On Friday, my parents ward, (the church congregation they attend), was having a BBQ at one of the parks in the area. This park has been a family favorite my whole life, so we decided to go after lunch, and spend the afternoon at the park. We then attended the BBQ, and headed out to go to the Drive In Theater, which was playing WALL-E.
When you go to the drive in theater, you pay to see two movies. It is a double feature. WALL-E was playing first, and Mama Mia, a movie we had no desire to see, was playing second. Well in one of the other theaters, there was a different family friendly movie playing in the second slot. Some of my single siblings, had the idea that we should have half our cars parked in one lot for WALL-E and the other half parked in the other lot for the other movie. They said they had done this with friends previously, and by all rights you should be able to do it, after all you are paying to see two movies right?
So that was our plan. My brothers, P and S parked their cars in the second lot, while my dad and my brother T parked his car in the lot with WALL-E. We were all meeting there. Well when we got there, we noticed a big sign at the front that said, "No switching theaters." So we knew our plan wouldn't work. The problem is, that my brothers had parked in a different lot. And one of them had gotten in trouble when he and my sister who had ridden with him, had walked through to the lot we were parked on. So then my brothers had to figure out how to get their cars to the correct lots. It was kind of crazy, but we got all of our cars together before the show started.
After WALL-E was over we just left. No point sticking around for a movie you don't want to see.
So we watched WALL-E, which I highly recommend. I haven't been very impressed with the latest PIXAR films. Not because of plot, I thought they were hilarious. But because of language. As soon as I hear some one say a cuss word in a movie, the movie is ruined for me. And ever since The Incredibles, PIXAR seems to think they should ruin all their movies by putting foul language in them. Well WALL-E passed by my standards. It was a good clean movie. Something you don't find much anymore. Cinderella loved it too. In fact since that time, she had chosen what movies she wants to watch based on whether or not they have a preview for WALL-E in them.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Friday, September 19, 2008
My Utah Trip: Family Week: Day 4, Down Town
On Thursday, we loaded up in the car and drove to the Salt Lake City cemetery, to visit the grave of Gordon B. Hinckley, the previous Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
After the cemetery we headed to The Gateway Plaza. This plaza is like a really big outdoor mall. With all kinds of fancy shops as well as some other things, like a children's museum, and a planetarium. We went to the planetarium, and looked at all the cool stuff they had in the lobby.
Then we headed over to the actual plaza.
They have one of those areas that squirt water out of the sidewalk. My youngest sister, N, was very excited to get to do that. And Cinderella was too. When we got there I realized I hadn't planned very well. We just figured we would let the kids run through in their clothing. I had brought a dry change of clothes for my kids, and my mom had brought some towels.
Well the plaza was packed. And all the kids were in swim suits. So I decided to look at the rules they had posted and see if they had a rule against street clothing being worn. Well they didn't specify that they needed to have a swim suit. But there was a sign that said all children under the age of 4 (I think) had to have a swim diaper, and rubber pants covering it. And then in big letters it stated that "People who have had diarrhea in the last 2 weeks need to stay out of the pool." Now here is the controversy. Does water shooting out of the sidewalk constitute as a pool?
Both my kids had been sick with diarrhea within the previous week. So do I keep them out? Or let them go in? As we debated what to do, someone pointed out, that the lack of swim diapers was probably a bigger issue. So I thought we could look around and see if there was any place nearby that sold swim diapers.
Then I realized that my husband had the opinion that we should obey all of the signs. The kids had been sick, they couldn't go. I hated to tell them that, because I knew how much some of them were really excited to play in the water. I didn't agree with the sign, and felt like it would be OK. But I could also understand where my husband was coming from.
He pointed out to me, that if our kids had been completely healthy and we let them do this, and some parent let their sick kids play, and our kids got sick, we wouldn't be too happy with that parent, so we shouldn't let our kids play either.
So much to the disappointment of Cinderella and Aunt N, we told them we couldn't do it. We then proceeded to return to Grandma's house, were we set up the kiddy pool I had bought, and a slip and slide, and let them all play in the water there. Unfortunately by that time, there were clouds, and it wasn't as hot. Oh well. You do what you have to do.
After our adventure for the day, everyone was quite wiped out, and ornery, so we decided to forgo miniature golfing, which was on the plan for that night.
After the cemetery we headed to The Gateway Plaza. This plaza is like a really big outdoor mall. With all kinds of fancy shops as well as some other things, like a children's museum, and a planetarium. We went to the planetarium, and looked at all the cool stuff they had in the lobby.
Then we headed over to the actual plaza.They have one of those areas that squirt water out of the sidewalk. My youngest sister, N, was very excited to get to do that. And Cinderella was too. When we got there I realized I hadn't planned very well. We just figured we would let the kids run through in their clothing. I had brought a dry change of clothes for my kids, and my mom had brought some towels.
Well the plaza was packed. And all the kids were in swim suits. So I decided to look at the rules they had posted and see if they had a rule against street clothing being worn. Well they didn't specify that they needed to have a swim suit. But there was a sign that said all children under the age of 4 (I think) had to have a swim diaper, and rubber pants covering it. And then in big letters it stated that "People who have had diarrhea in the last 2 weeks need to stay out of the pool." Now here is the controversy. Does water shooting out of the sidewalk constitute as a pool?
Both my kids had been sick with diarrhea within the previous week. So do I keep them out? Or let them go in? As we debated what to do, someone pointed out, that the lack of swim diapers was probably a bigger issue. So I thought we could look around and see if there was any place nearby that sold swim diapers.
Then I realized that my husband had the opinion that we should obey all of the signs. The kids had been sick, they couldn't go. I hated to tell them that, because I knew how much some of them were really excited to play in the water. I didn't agree with the sign, and felt like it would be OK. But I could also understand where my husband was coming from.
He pointed out to me, that if our kids had been completely healthy and we let them do this, and some parent let their sick kids play, and our kids got sick, we wouldn't be too happy with that parent, so we shouldn't let our kids play either.
So much to the disappointment of Cinderella and Aunt N, we told them we couldn't do it. We then proceeded to return to Grandma's house, were we set up the kiddy pool I had bought, and a slip and slide, and let them all play in the water there. Unfortunately by that time, there were clouds, and it wasn't as hot. Oh well. You do what you have to do.
After our adventure for the day, everyone was quite wiped out, and ornery, so we decided to forgo miniature golfing, which was on the plan for that night.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Utah Trip: Family Week: Day 3, Visit to other family
Wednesday morning my brothers, husband, and dad went golfing. While they were gone, my sister-in-law D gave hair cuts all around. My nephew was first, then Guy got his trimmed. Then we let Cinderella get hers trimmed. Cinderella then had her hair straitened, to make sure it was all even. It was darling. My sister was next, and then it was my turn.
Now if I get my hair cut, especially if I pay for it, I want it to be noticeable. But I never know what cut to get. My hair is so fickle. So I had her take it about mid neck.
This picture is one I had Cinderella take of me today. So it had a little bit of growth since it was cut.
After the men got home, and my hair was done, my little family left for my husbands cousin's house. His sister had just moved down to Utah, and was staying with the cousin, so we were able to visit with her as well. It was fun to interact with some other family that we don't get to see a whole lot. And our kids got to play with some of their second cousins, who are about the same age as them.
About dinner time, we headed over to my husbands aunt's home for dinner. We had a yummy BBQ, and got to visit with some more family.
After the BBQ, we headed back to my parents house. The whole gang was gathered around my parents fire pit, in the back yard, having a hot dog roast. We joined them and made some s'mores for the kids.
All in all it ended up being a fun day.
Now if I get my hair cut, especially if I pay for it, I want it to be noticeable. But I never know what cut to get. My hair is so fickle. So I had her take it about mid neck.
This picture is one I had Cinderella take of me today. So it had a little bit of growth since it was cut.
After the men got home, and my hair was done, my little family left for my husbands cousin's house. His sister had just moved down to Utah, and was staying with the cousin, so we were able to visit with her as well. It was fun to interact with some other family that we don't get to see a whole lot. And our kids got to play with some of their second cousins, who are about the same age as them.
About dinner time, we headed over to my husbands aunt's home for dinner. We had a yummy BBQ, and got to visit with some more family.
After the BBQ, we headed back to my parents house. The whole gang was gathered around my parents fire pit, in the back yard, having a hot dog roast. We joined them and made some s'mores for the kids.
All in all it ended up being a fun day.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
My Utah Trip: Family Week: Day 2, Thanksgiving Point: The Dinosaur Museum and Cabela's
About a month before we took our trip, I had taken the kids to playgroup. On this particular day, playgroup was at a park, that had a nice little wooded area with walking trail, near the playground. When it was about time to go, I coaxed Cinderella onto the stroller. Actually I think I probably picked her up, kicking and screaming and strapped her down. Anyway, I decided we would take a little walk through the wooded area, before we went and got in the car. Cinderella was mad. She was screaming. Anyway once we got in the trees, she asked me if this was a forest. I told her it was. Forests don't have to be big right? Anyway, then she asked me if we would see a deer. I told her I didn't know. But deer only come out when it is quiet. They don't come out when we are screaming and yelling, so she hushed. Well I didn't think we would see a deer, but you never know. Well we didn't, and Cinderella was understandably upset. Well I knew that we were planning to go up into the mountains and go to a lake, at least one of the days that we were visiting in Utah. So I told her that maybe we would see one when we were at Grandma's house. She took that for a promise that she would see one when we visited Grandma. After she mentioned a few times that she was going to get to see a deer when we went to Grandma's house, I figured I had better see what I could do to make sure she saw one, if at all possible.
So I called my mom. I told her about the situation, and she said, "well we are going to go to the zoo so we should see one there." Well Hogle Zoo doesn't have any deer. Unless there are some you can see if you ride the train, which we didn't do. So then my mom had the idea of Cabela's. Now for those of you who like me before I went to Utah on this trip, have never heard of Cabela's, it is an outdoor sports store. But it is more than a store. Inside the store they have a small aquarium, they have a big "mountain" with taxidermy animals perched all over it, and they even have a small animal museum filled with taxidermy deer. Well it was our one guarantee that she would see a deer. Albeit a dead deer, but it is a deer.
Anyway, we had told Cinderella that one of the things we were going to do that day was go to the Dinosaur Museum, which was what she was really looking forward to. She asked me if she was going to see dinosaurs. I told her all the dinosaurs had died a long time ago, and all we would see was their bones. She was quite concerned that all the dinosaurs were dead, but accepted my saying so. My brother S had a date that night and had to cut out late, so when we finished with the gardens, we ate a picnic lunch and headed over to Cabela's so he could join us there. On our way over to Cabela's, Cinderella asked me if she was going to see deer. I told her yes. She then asked if all the deer were dead. I didn't know how to answer that question, because all the deer we were going to see were dead, but not all deer are dead. I tried to not laugh and tried to explain it to her. I think she understood.
After the gardens that morning, most people were all pictured out, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the animals at Cabela's except this one.
Thankfully the deer at Cabela's satisfied Cinderella's interest in seeing deer.
After we left Cabela's we were all worn out. Except for Cinderella who still really wanted to see dinosaur bones. So we went over to the museum, and toured it as quickly as we could.
The kids playing on a dinosaur.
Isn't that a big shark? They are guessing due to the size of fossilized shark teeth, that this is about the size they used to be.
So I called my mom. I told her about the situation, and she said, "well we are going to go to the zoo so we should see one there." Well Hogle Zoo doesn't have any deer. Unless there are some you can see if you ride the train, which we didn't do. So then my mom had the idea of Cabela's. Now for those of you who like me before I went to Utah on this trip, have never heard of Cabela's, it is an outdoor sports store. But it is more than a store. Inside the store they have a small aquarium, they have a big "mountain" with taxidermy animals perched all over it, and they even have a small animal museum filled with taxidermy deer. Well it was our one guarantee that she would see a deer. Albeit a dead deer, but it is a deer.
Anyway, we had told Cinderella that one of the things we were going to do that day was go to the Dinosaur Museum, which was what she was really looking forward to. She asked me if she was going to see dinosaurs. I told her all the dinosaurs had died a long time ago, and all we would see was their bones. She was quite concerned that all the dinosaurs were dead, but accepted my saying so. My brother S had a date that night and had to cut out late, so when we finished with the gardens, we ate a picnic lunch and headed over to Cabela's so he could join us there. On our way over to Cabela's, Cinderella asked me if she was going to see deer. I told her yes. She then asked if all the deer were dead. I didn't know how to answer that question, because all the deer we were going to see were dead, but not all deer are dead. I tried to not laugh and tried to explain it to her. I think she understood.
After the gardens that morning, most people were all pictured out, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the animals at Cabela's except this one.
Thankfully the deer at Cabela's satisfied Cinderella's interest in seeing deer.
After we left Cabela's we were all worn out. Except for Cinderella who still really wanted to see dinosaur bones. So we went over to the museum, and toured it as quickly as we could.
The kids playing on a dinosaur.
Isn't that a big shark? They are guessing due to the size of fossilized shark teeth, that this is about the size they used to be.
My Utah Trip: Family Week: Day 2, Thanksgiving Point: The Gardens
OK so first for anyone not familiar with Utah, there is this place called Thanksgiving Point. It has a dinosaur museum, a IMAX theater, awesome gardens, a golf course, and I'm not sure what else. Anyway it is normally quite expensive. I think the regular rates are something like $10 per adult and $5 per kid. Which when you have a group as large as the one we were dealing with, is just unthinkable pricing.
Fortunately for us however, in the month of August, every Tuesday, each attraction was only $2 per person. A lot more affordable. So we decided that we would go to the gardens, and the Dinosaur Museum. The day was forcasted to rain, so we decided to go to the gardens in the morning, before the rain started, and then the Museum in the afternoon. We met T and D in a parking lot behind the museum and were quite glad we had chosen to go to the gardens first. The line for the museum was horrendous. However there weren't that many people going to the gardens. It was a nice day to go to the gardens. It was overcast, which meant it wasn't a scorcher. It was a little humid, but I didn't mind that. It was like a nice day at home.
It was nice to get an opportunity to stroll casually around with my husband, because others were eager to push our children around. My dad rented a wheel chair for my mom and grandma. And we all had a great morning. Somehow we managed to have both of our cameras left out of the diaper bag that day. But lucky for you, many other people had cameras and let me have copies of the pictures they took. Here are my favorites from the gardens.
I know I've posted this picture before. This is my brother T and his wife D in the gardens.
Another repeat I know, there will be a few repeats, because most of the good pictures we got of people were taken in the gardens. These are my sisters C and M in the gardens.
My sisters L and N.
N and Cinderella
Grandma
My two single brothers S and P
My little family
My Hubby and I
My Nephew A
Our "little" group
Cinderella loves to smell flowers.
Don't you love how it looks like she is trying to kiss the flower?
Scrunched up nose :)
My mom
This picture was taken at the top of a large hill in the gardens. If you look closely behind L you will see the sagebrush covered hills, that contrast with the green of the garden.
My dad was pushing the wheelchair that had my grandma in it throughout the gardens. When we got to the top of a hill we stopped to rest and enjoy the view. My dad commented that his leg had been hurting him. So my grandma joked that she should push him. So they decided to get a pose with him in the chair and her behind.
Here is my hubby on top of the hill.
Kids in the stroller
M, D, Cinderella, and N taking a break
D and C
Climbing the pillar
Aunt D with Cinderella by the waterfalls
Uncle T and Aunt D were taking pictures with Cinderella down by the waterfall, when someone asked them if they would like their picture taken with Cinderella too.
Cinderella by the waterfall
Cinderella and me by the waterfall
Fortunately for us however, in the month of August, every Tuesday, each attraction was only $2 per person. A lot more affordable. So we decided that we would go to the gardens, and the Dinosaur Museum. The day was forcasted to rain, so we decided to go to the gardens in the morning, before the rain started, and then the Museum in the afternoon. We met T and D in a parking lot behind the museum and were quite glad we had chosen to go to the gardens first. The line for the museum was horrendous. However there weren't that many people going to the gardens. It was a nice day to go to the gardens. It was overcast, which meant it wasn't a scorcher. It was a little humid, but I didn't mind that. It was like a nice day at home.
It was nice to get an opportunity to stroll casually around with my husband, because others were eager to push our children around. My dad rented a wheel chair for my mom and grandma. And we all had a great morning. Somehow we managed to have both of our cameras left out of the diaper bag that day. But lucky for you, many other people had cameras and let me have copies of the pictures they took. Here are my favorites from the gardens.
I know I've posted this picture before. This is my brother T and his wife D in the gardens.
Another repeat I know, there will be a few repeats, because most of the good pictures we got of people were taken in the gardens. These are my sisters C and M in the gardens.
My sisters L and N.
N and Cinderella
Grandma
My two single brothers S and P
My little family
My Hubby and I
My Nephew A
Our "little" group
Cinderella loves to smell flowers.
Don't you love how it looks like she is trying to kiss the flower?
Scrunched up nose :)
My mom
This picture was taken at the top of a large hill in the gardens. If you look closely behind L you will see the sagebrush covered hills, that contrast with the green of the garden.
My dad was pushing the wheelchair that had my grandma in it throughout the gardens. When we got to the top of a hill we stopped to rest and enjoy the view. My dad commented that his leg had been hurting him. So my grandma joked that she should push him. So they decided to get a pose with him in the chair and her behind.
Here is my hubby on top of the hill.
Kids in the stroller
M, D, Cinderella, and N taking a break
D and C
Climbing the pillar
Aunt D with Cinderella by the waterfalls
Uncle T and Aunt D were taking pictures with Cinderella down by the waterfall, when someone asked them if they would like their picture taken with Cinderella too.
Cinderella by the waterfall
Cinderella and me by the waterfallBecause there were a lot of pictures taken at the gardens, I am posting them all by themselves. Stay tuned for Cabela's and the Dinosaur Museum.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
My Utah Trip: Family Week: Day 1, Zoo
So on Monday we had plans to go to the zoo in the afternoon. Cinderella woke up that morning, still sick. I was really bummed, because I really wanted to take her to the zoo, and the zoo had been planned largely with my children in mind. I knew she would be really upset if everyone else went and we didn't.
At the same time, Monday was the only day that week with forecasted clear skies. Every other day predicted rain. So I really couldn't ask them to postpone their trip for our sakes. My mother suggested that we wait and see how she was feeling come that afternoon.
T, D, S, P, and L all decided to take the morning and go hike Mount Timpanogas. My husband graciously declined the invitation, because he felt sorry leaving me with a sick kid.
Thankfully by the afternoon, Cinderella's illness had cleared up, so we all headed to the zoo.
Hogle Zoo closes their gates at 5, but keeps the grounds open till 6:30. We showed up around 4, and met the Timpanogas group there.
My dad rented a wheel chair for my mom, so she wouldn't need to walk around all day. We had a lot of fun seeing the animals. Cinderella has loved alligators since she saw "The Happiest Millionaire" so I was excited that this zoo has a large white alligator.
(Just kidding about the picture. That isn't a white alligator, nor is is real. It is just on the playground, in case you couldn't tell.)
They also have two baby alligators.
We also saw Elephants,
Giraffes, 
Monkeys
(OK so I think the technical term is primates, because it wasn't just monkeys.)
The kids really enjoyed the animals. Guy loved being able to get out of the stroller and see the animals. Although I think he got more excited about the different ball shaped items in various cages, than some of the animals themselves.
However for my children I would say the highlight of the zoo was definitely the Carousel, and at the playground. Cinderella, rode on my mom's lap for a good portion of the zoo.
At one point I heard my mother say to her, that she would need to ask her mom. So I turned to see what the question was. She wanted to know if she could ride the Carousel. Well to tell you the truth, I hadn't planned on her ridding it. I had thought we might ride the train, but not the carousel. I suggested the train, and she was quite disappointed. My youngest sister, N said that she had brought some money and would gladly pay for her and Cinderella to ride the Carousel. So we headed over, and I bought a ticket for Guy to ride as well. I figured if he saw Cinderella on there, he would want to be on there too.
The Carousel at the zoo has all kinds of different animals on it that people can ride. Cinderella chose a praying mantis, so N and Guy took the ones on either side. Guy ended up on a bear. At first, I wasn't sure how Guy was going to handle it.
He was chomping at the bit, and not sure he wanted to stay on the bear. Once it started moving though, he was having the time of his life. He loved going around and up and down. Cinderella loved it too. She didn't want get off when the ride was over. She wanted to go again. I had to hand Guy over the railing to his Daddy, and pick her up and carry her kicking and screaming away from the ride.
We decided to go from there to the playground. She loved playing on the playground. And had a great time. As it appears everyone else did. She was able to get her fill at the playground, and was content when we left the zoo.
We then drove to a nearby park, and had a picnic dinner. It was a fun, but long day.
At the same time, Monday was the only day that week with forecasted clear skies. Every other day predicted rain. So I really couldn't ask them to postpone their trip for our sakes. My mother suggested that we wait and see how she was feeling come that afternoon.
T, D, S, P, and L all decided to take the morning and go hike Mount Timpanogas. My husband graciously declined the invitation, because he felt sorry leaving me with a sick kid.
Thankfully by the afternoon, Cinderella's illness had cleared up, so we all headed to the zoo.
Hogle Zoo closes their gates at 5, but keeps the grounds open till 6:30. We showed up around 4, and met the Timpanogas group there.
My dad rented a wheel chair for my mom, so she wouldn't need to walk around all day. We had a lot of fun seeing the animals. Cinderella has loved alligators since she saw "The Happiest Millionaire" so I was excited that this zoo has a large white alligator.
(Just kidding about the picture. That isn't a white alligator, nor is is real. It is just on the playground, in case you couldn't tell.)They also have two baby alligators.
We also saw Elephants,
Giraffes, 
Monkeys
(OK so I think the technical term is primates, because it wasn't just monkeys.)The kids really enjoyed the animals. Guy loved being able to get out of the stroller and see the animals. Although I think he got more excited about the different ball shaped items in various cages, than some of the animals themselves.
However for my children I would say the highlight of the zoo was definitely the Carousel, and at the playground. Cinderella, rode on my mom's lap for a good portion of the zoo.
At one point I heard my mother say to her, that she would need to ask her mom. So I turned to see what the question was. She wanted to know if she could ride the Carousel. Well to tell you the truth, I hadn't planned on her ridding it. I had thought we might ride the train, but not the carousel. I suggested the train, and she was quite disappointed. My youngest sister, N said that she had brought some money and would gladly pay for her and Cinderella to ride the Carousel. So we headed over, and I bought a ticket for Guy to ride as well. I figured if he saw Cinderella on there, he would want to be on there too.The Carousel at the zoo has all kinds of different animals on it that people can ride. Cinderella chose a praying mantis, so N and Guy took the ones on either side. Guy ended up on a bear. At first, I wasn't sure how Guy was going to handle it.
He was chomping at the bit, and not sure he wanted to stay on the bear. Once it started moving though, he was having the time of his life. He loved going around and up and down. Cinderella loved it too. She didn't want get off when the ride was over. She wanted to go again. I had to hand Guy over the railing to his Daddy, and pick her up and carry her kicking and screaming away from the ride.We decided to go from there to the playground. She loved playing on the playground. And had a great time. As it appears everyone else did. She was able to get her fill at the playground, and was content when we left the zoo.
We then drove to a nearby park, and had a picnic dinner. It was a fun, but long day.
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