Spring Musical 2010

Tonight was Ali's school musical. The first graders performed "A Farmer's Life". The paper that came home months ago "suggested" the kids wear costumes: butterflies, farm animals, flowers, worms... Ali decided that she would like to be a flower. Yikes...Fun project for Mommy! Although, I have to admit it was pretty cute.

The show started at the high school at 6:30, but I made sure our family was there by 6:00. {I think we might have been there even earlier than that!} They were still setting up the risers, speakers, etc. but I marched us in anyway and sat us all down front and center. As I looked around, I saw that several people sitting on riser chairs. I commented to the lady next to me what a good idea that was... she told me she has been doing this a few years. I better find myself some riser seats for next year!

Alison was so excited for this night - even more so because Gramma, Grampa, NJ and Johnna came to watch her perform. Although, NJ was pretty much ready to blow the popsicle stand after Ali's songs were over... "Why do we have to stay for the rest?"

The performance was great and the kids were all super cute. We all went out for ice cream after the show {along with almost everyone else, apparently} and talked about our favorite parts... Ali: "the performance", NJ: "Ali's part", Johnna: "Shortnin' Bread", and Meri....?? "Rainbow ice cream!!".

Our darling Merilyn... if you listen very carefully you can hear her Elvis impersonation at the end of her show.

Happy Easter!

Our Easter started Saturday night with Trav coloring eggs with the girls. Gotta love the smell of vinegar in the house... Ali carefully colored her eggs with several colors, while Merilyn was much less careful and tidy. This is not surprising, but neither is her enthusiasm!

Ali woke me up bright and early this morning with her non-stop arm tapping... {Thankfully it was my arm and not my forehead as she's done in the past.} She saw that the Easter Bunny had been there and left her a basket! She was super excited to dig in and see what the Bunny had brought, but Trav and I talked the girls in crawling into bed for a few more minutes. Unfortunately that was almost too much to ask and they didn't last long!

We met Mom, Casey and the rest of the family at Shenanigan's for Easter Brunch. The girls love buffets because they can get exactly what they want to eat. The food was yummy and it was fun to spend time with the family - as usual!

The rest of the day was a family day at home. We watched Alice in Wonderland {Ali's gift from the Bunny} napped, played Wii, and relaxed together. It was a great day!

Final Day of Sun...

The view of the river from our back deck.

We were going to leave for home Thursday night, but decided to enjoy one last day in the warm sun... because when will we see it again? Trav and the girls spent most of the day in the pool/Lazy River, while I packed our stuff and worked on report cards. {The anxiety nightmares about missing the deadline started...}

After an afternoon of pool time, Travis realized his wedding ring was missing. Gulp! We turned the condo inside out looking for it, and turned up nothing. So, he went back to the river and began searching the water. Still nothing. Finally, he checked at the lost and found... and ta-da! The ring had slipped off his finger {I can't imagine having this problem...} and got sucked into the filter system. An employee found it during their routine check and turned it in. Thank you, Mr. or Ms. Employee!

After this little fiasco {and a quick stop to Target for snacks} we began the journey north. Trav likes to travel at night. For one, he's used to working graveyard shifts, and secondly, the girls spend the majority of the drive sleeping. I don't know why he would want to avoid their sisterly love after being stuck in the car for 8+ hours?!

The drive was a long one, but so worth it. We had such a wonderful time! The girls loved every minute in the pool, Trav loved golfing and the weather, and I loved our relaxed lazy days. I felt refreshed and even ready to head back to reality... and work.

Thursday

Holy Cow...is it Thursday already? Going back to work and school is going to be painful on Monday! Today was another lazy day at the pool. {I could really get used to this...} The boys went to play golf and the girls went to the pool. Another little girl at the wading pool had tons of toys that she was willing to share, so Johnna and Merilyn {and at times Ali and Natalie} were in heaven playing “cooking in the kitchen”.

Gramma brought us all sandwiches for a lunch break, and I got the girls popcicles from the little market. It was a great afternoon - like I said, we sure could get used to this! {Although I’m sure Ali and Natalie would’ve liked more lazy river time...}

After naps, we headed out to meet the boys and drive into Palm Springs for the street fair. The street was full of vendors and booths - with lots to look at. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant there on the street so we could people watch. {And there were definitely some interesting people to watch...!}

Ali and Meri with a statue of Sonny Bono.

Soak City

Travis was so excited to get to the Knott’s Soak City water park! It opened for the first time this week on Wednesday, so we thought we might beat the crowds... no such luck. It was super crowded!

We eventually found enough lounge chairs for all of us and Travis and Ali took off for some of the rides, while Meri and hit the wave pool. The water was freezing!! Mer wanted no part of it, {I didn’t blame her...} so we put a life jacket on her and tried out the toddler slide. It would’ve been great if there was someone to catch her at the bottom, but I couldn’t make it down fast enough. She panicked at the bottom, of course, and I leaped in to the water to pull her out... all while the lifeguard stood and watched her cry and struggle. I felt completely awful and was not a happy mommy with the quality of "lifeguards".

Travis and Ali enjoyed the rides they went on... after they stood in line for an hour! They took Meri with them to the splash house, but she ended up crying after that as well. There just wasn’t a lot for little ones her age to do. She was happy to sit on the lounge chair eating Goldfish and drinking Gatorade. {Was that worth the price of admission?}

The favorite rides of the day were the “flusher” and the “wedgy slide”. {I don’t know what the real names are...} The flusher was about a 40+ minute wait just to get the innertube, then another 20+ minutes of waiting to get to the slide. Trav, Ali, Greg, and Natalie all got to ride together and woo-hooed all the way down the slide, into the funnel, and out the bottom. Too bad it was over so darn quick! I couldn’t even get a picture of them on the ride... just a before and after!

Greg's sunglasses suffered a tragedy on the flusher-funnel ride!

Trav’s all time favorite was the “wedgy slide”. They had just announced the park would be closing soon, so he didn’t have to wait in much of a line. In fact, he was able to go twice in a short amount of time so he could check out both sides.

Overall, it probably would’ve been okay for the daddies to take the older girls and leave the mommies at the condo with the little girls. Meri and Johnna weren’t loving the water - at all. {Johnna took a nap on one of the lounge chairs!} Also, it was only open 11-5, so with all of the waiting in lines, they hardly got on any rides. After admission and $40+ lunches for each of the families it was pretty darn expensive for not much. I definitely wasn't impressed with Soak City - and especially not the lifeguards!

Another Day in Paradise!

I am loving this vacation!

Today Casey and I went to get pedicures.... thanks to Greg. A mani/pedi was his birthday present for her. {Fortunately for me, I got to tag along!} We got a little lost trying to find the salon, so we were about 15 minutes late. When we got there, they told us to come back in another 15 minutes; just enough time to walk to the coffee shop next door for snacks and coffee. It was a great morning!

Later, Travis went off to play golf and the girls and I headed back down to our new favorite place - the Lazy River. It was pretty windy today, although it was still beautiful. It definitely didn't stop us from enjoying our time in the water.

Greg bbq'd delicious chicken for dinner and we had cake and pie for Trav and Casey's birthdays.

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people!