Road Trip ~ Part III

I know you all thought we were done with this but it's really just beginning!

After work was over Thursday afternoon I finally got to enjoy some of the fun too. We decided to try something new and drive home the "northern" route. What exactly does that mean?? 2300 miles is what that means!! We left Friday morning and took our time driving up the coast toward Solvang, an adorable little Danish town a few hours South-West of Fresno. We drove on PCH for awhile but the traffic was making Ryan a little crazy, seriously not the most patient driver! Here is a great clip of Dylan's first windows-down experience as we drove ever so slowing through Malibu.

Dylan's progression of silliness....

We also stopped at the visitors center for the Channel Islands in Ventura. We didn't really have time to do any excursions and enjoy the islands so we just spent some time at the beach to release some energy. Dylan started getting pretty brave with the water but overall thought it was just too cold!

He is telling that water to back off - and then he decides to go get it! Look at that face!!

I love that we are making the same face in this one.

Finally feeling the water, he approves!

After a few more hours in the car we were finally in Solvang. It is so pretty there! I really love it! Here is Dylan being a very serious Danish soldier and he and I are pretty convincing little Danish people with this cutout, oh wait no, he isn't even in a head spot! haha so funny... Being true to a European town we were unable to really eat here, it was between lunch and dinner but luckily we barely caught a little bakery that was still open and stocked up before hitting the road again. Oh and did I mention we passed an ostrich farm!? Coolest looking thing - I wish I had taken pictures!

We followed the coast for quite a while and ate in Pismo Beach, I am determined to go back here it was one of my favorite spots on the trip! We headed inland through the rolling hills and vineyards, so beautiful! We even drove through "James Dean Memorial Junction" -- touching.

I can't even tell you how much I loved this drive, it was so peaceful and serene. **sigh**

How does YOUR garden grow?

While our we are still not convinced that our decision to go with hydroseed will pay off there is one thing for certain - my garden rocks! This is the first time I have ever grown a garden and it is flourishing!! I have zuccini, yellow squash, little jack pumpkins, pumpkins, rhubarb, herbs and tomatoes, SO MANY TOMATOES!


~my first item of harvest~


Anyone have words of encouragement regarding our lawn? We are seriously regretting not getting sod right now... In the mean time the pups are loving it!

Balloons AND Music

I know what your thinking... Where can I enjoy a perfect combination of balloons AND music this weekend?? How about the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival? Yep ~ that's the answer! Saturday, August 15th, two fantastic bands will be performing, Pladdohg & Shades of Grey. Look at how much fun we had last year! Music starts at 7 sharp with the breath-taking balloon glow at 8:45.

Photograph by Bill Singleton

A little more about Pladdohg...
Pladdohg is a high energy, Celtic American Folk-Rock band. Kidnapping tunes both traditional and original, Pladdohg exiles most instrumental conventions to play the music in a unique (and sometimes twisted) style. Expect the Unexpected.

After realizing some frustration with the somewhat “stilted” nature of traditional sessions of beloved Celtic music, Kaiser and Jill Wilhelm formed the original Pladdohg in the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1990’s. Lured by irresistible musical evolution, several like-minded musicians (including Jill and Kaiser’s son, Josh Canete) were recruited throughout the years. Pladdohg became a strong force in the Alternative-Celtic scene where electric guitar and Irish flute found a common host!

The spirit and influence of Wilhelm’s Pladdohg band is such that even upon their relocation to the Salt Lake City area, the band couldn’t die. Pladdohg multiplied! Now there are TWO Pladdohg packs with Josh and many original members still bangin’ the Bay, and Kaiser and Jill’s new Utah recruits rockin’ the Rockies.

Pieces of Broadway ~ A Unique Musical Revue

I am a little late here but come see us - it's a great show in the beautiful outdoors on a fall evening! What could be better?

Once again the incredibly talented youth of the Belasco Theatre Company Utah bring to life the vision of Writer and Director extraordinaire, Jill Wilhelm. “Pieces of Broadway” features classic works from Annie, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls and Grease all combined into a unique story based on the simplistic theme of a boy and a girl. Belasco Theatre Company Utah is proud to present its 5th full length Broadway production and once again promises deliver with the same professionalism and talent that its adoring fans have grown to expect. You won’t want to miss this fall’s presentation of “Pieces of Broadway ~ A Unique Musical Revue”!

Show Dates:

August 10, 11, 12 & 13 at 8:00pm at the Ed Kenley Amphitheatre, 403 North Wasatch Drive Layton, UT.

August 21 at 7:00pm & August 22 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at The Village Green, 395 South State Street Clearfield, UT.

Tickets:

General seating tickets sold at the door – $5 for Adults and $4 for Children under 12 and Seniors over 65.

Road Trip ~ Part II

We finally arrived in San Diego and spent 5 nights there. Of course I spent the majority of the time working but Dylan and Ryan had some fun!! They mostly just chilled at the hotel swimming, napping, cartoon watching, etc. But we did go down to Old Town one evening and for some reason Dylan was NOT a happy boy. He his super crusty in every picture!


We also went up to Irvine Spectrum for a few hours one evening. A SoCal trip just wouldn't be complete without a Ruby's shake! Of course with ice cream and water to play in Dylan couldn't help but be a happy boy this night! Hence the gazillion pictures...



Above is waiting for the yummy shakes...look how serious he is about it below! We DO NOT mess around about ice cream in this family!!

He quickly realized he liked holding his foot above where the water would spray, he was so excited about the suspense of it all!

THE BIG ONE

We actually have lots of 'big one's' this year and here is the first... Dylan turned ONE today! I can't believe he has really been here for a year already! It's been so exciting and fun I can barely begin... He has learned so much in the last couple of months, even the last week he seems to have developed so many new skills and expressions. The quick list? Drinking through a straw, twisting lids back on things (in general he is obsessed with putting things where they belong), saying "go in there", "peek-a-boo", "hi" with an adorable little wave, making new sound-effects, constant jabber - and I DO mean constant! Really he has just become more and more awesome, I mean really he is so freakin' cool! I don't know how we got so lucky but I grateful every day and don't know what we would do without him! Here are a few pictures of the big day. I have so much catching up to do so more to come soon.



**HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY DYLAN**

Road Trip ~ Part I

I had work in San Diego so we decided to make a family road trip out of it! We were a bit concerned about having Dylan in the car for so long but staying true to his easy-going personality he was perfect yet again! We drove to St. George the first day to stay with my grandparents before going the rest of the way Sunday. Of course we forgot about the Las Vegas to LA traffic on Sundays so we stopped in Las Vegas and Primm to kill a few hours.

This is the awesome floral display at Bellagio and if you are wondering what that bird-like sound is? That is just one of the fun new sounds Dylan learned!





Dylan LOVES stuffed animals! I mean he attacks them like he is going to eat them up he loves them so much!! Here we are playing at FAO Schwartz at Caeasars Palace. He also could have stared into the aquarium all day!




This is a great sample of what we listened to most of the trip, when he was awake anyway. He has so many interesting stories to tell!! It takes a minute to get the camera situated since we have to be sneaky or he will stop the jibber jabber and pose for the camera...cheeser!