Mormon Battalion

In 1847, 500 Mormon men were ask to form a Battalion for the US. A little bitterness by the Mormons because this was after the government did not protect them. They did it and ended up in San Diego and helped begin development. They just opened a brand new museum to honor these men. I let my kids miss school for the day to be the first tour. This was a great excuse to have them miss school. I don't want them to have perfect attendance. (I can't sit through a 2 hour assembly to watch them get an award for something that is required of them) Anyway(: It was amazing and I recommend it for all...plus it is free. If the different rooms moved, it would be close to a Disneyland ride. Each room made you feel like you were camping in the forest or a soldier picking up your gear. It was great and very high tech with characters talking to you. It takes about 45 minutes or longer depending on your skills of panning for gold.

I told Sydney she needed to find enough gold to pay for lunch. She told me if we lived back then she would want panning for gold to be her chore. I doubt it... I told her you don't find a piece of gold every minute.

This is the inside of one of the rooms. Kind of fuzzy but behind the campfire there is a huge screen the girls are watching.

Brick making

Highly recommend for all and look for photos of us in the church news next month.

Rain!

It is true...It is raining hard. We even had a tornado warning? My favorite part was the weatherman told us to get in the basement during a tornado. Who in California has a basement?

I would like to know what was going through Brody's mind here.
Also, I would like to know what was going through my neighbors minds as they watched my kids play in the rain.

Mrs. Clean?

I was watching a show on hoarding and was disgusted that people can live like that. Is it really that hard to throw things out? This lady had a cat die in her living room and they found the flattened remains. She had no idea she had a cat living there. This got me thinking about what could be disgusting in my home and I just pass it by and not realize it...under the fridge. No this next picture is not from the hoarder show on filthy people...but mine. Shocking!!!! This is what is looks like under my fridge after 5 years of never moving it. I am speechless. I think this is the origin of the H1N1 virus. How often are you suppose to clean under a fridge? I have no memories of my mom making me move the fridge as I mopped the floor.

BEFORE

AFTER

Wait there is more. What does 5 years of dust look like on top of the fridge? The black part is the only part I can wipe because the fridge is under the cupboard. All that gray is dust.

AFTER

MY HAPPY FRIDGE!

Am I suppose to clean under the washer and dryer too?

running recycler

All last year I have been running with a friend around our town. We run by a high school and junior high. They are litter bugs. We started collecting the cans and bottles and put them in my stroller. This is what we get in a typical run...about 14. My husband does not see my joy in getting paid to run and cleaning up using recycling. Although it is only 75 cents a run. It adds up quick. We run 4 days a week=$3.00. $3.00 times about 48 weeks a year=$144.00. Not bad...the only down side is my stroller does smell like beer.

"Terrible's" new year

Apparently, my car like me is not meant for cold Utah. I think it froze to death because on our way home, she died in Primm Nevada. If anyone has driven home on the 15 during the holidays you know what a mess it is. We stopped for a potty break, loaded back in the car and nothing happened. Got a jump and it died a half a mile later. I knew we were in for a long 24hours. As parents we put on our fun adventure face and our journey began.

1.45 line at McDonald's with people who I don't think contribute to society(scum)

2. walking through the casino with 3 girls covering their faces due to the smell of smoke. waiting another hour to check in.

3. 2 girls in tears...one saying I wish our car broke down in front of the Hilton(I agree). second girl hoping the second coming is near? Why? because all these people will die..smoking, drinking, gambling..."nice attitude" third girl just looking forward to playing the slot games. son...just thinks this is all part of our Christmas vacation. I guess we looked pretty pathetic because someone gave them $5.00.

4.tow truck driver had no concern for my safety. As I was trying frantically to get the stuff we needed out of the suburban before he towed it away...he was lifting it on the flatbed with me still in it. Husband thought this was funny as I guess he had no concern for my safety.

5.Husband left with tow truck driver and I did not know if I would ever see him again. Once again the tow truck driver was scummy. I should of given him some big kiss or say something romantic like they do in the movies when they go off to war. Nope, I think I gave him a not so nice smile since I had all the kids and luggage.

6.Successfully lugged all the luggage and kids through the casino to our room and still tried to act like this was a fun adventure. I was glad I only had 4 kids because we already looked like a circus act and I was at my luggage capacity strength. Paid for a $ 11.00 movie on TV to help settle them. It could of been $1000.00 and I would of paid it.

7. Slept and kept thinking how are we going to entertain children in a casino for a day while we fix the car. We were very creative...my favorite was having a dance off with ring tones from the cell phone.

8. Kids begging NOT to go to McDonald's for breakfast. When does that happen?

Long story short. It could of been worse and we made it through. My favorite part was the Hotel was called Terrible's. It lived up to its name.



OH!!! in case you were wondering Scott did make it back alive! We were reunited again but not like in the movies... I think I said something so romantic like..."What took you so long?"