People are People

Day Three

Disneyland is a great place to people watch. When Jill and I would get tired, we would just plant our butts on a bench and take in the human landscape.

One family of note:

Seriously, what man in his right mind would agree to wear a shirt like that? Aww, just one that really, really loves his woman… Not that the shirt by itself would have been that bad, but combined with his wife's head hanky... major fashion faux pas. This family of six got many, many looks and I heard through the grapevine (ride line) that she made these outfits herself for just $250! See what you learn when you pay attention?

Another thing that I like to do is talk to our shuttle drivers and the people riding to and from the park with us. I think it's interesting to find out where they live and what brings them to California. I don't know where this comes from because typically I am pretty shy around people... Jill HATES it when I talk to people, which of course makes it all the more fun! Sorry, she wouldn't take a picture of me with Randy or Lana...

Anaheim

Day Two

I am so dang tired. Seriously, I didn't get to sleep until 3 am. I hurried and got ready and was so glad to get off the 32nd floor! We ate at a breakfast buffet - while we both don't particularly care for buffets, you have to do at least one while in Vegas. We picked the boys up a T-shirt and loaded up the car.

We were in the tower to the right of the red one, 2 floor from the top. 2 of the 4 walls were floor to ceiling windows.

The drive to Anaheim was smooth. California drivers know what they are doing and the freeway was well marked. I was cursing Mapquest for having me get off the freeway too soon, but realized once we got to the hotel, there were 2 exits with the same name marked a and b… I should have taken b!

The temp was about 74 and overcast. In fact, when we were in the park it started to sprinkle a bit. We went to eat at Joe's Tortillas and then went on some of our favorite rides: the Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones and Winnie the Pooh. After, we grabbed a couple of treats and headed back to the hotel.

Can you spot Mickey Mouse?

My little graduate!

We are staying at the Sheraton Garden Grove. Unfortunately, I will have to post all my blogs when I get back (I think it should still count as daily blogging) because they don't have free internet service. They do however, have a shuttle service to the park (we are about 2 miles away) that runs every 30 minutes.

I am looking forward to a good night's sleep and a fun day tomorrow.

Viva Las Vegas!

Day One

Jill and I made it to Las Vegas at about 8 pm without incident. I thought we made great time, having left at noon and stopping 4 times to stretch. It took a bit for my ears to stop ringing because our music was so loud, but it was fun to sing and share music. We are staying on the 32nd floor at the New York, New York. The view is beautiful, but I have to find my happy place because I hate heights. Age has brought unexplained and often absurd anxiety.

It's 105 degrees today, with blowdryer winds. The air is muggy and has that "Vegas" smell to it. Jill and I are glowing. We walked around for a bit and then decided to eat something. I was feeling a bit shaky, having drank 3 Red Bulls on a near empty stomach. We went in to the Miracle Mile shopping plaza and ate at a quaint little restaurant called the Ocean One Bar & Grill. The waitress sat us at the bar, thinking that Jill was 21! Really?

We walked the strip for the next 4 hours, browsing through the hotel shops and watching people. Jill spotted Samuel L. Jackson… for real! Otherwise, holy crazies, Batman… I haven't been here since 2002 and I don't remember people dressing up in costumes and standing along the strip, but there were many. I asked Jill what it was about Vegas that she liked so much. She said it was the lights and the fact that everyone is here just being themselves. I agree, the lights are pretty.

I am having a hard time sleeping for many reasons:

1 - I am planning my escape when the building starts to shake and sway (I feel like it is already swaying a bit).

2 - I am wondering if I ran full force into the window, if the glass is strong enough to prevent me from falling.

3 - The roller coaster makes the building rumble and the constant screaming, while muffled, is obnoxious.

4 - I am also thinking about the drive tomorrow and getting settled in Anaheim.

June 6th...

Today is June 6th and I have been getting ready for this trip to Disneyland that Jill and I are taking.

I got everything done on my list, except pack the suitcases. I want to be out of here between 9:30 and 10:30 am. I just realized it was midnight and I still have a load of wash that needs to go into the dryer. Where did today go?

Dud of a post. I am going to bed.

I hope the Tooth Fairy remembers to come tonight because Dax lost his 2nd tooth while brushing his teeth this morning.

Beans & Wieners

OVER BEANS & WIENERS



Last weekend, when we camped out at the Miller's house, it was the first night in our new (old) trailer as a family. Jace slept with me on the smaller bed and this was his first night sleeping somewhere strange period. It took him a long, long time to settle down. He kept sitting up and poking his head out the window and talking about the fire. It was really starting to annoy me and I told Justin that if he wasn't asleep within the hour, I was taking him home to sleep in his own bed. It wasn't too long after I said that, that he finally fell asleep.

Right before he nodded off, he says in this cute little voice, "Oh man... it's not fair." Justin and I got the case of the giggles because it was so out of the blue and neither of us had heard him say it before. Of course our laughter caused him to think he was a smarty pants, so he said it again and again. It was still funny the 5th time.

A Proud Mom

My daughter, Jillian, graduated from high school last night! WOW... I am so excited for her.

It was held in the Spectrum on the Utah State campus. I was happy to get her there early enough to take a few outdoor pictures. She looked amazing (as always), but for me it was an odd feeling being there as her parent. I don't see myself as an old broad until I see pictures of the 2 of us together. We look alike, but she has that young, radiant, hopeful look to her that comes when you begin a new stage of life, with countless opportunities and fun adventures ahead of her.

I am also starting a new phase in my life... my life without my little girl picking flowers and proudly bringing them to me, or drawing funny pictures of her family to pin up on the fridge, or crawling around on her hands and knees pretending to be a horse. My new phase is seeing my daughter become more independent, start college and pursue her own hopes and dreams. Now I get to sit back and witness the countless opportunities and fun adventures unfold before her.

Yah, I look older, with a few wrinkles, grey hairs and some extra cushion but I also see wisdom, strength and pride in the face of a mom that has the most awesome daughter in the world.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to send her a card or wish her a happy future. Thanks to those that were able to make it to the ceremony. I know it was really long and dull and the fact her last name is towards the end of the alphabet didn't help, but it was so, so nice to get pictures and have you there at the end to congratulate her.

Happy Birthday Jason!

So much to say, so little time...

The first time I met Jason was on a boat at the Hyrum Dam. I immediately liked this guy, my future brother-in-law. Twinkly eyes and a freckled nose much like my son Dax. I have so many stories I could tell about him, but none appropriate for this blog!

What do I like about him?

• he is so, so funny and almost as sarcastic as I am
• he tells the best stories (10% true, 90 % BS)
  
• he can sing
• he likes to hang out with his nephews
• he has called Jill, Mildred, from day one
• he has a knack for making up his own words that aren't in the dictionary, but should be
• he coined the phrase "crop dust" and does it whenever necessary
• he treats my family like they are his own
• I know I could call him whenever if I needed help
• he always has his camera with him and takes great pictures of my kids
  
• he does the wipe and fold, wipe and fold, just like I do
• he is very good at his job and has saved me from paying heavy fines (oh right... NOT!)
  

I couldn't have asked for a better brother-in-law and friend!