Cowabunga Bay

Hello... Doesn't this just scream fun!

Our Boys

 We told the kids that we were going to go swimming today, but didn’t exactly tell them where. What made the surprise of today fun was that when we were driving down to Janell and Ryan’s house the kids saw Cowabunga Bay off to the side. When Hailey saw it, her comment was “Oh my gosh Mom, do you see that?... I can tell just by looking at it, that would be a really fun place to go to.” So when we pulled up to Cowabunga Bay, the kids were ecstatic. It is a great place to for younger kids- if Colby hadn’t been so wimpy, he would have loved it too. It seemed like we didn’t even see the girls half the time. They were all over the water park. They loved all the slides and even my little Hailey who just last year was afraid of water slides loved it too. She when down every slide in the park enclosed and open alike. We spent quite a bit of time in the lazy river as well. Uncle Clint met up with us at lunch and the kids had a blast hanging and playing with him around the river. Colby did enjoy hanging out in little wading pool that leads up to the lazy river. He liked pushing around the random floating tubes and splashing in the water when it was on his terms. I did get him down a few slides with me, but I literally had to pry his has off the railing when it was our turn. After going on a few slides, he finally said he liked the “purple slide” (one of the smallest and slowest slides) but he still didn’t want to do it again. Poor little Kaydin loved all of it, but was so tired that she crashed in one of the beach chairs after falling asleep while eating her ice cream. Since Janell was sitting with Kaydin, Colby huddled up by her so he wouldn’t have to go down any more slides with me. So I took Dax and Hailey on a few more slides and when we came back down, Colby was out cold on one of the beach chairs as well. It seemed like a great day to be at a water park, quite warm but not too hot. In proper preparation we had all applied sunscreen when we got there and again after lunch. Apparently the sun is stronger at water parks, because everyone got at least a little sunburn. Honey’s back got fried. The rest of us had a little all over. I hate sunburns! I don’t want any more freckles, and I really don’t want to peel!!! It was a fun time though and definitely something we don’t do every day!

I think this was Colby's favortie part of the day!

Poor Kaydin wore herself out!

This was the pool leading into the lazy river

Daxton was so calm while Colby tried to "tube" him.  I am not really sure what Colby was thinking, but Daxton was dazed enough to not even really care.- Yes... it was a long day.

Uncle Clint and the Boys

Jade just barely escaping the dumping bucket

Honey and Hailey at the top of one of the slides. Hailey was so brave!

This kids and I!- Proof I was there!

Farewell Cowabunga Bay

New Years Eve - Food - Fun - Games & Surprises!

So for this New Years not only did we have awesome company, (Brett & Sherri), but we actually had plans as well! We had played with the idea of going out to dinner, but figured out that would be a long time to have a babysitter so we decided to order in Chinese! My kids had been begging for it ever since Brett & Sherri came into town. They must have my taste in food, because Chinese is my favorite too, so I was all for it! Earlier in the day, Karen asked what we were doing for dinner saying that they might BBQ. When I mentioned Chinese, she said "ooh, that's sounds even better". Later I talked to Kara and mentioned that we were ordering "Lucky House" and then she was in on the game as well. One thing led to another and we all ended up a G-Y's house for a "Chinese New Year Feast" ha/ha. (By the way thanks Karen for hosting at a last minutes notice)

It was great food as always, and the kids had a blast playing, dressing up and being creative as they always do.


After that we took the kids home and left them in great hands with Andrea, Kara's sister, and headed over to Pace's house for hangin' and games. This is the first time in a long time we were not with our kids for New Years. It was a lot of fun, but a little weird. I felt a little better when I heard what a good time they had with Andrea playing games, drinking Martinellis, etc.


We had a fun time at the Pace's. It is always fun hanging with friends and playing games and it was even more special to have Brett and Sherri with us. They fit in perfectly and everyone really enjoyed them. We broke Sherri into her second game of Ticket to Ride. There were two games going on- with lots of laughter going, catching the intrigue of all. Brian, Brett and a few of the other guys mostly mingled (i think- we were playing a game so I am not totally sure). I know there was a little friendly tapping going on as well. I swear sometimes they act like they are 12...what can you do? When it came time for the count down we all gathered in the family room with our Martinellis and popping cranberries.- Happy New Year! What an opportunity to celebrate the coming of what it going to be a great year (I decided) with family and friends!

Now this next part is not something that I am extremely proud of, but I want you to hear it from me first, because I know sometimes when other people tell stories they can be a little over exaggerated.... So after the ball drops there is always music and bands playing. Well, Black Eyed Peas happened to be on playing Boom Boom Pow. I really enjoy that song, especially the good beat. So I was just kind of swaying around to the beat. Everyone was still kind of standing around so I went to put my arm around Brian and sort of "Boogie Woogie" behind him (his back was to me)- I did out of precautionary measure look over and see that Brett was standing by his wife Sherri, because I have on occasion accidentally mistaken Brett for Brian (they are twins after all). Anyway, seeing that I was safe it wasn't Brett, I started to wrap my arm around Brian and dance up behind him. I was watching the tv as I did this and then as I looked up toward Brian... I realized the person I started wrapping my arm around to "boogie" with was not in fact Brian, but our friend Alex. I was so startled that I screamed and jumped back (which unfortunately drew everyone's attention) I'm not sure if it was all the soda I drank, the jumping back or the nerves, but I had to run to the bathroom. I was laughing so hard out of pure humiliation that I thought I might pee my pants (fyi- I made it to the bathroom!) As I came back in the room, needless to say the laughter had not stopped. The problem was if I hadn't screamed, not very many people would have realized what happened, but I was so shocked that it was just my reaction. I cam back to find Alex was quite proud and sure that it was just his pure animal magnetism. (O.K. ?!?- j/k Alex) Come to find out Brian had been sitting on the couch and was nowhere near me at the time. Not only that but my friend Karen, Alex's wife, was standing slightly behind me watching the whole thing wondering what in the world I was doing. If nothing else- it made for a truly memorable night. One of Brett's final comments was "It was kind of nice to see it happen to someone besides me" - Thanks Brett. Happy New Year to you all and may your New Year be full of surprises too!

Poor Uncle Brett- Nobody Likes You!

One of the mornings while Brett and Sherri were here visiting, I came downstairs... (being the last one to drag my lazy but out of bed) and saw the kids watching tv with Brett- or shall I say on Brett. Lucky for them, they have a patient and wonderful Uncle. Thanks Brett -Next time I will get up earlier (or not).

A Quick Trip To Tahoe

ok -so I am a little late it posting this, but better late than never.
8/25/09
We don’t get to hang out much with Brad and Rachel and fam, so when they invited us come to Tahoe for the weekend, of course we had to go. We headed up Friday after work to meet them at Taylor’s cabin. It was a great start to the weekend because after putting kids to bed Rach and I hopped in the hot tub to relax! A little bit later their other friends the Suttons’ arrived as well. The next morning when the adults finally started to surface, Brad gave us the run down for the day. – I love it when someone else does the planning and all I have to do is go along for the ride! (Thanks Brad!) First on the agenda was a boat ride over to the beach by ___?___ Trail. So we piled 11 kids and 6 adults in the Cobalt and we were off. It was quite a site to see 9 kids sitting in the bow of the boat, waving and EVERYONE who went bye.

When we got to the beach we hung out and ate lunch then we hiked up along side of the cliff where Brad showed the kids a little cave that they could squeeze through. It was funny standing on one side of the rock because you couldn’t see where the kids went in, all you saw was kids coming out of a small crack in the rock. And it seemed like they just kept coming and coming. It reminded us of a clown car. They even got Colby to try going through. After the hike we hung out on the beach a little longer just relaxing while the kids played on the rocks, with the rocks and in the water. It was really rocky at the edge of the water so the kids were a little timid about playing in the water, until Brad told them there was the softest sand ever just out past the rocks. Then it was a challenge to see who could get the softest sand. It was great… it kept the kids busy for a while so we could all relax.

After that we hopped back in the boat and headed over to Emerald Bay. We cruised around the little island and saw the neat stone house of the lady who used to own all of Emerald Bay. Brad told us they story about how the lady built a little play house on the top of the little island for her daughter. Of course that got our curiosity going so the boat dropped off a few of us off, and we hiked up to the top to see the little play house. There were some sketchy rocks so I ended up carrying Colby all the way up to the top. … that was fun, not. So at the top it was basically a little old stone house. There is no longer any roof or windows, but it still was pretty cool.

Next we headed over to the beach where Beacon’s grill is for dinner. We planned on eating on the deck that was on the beach while we watched the kids play. While we waited the kids had a blast playing in the water and digging in the sand. It was really cute watching Hailey and Luke (the Sutton’s 6 year old). They got along really well and seemed to have a lot of fun playing with each other. What ever we did they were always wanting to be in the same group or by each other. Alicia and I think they might have a little crush on each other. – I’m not sure I am ready for this!

After a little while the kids started to get hungry so we started feeding them the left over snacks and food from lunch. Brad grabbed a bag of grapes and started feeding the “animals”. After that the kids were obsessed with trying to catch food in their mouths. Much to our dismay after about an hour and a half we realized that we weren’t going to get a table on the deck and we knew it would just be to much to take all 11 kids inside to eat, so we decided to head home.

After a little while the kids started to get hungry so we started feeding them the left over snacks and food from lunch. Brad grabbed a bag of grapes and started feeding the “animals”. After that the kids were obsessed with trying to catch food in their mouths. Much to our dismay after about an hour and a half we realized that we weren’t going to get a table on the deck and we knew it would just be to much to take all 11 kids inside to eat, so we decided to head home.
As luck would have it, when we were loading up the boat we realized there was a great little restaurant next to the patch of grass where the kids were already playing. The “Fresh Ketch” was close and the kids could keep playing while the adults ate. It was perfect. Almost everyone ordered the special - the blackened fish tacos - and they all loved them. I even tried just a plain piece of blackened mahi mahi! Yes… I ate fish and I liked it!! Watch out folks I am turning over a new leaf. It was a nice casual relaxed dinner other than the occasional screaming from the car where Olivia (Sutton), Sammie Lou and Colby were trying to watch a movie. All the drama for the weekend came from those three.

After that we headed back to the cabin where the kids played in the hot tub for a while and then headed to bed. Then the adults got their chance to relax it the hot tub. We pretty well hung out and visited until we were to hot and tired.

Last but not least Sun. morning we started packing up and got ready for one last activity, an off-roading trek. So once again we packed up some lunches and headed off road in the Edgren’s Land Cruiser and our Expedition. It was pretty rough and sketchy in some parts, but for the most part we did ok until our back tire hit some sand and before we knew it we were stuck.

So the Moms and kids got out and hiked up the hill a little more to eat lunch while the guys headed back to get a tow strap. It was fun watching the kids pal around together. Jade and Coleman seemed to be inseparable. They have been great friends playing together ever since they were little. Hailey, Luke and Drew seemed pretty pally as well.

After eating and hiking around with the kids the guys came back and thankfully successfully pulled our car out. We finished up with eating and sending the guys on a hike with the kids. We even got to see some crazy trucks off-roading. They were literally climbing rocks. The kids got a real kick out of watching them. Then we had a fun crazy drive back down the hill. I was holding on to the “oshi” bar for dear life and the kids were in the back laughing and squealing with excitement. I think they enjoyed it! (ha/ha)

Unfortunately as all things do, our trip had to come to an end. We all had a great time hanging out with the Edgrens’ and Suttons. Our kids especially enjoyed playing with their “cousins” aka Edgren’s kids and their friends the Suttons’. I have to admit all things considered all the kids got along and played together very well! Thank you so much to Brad and Rachel for inviting us. Hope that we have an opportunity to do it again!