Happy Feet?

We did it! We finished the Portland to Coast (walking) relay race! The Hood to Coast race is a running one and it goes for 195 miles. Our team name was Happy Feet, and I tell you my feet aren't so happy today!!! Anyways, our first van started at 9:00 am on Friday morning and walked until about 4:00 pm, then it was our turn. I was the first walker. 5.89 miles, 85 degrees, up and down all these hills. I didn't even go one mile before I was wondering how the heck I had gotten involved in this! I thought I was going to melt and die!!! Anyways, between me and the other 5 people in my van, we walked until about midnight Friday night, then woke up the first team so that they could continue on. We slept - really only about 1 hour because others around us thought it would be fun to have a party at about 3:00 am - and then it was our turn again. I started again for our team at about 5:58 am, dark, raining, but only like 4.08 miles this time. Much better! Our van ended the final leg of the race in Seaside, OR, right on the beach. In total, our team walked 127 miles in a bit over 24 hours. In our category, which was male mixed walking, we came in #25 out of 134 teams. Not too bad, huh?

A lot of work, and boy, did we smell bad when all was said and done, but oh, so much fun! I will definately do it again next year! And Liz (one of my teammates and friends) and I committed to look really good in Spandex by then!!! Keep your fingers crossed!

Will post pics as soon as I get them!

Home again!

Chad and Reed "WANTED" at a BBQ at Aunt Margaret's house in Salt Lake City
The kids at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Isn't it pretty?
Twin brothers separated by 11 years!
Chad and McKay at the water park.

Well, we made it home! Had a great time in Utah! Didn't get to see all that we wanted too - sorry Meehan's and Tweetie! I really wanted to see both of you, but just ran out of time! Next time, I hope!.. but had a great time, nonetheless!

Anyways, the kids had a great time at Seven Peaks, a water park in Provo, and as I mentioned earlier, I had a great time with all the shopping, and walking to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, a mere mile and a half from our friend, Teresa's house. It was amazing!

Speaking of Teresa... special thanks to her and Jim and their kids (the ones living at home, at least - fun to play with Kathryn though!), Scott, Ben, Ryan, McKay and Annie, whom we kicked out of beds, but were especially nice to all of us and Susie and her family too
(just an extra 11 people for a few days! nothing major!)! As Teresa kept saying, it was just one big giant slumber party!

Oh, and we got Macy's other tooth out too! Aunt Susie pulled it out one night and now Macy is my "toothless wonder"!

Now, I'm getting ready for the Portland to Coast Walk tomorrow. I'm on a team with 12 people and we are starting in downtown Portland, taking "legs", walking 127 miles to the beach. Takes about 24 hours! Pretty crazy! Will let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

Scrapbook Heaven

So, we made it! I've already been to Pebbles In My Pocket, only my favorite scrapbook store (dropped off Chad, Luke, cousin Annie and friend, McKay, at Toys 'R Us); Robert's Crafts, like Michael's, but WAY better (while I sent the kids to Burger King); Super Target and WalMart (these were Chad's choices!). So many choices of good places to shop! Now we're just getting ready to go to the wedding reception, then we'll see where we end up tomorrow!

On the road again...

Headed to Utah today. Why you might ask... why not! Nothing better to do! My nephew, Jon, the one who got married two weeks ago, is having a reception in Salt Lake City tomorrow night, so we thought, "why not"... again have nothing better to do! So, we're just sitting here waiting for Susie and her kids so that we can get on the road. We were supposed to leave by 6:00... but obviously that hasn't happened (oh, and we were supposed to leave yesterday, but that didn't happen either!)! Oh well!!!

Don't be surprised if we randomly show up on Utah doorsteps! We like to do that, ya know!

Odd coincidence

So, last night we went to the Body Worlds 3 exhibit. For those of you who have heard of it, it's all these bodies, that have been donated, which have been "plasticized" in different positions so that you can see all the nerves, bones, arteries, etc. It's actually really cool! A little strange, but fascinating all the same.

Anyways, we weren't too sure how gruesome it would be, so we left Macy and Haley at a friend's house. The friends' grandma had passed away some years back, and yesterday was her birthday, so they were all going to the cemetary to visit with her.

Later, I thought how strange it was, that while we were seeing dead bodies on display, Macy and Haley were visiting dead bodies at a graveyard. Random thought, I know, but strange all the same. Just wanted to share.

Wii Wars

That's supposed to be her "mean" face. Not too sure about it though!
Don't I look ferocious?
And Reed... don't want to walk into him in a dark alley!

This is what happens in our house when no one is looking... Wii remotes turn into light sabers, and even the nicest of us, turn to the dark side!

Announcing Jon and Nancy Huckvale!

This past weekend we were able to be at the sealing (wedding) of our nephew, Jon, to his bride, Nancy, in the Portland, Oregon Temple. It was beautiful! And it was really cool because our grandpa Huck was the one that got to seal (marry) them. What a neat experience that was for all of us!

Calling the Tooth Fairy!

Macy has (had!) 3 loose teeth. Her top two front teeth, and one on the bottom to the right. They've been driving her crazy for weeks! Yesterday, her friend, Sierra, was over and when Sierra's dad came to pick her up, we mentioned to him that Macy had all these loose teeth. He's an orthodontist, so he told Macy to get a tissue and he would pull one out. Sure enough! Just like that, he pulled out one of the top teeth. Then, just a bit ago, they were all jumping on the trampoline, and she comes in with blood on her face, saying that Chad accidentally kicked her in the face, causing her other top tooth to come out. (Unfortunately in all her excitement she dropped it in to the bushes surrounding the trampoline and is currently writing a note to the Tooth Fairy explaining why her tooth is missing.) Now... exactly how to get the bottom one out?

More Comicon

Chad and his spawn! This is his whole team of friends! Doesn't he totally look like Chucky? A little creepy if you ask me. And of course, Bart. It seems like a lot of our trip has been about the Simpsons.

And finally, Comicon

Posing with a Transformer

Luke and Elvis Stormtropper - the "Elvis Trooper"
Jabba the Hutt! Life-size. Go figure! Almost Johnny Depp. Captain Jack Sparrow and some friends!

Doin' Disney Part 2

In line for Buzz Lightyear, Astro Blasters.
A very, very, very tired Reed. Isn't he cute in his ears, though? They're only a little big on him. A sleeping princess (waiting for daddy and Luke to get off of Indiana Jones). The other one already went home with grandma and grandpa.
Our stone on the walkway between Disneyland and California Adventure. We got this when D worked at Disney. Now we need a new one just for Haley and Reed. The one above and to the right is for Derrick's parents, Fred and Helen. We got them one as well as a group gift that year. The "Mickey" that's on ours was only available to employees, so that was kind of special.

Doin' Disney

Ok, so Grandma and I (and Reed and Haley) did stand in line for the new Finding Nemo ride - about an hour and a half - but it wasn't too bad because everybody else went on the Matterhorn and Autopia rides while we were in line, and there was a rock band performing classic 80's while we were in line, so I was loving it!

Of course, we had to get "ears" also (I'm sure each of the kids already has some - I know Chad has like 4 pair, but what can you do?). The deal was that they had to wear them all day, and I don't think that Chad ever took his off! What a great 11-year-old!

California Adventure

Our last few California days

We've had a great time the past couple of days. Done the total "touristy" things. Spent a day at Legoland with Aunt Sherri, Hunter, Nicole and their friend, Hallie. Then D, Chad and Luke went to Comicon, the comic book convention, where of course, they had a fabulous time. Me, Macy, Haley and Reed went to the beach with Aunt Sherri again. It was a lot of fun. Totally ideal California beach! Short beach, not too far to walk; lots of people with pretty umbrellas, but not too crowded; waves, good food, lots of fun. I did, however, use tan accelerator (why? because Sherri was using it, so I thought, why not?) without any sunscreen, and might I say, got a bit toasty. Then, we rounded out the trip with an adventure to California Adventure / Disneyland. Totally the highlight of our trip! It was busy, HOT and crazy, but we still had a great time! Got there around 11 and didn't leave until almost midnight, tired and worn out, but happy. Grandpa and Grandma met us half way thru the day and that made it even more fun! Now we are taking a day of rest, and then driving home tomorrow to prepare for cub scout camp on Monday.

My Little Man

Apparently Reed just rolled over - from his tummy to his back. I didn't see it... D and Luke did (supposedly!)... so therefore, does it really count? If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around, does it make a sound? My point exactly.

Can you say Kwik-E-Mart?

Some of the field trips. First, off to the Kwik-E-Mart. A surefire hit with all! It was actually very cool! There were stand-up characters of Homer, Apu, Chief Wiggins, and Ralph. Lots of treats - Krusty-O's (which they were out of! dang it!), Buzz Cola (we got 3 packs - get excited Bob and Susie!), Squisshy's (think "ICEE"), very frosted, very pink donuts, and other fun things... and of course, we had to be lots of all of it. Even some grafitti of Principal Skinner on the side of the building! D especially loved it!

Pretty girls!

More pics...

Liam, Chad, Macy, Luke, Mia & Haley in grandma & grandpa's backyard

Daddy's here!!!!!
Lukie & Baloo. We miss you Baloo!
Getting all dolled up!

Well...

I'm stylin'!

I'm the queen of the car!

we're still here! Just been busy being Californians! Daddy got here (yippee!) and we were able to go to Uncle Billy's house on Saturday night for dinner and saw our dog, Baloo. The kids loved seeing him! Today, D took the girls (and Reed) to Libby Lu's in the mall where they (the girls - not D or Reed - go figure) got "makeovers" (which they loved!) and I took the boys (and Liam - Chad's best California friend) to see "Harry Potter". We hadn't seen it yet, but D did. It was fun! I still haven't seen the last one, #4; one of these days, I guess. Getting ready to head to dinner, then it's off to Legoland, Comicon and Disneyland on Wednesday. Now the fun really begins!

P.S. Figured out where to upload pics, so here's some random ones...

Day 3 - Can anyone say "Pool Party"?

So, we invited a few friends over today. Say about 16 kids and their parents. Only a couple, really. Grandma and Grandpa were on their way home from Utah, only to find a whole lot of people in their backyard - including the pool man. I didn't invite him, I swear!

We had a lot of fun though. It was just what the kids wanted to do. Swimming at grandma and grandpa's house, In-N-Out for lunch, and lots of friends over to play with. This is what summertime means to us!

Reminder though - next time put LOTS of sunscreen on Chad's cheeks!