And Wyatt Makes 3

On a recent trip to Disneyland, Wyatt finally got chosen to be in the Jedi training.  Watch out Darth Vader, Wyatt is on the job!

Palm Springs-2012 Edition

Our annual spring break trip Palm Springs took on a whole new shape this year.  Usually we spend all of our time at the pool, only taking a break for meals.  This year we did some things that we've been talking about, but hadn't taken the time to do them.  First, we spent some time at The Living Desert.  We actually had been there many years ago, when Amy and Todd were kid's and it was horrible.  There wasn't much to see, and what was there was asleep and hidden away.  This time it was much better. We could have spent an entire day there.  We saw all kinds of animals including cheetahs, camels, and even some zebras.  But the highlight had to be feeding the giraffe.  It was so cool.  He lowered his head, stuck out his long tongue, and we placed the food on it.  It was also amazing to watch him drink.  He had to practically do the splits to get his head low enough to reach the water.







That night we went to The Mikado Restaurant at the JW Marriott Resort  for dinner.  It's a Benny Hanna type of restaurant where they cook your meal right in front of you.  We took a launch to get back to the hotel, and  the lake went right into the lobby.  How fun.

We stopped at the outlets on the way home, did a little shopping, and had dinner at Ruby's.  Once again, the dessert evaporated right before our eyes.

 

But of course, there was time for major swimming sessions.  I love our time each spring in the water and sun.  We have been doing this for many years, and it is one of those things I always look forward to.

It's Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring---yea

daffodils in the front...

azaleas in the back...

blossoms on the peach tree...

and I don't know what--but it sure is pretty!

Monday's Memory--Fiji

I have wanted to write about Fiji for quite some time, but have put it off because I just didn't know where to start.  It was a dream vacation, a once in a life time trip.  My teaching partners, Jane and Katy, and I had been planning on going to France with the school exchange program for our February break.  One day, Katy came in my room and said something like, "I know you have been really looking forward to the France trip, but my parents just offered us their  boat for the week and it is moored in Fiji."  Are you kidding me?  Sun, ocean, boat...does it get any better than that?  So off we went, the three of us and Katy's good friend, Rhea.

Let me explain about this boat.  Maybe I should call it a yacht.  Yes, I should definitely call it a yacht.  The Morgana is a 65 foot sailboat.  It came with a captain (Mark) and first mate/cook (Shirley).  All we had to do was relax and enjoy ourselves.  After our long, all night flight, we were met at the airport in Suva by Mark and driven to the Morgana.  There we were met with a wonderful breakfast served in the "salon" by Shirley.  And our amazing week began.











It actually rained the first day there, so we went to the open air market to see all of the amazing fruits and veggies available.  We also got post cards for our classes, and spent the next several hours writing to our kids and got them into the mail before we pushed off the next morning for parts unknown.







 We spent the week sailing into and out of coves and small islands, seeing the real Fiji, not the touristy places. On one small island, we were able to visit the school.  However, visitors to an island had to go to the chief, take a gift of Kava root, and ask permission to be on his island.  Only then were we allowed to visit the school.  It was amazing.  The kids, even the very young one, stayed the week there in dorms.  They would walk over the mountains on Monday morning and would return home after school on Friday. As you can see, kids are kids not matter where they live!


The scenery is breathtaking.  Green everywhere.

But mostly, we just relaxed and took it all in...

On a sand bar in the middle of nowhere

My favorite place to be...in the sun!

Katy, Jane, me, and Rhea on board

One of our delicious meals

Heaven!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Mom turned 89 today!  Who would have thought?!  We had a party for her yesterday including balloons, streamers, and even a pin the tail on the donkey game.  But most importantly, there was family.  Mel, Alicia, and Corey were here to help with her while I was in Utah, so they were able to join in the festivities. Mark and Kris were here. And Amy, Todd, and the kids joined in (hence, the pin the tail on the donkey game!)  Mom was tired by the end of the evening, but it was a great time.  Next year...90!  We'll have to have a really big party then.

Enjoying her birthday pancakes!

Utah trip

I spent last week in Provo, visiting Todd, Kathy, and the kids.  The weather was perfect, so we were able to spend some of the time outdoors.  Todd and Kathy are in the middle of planning what to do in their backyard, so a trip to the "home and garden show" in Salt Lake was fun.  We saw all kinds of fun things, including a really cool waterfall that Kathy has nixed.  We also spent some time in the sunshine picking up a winters worth of doggie poop and cleaning out the spot where they are going to put their raised garden boxes.

Then it was on to Salt Lake for a couple of days of R and R.  I stayed within walking distance of Temple Square and spent some time in the genealogy library, some walking through downtown Salt Lake, and even had a wonderful experience in the Salt Lake temple.
















 Kathy and the kids came up one evening for dinner and had a quick swim in the hotel pool.  It was so fun to feel like they lived close by and just came by for a few hours.  (How is wish that was really true!)

Starwberries? Yes Please!

I love strawberries...strawberries in all forms... in jello, jam, muffins, on cold cereal, in yummy desserts and even just plain.  But, this has got to be the best! Strawberry shortcake.  Today I drove by the strawberry stand and it was open.  YEAH!!!  And this is what we had for dinner tonight...yummy.

Owen's New Trick

When I was at Amy's this past week to babysit, Owen had learned a new trick.  When I gave him a kiss, he wiped it off!!!  I'd give him another one, and with a big grin, he's wipe that one off,  too!  I asked Wyatt where Owen learned his new trick,  and the reply was, of course, Carson.  Carson is always wiping off kisses.