Movie at the Park

On Saturday night we went to Constitution Park and watched The Bee Movie with Corrine. It was really fun! It was one of those things where I thought, 'I have lived here for four years and never done this?' They have movies and concerts on Saturday nights throughout the summer. It wasn't quite as romantic as The Wedding Planner but definitely much more fun. Thanks Corrine for asking us to go!

That's just the way it is...

Anna is very inquisitive. She asks a lot of questions. I try to be very patient and explain things in detail to her so she understands them. Sometimes though when I am all out of answers I just tell her that something is the way it is because that is the way Heavenly Father made it. The other day she was asking me why Little Caesar's doesn't have a place in it where you can sit down and eat. I was explaining their business plan and how they make money, profits, etc. etc. Nothing I was saying was satisfying her and she kept asking why. Finally Carly blurted out 'Anna, that is just the way Heavenly Father made it!' It was pretty funny.

St. George 2008

I think this was one of my favorite years of going to St. George. It was so fun! Everything was perfect. The kids had a lot of fun playing with their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. I had a lot of fun just hanging out with everyone. Families are such a blessing!

Monday - Pizza and the Sound of Music

As per tradition, we ate at the St. George Pizza Factory before we went and saw the play at Tuachan. Their pizza and breadsticks are sooo good. I especially love their ranch dressing. Why is ranch dressing so much better at restaurants? I am sure the answer lies in the fat grams but I try not to think about that.
Mac was such a good sport on this vacation. He really did well despite being out of his normal routine.
This is one of my most favorite/classic pictures of my dad. If you can't tell he is filling up the ice in the soda machine behind the counter. If he sees a job that needs to be done he does it! Always! I really admire that quality in my dad; it is a good reminder to me to try to be more helpful.
We got to see the Sound of Music this year. It was really fun! Mac is not real happy here but he fell asleep during the play and then we all really enjoyed it!

Tuesday - Golf, Swimming, and Running

So golf, swimming and running happened almost everyday - not just Tuesday. The mornings were a great temperature so they were filled with golf and running. And the afternoons were saved for swimming. McKay was in HEAVEN golfing every morning. I got to go running a few times as well. Mac after a slightly hot morning run. I think this stroller is meant for a little bit bigger kids. :)
The kids had a lot of fun swimming. Anna learned how to dive for toys underwater and Carly put her face in a couple of times. Carly is our slightly crazy child on land but in the water she just likes to 'relax.' We are working with her though and she is getting a little braver.
The kids had fun playing on the putting green. Grandpa made it even more exciting by offering a dollar if they could make a long put.
Anna with her matching shirt and golf ball. With her it is all about the look. McKay can't resist giving a few tips here as well.

Wednesday - Cars, Water, and Ice Cream

Wednesday we got to go to Fiesta Fun and drive Go-Karts and the kids drove these other cars. I would have posted a video but it would have been the same as a picture - the cars were really really slow! However, the kids LOVED them. Of course Anna wanted the yellow car to match her shirt.

St. George has this cool water 'park' downtown. The kids had fun walking through the streams. It was a great way to cool down after getting sweaty driving the cars.
An even better way to cool down, I thought, was to get ice cream. I LOVE a good shake. You can split a mini size here and still have plenty of ice cream. It was really fun getting to know my sister-in-law Rachel better. Travis is a lucky guy!
Grandma keeping us entertained while waiting for our shakes. My mom does such a great job at organizing the vacation without having it be overly planned out. She was a lifesaver and took the kids for scooter rides and collection walks a lot. Thanks mom!

Thursday - a kind of 'unbirthday' with High School Musical

We took the little girls to see High School Musical - the play. It was a lot of fun. Anna, Carly and Sydney are all big fans. Anna leaned over to me at one point and commented that they couldn't sing very well. They were no Vanessa and Zack but they were pretty good. Randy Jackson watch out - Anna can hear 'pitchy' as much as you can.
This is me opening a present from the Fishers. Sydney exclaimed that she had that same box on her birthday. I love Emily laughing in the background. The shirt inside is very cute!
The big 30! I felt pretty special because my mom bought this sack especially for my birthday. I love reused sacks as well, but it was extra kind of her to buy me a new sack for the big 3-0! Don't worry M0m, I know not to expect it every time.
Having fun at the birthday party!
The kids had a little afternoon slumber party watching 'Enchanted.' They would all climb under their Dodger blankets when the witch came. Even little Riley wanted to be like the big girls and would lay down with them.

We celebrated my birthday on Thursday since we were leaving on Friday. We ate lunch at In-N-Out. It was really crowded but so fun. Emily was our expert hover agent and managed to get us four tables in a row. You had to hover or you would miss out on tables and no one wanted to eat outside in the 100+ temperatures.

Friday

No pictures this day - it was too sad. The last day of vacation - the fun was ending. But it was a great week!!! This was also my birthday and we had to leave. Not the best way to spend your birthday but that is ok. I had to try really hard not to cry. Sometimes it really stinks to be the only one in the family to drive south when everyone else drives north. Can't wait until next year. Thanks Mom and Dad for such a fun vacation!

Daddy Daughter Dodger Date

The kids had been begging McKay to take them to a Dodger game - without Mom. I happily obliged. McKay had four tickets so they took their friends Shailey and her Dad Danny. They had so much fun and their wish came true: they got cotton candy!
McKay said that toward the end of the game the girls got really silly. Must have been all that sugar!

Our Little Graduates

Today was preschool graduation! I can't believe Anna is going to be in Kindergarten in a few months. They had a little party with their class and got diplomas.
The teachers said something about each of the students. They said Carly was fun and always had a story to tell. (I wonder what she told them...)
They said Anna is smart and did all assignments very well and exact.
Good job girls! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Remember the Days?

Remember when you were little and it was sooo cool to dress up in high heels? I loved playing at my Grandma McAllister's house and dressing up in her high heels with my cousins. She has the best ones because they were extra high. Then we would all sit around and cross our legs and pretend to be cool. Carly loves to put on my heels! Anna will too sometimes but refused to be photographed.

Happy 8 Years!

Monday was our anniversary. Eight big ones! (So nice to get married in 2000 - you never forget how many years you have been married!) We had a great day! We went to dinner on Friday night so that was kind of our 'night out.' We had a surf n' turf dinner on Monday and got Anna and Carly to be our waitresses! They were so cute. They really got in to it - especially when I told them I would give them a tip if they did a good job. They picked up the whole house (even got upset with Mac when he pushed his car out of its spot.) They set the table and picked roses from the back yard with rose petals on the table. They even set their own little table in the kitchen so we could eat 'alone.' They made cute little menus as well. It was so cute. Carly declared half way through the meal that she was done being a waitress and just wanted to be a 'children' again. McKay threatened to not tip her and she ponied up for the last five minutes. They each got a dollar to buy cotton candy with at the Dodger game last night. Unfortunately we were stuck with the dishes but McKay did them for me. Grandma Barlow came and watched the kids while we went to see Indiana Jones. Thank you! It is so fun to go to movies - not just watch them at home. It's been a great eight hon! I sure love you!!!
p.s. sorry no pictures! It was a little crazy.