A Learning Vacation

We went to Williamsburg, Virginia for our family vacation over UEA. We had a great time in Busch Gardens riding roller coasters and having some Halloween spookiness. We went into Colonial Williamsburg and soaked up some history and enjoyed the feeling of colonial times. We drove down to Virginia Beach and played in the sand and rode a couple of bikes around the boardwalk. We took the commuter train into Washington D.C. and did a lot of walking and picture taking of our national monuments. We hit a deer on the parkway and had to trade in our rental car...awaiting the insurance phonecall. Took a ghost tour of Williamsburg in the rain. Swimming and eating and playing at the resort. We didn't want to come home.

I need a toolbelt!

Andrew told me that I haven't updated in a while so here goes. (WARNING: this may tell you how extremely tedious my life actually is)

We've been cutting down trees along the driveway so that maybe the sun can warm up the ice in the winter and we won't slide down. Then I had to cut it into 5 foot lengths and BUNDLE them for the trash pickup pile. Ooooh, I know how to party!

Then I've been scraping and painting the railings on our stairs. I hate the railings on our stairs. 13 cans of spray paint! And that's only the finishing color. I hand painted them with primer! Never again. Next time I take a sledgehammer to the stairs!! They're so ugly they remind me of an apartment building. They were white and rusty before and now they're "almond".

And sraping and sanding a pulling out old grout from the windows and around the garage doors. I hate old grout. Then painting and regrouting. The old color was white. New color, hot chocolate brown. The only thing that still needs to be done is the front door. But with the cold weather coming in fast, it might have to wait 'til spring.

The good news is the front of my house looks SO NICE and FRESH! The bad news is I've broken four nails! Is it really worth it?

Renew the Zoo

I decided to take Emma to the zoo yesterday because she was "so bared!" (bored) The first thing she wanted when we got there were some new sunglasses. And a stroller because she was already "so tired!" We went around the whole zoo and had a relaxing day without brothers or sister. Then she fell asleep in the car...(they're always so much cuter asleep!) I think she had fun yesterday...Today is a different story!

Wedding Bells

Travis and Robert, Kent and Wendy, Emma, Kierstin, Maren, the bride and groom.

My uncle Scott Stewart was married on September 12th to Elizabeth Myers. This is his 2nd marriage. His first wife, Christa, was killed in a car accident quite a few years ago. The wedding took place in a ward in West Jordan and was a very nice ceremony. Then the reception afterwards was in the cultural hall and included treats. It was a great opportunity to see family on the Stewart side. Emma made a new friend with her 2nd cousin, Kierstin. It was a nice evening.

Mom and Dad, Ron and Shawna, Jana, Sylvia, Lindsay and her boys.

Anyone, anyone?

I've just signed up on Facebook so if any of you want to be my friend, come find me. I looked up my graduating year in high school and it's amazing how many people are on it that I haven't seen in 18 years! Just go to www.facebook.com and sign up. It's free. And kind of fun.

More of what's happenin"

Here's a picture of Emma after she got into Maren's sparkly makeup. And notice the self grooming...Bang cut, HELLO!! Andrew took pictures of it on our video camera. I didn't know it could do that! Why are we always lugging around a digital camera and video camera on every vacation if the one can do both???

The girls started dance class on Monday. Maren is taking Hip Hop and Emma is taking Preschool Dance. They were so excited to go shopping for their dance clothes and shoes. Mom is the greatest!!! (At least for today...)

Also of note, do you see the red leaves on the tree? NO, NO, NO! I'm not ready for autumn. 'Cause that means snow is soon. Say no to snow!!! NO SNOW! NO SNOW! Maybe I'll go move in with Alden and Emily for the winter. I bet they'd LOVE that!

What's a happenin', hot stuff?

Well, let's see...
Andrew broke our camera so I don't have any new pictures to post. And I really could have used it yesterday! Emma came in our room in the morning with pink sparkly raccoon eyes. She'd been using Maren's makeup again. And she has cut her own bangs! So she was quite the sight and no camera.
The kids have started school again and already Josh has had his phone taken away once in math class. He got it back after some shmoozing.
Tim needs a haircut in the worst way. His hair is down to his shoulders but doesn't want it cut. You know what they say about the cobbler's kids going without shoes...the stylist's kids go without cuts!!
The parakeets are still alive despite the cats CONSTANT attention. Talk about stalking!! But I guess that's what predators do. It's hilarious to watch the cat climbing on top of the cage and running from clear across the room because they finally came off their pirch and are trying to eat some food. It's straight from Syllvester and Tweetie.
The Relief Society is having a talent night and they heard that I'm making a quilt. They want me to display it on the 20th of September. Those of you who have seen me working on it, you know it's nowhere near being done and it's in pieces. What am I supposed to do, display all my quilt blocks seperately? Really. But they keep asking...
And to top it off, I think I'm going through vampire withdrawal. I just have to wait for the movie in November. And I'm not sure I like the trailers. We'll see.
That's about all for now. Hopefully Andrew will buy a new camera and then I'll have something visual to post. Signing out.