Derek was so tired he just fell asleep on the floor
around 4 and I had to wake him for swimming lessons @ 6.
Happy Father's Day!!
THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks. Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.
There is no fast food. Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money. In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.
Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing.
Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.
He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.
Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.
The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.
During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained moodswings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.
They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.
They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.
A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.
The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if... he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.
If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right
To be called Mother!
Rachel tagged me (a long time ago) for this meme.
Here goes:
A-Adoptive parent
B-Blogger
C-California’s where we live
D-Dog owner
E-Entertainment News watcher
F-Friendly
G-Google reader user
H-Hawaii is fave vacation spot
I-Introverted
J-Judy is my mom
K-Kids are learning @ home
L-Loving
M-MOOOMMM!
N-Nebraska Born
O-Older, but Better!
P- Pizza lover
Q-Quiet is what I like best
R-Roman Catholic
S-SDSU graduate
T-Travel Europe is my dream wish
U-Unschooling Advocate
V-Very Affectionate
W-Wife to Geoff
X-Xtreme tv watcher & blog reader
Y-Yells too much
Z-Zippy CA driver
I gotta tag you!:
I saw Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt at Disney's California Adventure!
We just got off of the King Triton's Carousel and were waiting for the kids on Ca Sreamin' when I spotted Spencer. I thought, wow! that guy looks just like Spencer from "The Hills" and then knew it was him. And close by was Heidi.
They were moving towards the fence to take some photos with some little girls. By the time I could figure out my camera they were starting to walk away.
Heidi is the tiniest thing. She is very short and super skinny. So much for the double fisted ice cream bar AND cotton candy!
Next day there were photos of them on E! & Entertainment Tonight riding the new Toy Story ride.
They are NOT my favorite couple on the show. But I have been watching Lauren since Newport Beach and the past 3 seasons of The Hills.
Since they are the show's antagonists... well you just have to hear what they are up to each show... either breaking up or getting back together! Season finale??? They were getting back together... but still not friends with Lauren.
Another FUN trip up the coast. This will be our last trip for a few months.
Gas prices are killing us but also our So Cal DL Passes are blocked out from
mid-June to mid-Aug. That's OK we don't want to go during the heat and crowds of summer.
We'll wait for the Fall and NO lines, thank you very much!!
Get out your tissues.................
In Phoenix , AZ , a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams.
Now, that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?'
Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.'
Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.' Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix , Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix . She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year Old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.
Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him with a real fire hat - not a toy one - with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.'
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone - began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.
The chief replied; 'We can do better than that, we'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor?
When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time, and will you open the window to his room?
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window--------16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.
With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the Fire Chief and said; 'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'
'Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,' the Chief said.
With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing..' He closed his eyes one last time.
Please pray for my dh, Geoff, He'll be running in the Marathon.
It is his 10th year running!!
In 7 months & 24 days.. He is turning 50.
I asked him today if this is his last marathon.
He said, "after tomorrow it's 10 down, 10 to go"
Here's a picture from last year. 2007 after we found him at the finish line area.
Just outside of Las Vegas, about 10 miles from the MGM Grand is the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory.
I've wanted to go by there every time we go to LV and this was the year!
Besides it was Mother's Day and mothers get to do what they want and they want chocolate!
Here is the first poster......... which tells now chocolate is made.
From the cocoa plant, harvesting the seeds, drying the seeds
fementing
grinding
mixing
Since it was Sunday the actual Chocolate making room was empty.
But here are pictures of the copper kettles for making the brittles and caramels.
.
Next are the mixers for making the creamy centers. Circular silver tubs with the white bottoms.
Then are the cooling tables for pouring out things to cool on the long tables
Frank Mars was the founder of Mars candy. M&Ms, Snickers, etc.
Ethel was his wife's name.
She wanted to make gourmet candies so she started her own factory.
I'll only bore you with one of them.
We are off to be first to see the "Prince Caspian" movie @ 10:45 a.m.
We read the book in 2 days, then watched the DVD of LWW to get us even more excited for the new film.
I was browsing wowio.com yesterday and thought I'd remind you of it.
Look around at the free books. Then you make a wish list "Queue" and then download 3 books a day; up to 30 in a month.
I got the activity books for Leonardo da Vinci, the Greeks, Romans, Colonial & Pioneers
http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=599
http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=497
There is a whole Medieval Series http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=3847
This is a remake of a Mexican or So American Folk Tale. For the kids, http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=2053 I read it yesterday..... it also has pretty artwork.
I'm ordering the solar system book http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=3413
We'll be doing Astronomy soon. We are finishing up Zoology 2 by Apologia and will do Astronomy next.
Today I got the Myths & Legends http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=2434
James is into Greek Myths and we've been reading those. I like having different versions of tales for comparison readings.
I think he will like "Jamestown Discovered". Written about the archaeological dig of the possible Jamestown location. http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=3572
And his Shakespeare group may be doing "Taming of the Shrew" next.
http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1026
And how about Grey's Anatomy for science of the human body?http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=4349
Yummy chocolates chosen at the factory and hand packed.
They made it 333 miles home too!!
Top left 2 are Raspberry filled, next 2 are orange.
next column are 4 peanut butter
then carmel with the silver one being coconut
2 Margarita flavor
creme brulee, tiramisu
lime
pina coloda
2 toffee in gold foil (like roca)
and a chocolate covered almond bark.
YUMMMY
The Botanical Cactus Garden outside of the Ethel M Chocolate factory just 10 miles from Las Vegas, NV
"Kiddie gambling"
@ Circus Circus
Derek was pretty good at this game.
You get 5 balls and shoot 1 at a time and they fall through the pins. You have to catch it in a U shaped handle.
He caught 3 most of the time and once he caught 4.
3 won an alligator. Then he traded 2 alligators in for a manta ray.
4 automatically won a manta ray.
He played once more to take home an alligator.
The pig is from throwing darts.
We were hoping to catch the pirate show outside Treasure Island but it was cancelled.
So I took some fun photos of the kids instead.
We took "the Deuce", a double decker bus from the MGM to Circus Circus.
It took quite a long time, because the bus stops every few blocks and just sits and waits......
It cost $2 for adults and $1 for kids over 6.
Cheaper than a cab I'm sure.
After having fun at Circus Circus watching the VERY brief circus acts that occurred every 1/2 hour or so, we started walking back, and walking and walking.
We made it to the Fashion Mall and there was an Italian restaurant on the corner.
I wanted to check out the Mall map and found a CA Pizza Kitchen. With kids, a familiar restaurant, especially one they have been asking to go to, is easier to convince them to eat.
Yes I have children that don't want to eat, unless it is that golden arches place for one of them.
After dinner we went into Macy's and I found the Croc sandals I was wishing for.
Then we kept walking to the Treasure Island and waited around, asking lots of people what happened to the 7 pm show. It was cancelled and the next show, at 8, would probably be cancelled too.
We kept walking.
The Volcano at the Mirage is under construction, so there is nothing there to see.
We crossed over to the Venetian .....
We became lost and went the wrong way a couple times but finally found our way to the D&B store. When we walked the the salesman (Scott) recognized the bag I was carrying from their store last year. We chatted about how much I like that bag and wanted another bag similar, but in another color. (Mother's Day is tomorrow) He gave me a $50 coupon. whooo hoo. Happy dancing!
I changed my mind to her suggestion. Which was better anyway. The purse I was looking at was $235 and this one was $175. The coupon was for a $200 purchase. So I chose a wristlet that was $45. So it put me over $200 and basically I got it for Free.
There is a glass tunnel and the lions are most often lying on top of the tunnel.
Everyday we went by the Lion enclosure at the MGM to see what the lions were doing.
Today they were playing with the trainers and balls.
I finally got a pair of sandal crocs called "Cleo".
I was going to get the black ones, but decided to get the brown & pink.
I got them at Macy's in Las Vegas. There were croc carts in the malls but they didn't have my size. Plus I had a Macy's coupon for 20% off. yeah.
I love them. They are light as air and I even wear them to church!
I've had the blue ones for 3 years. I wear them EVERY DAY!
I forget I have them on and just come and go.. sometimes I hop in the car and go "OH, I 've got my crocs on!"
They are the most comfortable shoe ever. I mainly wear them as clogs and prefer to have socks on.
The red ones were from my mom last Oct.
We went to Disneyland and her feet were hurting so she bought them for herself.
After a few weeks she decided they were too big for her. She had 2 pair already, so she passed them on to me.
The flip-flops I got @ Costco in Hawaii in december. I don't like them as much. The rim of the shoe in the front is higher than the bed where your toes are and my toes slip forward and bump the rim. They are OK> I wore them walking all around Las Vegas.
Imagine you had dinner,
sat through a spectacular show.... "KA" by cirque du soleil (click to see a short preview video)
and drank a super big gulp margarita...........
and you are not able to run ...
at least the kids ran ahead of me and
unlocked the door...of room 136.
This is the view from the room back to the elevators....way way down there.
Las Vegas!!
From our house it takes about 5 hours.
300 miles
This is our 4th year visiting.
For 3 yrs we stayed at the Monte Carlo. But last year they were doing construction behind it to build "City Center" and the noise was unbearable. We had to change rooms. We tried that first because we didn't want to be changing hotels if we could avoid it.
We like the Monte Carlo hotel for the kids. They let you make reservations for a family of 5 persons.
It has a wave pool and a lazy river. The lobby has Mc D's and Starbucks, pizza, ice cream....
This year we are trying the MGM Grand.
It has a lazy river and a couple pools.
Pictures of New York, New York
Hotel across the street from MGM.
MGM Grand Hotel
I liked it fine, but it was a LOT of walking to get to the pool. You have to go down the entire "Food Walk" to get there. Past fancy restaurants, like Emeril's and Shibuya (a sushi place), Craft Steak (Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio's restaurant)and Sea Blue. There was also a good sandwich shop.
For the kids there is a mini food park with a McD's, Nathans Hot dogs, Pizza and Starbucks.
Guess where we got food for certain children who love pancakes and nuggets.....everyday?
The prices were outrageous! The normal latte at that S place here at home is like $3.60 and there it was $5. plus tax. yikes!
The Lazy River at the pool was fun. I liked jogging under the water around it keeping up with the flow of the river and the kids. So I got a bit of exercise in.
Wed night we arrived and went straight from our room to finding the pool. It was about 4:30. The pool was closing at 6. ? Oh well, it was great to cool off, relax and then go out.
We went over to the Excalibur Hotel. They have a bottom floor that is a carnival, full of kiddie gambling games, where they can win tickets or stuffed animals.
Each of the kids won 3-4 animals and Geoff won a big stuffed lion in a grabbing machine.
After that we went upstairs to the Krispy Kreme store to watch donuts being made. The kids had donuts.
We went back to the MGM and went to the Rainforest Cafe. Geoff ordered a steak & shrimp dinner, the kids shared some fries and I ate his soup.
There are lots of sickness bugs going around, and I've caught the travel bug.
I had it last year too. I planned for weeks and weeks for an across the country Amtrak adventure.
You can buy a month long ticket on Amtrak and see the country.
After a while the $$ started adding up in my mind and I dropped it. For a while.
One of those "travel for cheap" emails came thru from Jet Blue and snagged me.
We could fly from Ca to NYC for $318.
The game is on! I'm thinking this September or early October. After the heat of summer and maybe after school starts. The joys of homeschooling! We can go whenever we want.
ANY ADVICE on the best 2-3 weeks to come out that way??
Next comes checking out books from the library: see photo :)
Asking friends' advice, mapquest, travel guides online, reading other blogs, reading Yahoo questions, posting a question, Fodor's Itinerary ideas.....
The plan right now is definitely Washington, D.C. and NYC. Then over in mid New York state to see my brother and his family, the Erie Canal and Niagara Falls.
I'm also looking into seeing Philadelphia and Boston.
Anyone with advice on getting around once we fly to the East coast. Rental car, train, bus or flying?
With gas prices .... I'm thinking about Amtrack again. I don't know how much airfare will be going up.
The month long pass on Amtrack is a great deal, but we would have to pay extra for sleeping cars, which I think we would want. At least we could easily fulfill the "enter Canada" rule because we would be going to the Niagra area of New York.
