Sunday, August 10, 2008

One more dune to go..You said that two dunes ago.

Hello my family:

It has been a while since I posted a blog. Summer seems to be whizzing by.

I was lucky enough to spend the end of July with Sara & Andrew and David, Michelle & the kids.


Most of you know I got a new 2009 Toyota Camry in March and I was really excited to take my first road trip. I got up really early (2:00 am) and hit the open road for Utah.

The trip was really fun and seemed to fly by as I was listening to a really good book on CD, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. ( totally recommend it)

Anyways I got to my first stop in Ephraim, Utah to see Sara & Andrew (and their barn swallows). I had fun helping Sara continue to organize her new little home. (I love to organize and we actually found our way through the boxes into what will be her nursery).

We were unable to do sightseeing this trip because of the birds they rescued (They needed to eat every 30 minutes), but we managed to go out and eat a few times and take trips around WalMart.

I stayed till Sunday and then moved on to Lehi to see David & his family. ( Including the new Lily Jewel who I had not met yet.) Unfortunately I got lost on my way to church to meet Michelle and the kids but thanks to Brigham Young's grid I managed to only be about 10 minutes late.

After church we went home and had a delicious dinner. Then Ruby & Noah took me out to see the garden they are growing in the backyard. They were very excited because one of the radish's were ready to be picked. I have attached pictures and video of this experience.

Also our Miss Ruby had learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. I have attached video and pictures of that. I think that is quite an accomplishment at the age of 6. I know I was much older.

The next day we set out to Lehi pools with David, Me, Ruby, her friend Emily, Noah & Holly. It was really fun. Holly is like a little dare devil and nothing stops her. She thinks if the big kids can do it then so can I.

At one point they asked that everyone get out of the pool for 10 minutes. ( We never did find out why). Try explaining to a 6, 4 & 2 year old why they have to stand there and can't get back in. (It's not easy)


But we finally got back in and enjoyed the rest of our day. Noah did not want to stop sliding into the pool and we finally had to give him a count of 5 more times. When we got to the fifth slide, he said "One more time" and ran away before we could catch him.

I really enjoyed spending time with them and love hanging out with my family. They are the best.

As I mentioned above Sara had been caring for barn swallows that fell out of their nest. This was getting to be quite a task. And when you are 6 months pregnant & emotional it is even worse.

They could not find a rehab place in Utah to take the birds in. So after many calls Sara found a place in Long Beach that took wild birds in, cared for them and taught them how to fly and released them into the wild.


Since I was going home by car it was decided that I would take Sara and the birds home with me and we would have a good old fashioned sister car trip. I picked Sara and the birds up and we hit the open road.


Our trip was enjoyable until we started to get close to St. George and my air conditioning (brand new mind you) started to blow humid air. This was not good for us or the birds. We were directed to the local Toyota Dealership in St George.

They were very busy because everyone was trying to get their cars fixed before they were closed for Pioneer Day. (Of course) The very nice man took pity on me and said he could look at my car right away.


So Sara, the birds & I went into the waiting room where it was blessedly cool and hopefully awaited good news. IT WAS NOT GOOD NEWS!!!


I was told that a rock had kicked up and put a hole in my condenser leaking all of the freon out. This was VERY BAD NEWS!

We had to make the rest of the trip across the desert where the temperature at the hottest point was 109. We made the whole trip with our windows down, sucking on ice cubes, dropping ice cubes down our tops and praying that the birds did not fry their brains.

I asked Sara if I would ever remember this horrible trip and laugh. I was very grateful I had her with me though because it would have been even worse to do it alone. The title of the blog comes from our favorite movie Spaceballs, because it truly felt like wandering through the desert.

At one point we stopped in Mesquite & Baker and put a bag of ice in with the birds so they would not die.
After what seemed like forever we got to Long Beach at 7:30 pm and handed the feathery friends over to their new home. We were so grateful to Heavenly Father for keeping us alive and well on this challenging journey.

We were grateful for all of the prayers sent our way by family as soon as they knew of our predicament.


And the GOOD NEWS is my car has air again. YEAH!!!


I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer.

Love Marilee



Baby Lily - 1 month old



Big Sister Ruby & Lily



Farmer Potter David &
Farmer Potter Michelle



The ever important Dora Gardening
Gloves



Look at her ride



Holly wants to be the baby



Love the waterfall
Ruby & Emily



David & Holly enjoying the water



Noah trying to catch up



Noah loved the waterfall



Family Home evening - they are all sooo
cute!!!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

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

Monday, July 7, 2008

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!!!!