-02-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

Brady in her white dress before getting baptized-
too bad the lighting isn't better..

More Family Pics

2010-02-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

Brady with Grandpa Patrick & her "great" Grandmas;

Christmas Eve Tradition

2010-01-31T12:04:00.000-08:00

Gram Mac and Papa Lee Married for 70 Years!

We are so happy they made it to the family gathering this year!

It was wondderful to get the family together for Christmas Eve at Grandpa Del and Grandma Pearls house. We had the tradional delicious dinner of meat, potatoes, gravy, homemade rolls and lots of other goodies too. Then we sang Christmas Carols, and then we exchanged gifts. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas Eve with the family!

Kai is getting to be a big boy!

The boy/girl twin cousins were so fun! They were so tiny last Christmas and now they stand up to the furniture and play with the wrapping paper!

Christmas Eve-Eve in Seattle

2010-01-30T20:18:00.000-08:00

A fun part of going to Seattle is checking out the Pacific Place Mall and taking fun pics with the giant-themed Nutcrackers on display and somehow Dad gets stuck holding the bags!

Rewind ---Christmas 2009

2010-01-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

The only Santa Pics we got this year were at the 4th ward Christmas party!

New Year-New Decade-This calls for a Blog Post!

2010-01-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

Recapping the highlights of 2009 and then we'll move on to 2010, cuz it's gonna be a fun, challenging,crazy, up & down, roller coaster year...
July-4th of July at the Lake House, Girls trip to AZ and lots of boating!
August-Alicia's 13th Birthday, Girls Camp, Seaside, OR & More Boating!
September, Labor Day Weekend at the Lake House, (cool/raining-Boo!) Back-to-school & Hubby and I take a beautiful late summer boat cruise on Lake Washington
October-Sad-Dad, puts boat away for winter...Girls Trip to Calif, Kelsey's Sr. Year Homecoming & Halloween
November- Turkey Bowl at UW Husky Stadium/Thanksgiving Dinner at Dad's
December-Brady's Birthday and Christmas

PICTURES TO BE RANDOMLY INSERTED WHEN I FIND THE TIME!

Boarding, Tubing and Tanning

2009-06-15T20:00:00.002-07:00

Here are a few of the zillions of pics we've taken on our recent boating trips with family and friends of all ages. Our "Supra" is Super fun!! David is such a patient teacher and boat driver and whenever Brandon goes he helps with the boards, cranks up the tunes and shows off his dance moves. Kelsey is getting a nice tan and has had some of her friends get up on the wakeboard. We've also had quite a few takers on the tubes and they definitely get a bumpy ride! Even Alicia and Brady like tubing and swimming around the boat now.

More boating pics

2009-06-15T20:00:00.001-07:00

Here are some more pics...David doing what he loves,Big-D goes swimming unexpectedly while trying to retrieve the tube, Brady, Jana and Alicia tubing, Kelsey surfing, way to go!!

June = Boating and B-Days!

2009-06-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Kelsey's another year older...Senior Year here she comes! Her 17th b-day was June 10th and David's b-day is right around the corner on June 25th. We took the family and her friend Catherine to Olive Garden for her b-day dinner--yummy pasta!

Grossology!

2009-06-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

So,we got a membership to the Pacific Science Ctr. at the end of spring break and went again since then. The most recent exhibit is called "Animal Grossology" It could have been called, All about Poop! I didn't realize how many (people), KIDS, would be so interested in learning all of the Ins and Outs (get it?) of animals and well, you know, POOP! The kids actually had a lot of fun and learned a lot too. Then we went through and did a few more exhibits again, or that we didn't have time for last trip. It's hard to believe how old some of the stuff in there is, but it's still fun. A few of our favorites are the shadow wall, bugs & butterflies ,music area and tide pool.

All About Alicia!

2009-06-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Alcia is strong, athletic and coordinated! And she still loves doing cartwheels any chance she gets!!

Honey I shrunk the kids...

2009-06-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Actually the table and chairs just got really big...

More Science Ctr Pics.

2009-06-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Jana and Brady had fun and Brady went down the slide lots of times. She also had fun learning all about animals'(POO) and playing the grossology games!

Kelsey's Recent Trips

2009-05-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Kelsey has been very busy lately. She's had the opportunity to go on 2 great trips that she's been working towards, since the school year began.

She went to DECA Internationals competion in Anaheim, CA. and was able to go to Universal Studios, California Adventure and Disneyland.

From JHS Website-- Student News : National Recognition for Deca Student

-Please congratulate Kelsey Metcalf for her recent success at the National DECA conference held in Anaheim, CA. Kelsey competed in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing Event where she advanced past the first round of competition by winning her section (she edged out over 100 other competitors). She then had an opportunity to compete in the championship round where she placed in the Top 11 in the Nation

Tulip Festival

2009-05-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

The colors of Spring-

The Saturday of Stk Conference weekend, I took Alicia, her friend Lani, and Brady up to see the tulips. It was gray and sprinkling (like most every other day this Spring) almost all the drive up, but by the time we got there, the skies cleared and it was a beautiful day to walk in the fields and take lots of pictures!

Tropical Paradise

2009-05-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

In the 1st week of March, David & I were able to take a much needed vacation. This time of year is always, cold, rainy, and gray. This year it was even snowing while we were gone. Poor kids!

With the help of Kelsey, Brandon, and another friend, Kaella, the kids were able to get to school and back and survive the days & nights without dear old Mom (and Dad). Here are a few photos that highlight our Fabulous, I wish I didn't have to come home, Can't wait to go back, TRIP!

Kaanapali

2009-05-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Kaanapali,the beautiful

upscale area of world famous golf courses,

shopping and lots of fancy Resorts.

We loved walking along the beach paths,

people watching & just

spending time with each other.

Lahaina

2009-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

We visited the old cannery town of Lahaina a couple times, it had a street of shops

and restaurants and also easy access to the beach.

The famous Road to Hana

2009-05-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

We took a drive on the Hana Highway, checked out a great surfing beach and then it turned into the one-lane, twisting turning, Road to Hana. We saw some beautiful waterfalls and scenery and discovered that side of the island is so much more rural and tropical. We drove all that way and somehow missed the "famous seven sacred pools" ???

Kihei

2009-05-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

The condo we stayed at was in Kihei, right across the street from the beach. David cooked dinner on the BBQ, and we enjoyed the view and beautiful sunsets from our rooftop balcony.

Kihei

2009-05-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Spontaneous Road Trip

2009-02-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

*Tank of Gas $23.00

*Footlong Sandwich @ Subway $5.00

*2 Costco Berry Sundaes $3.30 (for Dessert on our way home)Mountain/lake/snow/sunset views $0.00

*Carwash to remove the dirt from driving on mountain roads $7.00

*Enjoying a beautiful day on the road with my best friend =PRICELESS!!!

"Note to Self"

2009-02-21T23:29:00.000-08:00

When your a wife, mom, bookkeeper, homemaker, personal assistant, chauffer, treat-maker and all the other unpaid job descriptions, there's no such thing as a "free-to-be-me day"...Note Taken...so instead I've decide to do all the things I'm supposed to do and then, maybe once in a while I'll steal away for a few minutes, and do something I just want to do...

My "A-HA" Moment!

2009-01-23T15:11:00.000-08:00

I decided TODAY, that I'm proclaiming Fridays as "Free-to-be-Me Day"!

All other days of the week are all about WORK: book-work, home-work, house-work and even church-work

I will do all the work I can in the other 6 days, but Fridays are now reserved "just for me"

I plan to do things that I feel guilty about all the other days like; blogging, shopping, going out to lunch with friends, taking a walk, decorating, organizing, scrapbooking, napping or whatever else I feel like doing, as opposed to have to do...

If you have a long list of Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda's I know you can totally relate...

If you would like to join me, please feel free to call or e-mail me and we'll enjoy some much needed me/we time!

Please Note: "Free-to-be-Me Friday" Starts @ 9:15am & ends promptly at 2:45pm at which time it's time to get back to work!!!

It's about time!

2009-01-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for Hawaii!

To relax and have fun in the sun...
The girls were glad we found Candy-Cane Lane...
We're going to add this stop to our
Christmas eve-eve tradition now!

We risked our lives on steep icy roads to get here on
Christmas eve-eve, but it was so cute!

In front of the Macy's Christmas train downtown

The girls getting ready to ride Pink/Purple Ponies!

I've missed posting on my own blog, while I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on everyone elses..I have to ask, "WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME?" I feel like I'm not able to do business bookwork, clean house, do dishes, keep up on laundry , fulfill my church callings and be a fabulous wife and mother lately even without doing it, so here goes...
Christmas and New Year's flew by in a blur of snow, wind, fog and no set schedules, so it's time to look forward to Valentine's Day, our upcoming Hawaii trip and Spring Break with the kids somewhere warm and sunny,TBD...

Christmas Memories...

2008-12-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Why can't I rearrange the layout of these pics after I upload them? help!!!! They look just right in the create post and then get all messed up in the preview and actual post...

I wanted to post a few more pics with my other kids and extended family members. It was fun to have all the kids together here for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. We tracked Santa on the NORAD radar on the computer and the kids watched Christmas movies till they fell asleep. It was so nice that they actually stayed up late enough to let us sleep in till almost 8am! which was good, since Santa's helpers were up till almost 4am finishing wrapping gifts. etc. Christmas morning my mom, Patrick and Morgan came over from Pt. Angeles to exchange gifts and have our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of Waffles with Strawberries and Cream. We also got to see our adorable "Kambry" via web cam, she was smiling and laughing so cute!

We had to reschedule Christmas eve at Grandpa Del/Grandma Pearl's due to the weather, but were able to get together the Sunday after Christmas. My sweet-sweet grandparents, were able to join us as well as my brothers, Ian and Treavor. Having a white Christmas would have been even better if we hadn't already had a white week-and-a-half! It was nice to see the snow and know we could spend the day at home playing rock band, wii games, and most of all napping!!

(that's another one of my favorite Christmas day traditions!) Then we wake up, make a big dinner for everyone and enjoy feeling the true spirit of Christmas together again...

Mom's goin' crazy for Christmas!

2008-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

I think that the extended school break caused by the crazy snow, ice and below freezing temperatures has actually caused a case of brain freeze! Those minor sledding accidents have left a bruise or two and we're all on ridiculous schedules now! We're up late and staying in our pajamas past noon and more than one thoughtful bearer of goodies has witnessed it--not a pretty sight! I do shower daily it's just between the hours of 3 and 8pm. I am so far behind now on my "Christmas" to-do list that I'm sure that I'll be lucky to finish by New Year's Eve!

Christmas Traditions-Pics from Last Year

2008-12-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

For the past few years the kids and I have gone
to downtown Seattle on Christmas Eve-Eve.

We go to Pacific Place and watch the snow fall inside, and check out a few of the stores that we can't usually afford to buy anything at. Then we hike down to Westlake Ctr. for dinner at the food court, a little more shopping and then across the street to the Carousel. We all go for a ride since it's fun and for a good cause. We love being downtown seeing the carousels, nutcrackers, window displays and all the lights! We don't really go downtown much, so this is a fun time.

Last year, David joined us and even though he wasn't too thrilled, he went along for the family's sake! He's the kind of guy that just doesn't really get excited about much unless it's Big, Red, has "SUPRA" on the side and Wakes are involved. Don't worry honey, only about 4- 5 more months and you'll be back at it!

Kambry

2008-11-30T00:44:00.000-08:00

Too cute!!

Be Grateful

2008-11-30T00:13:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful and grateful for many blessings-Most of all Family! Last week we went to a baby shower for our neice who's expecting her first baby. A baptism for another neice's daughter and were also out to dinner with 3 of David's siblings. The day before Thanksgiving we visited with my sweet sweet grandparents, that makes them Brady's, great-great grandparents. Not many kids these days get to visit and eat cookies with their great greats! Then on Thanksgiving day we spent time with both sides of our family. Mom, Patrick, Sean and Nani came over and it was our first time meeting my newest neice, Kambry. She's even cuter in person than she was on their blog! Then we went down to Dad's for our traditional Turkey Day Feast prepared by Momma Pearl. My brothers Ian and Treavor joined us for dinner too. What a feast it was! We ate dinner, relaxed, napped and then ate homemade apple and pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream for dessert. Then we took the usual family picture that nobody really wants to be in, but looking back, we're always glad we did. We count family #1 among our many blessings!!!

Shalane's Birthday-Nov 17th, 2008

2008-11-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

A bittersweet birthday--In loving memory of our sweet angel Shalane--She was born in 1988, 20 years ago today-It's hard to believe...

She said so much, without every speaking a word. She was a teacher of faith, hope, patience, appreciation of the big & little things in life, and most of all, Unconditional Love. We loved her unconditionally and we believe she loved us in the same way. We know that taking care of Shalane for a little over 18 years was our greatest trial and also one of our greatest blessings. We miss her dearly and treasure our memories of her as our daughter. We know that she was a truly special, strong and valiant spirit that was sent to earth in a fragile body, to teach us to be faithful, valiant and true to our covenants. Thanks to all those who supported us, helped take care of her and made her life the best it could be. We truly love and appreciate all of our family and friends. We are so thankful for our knowledge of the gospel and our faith that Families can be Together Forever.

We've got it good and it's not even our Anniversary!

2008-11-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

Solid, Solid as a Rock,That's what this love is, that's what we've got...hahahaha or something like that. We recently got granite countertops in our kitchen, and they are solid-rock! I wanted to say how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful, (I didn't say, perfect) husband. This weekend we had the fortunate luck of going out on 2 date nights. We usually try to go out at least one night of the weekend, but that can be hard sometimes, depending on our kids social plans. But this weekend, we went to a movie on Friday night and then out to dinner and on Sat night. As I look back on the roller coaster of our married life, I realize that we were truly M.F.E.O. (made for each other) (I got that line from "Sleepless in Seattle") The longer we're married, the more we seem to be more like each other. David is a hard working, faithful husband, who is so patient with me through my emotional ups/downs. I worry a lot about a lot of things and he worries about a few things, so it balances out. I'm thankful that he holds the priesthood and is able to give a blessing of healing and comfort when needed. I tickle his feet and he lets me watch what I want on TV, usually reality shows, so it works out pretty good. We've been on some great trips together and that's something I love to look forward to! These pics are from our Anniv trip to the San Juan Islands this June-a trip he planned and surprised me with this time! I usually do the planning, so this was extra special!

TRICK OR TREAT!

2008-11-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

We went to the church Halloween Carnival, Oktoberfest

at JHS & Trick-or-Treating

Kelsey is Beautiful in Blue!

2008-10-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well it was an exciting weekend as Kelsey went to the JHS Homecoming dance with her friend Mitch. They went as part of a large group, most of them from the cross-country team. He picked Kelsey up and then they went over to our neighbor's for group photos. Kelsey had fun getting all dressed up and said they all had a great time!

2008-10-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Kelsey's thinking-- am I doing this right?

2008-10-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of my faves!

Our Angel

2008-10-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

We still miss our Angel Shalane and know that's she's watching over us

and waiting till we can be together again...

It was a SUPRA Summer

2008-09-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well we did it! We traded in our good old (it was as old as Kelsey) Sea Ray boat-for a new improved wakeboarding boat. Dubbed by David as the "WAKE-MAKER" It's a RED HOT Supra 21V Launch. Brandon said that he might have to go to the hospital when he saw how "sick" it was. Anyway, enough of the teenage lingo.
Thanks to the new boat we now have a new addition to the wakeboarding crew! Alicia was successful on her 2nd attempt on the wakeboard. Now David, Brandon & Kelsey can even "Surf" behind the boat. It's really fun to watch and kind of hard to believe what a big wave the boat makes! I have yet to actually surf, even though I did try a few times, and provided a few good laughs, thanks to my total wipeouts!

Where's the Dam Gift Shop?

2008-09-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

We were heading back to Utah to pick up our car, since we'd rented a van for the Arizona stretch-well worth the extra money, since it gave us the extra space we needed when David joined us. We used the handy-dandy GPS and put in either, "shortest distance" or "fastest time" not exactly sure which one, as we headed out from Phoenix, after saying goodbye to Tanya, Paul and their Family. Anyhoo, I was driving David was sleeping and somewhere along the way I realized that we were seeing signs to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Hoover Dam. Interesting, hmm. Well since the GPS is always right (according to my husband) I just kept on driving...Low and behold a couple? hundred miles later, we were heading down to the Hoover Dam. Another amazing landmark, totally worth seeing, if you happen to get by that way. We took lots of pictures while driving 25 mph through this gigantic man-made wonder of the world! We stopped off at the lookout point, and then had to check out the "dam" gift shop. Alicia and Brady found some cool rocks, & I made my usual collectible "souvenir" coin. (The gift shop stop was considered a wasted of time & money, by David, but basically a given, when it comes to me and my girls!!)

Bryce Canyon-Is it worth It?

2008-09-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well, on our way down to Arizona from Utah, we saw signs for "Bryce Canyon" I said "Oh, we've never been there before, can we stop? translation, can we drive 34 miles each way, from the highway to see it? I asked the kids and got a variety of moans and groans... Brandon, bless his heart, chimed in and said, "If mom wants to see it, I think we should go" So, David took the turn and off we went...Just let me say, the first views of the unbelievably red rock of the canyons, were even better than I'd seen on the travel channel! seriously! We got to the main entrance of the park and read that it cost $25 to drive through! David asks the park ranger, "Is it worth It?" she said, "Of course it is!" people come from all over the world to see this! So off we went...it was Amazing with a capital Amazing!!!! Of course it was totally worth it!!

Road Trips & More Summer Adventures

2008-09-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

This summer started with a combo road trip to Utah & Arizona-We started off in Utah for a music workshop for Kelsey & Brandon put on by Jenny Phillips. While Brandon and Kelsey were in classes, the Alicia, Brady & I went sightseeing, shopping, swimming and out to eat! Yummy!

We rode TRAXX around Temple Square and to the Gateway Mall. It was at least 100 degrees during the day,so it was nice to not have to walk any more than we had to..The Gateway mall had outdoor misters to cool us off. Temple Square was busy, but we were able to visit all the places we wanted to. Brady & Alicia loved to see the temple and the church museum was great to see!