Southern Cal with the Carters

At Seal Beach

We stayed at the Welk Resort, as in Lawrence Welk.  Sounds cheesy, I know, but it was a really great resort especially for the kids.  The kids said the water slide was better than any other place we've stayed.

With Jessica & Kris Carter at Coronado.

Chelsea Kartchner, Hannah, Jessica, Aubrey Carter, Ireland, Keaton & Sheridan

One night at the Welk Resort we saw a comedian & magic show. ( This is the magicians assistant teaching the girls magic tricks.)  The comedian was hilarious.  He did a great show and kept it very clean.  However, Sheridan didn't get ANY of the jokes.  She was bored and would duck over to tell me so.  In the process she became part of the comedians show and she had no clue that he was talking about her. 

Seaworld 2009

Shamu or one of his/her off-spring.

Soaking wet after coming down the Atlantis Ride.  We vacationed with some family friends, the Carters.  We took their youngest, Keaton, with us to Seaworld.

Sheridan playing in the Star Fish pond.  

Ireland petting the the stingrays.  This was amazing and my personal favorite.

In the Shark World exhibit.  Sharks were swimming overhead.

We love Southern Cal.  Took the girls on our first trip to Seaworld.  Touching the stingrays and star fish were the greatest.  The kids loved the seal show.  They were hoping for more rides.  I had to remind them 'It's Seaworld!  They don't have roller coasters at the bottom of the ocean!'

Wow!

This years Reflections theme (a statewide elementary arts program) was Wow!

Ireland (literally, last minute) entered her first pottery project - an Owl tea light candle holder-  and called her entry:  'Wow it's an Owl'.   She ended up winning 3 levels of awards and was the only student from Draper Elementary that went on to State Reflections.  We have yet to hear from the State level. 

A Brief Buttenhoff Invasion

My Aunt Shirley & Uncle Darryl Buttenhoff stopped by for a night on their way to Tucson, AZ - via Washington, Idaho, Montana & Wyoming.  Might be time for a new GPS. =o)  We loved having them even though is was a very short stay.

Just as our visitors were leaving... Ireland sported a goatee in honor of her Great Uncle.

Dana Point 2009

Chris & I on a beach walk.  

Nanete & I spotted a VERY LONG line at the 'Sprinkles' cupcake store in Newport.  We asked a security guard if it was really worth it.  Another patron in line with ties to Utah told us he was taking 85 of the little cakes back to San Diego for friends.  By the time we were inside we had upped our order from sharing 1 to a box of 6 ($20.00 total - holy crap....what was a thinking)  They were okay.  'Nothing Bundt Cake' is still king.

The Smith's (closest to the camera) invited us along with Gordon & Nanete Daw & Koni & Doug Smart to stay at their Dana Point Beach House.  

Occasionally, Chris struggled to find wireless internet.  But on the patio behind a chair always worked.

Taken from the beach house that looks out over the Pacific and Catalina Island in the background. Obviously, I spent the weekend without much make-up!  YIKES - a little too relaxed.

Things we only dream about this time of year....

Ireland would be behind the boat all day long if we gave her the option.

Sheridan - the beach bum.

Chris loves clearing a wake.

Tarilee's newest love...surfing.

Chillin' in a secret canyon.

Ireland found new boyfriends...

Ireland spent her weekend with the world champion wakeboarders.  She was the official 'rope girl'.  Check it all out at:

www.alliancewake.com/article_gallery.php?id=4458

My baby turns 7

Since she could say the word, her favorite color has always been blue.

After 20 minutes of shear panic she finally took the 15' plunge.

She would love to have a furry animal in the house, but, like peanut butter, she's allergic.

WILL EAT... even at 40 mph

Spent days searching for bugs this summer.  What a nerd.

This morning Sheridan woke up and said "Mom, I really feel like I'm 7 now"  I said, 'hold up, not until 11:45 a.m. will you be officially 7.'

I have 2 neighborhood girlfriends, Corrine & Nanete.  2 years ago, Sheridan, in her infinite wisdom, realized that they were not necessarily 'her friends' and so it would be okay to play with them on Sunday.  Each Sunday she'd end up at either house - often both.  She got very comfortable with them and by last Christmas she was asking them what they would be giving her for Christmas.  1 month later when she turned 6 again she asked about her present.  We were horrified and embarrassed when we got word of it and explained to her that it was very inappropriate to ask people for gifts.

It's been months since she's spent time with either Corrine or Nanete.  Yesterday, 'birthday eve', she made her way to both houses armed with a more politically correct statement, 'Did you know that tomorrow is my birthday?"

As a mother I am...

a really cool one or a terrible one... for removing my daughter from school on 2 different occasions so that she could go snowboarding.

More of us....

I think this is the best picture of Chris & his boys!

I can finally re-live the Christmas Season

Each year we attend 'Brunch with Santa & Mrs. Claus' at the country club.  

Sheridan is getting REALLY good at this stuff which means mom can cut back on micro-managing.

This was taken the day we saw Santa.  By Christmas they'd trade dresses.

She's been hired!  Chris generally pays my niece, Emily, to wrap gifts for him.  The job is now Irelands.  Chris must be on NET 30 because she asn't seen payment yet.

For some odd reason Dec. '08 was an exhausting month for me.  I didn't sleep well and felt overwhelmed almost every day.  By the 25th I had a cold and just wanted to sleep!  Now that it's over I am SO relieved.  My goal for '09 (in addition to eating more fruits & veggies) is to do what it takes to enjoy the month of December.  

wait a minute.... there's my problem.... I failed to eat fruit & veggies in December '08.

Happy Sushi Year Eve!

This year we had 65 friends for New Years Eve Sushi.  64 indulged while I opted for a "Pizza Bender" from Italian Village.  Unfortunately, my camera didn't leave this table so I have pictures of the 12 wing nuts in the corner.  It was an attempt to keep the other 53 safe.

She doesn't get out much....

Hard to tell but Adam's belt buckle (the one in pink) reads 'Happy New Year - meet me in the elevator' in scrolling lights.  We'll leave the 366th night of '08 at that.