Dave and Tee's Bahamas Trip

We got to take a fun dive trip just by ourselves. Normally we are leading groups and so we are some what responsible for everyone. This time was unique as we got to go and just enjoy ourselves. We have been to the Bahamas a few times but this time we were on a live-aboard boat called the Aqua Cat. A live-aboard is basically a mini cruise just for divers. You get to make up to 5 dives a day. The boat left from Nassau and went southeast to the Exumas. The diving was really good, we did a variety of walls and reefs, 1 wreck and 1 blue hole. We got to go ashore a number of times to some of the prettiest beaches we have ever been to. It was neat to have a beach all to yourself. We spent 1 trip on a beach with some lizards that come right up to you. They go there every week and feed the lizards grapes. Basically you find a stick, put a grape in the end and they will come right out to you. Tee was surprisingly brave and actually tried it. Another day we went shore to the headquarters of the Exumas Land and Sea Park. We did a little nature walk and got to explore some mangroves and blow holes. In the winter, it is a surprisingly busy place with over 300 visitors a month. That's lot considering you have to have your own boat to get there. It reminded me of a Jimmy Buffet sort of place. We also got to come back one night for a beach bonfire.

We got to meet some fun people. We had one couple with us from SLC and then there were folks from Canada, England, France, Arizona, New Mexico and 4 guys from Chile. The crew was very international as well with Americans, Brits, South Africans,a Brazilian and an Irish girl. We meet 1 couple from Nova Scotia who own a bike touring company. Hopefully we will do a tour to Croatia with them next year. (we'll see)

We get to go back in June with a group for the dive shop.

London Bday Part II/Thanksgiving

Last week we had some friends over for dinner on London's birthday. London had a pool party with just girls but wanted Max to be able to come over for something. So they came over for dinner and cake. It was really nice time. Noah follows Max around like a puppy and Max is very patient.

We had a nice Thanksgiving. Just our family. It started a bit early on Wednesday. Our neighbors invited us to go cut down a Christmas tree with them. The kids had the day off and I was able to leave early so we all met at the diveshop at noon. Tee and the kids went with them last year to a forest about 1/2 hour south of Evanston, Wyoming. (About 2 hours away.) There was a lot more snow there last year but it sure was cold. We wandered about the woods for an hour or 2 and found the trees we needed. We decided to head home south past Mirror Lake. This road is closed in the winter but since we haven't had any snow this year we could drive through. On paper it takes about 50 miles off the trip but since they are back roads I don't think it made a difference. The thermometer on the car said it was 8* out after the sun went down. There was a moon out so it was a very pretty drive as the sun was going down. The mountains near Mirror Lake were very pretty. We stopped in Kamas for some dinner. Now Kamas has maybe 1 stop sign and 3 restaurants. The first one had a 1/2 hour wait so we went across the street to a Mexican place. 2 4-person groups were there. Then we show up 13 strong (6 adults and 7 kids), then like 4 more groups show up. This is with 1 waitress and 1 cook!! The waitress is flying around the tables on the phone trying to get some more help. 7pm on a Wednesday in Kamas, who knew? She actually did a pretty good job. The food was so-so but it was a fun afternoon.

Thanksgiving morning-the kids want to watch the parade, Tee is getting food going and I slip across the street to the park for a little Turkey Bowl football. The guys in the ward/neighborhood play a few times a year and every Thanksgiving. It is a great tradition. We had almost 30 guys there playing in 2 games. It was much better then last year. Last year we had a few guys (I don't even know who they were) taking the game a bit too seriously. I love it when you have the guys showing up in their Under Armour gear with cleats and gloves. My other favorite is QB guy. He's the one who wants to diagram every play, yells because they rush too soon and consistently under throws the deep ball. Luckily we didn't have 1 in our game. It was a blast. Pretty much everyone knew each other and it was a lot of fun. Yes I did catch a TD pass but then I let one go through my arms and that was it. I wasn't thrown to again. After a few hours of reliving high school greatness, I went home and we headed off to see a movie. This is another tradition, the 11am movie on Thanksgiving morning. We saw "Enchanted." It was cute. Animated, Fairy tale characters come to present day New York and turn into real people. It was a slightly more upscale "Shrek", tweaking the fairy tale story and making a little fun of it. There was one scene in the animated beginning when the prince was chasing a large, green monster. I thought for certain they were setting up a Shrek reference but they called him a troll instead of an orge so maybe it was just a subtle jab. After the movie it was turkey time. After that it was nap on the couch time. After that it was watch "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving" time. A very nice holiday was had by all.

London's Bday Part I

So London is about to turn 8 and we decided a while ago we would let her have a "invite a friend" kind of party. We always done the cake with family, maybe a few friends but I guess it's time to do the real thing. She has said for the last year or so that when she could do a big party, it would be a swim party. (very convenient I know) Anyway we invited about 12 girls. A few from the neighborhood and the rest from school. We blew up some beach balls, threw some things in the pool to dive for, laid out some masks and snorkels, turn up the Hannah Montana and away we went.
The party was a lot of fun. Everything went great. Mindy and Ryan came down to help corral the kids. London had a good time. The gift of choice this year is a "webkinz." This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" kind of gifts. Basically it is a small stuffed animal. Each one comes with an on-line code that you enter and allows you to "adopt" the animal. You get to name it, you get to print out an adoption certificate and you get access to a bunch of stuff on their webpage. Each animal has a "room." You can get points on the webpage. You then use those points to buy food for your animal and furniture and toys for their room. **WATCH OUT, I'm going to rant for a minute!!** I'm not sure if this a great thing, since we are just reinforcing the "consumer" mentality. This is something I noticed a while ago, sometimes it seems like the kids aren't happy unless we are spending money. I think a big part of it comes from watching TV or listening to the radio. This kids learn ad jingles. I can sing "Smith's..." and the kids will respond, "Market fresh every day!" I've heard London rattle off some lines once from Tom Shane Jewelery and Men's Wearhouse. I suppose a certain amount is unavoidable but I still worry sometimes. Not that I am going to do much to change it. I will concede that Disney is the king of this. The kids listen to Disney Radio, where they are told to go to Disney.com where they can see the preview for the upcoming movie. We then download the Disney podcast that talks about how there is a new ride coming soon at Disneyland based on the movie. We are consumers and our kids are turning into them as well. Did I know big industry conglomerates when I was in 2nd grade? No, probably not. But I could tell you what railroads had merged through the years to form ConRail and Burlington Northern! How many 7 year olds knew that? ***END OF RANT**
So London got one of these webkinz at a party a few weeks ago and started telling everyone she wanted one. She has gotten 5 and counting! Summer really wanted one as well. So much so that she has had a few crying spells about them. Anyway, we are at the party and as London keeps opening them, Summer is besides herself. On the one hand, she can't believe there are this many webkinz out there, on the other hand, why do they all have to go to my sister? London was nice and gave one to her on the way home. Then a few days later she gets another one from another friend. This one she hands off to Noah, who decides he wants in on the action. Summer gets upset because she really likes this new animal and why can't Noah take her old one? Frankly I'm with her, I wouldn't have wanted the one she got. Of course not that Noah would either. Anyone, I think everyone is happy with their animals. At least I see them in bed with them. London still has about 4 of her own still. She carries them around in a basket. It's pretty funny. I'll get some pictures up here soon. Stay tuned, there are more gifts coming from our family!!

Halloween

Halloween is always a fun time. We love holidays. Every year we add a few more traditions. Halloween is not complete until we -

• see the witches at Gardner Village.

• go to the pumpkin patch/mini corn maze at the nursery on 7th East and about 8800 South.

• carve pumpkins (of course)

• cruise past our favorite outdoor decorations (the kids favorite is the "dead guy", a house in Holladay has a coffin propped up against their house with a body in it. Last year, the body had a knife stuck in it with lots of ketchup around it and he was the "bloody guy." This year he's just the dead guy.



• this year we added some new traditions. Mindy and Ryan invited us to an orchard on 7th East that had free tractor rides and showed "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" outside on the side of a truck. We also took milk jugs and drew faces on them and stuck Christmas lights in the back of them and presto-light up jack-o-lanterns!

Noah was a cowboy for some of his parties and events and a pirate for others. London was a witch. Summer was Curious George. Dave had a yellow outfit and was the man with the yellow hat. Tee had a princess dress when she helped out at London's school party.

We are well into our fall routine. The kids are busy with school. London is in 2nd grade, Summer in Kindergarden and Noah is in preschool. This is London's first year with real homework so that took a little getting used to. Summer enjoys kindergarden and Noah has fun with all the projects in preschool. The girls had socer this fall. London's team didn't have the best year, they didn't score very many goals. Summer had a blast with a goal in just about every game. Dave is busy as usual at the dive shop and Tee enjoys a few mornings a week at the Gap and has just started some special ed consulting ata local school. We enjoyed a Disneyland trip back in September and are busy getting ready for Thanksgiving.