SHAMU, SHAMU!!!

Saturday was our day at Sea World. After Disneyland, I wondered if it would be a disappointment to the girls. But I think they had fun. We got there, and grabbed a $5 Little Ceasar's pizza before heading into the park. (Much cheaper than any of the food available at Sea World.)

The first thing we saw was "Shamu." The girls were mesmerized, and would have stayed there all day if we had let them.

Then we went to catch "Shamu's" Believe show. It's really not Shamu anymore, though. I guess killer whales don't live that long. (Can you tell Andie was just a tad excited?!?)

This is Corky, but to the girls he was still Shamu.

Daddy and his girls watching the Believe show.

Corky again. They did some pretty cool things.

After that, we headed to the Grand Opening of a new kiddie land there at Sea World. It's all Sesame Street themed, and Andie was in heaven. She kept pointing out pictures of Elmo, Cookie, and Abby. We met up with the McCarty's again, and the girls all had fun playing together.

Josian & Aspen and Rob & Kate in the mirrors. The girls thought they were pretty funny.

Me and Andie riding the flying Elmo pig.

Watching Elmo on the big boat with Bert and Ernie, Abby and Cookie Monster. Andie was in heaven!

She was scared of Belle, but give her a big, red, hairy monster, and she walks right up to him and gives him a hug. Go figure!

The highlight of the vacation for Andie.

She was a little leary of Big Bird.

Kate after watching the sea lion show.

Getting ready to watch the 4-D Elmo movie. You had to wear 3-D glasses, and the seats rumbled, sprayed water at you, it rained from the ceiling, and bubbles floated down as well. Andie was in awe.

Heading to the car after another exhausting day.

Andie didn't even make it to the car!

Disneyland, Here We Come!

When we decided to take this trip, the McCarty's weren't going to be going to Disneyland until Monday, and we were planning on leaving on Sunday afternoon. Well, their plans changed, and we ended up going to Disneyland on Friday. (I was so excited, it was my first visit to anything Disney.) Kate was excited to be going to Cinderella's house.

The girls in front of Cinderella's castle.

(Kate informed us that it was, in fact, Cinderella's castle. Why should it be any one elses?)

Another try at a family picture.

Kate trying to pull the sword out of the stone. She and Aspen got to meet Merlin too!

Andie riding the horses.

Kate, ever the poser.

The flying elephants.

Again, Kate, the poser.

One of the only smiles we got from Andie on film.

Sitting on Pirate Treasure. Kate was sad that it was all super glued together, and we couldn't take any for ourselves.

Kate got to meet Pocohontas. Andie was scared.

Kate got to meet Minnie Mouse, and Andie was scared.

Kate got to meet Belle.

Andie was scared, and didn't want to leave my side.

Another stab at a family picture.

Since we only had one day at Disneyland, we tried to pack as much into the day as we could. We went on Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White Adventure, Pinnochio's Daring Journey, the Carousel, Storybook Land, the Flying Elephants, the spinning Tea Cups, the train around the park, Buzz Lightyear (where the girls got to shoot laser beams at the evil Zurg), Star Tours, Thunder Mountain (Kate's favorite), the Matterhorn, Finding Nemo (Andie's favorite), Pirates of the Caribbean (Kate was scared and covered her eyes the whole time), and the Tomorrow Land Rockets.

We also did a storytime with Sleeping Beauty. The girls got to see (but not talk to) Mickey Mouse, Mulan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. We also went to the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. We watched the fireworks near the castle, too. I think the the kids had a pretty fun day, Andie missed her nap, but was still pretty happy for the most part. We didn't head home until about 11:30. The kids fell asleep before we even left the parking lot!

I think this face says it all!

We're Back!

We made it back from a last minute weekend trip to California. We decided to meet our friends the McCarty's in Oceanside, CA for a fun filled weekend of fun in the sun. Although, the sun didn't quite agree with our plans. We left on Wednesday afternoon, made it to Las Vegas, spent the night there with family, and headed out early Thursday morning.

As we pulled into the parking lot in Oceanside, Kate informed us that this was the best day of her life, and this was going to be the best vacation ever! we brought in our luggage, and then headed straight to the beach! The girls were excited to see their friends Aspen and Brindley, but they were most excited to just be out of the car.

Even though the sun was hiding behind clouds, and it was a tad windy, it didn't stop Kate from running straight into the water.

Andie was a bit more hesitant, and enjoyed digging in the sand.

Kate and Andie playing in the sand.

Sharla and I enjoyed sitting on the warm sand and watching the girls play together. But the boys would have none of that!

They went boogie boarding! They said the water was pretty warm, but it was really cold when they got out.

Kate and Aspen dancing in the surf.

No trip to the beach is complete without a dance in the surf!

Andie happily pointed out the "Scoo Bus" in the background about a hundred times. She also had fun pointing out any birds, airplanes, or helicopters she saw. But beware! Any bird that got close enough, was chased down by Miss Andie.

Andie loved sitting on the warm sand.

Kate on the best day of her life.

Andie and Brindley playing in the sand. They were so dirty by the end of our day at the beach. But, they had fun.

Out attempt at a family picture.

After playing all day at the beach, the girls were exhausted and fell right to sleep when we got in the car. We headed back to the condo we were staying in and enjoyed a nice dinner of grilled steaks, potatoes, corn on the cob, cantelope, and honeydew melon. Yummy! Topped off with a soak in the hot tub. What more could a girl ask for?!?

Am I a Bad Mommy?

Because I think this is hilarious!

I've been tagged...Thanks Linds!

The rules of the game: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was 17 and finishing my sophomore year in High School. I worked at McDonald's, attended early morning Seminary, was a cheerleader, in Drama Club, a part of Batesville Singers (the show choir), and was concerned about how I was going to get a tan that summer. Man, that seems like such a lifetime ago now!

2. What was on my to-do list for today?
Wash, dry, fold, and put away both girls laundry. Sweep and mop my kitchen floor (again), run to Albertsons to pick up more cereal, unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, feed the kiddos lunch, clean up after lunch, put Andie down for a nap, figure out what to make for dinner, read stories with Kate, make dinner, enjoy dinner with the family, clean up after dinner, go on a walk with the girls and Rob, get the girls in bed, and fall asleep in an exhausted heap!

3. What would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire?
Not worry about owning 2 houses, waiting for one of them to sell. Buy my parents a house, and pay for their health insurance so they could move out here and be close to their grandkids. Dress my kids in the cutest clothes imaginable. Hire a maseusse to give me daily massages.

4. 3 Bad habits
Wasting time by sleeping in, not being patient enough with my kids, and biting my nails.

5. Places I have lived
Spanish Fork, Indianapolis, Sullivan, Batesville, Bloomington, Provo, Orem, and now Provo again.

6. Places I have worked...
Babysitter, McDonald's, Children's Dental Care, As Seen on TV, Luv 'N Stuff (a kiosk in the mall), Convergys, and Plum Flower Lane.

7. 3 Things people don't know about me.
I hate grocery shopping and doing laundry.
I love to eat frozen cookie dough.
I don't like chocolate ice cream, but I like vanilla ice cream topped with Hershey's chocolate syrup.

In now tag Matt & Krachel, Kylee, and Emily.