"California 2010"

By - Mike

Here are the pictures that have been promised. We had a fantastic time in California. To be honest I work a lot of hours and really only get to see the highs of my kids. I see them in the morning before they go to school and then for a second in the afternoon before i go to work. And its such a rarity to see me they are excited and give me kisses and hugs and off i go to work. Amber has to do the bed times and homework and house work duty's alone and she has to deal with the fits. Well now that i was around 24/7 I had to help deal with the fits. They had to deal with me getting mad and honestly took a day or two to get used to each other again. Pretty sad when you think about it but, "It is what it is" Once we got over that hump i think we started to have a really good time. I was supposed to leave work early and get home and start the trip but that did not work out as planned. I got home late and tried to throw the things in the car and do the final packing and take the dogs to my moms. So we got on the road later then expected. Amber and i had decided we did not want to tackle the full trip in one drive so we decided our first stop would be Vegas. We stayed in the Golden Nugget which has decent rooms and a really cool pool. There is a shark tank in the middle of the pool that you can swim around and there is a water slide through the middle of it. I was the only one who actually went through the tank. When we got to Vegas and checked in we swam for a min and then changed and walked Fremont street. The kids were less then impressed. But after that we went to bed got up and headed for S.D. We stayed at the Double tree in SD best hotel of the trip. Got some swimming in and went to Christopher's and Erin's meet and greet over desert. Got to meet Christopher and put a face to this wonderful guy Erin keeps talking about. And as the kids were getting restless i took Zarley, Owen, and X-man to the beach by the house.

Brother and Sister in the Evening.

After the meet and greet we went back to the hotel. Grandma Sharon got all the kids the City pass's from Costco. This allows you 1 day at either San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park, 1 day at Universal studios and 3 days at Disneyland. Amber was indifferent with what we do in San Diego so i thought since SLC had a zoo we would hit the Wild Animal Park. And the the Wedding in the evening.

Family Pic @ the W.A.P

Third SD day we went to Sea-world. I can say I was less the impressed based on past memory The shows are to showy not a learning experience. One good shout out to Sea world before the Shamo performance they did give a standing ovation to the past and active military from both the US and its Allies. And in the second performance we were at i was proud to sit by a marine who just returned from Afghanistan. Call us the bad parents but we never really got around to lunch while at seaworld so the kids were starving. So Kerry and her family mine and Christopher and Erin all went to a California favorite In and Out. Not the same as before because now we have them in Utah but non the less delicious.

Star of the show Shamo

Don't between this kid and his shake, he will fight you for it.

Middle Day between Disneyland we went to Universal Studios. I really like it. I enjoy movies and think its fun to go too. Plus I got to see Georgy Frances and thats never a bad thing. There was the live action show that Owen loved. It was a water world theme. Which was a crummy movie but was a good show. I think Owen loves anything with guns, fighting and fire.

Winter probably does not understand the story behind this posted but like a true champ played along for her dad and took the picture.

Now for the big finish, We actually went to California to accomplish three things. Christopher and Erin's wedding, Disneyland and some family pictures on the beach.

Here is the family picture with the Star of the show Mickey

Owen and Dad playing along with the Buzz Lightyear ride. . . . I won

Xavier loved meeting Woody.

Big Sister and Xavier with his first Mickey Ears

Owen and X-Man in the store buying there ears. There is no picture of this but I did buy Owen and Xavier there first Dodger hates. And Xavier summed it up when he said in the store while trying on the hate, "Cute"

Finally the last day we got our family pictures on the beach and met up with Christopher and Erin for the last time before heading home.

We really had a great time. I could not have asked for a better time. Got to spend some time with the people i love the most in the world. Some of the highlights were getting to buy the boys there first Dodger hats, and Mickey ears. Getting to take Xavier on his first real roller coaster. We kinda snuck him on Matterhorn. Spending time with my kids i am sure its cliche to say but i miss my kids and feel I miss a lot int here life but was lucky to get to spend some time with them. Next big trip is Mexico time to start to save again. Even the car ride home was great. Amber, Winter, Zarley, Owen, Xavier I love you and miss you already....