LEGOLAND

I'm so behind in my blogging, it's ridiculous.

This summer, with the Garnders, we vacationed in La Jolla, California.

We were excited to go to Legoland, hearing that it was the perfect adventure for our kids' age group.

And it was true.

I couldn't believe everything they had made out of Legos! It was amazing.

This was one of Treyson's favorite rides. My little 1 yr. old nephew, Ty, could actually go on this one as well so we went again, again, and again.

This part of the park split up the kids into older and younger.

The older kids drove around in this mini city.

Here's Griff, who we barely got to see the whole day:

Theme parks are much more fun with cousins apparently.

While the younger kids drove.... in a circle.

I didn't expect Treyson to drive as well as he did. I was pretty proud.

Here's Kai and Gracie:

Jeff and Greg made sure Zach got his fill of thrills to make up for his height requirement deficit.

There was a fire truck relay area where teams raced using a pumping lever to get them from one end to the other and back.

Poor Hope is so popular with the grandkids and ended up with this team:

Needless to say... they didn't win. Their combined lack of beefy muscle mass didn't stand a chance.

Here's the winning team: Todd, Megan, Courtney and Danica

One of the attractions we all did together was this riverboat tour of Lego-made, world famous sites and monuments.

The tour guide's script was so chock-full of great puns, I couldn't help but think it would be the PERFECT job for my dad (one of the quickest, witty-est, punners I know).

Licks and Ladybugs

Before school let out and before it got so STINKIN' hot!!!!!..... Kai, Treyson, and I took a trip to one of our local parks with a box of Drumsticks.

Chocolate dipped, chocolate coned, cookies and creme Drumsticks.

Yum!

(FYI.....I have a MAJOR ice cream weakness.)

Now, I know flies will eat anything and everything. But I am POSITIVE he enjoyed his ice cream as much as we did.

(Can you see him on the paper?)

Using the previous bug picture, I will segue (pronounced "seg-way" --- I didn't know how to spell it, so maybe you didn't either) into the next bug picture for my amazing mom.

She is a heart collector. Any non-man-made heart.... she wants it.... or at least a picture of it. Birthmarks, rocks, moss ON rocks, shadows, etc.

While at another park one night, someone found this albino ladybug with heart-shaped spots.

It was AMAZING!!!

What wasn't so amazing was how close I had to get to my toes for a good shot of this rarety.

Maybe this next shot using my sister-in-law's finger will be more appealing to the general public.

Have you ever seen anything like that?

The big 3-1

On the 30th of June I had my 31st birthday.

It was great.

Jeff made me a massive deluxe ultimate omelette for my much needed protein-after-morning-run-breakfast. It was delish!

My plan for the rest of the day was to drive around town with the kids acquiring every possible birthday freebie I could find. Joe's Farm Grill, Krispy Kreme, Baskin Robbins, Liberty Market........ okay, now that I'm naming them all, it would have been quite a lot of food. Too much perhaps. (never!)

Instead the day consisted of Harkin's Summer Movie Fun and a quick check-up of my hip 'clicking' at the PT office Jeff works at. Then some much needed alone time wandering Dick's Sporting Goods to spend a certificate I'd been waiting to use. Jeff took me out to a movie and dinner at The Compass (rotating restaurant on top of The Hyatt in downtown Phoenix). Really good food, but not worth the dizziness and headache Jeff got from spinning backwards for an hour. :)

My sister, Katie, who's been featured on this blog as my baking assistant for birthday cakes, wanted to bring "something" by when we got home.

Wanna guess what it was?.........

......A CAKE!!!

My very own FONDANT-ASTICALLY decorated birthday cake!

(That made-up word is MY birthday gift to YOU, dear readers)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!

So much, in fact, that I didn't even cut into it for a few days.

It just sat on my counter allowing me to stare in awe at it's beauty.

After cutting into it, I thought I'd take a few better lighted shots before I let my boys dig in.

Isn't it just amazing?

Thanks Katie! Great job.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLYN!

JUNE 30, 1980

The Love of my life was born and I have been

privileged to share this life with her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HON! Love ya tons.

Out Of Africa

I hadn't been to Out Of Africa in a REALLY long time and my kids had never been.

We decided it was about time.

Jeff's brother, Shaun, and his family came with us. Having favorite cousins around make everything fun. I'm not sure the boys would have liked it as much otherwise.

It was a hot day and it was a lot of walking for not too many sightings of the animals. The habitats just weren't ideal for showcasing.

If anyone has heard advertisements for this park, the main claim is,

"We are NOT a zoo or circus. We are an experience."

That's for sure.

Their website says,

"See hundreds of animals from all over the world!

Lions, Tigers, Giraffe, Rhinoceros, Black Bear, Camel, Ostrich, Cobras, Zebra, Exotic Birds, Tortoise, Wildebeest, Jaguar, Leopards, Wolves, Hyenas and more!"

Hundreds?!! Really?!! I was so hopeful.

But the only animals we saw were the ones listed and even then, most were too far out of view.

They should also say, "Even though we are 4 miles away from Camp Verde, it will be WAY too much of a hassle to leave for lunch and come back, so plan on buying our $8 hamburgers and $6 kids meals."

The bacon cheeseburger I had, however, was one of the best I've ever tasted. Seriously.

The Tiger Splash Show was pretty neat to watch. It was MY favorite part for sure... and not just because it had shaded seating.

The trainers would play with the white tiger, teasing with huge aluminum balloons to make her jump in the pool.

Griffin had another notable quote that day:

As us adults were walking back down the hill, the kids ran over to stand on a lookout platform.

Rebecca: "What do you guys see? Anything cool?"

Griffin: "No. It's just.... a beautiful setting. That's all."

I'm glad we went, because I've always wondered if my kids would enjoy it.

Now I know. Next time just go to the zoo.

Long Live The Queen

Jeff and the boys were sitting at the dinner table, waiting semi-patiently for me to get my plate dished up and join them.

Jeff: "Did everyone say 'thank you' to mom for dinner?"

Boys: "THANK YOU MOM."

Jeff: "You guys need to be nice to Mom and treat her like a queen. Because she is the queen of our family. Did you boys know that?"

Boys: "No." "What?" "No she's not."

Jeff: "Well she is. She's the queen. So if Mom is the queen, what does that make you guys?"

Griffin: "Servants."

Watch out Michael Phelps!!

I'm sorry, maybe it's just a mother's pride, but....

....have you EVER seen such beautiful form?!

The HORSE MOUNTING DIVE:

(Not used HARDLY enough in top notch competitions)

The coveted FLOATIE BELLY FLOP:

(Makes all the usual tummy slapping sounds while keeping your face

safely marshmallowed between two inflatable sleeves.)