Segway Tour- Florida Style!

Happy Anniversary- New York Style!

Tim & I decided it was time to take a trip sans children!  The last vacation without kids was four years ago when we went to Hawaii.  I LOVED Hawaii!  

So Tim & I thought.  Hmm.  Where would we want to go without kids.  

NEW YORK!!

Can I just tell you that it felt so stereotypical?  You hear it's busy and tons of people, and that's exactly how it is!  People EVERYWHERE!  I can't imagine Tokyo.  (That's on my list for someday...)  It's 11:00 p.m. and Time Square is so bright from all the hundred towering flashing signs, that you don't even realize it's getting late.  Apparently neither do the other thousands of people wandering around (just right around me).  People are still standing in line to buy dinner, kids are still running around the fountains, it made me laugh.

We went to the top of the Rockefeller Center at night, and I took that first photo above of the Empire State Building.  It was fun to see that the top of the building was so bright that it looked like spotlights were shining up!

Tim was The Man.  I told him I wanted to see West Side Story on Broadway.  He found out that show had a lottery for select tickets two and a half hours before the show started.  If your name was drawn, you could buy two tickets for $26.50 each instead of $121 each.  Alright!!  So we went at the appropriate time and put our name in the bag.  Tim was funny.  I think he was using "The Secret" where you visualize what you want, and it comes.  When it was almost time for the drawing, he had his ID and cash out ready to go.  He just knew that his name was going to be called, so he wanted to be ready.  I laughed, but then, sure enough, his name was drawn!  Ya Baby!  

We got FRONT ROW seats!  (Okay, the stage was a tiny bit high, so I couldn't quite see the floor of the back of the stage, which is why they do the lottery, I'm sure.  I didn't technically SEE Tony die at the end (Spoiler!!) but I saw him fall and heard everything.  Ha Ha!)  But we were so close we could see the spit flying as they talked, and could see lots of undies on the girls.  Tim said with the dresses they were wearing, he was sure that EVERYONE could see their undies!  It was so great!

We also saw the fabulous Phantom of the Opera, but didn't get the hundred buck off deal.  Bummer. 

 It was as expected.  Absolutely stunning!

We took the Staten Island Ferry and saw Our Lady Liberty.

And saw the other Ladies Liberty!  M&M Fashion!  That made me laugh!

The M&M Store put so many other stores to shame!  

We went to the Manhattan LDS Temple.  It is just tucked into this corner on a busy street.  I thought it interesting that there was a guard at the desk when you first walk in.  Then you walk through more doors to give your temple recommend.  It was a beautiful, but small temple!

Walked around Central Park.  Went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Walked half way across the Brooklyn Bridge (we didn't actually want to go into Brooklyn, hence the only half way) (pictures on my other blog...).

Ate Delicious Food!  Mickey Mantle's was great.  I told Tim I got my sports fix for a very long time!  We also loved a restaurant called "Becco."  Italian food to die for!  I think my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I know this was in August, and I'm finally now just posting this, but it was such a fun getaway!  Right up until we missed our flight by one minute.  We had been riding the subway the entire time on our trip, and it had been great.  Then the time we have to leave for our flight, the subway station is closed.  So we have to walk to a different one.  That one is delayed.  We miss our flight.  Stupid.  Stupid!  An extra night in a not so nice location.  Humph.  At least we have the Greatest Grandmas & Grandpas who were so nice about an extra night with the grandkids!  Thank you, Thank you for letting us get away!

I put a few more artsy photos on my Shot By Celeste blog.  

Check them out!

Sleepless In Seattle 2010

Thanks to Coca-Cola & Zingers, we were able to drive through the night and arrive safely in Seattle the next morning. Now, why would I want to drive all night, you may ask? Because any drive is much, much, much better if that sweet little two-year-old Megan is asleep!!

So we met almost all of Tim's family (Mark & Amy & crew missed out- bummer) and had a mostly great time (mostly, meaning that it was a normal day with that sweet two-year-old... some good times & some temper tantrum times...)!! It was a little crazy with so many people, but wonderful to be together.

Here is our big group shot. Yes, I put my camera on a tripod and used the self-timer. Run, Celeste, run! We had a great outdoorsy spot picked out, and then it just kept raining. So this is the front of Rebecca's house. It worked beautifully! Thank you Alan & Rebecca for putting in so much for this reunion- including the mass chaos at your house! (Family: I'm going to try to photoshop in Mark & Amy & crew- so I'll send a picture to you soon if it works out. Cheating, I know!)

We had fun at Pike's Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, the Pacific Science Center and the Space Needle. (I put most of the pictures in the slide show, because I wanted to include so many...)

I think the best part was just being able to hang out and be crazy!

These cousins are so funny to watch play.

Well, more Coke & chocolate got us home.

All in all, it was great! It was so nice to see everyone!

We sure love you all!

Sleepless In Seattle Slideshow

5th of July Boating

The crazy 4th of July weekend tradition continues!

Skiing and tubing so you can be super sore the next day! Woo Hoo!

Tim gets the best sprays!

This was the only way Megan would go tubing.

Those girls love their daddy!

Alec went out by himself. How did he get so big?

The water got so choppy, that tubing was a little crazy.

If you could hear me in this picture, I was saying "AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

And this is why my neck is sore this morning.

I am getting old. But I'm still laughing!

Boating Slideshow

Florida, Florida

Alec: "I wish we lived in Florida so we could have lizards and frogs in our grass."

Is that the greatest thing ever? To have to be careful where you walk, especially early or late in the day, because there are lizards running everywhere? And "Keep the house doors closed so lizards don't run inside!" The obvious answer is, YES!!!

We had such a fun time visiting my sister, Candi and her family! It almost makes me want to move there... hmm... palm trees...the beach... Oh, yeah ... hurricanes ...banana spiders (more on thoses later, wa ha...)

We LOVED the beach by their house!

It was so much fun to go snorkeling & see so many fish.

The water wasn't that deep, and we weren't out that far. You put on a snorkel mask, and Holy Cow! There are fish everywhere! So amazing. Kind of creepy. Fish swimming around your feet and you didn't even realize it. I even saw a barracuda a little way off. Even creepier.

We went to the nature park by their house. It is very cool!

All over the board walk in the nature center are these big Banana Spiders. Really Creepy!! There are hundreds of them everywhere you look. Over the path, on the sides, between the railings... Supposedly they are non-poisonous, but it still made you feel weird walking under all their huge webs. Check out my Shot Blog for more nature center pics!

Now, you may be wondering. "Is it hot in Florida during August?" For the answer, look at Megan's hair. She is completely soaked from walking around in the shade! We felt like we were literally melting.

Sydney had a birthday while we were there, and the kids got to go horseback riding for her party. Lucky!!

Alec not so sure about this.

Tate is doing great!

Now, here's Cole riding Cooper the miniature pony. It was so great!

Lily has told me for the last 6 months that she wants to be a "Pony Rider" when she grows up. Well, now she has actually ridden a pony! Way to go Lily!

Florida 2009 Slideshow

Lava Hot Springs

Lava Hot Springs

Population 521

I think Lava's populations doubles or triples on the weekends! 

Alec & Lily have been begging us to go camping.

Tim & I were stupid and gave in.

Okay, okay.  In the end, I guess the good out-weighed the bad.

We did the whole camping experience. 

Tents, mosquitos, roasting hot dogs & smores. 

Oh, yeah!  The Smores!!!

That tipped the scale big time in the good direction!

Then, the main attraction in Lava...

SWIMMING!!!  

Alec calls himself the Cannon Ball King!

We had a lot of fun!  Friday, though we only went swimming for 10 minutes before the thunder & lightning started & they cleared the pool.  The Hot Pots were still open, though, so we went for a nice soak.  Later we went swimming again.  Not too bad.

Lily is turning out to be a great little swimmer, too!  

Woo hoo!

Megan loves the water.  She had lots of fun!

Doesn't this little face look angelic??  Then why won't she SLEEP!!!  Ahh, that baby crying in the campground... Oh, wait.  That was my baby.  It felt like the night was never going to end. Somehow we made it, though.  She even woke up all happy and smiles, like nothing had even happened.  *sigh.  Why do I feel tired  just writing about it?

We came home & had birthday cake on Sunday.  

Check out that cake decorating action!  

Way to go Tim & helpers!

All in all, it was a great weekend!  

I was with my favorite people in the world.