Tuesday, October 9, 2012

2 Years Old!

Julia turned 2 near the end of August, and we had a small party for her. She sure enjoyed the attention - especially when everyone sang "Happy Birthday to you!" Getting her to sit still long enough to get a decent picture was not possible!
 Minnie Mouse cupcakes
 "I wanna see me"

 Macey made her this doll from a kit she bought.
 
 

Cheese!
 


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Kidzania - Dubai Mall - September 2012

Our homeschool group (DUNEHA) goes to Kidzania as a field trip every year. This year we went in September instead of April like last year - big difference! School has just started and, I guess, it's too early for field trips with the local schools. So, we had the place to ourselves! I hung out with Jolee and Julia, so most of the pictures are of them. The big kids hung out with their friends.
 Julia and Jolee in the bumper cars

 Jolee in the play kitchen
 Js in the bounce house
Paramedic Matthew
 Snackin' Julia - too small for the activity
 Macey at the Culinary School
 Katelin and her friends learning to cook

 Jolee and Macey
Jolee helping to make brownies
 Left out again, but scored a "biscuit" for the tears!
 Matthew and Jolee "making" Coke-a-Cola
 Timothy - How many Cokes have you had today?
 Modeling, sorta!
Artist Jolee
 Posing with the McDonalds cap and apron - going to "make" their own Happy Meal!






 Firewoman Jolee
Dancin'


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Summer 2012 in the USA

We had a wonderful time in the USA this July/August. Chris was already in TX for work, so he flew to LA to meet the kids and me. We stayed in El Segundo, and the Greenways were kind enough to show us around. There was a get together that Saturday where we met some more friends and the kids swam and bounced.
 
Chatting with friends
Katelin and her new friend
 Monday we took the kids to Disneyland for the day - a full day, opening to closing!

 
We went on the first ride without a line - cars - now we know why there wasn't a line!
Jolee and Julia having fun!


Fairytale Castle
 Teacups - a favorite
 

 It's A Small World After All - still the same as when I was small!
 Disney Parade - trying to take pictures in the crowded shade was difficult!
 



 
 


 


 

 

 
Chris had surgery on his parotid gland on Tuesday, so, because of the anesthesia, I got to drive us 8 hours up to Windsor (1 hour north of San Fran) on Wednesday. We rented a townhouse there - 10 minutes from our new niece in Santa Rosa.

Golden Gate Bridge with lots of fog
Matthew in the Red Wood Forest
Armstrong Redwoods
Macey and a friend of Aunt Melissa

Hiking, sticks, and posing!
 
9 kids and a momma
 

Princess Jolee and a 3 leaf clover
 
Julia
 Jump!
Jolee
Tall Timothy
 
 
Aleah and Aunt Jen 
Blue Eyes

 Matthew thinking, "How can I sneak a few sticks into the car?"
 
Roses of ALL kinds in the San Francisco Golden Gate Park




 
 Danielle, Katelin and Matthew enjoying a spin
Timothy, "Think I might be a bit old for this!"
 Mom and Julia "Cheese"
Macey
Aunt Lissa, Aleah and PaJoe
 

 



 
 

My cousin Danielle who flew out from Indiana with my grandparents to see us and Aleah
Dads keeping the bench warm at the park


Matthew is quite fond of baby girls!
Jolee is in love!
 
We left California and flew to New Mexico to visit my parents. Chris wanted to go to Santa Fe to visit the old town and eat at The Shed.




This is Julia, but Jolee got ahold of one of these chilis and disected it, then wiped her lips with her hands. Her lips were on fire, and Poppa came to the rescue with a quick trip to the store for some water.
Julia at Laurel's grave
Julia and Matthew enjoying peaches on the porch
Timothy - we all took turns in the hammocks. Julia and I took a nap there almost every day.
 
Native American Ruins





 

Matthew dreaming of the day he is big enough to drive!

 

 Girls' Fort!
 Macey retrieving the "table" the boys stole from her fort!


 Boys' Fort!

 
Macey up early one morning quietly playing Solitaire
 
Rootbeer floats!
Pizza and play with new friends in Edgewood

Homeschooling friends from Colorado that we met in Dubai met us at the zoo.


Bones they found on the ranch
 
 Jolee 4
 
 Julia almost 2

 Katelin 11
 Macey 9
 Matthew 7
 Timothy - 13
 

Sue and Ryan drove down from CO to visit with us and tour a museum


We left the next day for home - Dubai. We enjoyed the time to visit family, relax, eat Mexican food, play outside, breathe clean mountain air, listen to the rain, and sleep with the windows open. Until next year ....  !