No Pictures, Just Text

I wrote this on Thursday night, but I changed the date when I reorganized the vacation photos. I posted the rest of them and made it so it goes chrono-logically, top to bottom, so have another look if you want. I am feeling better today (Friday), mostly by neccesity since we are planting our trees and grass today and tomorrow. Yay that...

I am not feeling very well, so it's taking a while to get the vacation pix up and I am not writing much. But I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my stepdad, Mark, and respond to the TAG from Brooks. I am supposed to list my 5 favorite songs TODAY. Well, I haven't listened to ANY music since I got home from the trip, but on the road I was SO digging:

Elvis Costello: Next Time Around
I just got this re-issued CD a few weeks ago; it'sone of my all-time favorites and it's even better on the new minivan CD player! This song is so catchy and clever and so very Elvis. The lyrics are awesome--Best line? "You used to take the breath out of me, now I think you'll be the death of me."

Cyndi Lauper: True Colors
I was the biggest CL fan in jr. high school. This song came later, but it's still a favorite. I heard it on a very cool PBS ad and then I went and downloaded it. "If this world makes you crazy and you've taken all you can bear, you call me up because you now I'll be there and I'll see your true colors shining through/ I see your true colors and that's why I love you." I want to teach it to my kids.

TLC: No Scrubs
I got no shame about my love for TLC. A couple of people even called me when Left-Eye died to console me. It's kind of a secret that I like to perform old hip-hop songs on karaoke night and this is probably my best (it's rated PG, though, because it says "Dead beat arse"). It's great house cleaning music, yall. Once I was out on a movie date with my homeboy, Jeff, and this song came on in the theatre and I was singing it and he was totally freaked out. "I can't believe you know this song. I can't believe you've ever even HEARD it..." He just laughed and laughed. I said, "J-dawg--I am trapped in the body of a white girl."

Cars: Magic
This song IS summer to me. I put it on a summer mix CD last year, which I listened to on the way to Cali. Love it. The whole Cars Greatest Hits CD rocks my world. (Mollie-"American Girl" is on that mix, too--love it!)

XTC: Grass
Another SO-SUMMER song for me because the first time I heard it was at Mission Beach in the summer of 1987 and it became somewhat of an anthem for me and my A1 (just like Echo & the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar" the next summer with Robert). The whole Skylarking album is a work of art in my book and my girls LOVE to listen to "Ballet for a Rainy Day" and "Sacrificial Bonfire." They will be well-versed in the New Classics.

There you go...
I am tagging:
Jill
Dana
Jessica
Laura
Matt/Amie

You guys post your own list of your 5 favorite songs TODAY on your own blogs, then tag three or more people.

Congratulations, Brent & Amanda!

Cousin Brent and Lovely Amanda were married in the Redlands California Temple on Saturday, August 20th. It was very hot, but don't they look great? It was a very nice wedding and reception--we thank both of their families for hosting such a fun weekend.

First Stop: Las Vegas

Our first stop was in North Las Vegas to visit my former roommate/good friend, Erin, who is moving to England this week. Here, mommy and Heidi cool off in the Caspers' Pool

Addie and Eliza walking to the pool (sorry it's fuzzy--I had to super-zoom)

Heidi excited to jump in the pool--she is my water baby!

Here's my cute hubby wrangling all the kids: from left to right, that's Tarah, Brandon, Brittany, Rich, Eliza, Heidi & Addie.

Thursday in Newport Beach

We drove straight from Las Vegas (at 6am) to Orange County (10:30am). To tour the new temple, you had to park and ride a shuttle bus to the temple grounds because there were thousands of people there! Here are Rich and Heidi riding to the temple...
...and here is Addie listening intently to the tour guide.

Here is the Newport Beach Temple.

Our first stop was actually in Costa Mesa at IKEA. We had a little lunch and chose the furniture we would pick up Sunday and take home in our trailer. The Asian people behind Addie were taking pictures, too--all over the store, inside and out.

At the Beach

The girls ran straight in to the water when we arrived at Newport Beach (just north--or is it west?- of the pier). They LOVED the beach! In hindsight, if we'd realized how MUCH they'd love it, we would have skipped Disneyland this trip and jsut played in the water all day for TWO days.

Heidi making a silly face as she chases the waves.

Addie says, "Surf's up!"

More Beach Fun

She was squealing with glee...

I was trying to keep Heidi from running in and washing away!

Heidi loved when the tide came in and washed the sand from her hands!

seashells for grandma

The Best Hotel Pool Ever

After the beach, we went straight to the hotel pool, which had this cool little beachy kids' pool and a little fountain with dancing waters and a turtle...

...we were in mermaid HEAVEN!

Friday: Disney Day!

There's Mickey welcoming us to Disneyland-- it's 50 years old, you know!
Jamie, Heidi, Addie, and Rich at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Princess Adeline found her castle!

First stop: Teacups! Here are the girls spinning like mad...
Heidi didn't want to get off the ride!
Heidi also did not want to wait in line AT ALL! She had to sit on daddy's shoulders and when he got tired, we stopped going on rides with lines and reminded ourselves to come in January or Februray next time.