Weekend in Huntington Beach

The morning after the fair we loaded up the car and went for an even longer drive. This time we were headed south on the 15 to Huntington Beach. We went out for our nephew Jimmy's Baby blessing on Sunday but wanted to be able to see the beach and a couple friends since we were driving out there. So we left on Friday and got there around 2 that afternoon.  We checked into our hotel room (a suite and I don't know if we'll ever go back it was so nice) and then made our way over to Lindsey's house to play with the cousins and spend time with family.

picture courtesy of Lindsey- cousins and a couple neighbors girls

Rachel and Ashley both got to hold Jimmy for the first time.

Day 2-  We met up with some friends (The Mercker's) and had lunch at Ruby's on the Pier and then went to the beach. It was a miserable day there was no sun and then it wasn't really drizzling but it barely precipitating a light mist that was just there and then Rachel was steroids this whole weekend and really didn't want to be bothered. So it took a little bit  (all of lunch and a scavenger hunt I printed) to finally have fun. All in all the afternoon was fun for all. Except maybe Ashley who fell in the water and ended up sitting on the beach with Mike watching Go Diego on his phone. 

And yes I got Ashley in the water and her shrieks all on film/tape? camera! Once I have Mike convert it to a form  acceptable for blogger it'll be here

After we got the kids back to the hotel and dried off and sand free the girls took a nap (in the bedroom) and we could still hangout in the living room! Yes we were excited. Our friend Natalie came down and joined us for dinner at an Italian restaurant because Rachel wanted pasta with just butter and Parmesan cheese. We walked in sat down and she tucked in her napkin ready to eat. For desert we went and got Italian ice, our favorite and a first time try for Natalie. She's hooked. We went back to the hotel and played games (in the living room after the girls went to bed- you can't do that in a normal room, see why we loved this).

Day 3- We had breakfast with Grandma Wendy and Papa Keith at the hotel and then headed to church for the baby blessing. There happened to be 3 of them that morning and was filled with family. Mike had the pleasure of joining the circle along with other uncles and grandfathers. 

Rachel heading to the car with Grandma Wendy and Papa Keith

After church we went to the luncheon at a park and hung out there all afternoon until about 3 when we headed north to the Hendrickson's where we visited, touched snakes and ate a delicious meal. It's always nice catching up with friends we don't get to see nearly as often as we'd like. Hopefully we'll get back sooner than next year.

County Fair

April 11th I piled my girls into my friends car and we drove the hour up to Logandale for the Clark County Fair. I don't know what is up with kids and these foot massage chairs but I learned my kids weren't the only ones that can't resist sitting in them. This was the first thing they did.

 We had to do the pony ride again. My girls love the horses. Ashley rode on Max and Rachel rode on Bullseye. They would have stayed there all morning.

We went to the small animal pavillion we never made it to the large animals. The picture below is Rachel and her friend Lexi looking at the bunnies.

Rachel didn't like the way they smelled

Ashley refused to leave the piglets until she could touch one. We were there for a long time. We missed milking the pretend cow we spent so much time over in this pen.

Ashley really loves animals. These baby goats were perfect height for her to easily touch. At one time she was looking at the bunnies in the cage behind her and the little goat she's petting went to the fence sticking out his nose trying to get to Ashley. I told Ashley to turn around and seeing the kid right there she did this shriek and was surprised to see it there but reached right down to pet it.

One of the events we watched that was talked about for the year was the pig races. They had 3 different races. The pigs race for oreos. The crowd gets divided into cheering sections and our pig actually won one this year





In between race 2 & 3 they bring out Swifty the swimming piglet. Last year the piglet poo'ed before jumping in and my girls were actually disappointed that it didn't happen this year.

After the pigs we grabbed lunch. And went to wait for the dog show. This year's show was perfomed by the winner's of America's Got Talent. They were good!  They did a never scene before comedy act that had the kids all laughing. It was a clown trying to set up a picnic and dog kept stilling his lunch but would hide when ever the clown turned around. They the tricks started. One dog flipped backwards! Needless to say my girls loved it!

We finished the day with ice cream cones and very tired children. This is one activity we enjoy going to every year.

Such a fun day at Roos N More

We had a blast today at a zoo in Moapa an hour from us called Roos N More.  Karen Condos (from my ward) organized a private tour for a group of us to go. It was awesome. It got warm and we were all hot, sweaty, dusty and thirsty but we did things that I don't know where else you can do it at.


First it started out by having this animal (it's related to a raccon and I believe it starts with a "p") crawl across the kids backs in a line

Then the kids got to feed lemurs (the guy to the left) through the fence and pet them while our tour guide went and got the next lovely creature for the kids to touch and hold. A snake. Both girls lined up to hold it. Rachel got close and then ran away and wanted nothing to do with it. Ashley made me laugh in that 3rd picture because she's looking at it with such love like it was a baby in her arms. Then when she was done promptly dropped the snake. It was a good thing the lady (Carrie) was holding it's head.

The next stop was a real fun feeding ground. We got to feed miniature horses, goats, pigs, an ostrich, a zebra, an even a camel! The best part was you can hold a carrot/celery in your teeth and the camel will eat it! The girls weren't brave enough for that and I wasn't sure if I would be either but how many times do you get an opportunity to be kissed by a camel? A baby goat escaped and I got to hold it close to me while we found out if it was allowed out. And yes that one usually slips through the bars.

After the feeding zoo area Carrie took out a monkey (I want to say it's a type of Lemur but once again not really sure). The had the monkey on a leash and we all got to take pictures with it. It surprised Rachel a little when it leaped to her friend Lexi and thankfully her mom captured her face because it's perfect. We did get a family picture with it that I'll add when I get it. 

While waiting for everyone to get to sit and have their picture taken with the monkey that wasn't always cooperative but very soft and cute. Ashley came over to the squirrel monkeys (left). After this little guy was finished with his celery Ashley wanted to feed him the baby carrot she had. I lifted her up and she held up the carrot, the monkey came over stuck his hand out the cage and Ashley handed the monkey the carrot. This was the highlight of her trip and of course I don't have a picture because I was holding her and we were alone. 

After the monkeys we went to another petting area that had pigs and a calf only 5 weeks old. It's mother died when it was 5 days old and they said it gets a minimum of 12 bottles a day. I was surprised at how course the hair was. Carrie Next we made our way over to the kangaroo habitat. And yes we got to go in! Rachel fed one and we all got to pet them. We even saw an Albino Wallaby. I had never heard of one before and they had 2. But the best part was that one of the kangaroo it may be a wallaby had a baby in her pouch and Carrie opened the pouch (I know sounds gross but wasn't) and we got to see the baby kangaroo. It was  in the middle of nursing but if you click on the picture you actually see it's foot and front leg, a closed eye, and it's nose and even the bottom of an ear! It's the coolest thing ever.

a good ole time

3/20

The girls were having a grand time laughing. They have since watched this and laugh right along with it

Preschool Letter Q

Letter Q is for Quest.  Mike helped to create a quest for the girls.

The story: My citizens of Andersonville I welcome you to my castle. I am Queen Mommy and I have called you here today to seek out a brave pair to go on a quest for my missing quarter.

Last night I had quite a few guest in my home. I would like you to find out who took the quarter and where it is.

Do I have two faithful and brave citizens of my realm who are willing to undergo this quest?

Very good, you two will do well I can tell. You will find ?'s around the castle that will either give you a clue or send you on a mini quest to find the clue. I have provided a board to assist you in deducing who it was and where it is. Be quick and return safely!

 Our Suspects: Aksel, Grandma Wendy, Auntie Brooke, Duchess, Uncle Will, Uncle Nate, Aunt Lindsey, Grandma Donna, Pop Pop, and Daddy.

Locations: Near the tv, with jewelry, under the recliner, near the peanut butter, in the 'sc bucket, near the printer, in the doll house, behind the picture of Christ, under the love sac, near the fridge

The girls went looking for the question marks and would see if it was a clue or a mini quest. An example of a clue was that the quarter was not hidden under furniture.  One of the quest said, "What animal says quack?" They went in search of a duck and by it was a clue.

Once they found a clue they brought it back to the board and would turn over suspects that have been proven innocent or a location that the quarter was not hidden.

Duchess happened to be our thief this time and had the quarter on her collar (dog jewelry). The girls thought it was hilarious that Duchess had the quarter.

Congratulations girls! You have completed your quest. Each of you receive a quarter of your own to keep for your diligent service to the queen.

3/22