Vacation Day 5 - Father's Day

Day 5 of vacation was also Father's Day.  We were so exhausted that morning we all slept in and our wonderful Daddy got up early and hit the breakfast bar and made us all waffles and brought them to us in bed.  We spent most of the day at the zoo seeing all the animals we missed the first time around and visiting the ones we really loved a second time. 

 Sadi and Matt were all about monkeying around.

 Aren't these the most handsome zoo workers you've ever seen?

 All that walking around can really make your feet tired.  I told the kids we needed to get daddy a foot massage, but Chase thought his quarter was better used for....

himself a foot massage!! Sorry Daddy, we love you anyway.  Hope you had a great day!

Calico Ghost Town

On our last day of vacation we decided to break up that long ride home with a stop at Calico Ghost Town to stay overnight.  I remember going there when I was just 4 years old.  My memories are few but clear (or so I thought).  When we arrived mid-day the temperature gauge outside read 106!  After sitting in the car for hours just what you want to do is get out and walk around in that right?  The kids were troopers and humored me in walking down memory lane. 

We tried our hand roping a bull,

Tried on some coffins for size,

(I think Chase was creating a death by hanging here)

We took a train ride around the town,

and explored the underground mines.

Sadi got caught in the town jail, (This is Sadi telling me "Hey ya better let me outta here".  It was funny because she could squeeze right through the bars but insisted someone let her out).

Matt and I tried on the towns "look".  We look pretty good right?

This was the old school house that I remember from when I was little.  I remember the day we were there it was really windy and there was this swing set outside and all the swings were swinging back and forth.  (At 4 I was pretty sure it was ghost children...I think some of my siblings probably helped with this memory).  Alas the swing set has been removed.  Chase didn't believe me it was true but sure enough in all of the souvenir shops all the pictures showed a swing set used to be there.

I think everyone was ready to dive into this little pool of water they used to put out fires.  Chase couldn't stop staring at the cool blue water.  But there was one memory I had that we just had to find.

We walked a long time looking for this old Chinese bath tub.  Everyone in the town I asked about it said they thought it was still there but no one seemed quite sure where.  Huh...it was in China town, duh!  My parents have a photo of me at the same age as Sadi in this same tub.  Thanks family for braving the heat for me to get this photo.  Maybe Sadi will remember this like I did one day.

After being in the sweltering heat all day we went and got our keys to our cabin.  We had a little fun telling the kids that not everyone survives the night in a ghost town.  The little swamp cooler in this tiny cabin could not crank the cool air fast enough and when it looked like the sun would not set for hours we decided to backtrack to Barstow for some dinner at the golden arches for some ice cream and relax in the air conditioning.

Later that night when the sun had set we took a walk up to the town cemetery....that always puts you to sleep right?

The kids got to sleep up in the bunks that night, and when it got late Sadi did not want to turn out the lights.  When we told her it was time to turn out the lights she would yell "No!  I'm not ready to be haunted yet!"

The next morning it was sadly time to go home.  This was definitely a vacation we will all remember. (I hope)

Birthday Bliss and Vacation Reveal

Today was my **th birthday.  I am still super young although some would dispute that when they hear that little number...mostly my kids.  It was a fantastic day.  Matt made me breakfast in bed, and surprised me with a gift certificate to the spa for a day, he even made the appointment for me (very unlike him..he doesn't even make his own appt.'s).  So after breakfast I was off for a pedicure and foot massage...ahhhh.  My feet are all ready for the beach now.

And it just so happens that today was the last day of torturing the vacation countdown.  The kids now know we are going to...

SAN DIEGO!!!  We are so excited!  This whole vacation countdown has been really fun, and all the kids got really into it.  In fact I think Kelsey may have enjoyed it the most.  We only had one day of a small upset.  The day we took down Disneyland there were a few sniffles (Chase).  So, we are headed off to California for a bit over a week, and ready to relax and start this summer off with some serious fun!

School's out for summer!!

Yesterday was Sadi's last day of pre-school.  It was a tough goodbye, made even harder when Ms. Beanie started crying and telling me she is really going to miss us.   Ms. Beanie  has been our teacher for the past 3 years and so holds an extra special place in our hearts.  I can't yet imagine not seeing her every week.  We are really going to miss this lady! 

Today is Chase's last day of first grade..gulp.  Is it over already?  Mrs. Frusteri has been a great teacher for Chase.  She is well...different.  Chase grew to love her, and I grew to like her.  Although I am sad school is ending, I am ready to bring on the summer fun!! 

Season's over...almost.

The official Baseball season has come to an end...although we are in the playoffs so it hasn't really ended for our team.  Last night was the Red Sox team party.  Chase thought this year was the best!  He was so excited they got trophy's and a party (yeah our team really stunk last year and had neither of these).  Thanks to a great coach (Joe Reynolds) who made this season one of learning and fun!

Surprise Vacation

Matt and I have had a vacation planned for quite awhile now (a surprise vacation for when the kids got out of school).  The plan was to get them packed and leave and not let them know where we were going.  BUT as the end of the school year approaches Kelsey's summer was booking up with meetings for school and camp, and Chase's baseball team will be in the playoffs.  So it became necessary to tell others of our trip and thus we had to tell them.  However we didn't have to tell them where!  They woke this morning to this surprise.

In 8 days we will be leaving for one of these destinations(Utah,Yellowstone, Monterrey, San Diego, Disneyland, Arizona, Yosemite, or Carpenteria).  Each day we will remove one of the destinations keeping the suspense.  It is literally KILLING some of them.  I really hope this doesn't backfire.

p.s. for the few of you who know where we are going, thank you for keeping it a secret!

Fishing Derby

Today was the annual Fishing Derby in Gardnerville.  Although Kelsey is now too old to participate this was the first year Sadi was old enough to fish.  The kids were excited to catch a big one, and had bets on who would catch the first fish.  With poles in hand they were ready to cast their lines.

After about 45 minutes of no bites they moved Chase down the river and within just a few minutes he had a fish on the line.  First fish for Chase!  Followed by catching his limit.

At the preschool end Sadi was having less luck.  She was bored!  She went from this....

to this.....

I'm pretty sure she snuck in a nap here with Daddy doing all the work.  With no luck at all.  First year we have never caught the limit.  I think Matt was more upset than she was.  The big catch of the day.......

a whopping 10 oz.!  Good thing they're little and we could still trick them into thinking that was a big fish.