Toy Story Mania

Hello Family:

Saturday Mindy, Mikaela & I met at California Adventure to go on the new Toy Story Mania ride.

It was really nice because it wasn't very crowded and the wait for a brand new ride was only 30 minutes. So we went a 2nd time and only had to wait 15 minutes. One of the things that entertain you while you wait in line is a Mr. Potato Head that is interactive with the crowd.

I've attached a video that shows he was talking to Mikaela & I. I'm sorry the video is sideways, so just turn you head. :)

The ride is a 3-D adventure that has been designed to look like carnival games. Your crazy moving car stops in front of different screens and gives you approx 20 seconds to rack up points by tossing rings over aliens, shooting plates, & popping water balloons. When the water balloons pop you can actually feel a little spray of water or feel the air as a broken plate rushes by.

If you have the time & the money I suggest you check it out.

On our way to meet Melissa for lunch we stopped to see the baby ducks that were frolicking at the wharf. I have attached a video of that also.

We then met Melissa in Downtown Disney for a relaxing lunch @ La Brea Bakery, and a stroll through the shops. Even though it was hot & muggy it was a real fun day.




Our in line entertainment




Time to get our 3-D Glasses



Yeah, we're cool...



Mikaela makes them look much better.



Waiting in line.



Here comes our ride.



Our number has been called. Time to get in.



Our stop at the wharf to see the Baby Ducks





Mikaela & the Green Army Men



Mikaela was called up for an Up
Close and Personal.




Mr Potato Head Speaks



I'm Just a baby duck

Fourth of July-a-palooza

Hello All:

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Fourth of July. Melissa & Jim hosted our 2nd Annual bash at their house from 2pm - on. The temperature in Anaheim was really hot, close to 100.

Thank goodness for the pool, which is where the kids stayed most of the day. As for Me, Melissa and Mindy we hung out inside a lot of the time because it was much cooler.

We had decided as a group that hamburgers & hot dogs were overdone so we had Mexican food, which was very fitting as their neighborhood can be compared to Little Tijuana. One of the main reasons I can say this is because people are known to sell Churros and corn on the cob door to door.

We had tortillas, Carne Asada, Enchiladas, homemade beans, and all you can drink. (Soda & water that is). It was topped off with my famous brownies (which Melissa tried to hide, but Amanda found them).

We ended the evening with a fireworks show compliments of Jim, Greg & Taylor. Mind you the fireworks were legal but it wasn't necessarily legal to set them off.

So in between shows we would watch the sky for the police patrol. We were not very concerned though because there were other neighbors setting off the illegal fireworks and that is who the police are truly looking for.

To avoid the roads and those people that like to drink & drive I stayed over Friday night, which turned into Saturday night. It was a really relaxing weekend. I had promised the girls that we would go to McDonald's for breakfast Saturday morning so this is what we did.

Then the girls came home & swam some more and played air hockey. Melissa & I got to vegetate in front of the T.V.

Saturday night we went to Mimi's for dinner and I'm afraid it is about then that the sugar high kicked in to Amanda, Ashley & Mikaela and the crazy, insane, asylum laughter started. Once they had started they could not stop.

We then went to Target and hoped that walking around would help them walk off the sugar, but it just got worse.

So the girls went home and decided to make indoor smores (because truthfully, how much worse can the sugar high get by now).

After Amanda, Ashley & Mikaela all took a turn getting into Lady's cage they finally started getting ready for bed.

Ashley had made the mistake of saying in her hyperness that she was only fed peanuts and water so for breakfast Sunday morning she was served a peanut. That will teach her.

Melissa & I wish to formally apologize to our parents again because we know this is how we acted under the influence of too much sugar. So we are SORRY!

I have attached pictures of everything I have mentioned.

Big Hugs to all

Marilee



Our hosts, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Braga.



Mindy & Greg enjoying the snacks



One of the few pictures I'm in. That is the
hazard of being the photographer.



Amanda posing with her mom
in between dunks in the pool.



The beginnings of the sugar
high.



Inside for an otter pop break



Enjoying a break in between swims



The sad results of too much Otter pop



Taylor, Jim & Ashley having a swim



Greg makes sure the people in the pool
stay in line.




Strike a pose



Ashley showing off her Tattoo
She does loves the U.S.A.



Air hockey anybody



Show me your best moves



Domino and his mistress
"Dont Mess with the Chiuaua"



Christina & Ashley smile before the show
starts



Watch out Anaheim. That is some
serious artillery.



Taylor lights a small one, while Greg
watches.



And the Rockets red glare, the bombs
bursting in air......





Watching fireworks from the pool



This picture was so hard to take because
my battery kept dying.



McDonald's to help with the hangover the
next day. :)



Mimi's for dinner..and the beginning of
the craziness....They look so innocent.
Hah!!!



Careful of that open flame





This marshmallow's for you



Ashley, make me a smore...



This is where all children on a sugar high belong,
CAGES!!!!

Lily is a month

Hello all:

It has been a month and I feel the need to share more pictures of Lily Jewel.

She was 1 month old on the 4th of July. Her eyes are still blue but are getting darker. We all hope they stay blue.

David says when he holds Lily he tells her to "Think Blue".

I have also sent pictures of Ruby, Noah & Holly because they deserve equal attention.

I hope everyone had a great 4th. My 4th of July blog will be coming soon.

Love to all

Marilee




Lily 1 month


Girls just want to have fun
Ruby, Lily & Holly



Sleeping on the job

Watching the tube with my/bro


So, what are you looking at

Morgan's new pool

Most of you know that I am lucky enough to have a great job as Office Manager for Barbara Marshall / State Farm Insurance.

This great job includes the awesome perk of my boss's one and a half year old Labrador Retriever named Morgan Marshall.

Morgan and I have been buds since he came into our lives at 8 weeks old.

He and I have had a routine every morning when he gets to the office. We walk around the block and make sure that La Canada is exactly as we left it. We eat our 2nd breakfast (mind you he has already eaten with Barbara that morning).

We have 2 treats and then we nap until the afternoon and our people (That's right you heard me, Morgan has people) take him to romp with other dogs and this includes swimming.

It is a well known fact that this breed of dog loves the water. But Morgan REALLY LOVES SWIMMING.

Morgan takes the love of water to a whole new extreme. He will stick his head in his friend Clinon's water dish or when Barbara has stopped to talk to a neighbor he will sneak in their backyard to jump in their pool.

So Barbara felt it was time for him to have his own wading pool. I have pictures below of the experience on the first day she gave it to him.

Some of you might be using the "S" word when you think of Morgan. But we never use that word. We use "Well Loved".

If you are ever in La Canada, stop by the local State Farm office and say hello to Morgan. Oh, and you can also say hello to me.

Hugs

Marilee




Checking it out..



Not Bad, Not bad at all.



One paw in to test the temperature.



Okay, I think I will get in.



This is real nice..............



Lets have a Splish Splash



Mom, your the best. I LOVE my new
pool.