Florida Vacation - cont.

On our third day, we headed back to Disneyworld for our second day at the park. We started with the Magic Kingdom, where we had left off on Friday night. It was another hot day, but with fresh legs and a little rest, we were ready to go again! This is Ali, outside the Magic Kingdom.

Trisha's family heading towards the rides!

We were able to go to rides like 'Pirates of the Carribean' and 'Snow White's scary Adventure'. We loved the Mickey's 3-D adventure show (air conditioned - yay!) and Ali became a Pirate Princess with the addition of her new mouse ears hat!

Poor Grant couldn't take much more of the heat, so while the others visited the Princesses and Mickey and Minney...Gramma and Grant hung out in the air conditioned gift shop for a nap with his little dalmation! He was soooo tired!

Addi and Ali got to visit with Mickey and Minney Mouse in their house...and then it was time to get on the Monorail again and ride to Epcot Center. A little overcast sky and a bit of a breeze made it pretty comfortable that afternoon while we were checking out the cool rides.

We rode 'Mission Space' and 'Soarin' and some other fun things

while we were there in Epcot.

And they had a pretty neat little 'Nemo' ride in the huge

aquarium. Ali wanted to see what it was like being eaten by the sharks!

And while Brent, Danny and Ali were finishing up their last ride...the rest of us went over to a cool green lawn, away from the rest of the crowd and watched the firework display out over the lake in Epcot Center. It was a perfect night!
We were also able to drive out to the beach one of the days, and enjoy the sun and ocean breezes. Ali found a lot of shells...Grant and Addi just liked to play in the water and dig in the sand. Jake and Danny liked body surfing on the waves, until Danny thought he saw a shark...And then the fun in the water was over!

Our last day we spent at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure with Trisha and Danny. Tanessa stayed home to watch the kids and let us have a fun grown-up day with all the wild rides. We had a super full day, with one ride after another...it was sooo FUN! There were so many rides, I couldn't even begin to name them all, but it was a great day, cause we had purchased a Fast Pass, which let us go to the front of the line on every ride...so there was no waiting, just walk and ride, one right after another, and we ate lunch at the neatest little deli with croissant sandwiches and awesome cheesecake for dessert!

Vacation in Florida - Day 1 and 2

We arrived in Orlando a little later than planned. Our flight from Ohio had been delayed, but we got there early in the morning on Wed, only to find out that Trisha and Danny's flight was delayed and coming in late also! We all got to bed around 4:00 or so in the morning! The next morning Tess was up early getting everything prepared to start our excursions...

The first day we spent in Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. It was a HOT day, but plenty of water to keep us cool! This is Grandpa Brent with Ali and Grant as we were getting tickets for the park.They had an awesome wave pool that went on forever, and when that sound of thunder hits...you better run!! It had the biggest wave and wall of water!

We had such a great time with the wave pool, and the slides and the kiddie splash pools. We also spent some time relaxing and riding around the park in the lazy river on rubber tubes. Thanks to Tess, we had plenty to eat and drink and lots of treats! She was a great hostess! That night we met Jake in Downtown Disney for dinner at the T-Rex Restaurant.

It was a pretty awesome place to eat...yummy ribs!! The kids loved the scenery and all the dinosaurs and fish and ice caves inside.After dinner we walked around to see a lot of the displays and Addi got to meet a princess, and Ali found Mickey to cuddle up to!

There are also some really neat lego displays, Grant had fun petting the lego dogs, and Trisha and Danny's family got to see the Lochness monster coming up from the water! We had fun just enjoying the sights!

The second day we hit Disneyworld full force! We went to the Animal Kingdom and got to see some fun 3-D shows, and ride some pretty cool rides. Then we headed over to the Hollywood scene where we rode things like the 'Tower of Terror' right down to 'Toy Story'! It had some pretty cool street scenes (just wish it HAD been cool...it was so stinking HOT!!!) But we found some air conditioning here and there to endure the heat.

After the hot afternoon, we took the Monorail over to the Magic Kingdom in time for the nightime Disney Parade and the awesome fireworks show!!! It was Great!Addi, Tess and Jake in Magic Kingdom.

Ali, Danny, Grant and Trisha, waiting by the castle at dusk for the parade to come!

One tired Grandpa! "When can we go home?"

Excited!!

This week, Brent and I are leaving for a couple of weeks of vacation...yay!  We will be going to Orlando to visit Tanessa and Jake for a week and also meet up with Trisha and Danny and the kids there!  We will be going to Disneyworld and some other fun stuff too!  Then Brent and I will fly to Rochester, NY to meet my parents who are serving their mission in Palmyra.  We are excited to see all the Church History Sites and have a good visit with them.  We are hoping that we will get to see Jaron and Heather and the kids when we are there too, depending on their schedules.

So as soon as we get back, or get some pictures of our fun vacation...we'll have a new post for y'all!!  See ya soon.

DouBle DuTy DaY!

First of all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Clinton today!

My 'middle' child Clint turns 27 today.  He was born on our 5th Anniversary in Provo, Ut.

Who does this picture remind you of?  Clinton's little boy Corgin loves to clear out the toys and sit in the container too!

Clinton has always been a joy...he loves to tell silly jokes, which we all try not to laugh at, so he won't think he's funny.  We always said when he was a teenager..."Clint, you know that little voice in your head that says you've gone too far...you don't HAVE one!"  He takes thingvery literally, he loves to give guilt trips, I call him 'Tigger' because he bounces, he is usually hyper, he loves to brag about himself...what more can I say...all of this is just CLINTON!  He is also very thoughtful, generous, and happy...He makes me smile all the time, I love to be around him and I think he is just the BEST!  And I still laugh at his jokes, they are sooo silly!

Obviously Katie thinks he's the best too!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Clinty-poo!

You are awesome, you have a wonderful family, and we love you!!

Secondly - it is our 32nd Wedding Anniversary!

On May 27, 1977 Brent and I were married in the Provo Temple.

Sometimes it has been a rough road...as marriages go...but we've struggled through and we've made it, so far anyway!  These are just a couple of pictures of us together, try not to laugh!

I just want to wish Brent a Happy Anniversary!  He is a WAY good husband to me and puts up with a lot!  He's a hard worker, and very devoted and loyal, even when he has this crazy, free spirited, independent person to live with.  I think I have him trained just the way I like him now, so I think I'll keep him!! ha ha     Love you....Kristi

SecReTs!

Day 1 - What's behind wallpaper #1??

Ok, so it's no secret where we have been the last 4 days.  Time flies when you're having fun...so let's just say, it was a LONG weekend!  (just kidding)  When I was growing up, it seemed that my mom always had the need to be secretive..."What's for dinner, mom?"  "Food.  You'll see."  (I'm sure my kids can relate to that one...I've used it myself for years!)   Or we would be getting ready to go somewhere, but she wouldn't tell us where we were going...it was a surprise!!  So maybe it wasn't the secret she was trying to keep, it was just a surprise in the waiting!  To me, it felt secretive, and for any of you that know me, you know that I can't handle secrets!!  First of all, I'm WAY too curious...I HAVE to know...and second of all...I talk too much, I HAVE to tell and even when I want to keep a secret...I CAN't!  (just one disclaimer here...I'm talking about my own secrets...not confidences...to me there's a difference, and I CAN keep a confidence!)  So my weekend has been filled with a few secrets of my own, or shall I say surprises! (Mom)  We have pulled up carpet...to find a few secrets underneath!!  We have torn down wallpaper to find some WILD secrets underneath!!  We have removed some things and not liked the secrets we found...yuck!  And we have found that 35+ year old houses hold some very fascinating secrets of their own.  As for everything we did...we are holding some of it back (to protect the innocent!)  Let's just say we had some fun, did lots of work, and went shopping...all on Dad and Mom's budget, and we thank them for their trust and support, and hope we'll be forgiven for the secrets we keep, for the surprises we have in store.  We are operating on a strictly, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  Some things are for your own good, Mom, and if you knew all our secrets, you would only worry...but one day, when you are pleasantly surprised (as I hope you will be) we WILL tell!  And Dad...this is for you...we are getting rid of ALL the evidence!!  Ooooo this is so much fun!  No wonder my mom liked secrets and surprises...it's a RUSH!

The beautiful 'secret' hidden behind the living room wallpaper.

YaRd WorK

We have been working on our landscaping and trying to get it finished with curbing, bark, shrubs, flowers and trees.  Most of it is finished now...Brent has been installing some new sprinklers to water the flower beds and trees and has put in a couple of new sprinklers where we were lacking and where we are going to plant new grass.  Here are a few pictures of the new stuff we've been working on. 

Front Flower bed.

Top of the retaining wall

Along the front of the house.

The flower bed by the mailbox.

The berm finished.  We will plant grass all around it now...down to the curbing.

We put curbing around the trees also.

Here is the finished berm...but all the dirt around it will be planted with new grass, so it will be green the next time you see it!  

Still a work in progress!

For my Mom, Donna...I am so very thankful for the loving example you are to me.  I may not be the best daughter, but you have always been the best mom to me.  I acknowledge what a diligent, hard working person that you are, and am thankful for your tender loving heart.  You are gracious and kind, and I love you very much.  

 

For my daughters, Trisha and Tanessa and my daughter in-laws, Heather and Katie...I am priviledged to have all of you in my life.  I am not the best mother or the best mother-in-law, but you have always shown love and respect for me, and taught me so many things.  I am so proud of all my grandchildren and so very thankful that you are good mothers to them.  I have so much fun with all of you and love each of you, and wish you a very happy day.

Also, a little shout out to my son-in-law, Danny, 

whose birthday was yesterday...Happy Birthday Daniel!

You were my very first 'in-law' child, and I have to tell you that I love you as much as my own children.  You have always been so good to me, and you continually crack me up!  You tease me like there's no tomorrow, you scare me spitless sometimes, but you melt my heart with your hugs, that cute smile and those big blue eyes!  I love you and wish you happiness throughout the year!