Father / Son "Sleep out"

Matt and Matthew had a special father / son campout on the tramp in our back yard. They set up a tv and watched Indiana Jones. I took this picture about 30 minutes into the movie. Like father, like son. They both fall asleep during action films!

Matthew was so excited to have some alone time with Dad. His smile says it all.

CRUISIN'

This is Matt and I on the first formal night.

Here is the reason you take off the WET bathing trunks BEFORE putting on your shorts.

Heather, Matt, Karl, and Marlise on the way to Trunk Bay.

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Heather and Marlise modeling an isalnd staple on Dominica, the breadfruit.

Matt and Heather in front of the the pack on our dune buggies in Barbados.

Matt's gone rasta! Check out the dreadlocks and hairy chest.

Some local kids in Dominica. They loved seeing their picture on the camera.

Our last supper with Nadia, our server. Eating was the highlight of each evening.

In front of Trafalgar Falls in Dominica.

We spent the last day on this beach in Antigua. It was a perfect way to end the cruise.

Matt and Heather heading out to St. Johns to snorkel.

Scotty's 5th Birthday

Scotty is 5! It's hard to believe he is already so old. We had a Space theme for his birthday.

The boys all had flashlights to scare away the aliens and made spae helmets. Here they are practicing with their flashlights.

Scotty is waiting for takeoff in the space ship. Don't worry - they all wore their seatbelts.

Disneyland

The week after school was out we took the kids and my mom to Disneyland. Nicole stayed in Utah with my sister, Becky. We had a long, uneventful trip out there and arrived late Saturday.

The "deluxe" accomodations were so exaggerated it was humorous, but it was reasonably close to Disneyland and we took the cool shuttles to and from the park. The kids, especially, Dallin, liked to take the bus.

Some highlights of our 4 day disney experience:

• Sierra loved the roller coasters, but didn't care for the Tower of Terror. She was able to ride everything. At night when the crowds lessened, Matt or I took the older kids on all the rides. One night, we did Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad (very fun when it's dark out), Indiana Jones, and I don't know how many times in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. One day, we attended a workshop on drawing Disney characters. Sierra's came out very good! Sierra said, "This is the life, Mom. I don't want to ever go back home." Sierra slept in a room with Grandma, which she loved. Although we told the kids we were packing light, she managed to smuggle several books, stuffed animals, and her pillow.


• Matthew managed to get lost temporarily only 4 times. Twice he grabbed a stranger's stroller and walked off with another family. His expression when he realized he was not with me was quite comical. Matthew loved the California section. He enjoyed the Tower of Terror quite a bit as well as a ropes course and zip line. Matthew managed to climb on anything and everything. Sometimes when we were waiting in line for an attraction he disappeared, only to reappear on the walls, at the top of a ladder, or on a railing. He managed to entertain himself quite well and was cheerful the whole trip, except for the drive there and back. Instead of sleeping on a cot, Matthew opted to make a bed in the huge closet in our room and spend the extra money on an extra souviner. He now has a Pirates of the Caribbean poster and watch.


• Scotty was his usual, quiet and perceptive self. He loved Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, the Bug's Life Adventure, and the ship in Frontierland. He didn't like Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and Space Mountain. When we took the boys into Toon Town, Scotty and Dallin went nuts and ran from one house to the next. I had the two of them and couldn't keep up! They ran through the entire section, laughing, in about 10 minutes. When I finally caught up to them, Scotty said, "Let's do that again!" So we did.


• Dallin LOVED driving the cars in Autopia. I pushed the pedals, and he drove. Since he has no idea how the steering wheel works, we drove like a drunken maniac. Every time we hit the metal bar that keeps us on track, Dallin laughed hysterically. I think that was my favorite ride the entire trip. It was the sheer joy of childhood. Dallin also loved the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Buzz Lightyear. He was so funny on Buzz - as soon as we were seated, he started shooting his laser gun at the people in front of him, behind him, and occasionally toward the targets. He didn't smile much, and didn't talk much because he was working so hard on his "work."








• My mom rented a wheel chair the third and fourth days. We enjoyed wheeling her up to the front of the lines and skipping hours and hours of waiting! The kids liked to help her push, but it was sometimes hard uphill.