California Dreamin'!

Well, we are back from our week long vacation in California. We were able to squeeze a lot of fun into seven days. We left Utah early on the morning of the 13th and DROVE to Parumph, Nevada, which is really really hot! After a night in Nevada we continued onto California.

Day 1: Was spent at California Adventure. Some of the family favorites were the Hollywood Tower of Terror, Soarin' over California, and Mickey Mouse Playhouse. Declan was particularly fond of Mickey's Playhouse. After California Adventure we went to Medieval Times for a Birthday Dinner since it was my (Josh) birthday, September 15. The show was fun and entertaining. Being able to cheer for our knight and boo the bad guy was really fun. It was a great day to end the day.

Day 2: We headed over to Sea World. The morning was overcast and pretty chilly from the breeze off the coast. As the day went on the sun came out and it became a very nice day. The attractions at Sea World were great. Declan had a great time in Elmo's Playground, which had rides and water toys. Some of the other shows and exhibits that everyone enjoyed were THE SHARK Exhibit, Shamu's show, Petting the Sting Rays, Seal and Otter show, The Pets Rule Show, and The Dolphin Show. Also.... even though we all wanted to get some sun..... we got a little too much sun.... Burnt crispy.

Day 3: We finally got over to Disney Land. On this day, Declan was really excited to see Mickey and get his Mickey Ears. He asked me, "Daddy can I have Mickey Ears, Please?" So of course we went straight to the Ear store and let him pick out his ears... I thought they were a good choice. I know his uncle Hy and Emmy will love them too.

After we got his ears it was time to meet the Characters.... He was a little shy at first but he warmed up quick, a few of his favorite characters were Mickey (of course), Pluto, Goofy, and Chip.



Toon Town was by far Declan's favorite place in Disney Land. He was able to let loose and run around like little kids should. After a long day of character hunting, rides, and walking through the hot sun it was time to crash so we could prep for Universal Studios the next day.

Day 4: Universal Studios. Universal was pretty cool, although, it wasn't very kid friendly. Declan had to sit out on a lot of the rides. He did get to see the Shrek 4D Movie, interact with a lot of his favorite characters, Shrek, Donkey, Sponge Bob, and Curious George. There was a water area that had a rocket ship and huge buckets that would soak anyone in the area. It was a very fun and entertaining place to watch people get wet.

The Jurassic Park and Mummy rides were pretty cool and very fun. Another really awesome ride was the Simpson's ride. I recommend this ride to anyone that goes to Universal Studios. The back lot tour was pretty interesting as well.

Day 5: The final day of Disney Land. On Friday, Wayne, Cheryl, and Mike all kind of pooped out on us and stayed at the Hotel while Kyrie, Brit, Declan, and I went to Disney Land. We spent a long 13 hours on the park that day.... makes for a Mickey overload. Declan ended up crashing mid-day and definitely gained a second wind. The last day of our Disney Adventure and it ended with a bang. The fireworks display was amazing.

I know this post is really really long, but it was a long week. I am hoping to get some more pictures on here when I figure out the slide show feature. Until then I hope that this will get you up to speed on how are trip was fun, exciting, and very entertaining.

9/11/2001.... Still Remembering

Seven years later and we still think about "THAT DAY." I don't think a time has gone by when I hear the phrase "September Eleventh" that I don't think about that morning, that week, the long war(s) that have followed and all the men and women that have died because of it. While at work someone had said, "You know what Thursday is don't you?" to which someone else replied, "Just another day." I hear this, and I know we all want it to just be another day, but it's not. It is the day in our lives, much like Pearl Harbor rocked our parents and grandparents, that we were scared. We were worried for our families, our friends, and our neighbors. I don't think we should just put this day up on the shelf, bind it between two covers and forget about it.... we NEED to remember it.



I know, much like everyone else, I can tell you exactly what I was doing, where I was, who I was with, and how I reacted when I saw those planes fly into the World Trade Center Towers. New York City, and the rest of the nation, with our diverse and independent way of thinking, became one. We all were on the same level, we became equal in the eyes of every other American, and not because we saw the same thing on television that morning, not because we were standing one block away from the eventual ground zero. We became united, because we are fellow AMERICANS. The land of the free and the home of the brave had just become much more vulnerable. We needed each other, through prayer, comfort, and the idea that we were ONE NATION UNDER GOD.



I also want to address those that think the whole idea of 9/11 was a government conspiracy.

ARE YOU INSANE!?!

Really? Why would any government, especially that of the greatest nation in the world, want to invoke fear and tragedy into the lives of their own citizens? Answer... They wouldn't. Please, instead of putting your arrogant and hateful attitude toward an administration that was in the White House less than a year at the time of the attacks aside, and think about the men and women risking their lives for a more peaceful World, not to mention all the people that lost their lives and loved ones in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. "That Day." Think of them and put your selfish ideals aside for one day... ONE DAY.... September 11, 2008; and be proud to be an American, and proud of the progress we are trying to make after such a devastating blow to our nations freedoms, security, and liberty.

Oh Boy!

Growing up I only had Brit...I did not grow up with brothers and I didn't have any boy cousins my age. So imagine my surprise when the following takes place while Josh is at work...

I was in the shower when my two year old came barging in and asked me where my "peep" was. I was MORTIFIED! Josh was at work and I didn't want to be the one to explain this to my son. So I told him that I didn't have a "peep." He asked again, "Mama, where's your peep go?" and again I said, "I don't have one because I am a girl and girls don't have peeps." He looked at me and said, "Well, what's hanging behind my peep?" Now, being the grown up mom that I am, I tried really hard not to show my embarrassment or that I thought this was funny, and I calmly told him that, "that's apart of your peep." Declan looked at me and finally said, "Oh, so you don't go potty like daddy."

I am so grateful to have gotten through that step of motherhood without scaring Declan or myself. However, the next time Dec has one of "those" questions...I'm calling Josh!

Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays bring us... Fantasy Land

Yes, it is that time of year again. When those of us try living our fantasy dreams of being NFL superstars enviously through those actually talented and lucky enough to be getting paid to play a game.

It is fantasy football season. Not just FOOTBALL season... FANTASY football season. For those of you unfamiliar with this less masculine and far more geeky version of the battle of the grid iron; it is the culmination of several sports freaks... what my brother-in-law so accurately refers to as cyber jocks, form a league, hold their own draft and use the success of their players each week to compete for points, bragging rights, in some cases money, and of course the title of FANTASY FOOTBALL CHAMPION.

It might seem like he is dazing off at church, or he isn't listening to a word you are saying..... well actuallyhe is dazing off and he has no idea what you are talking about. He is however, thinking about his lineups, trade deadlines, and waiver lists. Don't fault him for this vice, he is only a man.... and well.... If you really need to talk to him that bad, just wait until a commercial or Tuesday.

Thought of the Week:

Seatbelt..... check.....
Mirrors set.... check.....
Music at appropriate level.... check....

Paying attention to the road..... um....

Driving home from work this afternoon I witnessed what seemed to be the most hilarious wreck I have ever seen... and it involved three cars. Traffic gets a little backed up on U.S. 193 at Highway 89 every day around 3:00. Hill AFB shift change, school gets out, and every day traffic helps to congest this traffic light. As I am sitting in traffic just humming along to the radio.... when I say humming I really mean violently "singing" along in an awful off pitch, out of tone manner that would make the deaf tell me to shut the heck up..... but its my car and I can sing as terrible as I want.

Anyway, there I am karaokeing away and a black Hyundai is sitting between the south bound exit lane and the flow of traffic, headed to the north bound exit lane. The guy, mid thirties gives me the you just got busted singing smirk, and a raise of the fingers off his window seal. I wave hello...... and his car all of a sudden jerks forward about two feet. He had just been struck by another vehicle.... It seemed as if everything was OK. I pulled off to the side of the road to see if everyone was OK..... also to get that menacing good deed out of the way for this month.

As I was talking to the guy in the black Hyundai the driver of the other car, a silver Honda Civic walks up to the guys car...... I almost burst out laughing in her face. She was obviously not paying attention to the road from the... well... the mascara smeared up one of her eyes and side of her forehead. Seriously..... it was great. I could see that I was just in the way and of no real use in the situation anyhow, so I walked back to the Jeep to head on my way.... and another car, white, with a female driver, drives right into the back of the mascara woman's car. Now, not only is her front end smashed in, but the trunk is now located in her back seat. Her Civic has become much more compact. I laughed and laughed, got into the Jeep and headed home.

This little story has preceded my thought but offers some brief background into the reasoning behind it....

A car is many things, it is a transporter, it will take you to where you need to go.

A car can be used as a shelter from the elements and harsh mood swings of mother nature.

A car can be used as a substitute for things lacking in ones life... to compensate if I may.

A car is also a less popular, but realistic sign of stature even if we don't want to accept it.

BUT...

A car is not to be used as an all purpose, one stop shopping, I'll do my makeup, read a tabloid, talk on my cell phone, eat some fast food, and wash it all down with a diet coke AND DRIVE machine ...

A car is a weapon of somewhat mass destruction... Please please ... watch the road... please.

I am so proud!

What a surprise! I woke up from a nap today and Josh and Declan surprised me with our new blog! Josh is definately the more witty of us so he'll be the one updating this more often. I, however, will try and keep our facebook updated. I just adore my son and hubby and am so glad that he has gotten into the "blogging" spirit!
Love,
Kyrs

Declan being Daddy and Daddy being Declan

The other day Declan put on my shoes and started walking around the house

saying "I'm daddy, do what I am saying, I'm Daddy." So I took off my shirt and put it on him. Then I put his shirt on top my head and put his sandles on my big toes. I followed him around the house asking him what he wanted me to do. He kept saying, "I'm daddy, you're Declan, follow me Declan." It was very cute. Kyrie was such a proud mom. Too bad she didn't get a picture of me as Declan.