The long and merry Christmas Post!!

Before going to California for Christmas, we had a Christmas Party at Ike's cousin's house. We had a blast with Ike's aunt and uncle and cousins eating dinner, making gingerbread houses, playing games and playing carols with the bells. The picture of Duke is the game we played. I can't remember the name of it, but you have to roll the dice, and if you get a 1 or 6 you put socks on your hands and try to open a wrapped candy bar with a fork and knife. If you open it befor someone else rolls a 1 or 6, then you get to start eating it, but if not, you have to pass the candy bar, socks, and utensils to the next person who rolled the correct numbers.



Christmas Eve at the Baggley's house (I may have spelled their name wrong). They are part of our new extended family since Kathy (ike's mom) married Dave (Maryanne Baggley's Dad) about two years ago. We had so much fun and Maryanne made a fabulous dinner (kudos also to Debbie and everyone else who helped). We had a blast playing guitar hero (I sucked, so I stuck with playing the foot drum) and singing karaoke. The pajama party ideas was a hit and I love the new tradition for us!

Please help me convince Ike to get a hair cut!!! And for heavens sake...stand up straight! (I just realized how much he is hunched over....not flattering)


Dane's adorable cousin, Waiamea, trying to eat her orange from her stocking.....Geez Mandi...feed your kid!! (LOL) She was so cute to watch when she got her huge Mickey Mouse from santa. BTW, she turned one today...so Happy Birthday sweet girl!


There was the most beautiful rainbow outside on Christmas Morning. It rained the night before, so when we woke up we had an extra present! It was full, and I have a picture from both the front and back of Kathy's house to prove it.



Here are some of Dane's favorite toys. We didn't get a picture of his Kettcar that he got (think pedal go cart for toddlers) from Santa. We have some video, so maybe we can get that posted.



I love this classic Christmas face that Grandma Kathy had when she opened her I pod

We went to disneyland the day after Christmas, and only rode a few rides because it was so busy (we got passes for Christmas and had to get our pictures taken anyway, so we stayed a few hours). This is on the newly renovated Small World ride. I really liked how they changed it for the Christmas Season.

We didn't ride dumbo because the line was long (like all the other rides that day), so we just took a picture inside this stationary replica near the exit.

This is a picture of us on the Matterhorn ride. It was Dane's first time, and he got scared and didn't want to really ride anymore rides after that witout lots of "encouragement" from mom and dad. I tried to get a picture of his face during the ride.

SNOW in VEGAS!!

Yes, it's true.....SNOW IN VEGAS...and lots of it. Two snows in one week, to be exact! The first left an inch or two at the edge of town near the mountains, but this second one dumped on us good! These pics are of my niece and nephew at the park (and one of their street where they live). They got it worse than Ike and I did because they live about 15 minutes further south and the southern part of the valley got it bad! Today, though, it was warmer (in the 40s) and melted much of it. I did get a nice day off because they closed schools....so I say, bring it on again, so we don't have to go to school Friday as well! (Wishful thinking)

Thanksgiving in Washington

We spent Thanksgiving in Washington at Ike's Dad's house this year. It was a great trip, and we are glad to have had the chance to go visit again. The last time we were there was 4 years ago when I was about 10 weeks pregnant with Dane. Ike's Dad has moved out a little more into the country and has a few horses and some fun tractors and other animals that Dane loved. Ike's sister, Ginni, and her family were also there, so Dane got to see his cousin and best friend from when we lived in Utah...Pierce! They had a blast together. We split the trip up in the beginning into two days of driving (about 7 1/2 hours each). While we were there we visited with family, including Ike's Aunt Lynn that lives nearby and Ike's step brothers and sister. We had a bonfire one night, rode the tractors and horses (dane was too scared to get on the horse), and Ike played in his alumni game at his old Junior College where he went to school before transferring to BYU Hawaii. We also took Bo, and he was in heaven running around the property and chasing us in the tractor. I think he had a hard time with the colder temps though....I think living in Vegas the past 6 months has kept him from getting his winter coat that he usually got up in Utah this time of year. All in all, it was a great trip, and my only complaint is that we didn't have two days at the end of the weekend to drive home. The 15 hour drive in one day was insane, but we did it and we are now taking this week to wind down, do laundry, catch up on our favorite tv shows, and relax a little until our next trip to Cali at Christmas......thank heaven it is only a 3 hour drive!

6th Anniversary

Last weekend was our 6th anniversary (the 16th). The time goes by so fast. It seems like only yesterday I was getting married and getting ready to celebrate the big 25. Now, 6 years later and almost 31, I have never doubted the choice I made that day! Life just wouldn't be very fun or mean very much without Ike (and Dane)! Since our day fell on a Sunday, we celebrated Sat night by going to dinner at the Top of the World Restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere. It was a surprise, but when we pulled into the casino parking garage I, of course, knew where we were going. I have always wanted to go up to the top, but to have dinner up there was even better! The dining room of the restaurant rotates, so we got a panoramic view of the city of Lights! It was amazing...I even saw my school (it is only about a mile from the stratosphere). After dinner we went up to the observation deck where the totally insane can ride rides that hang off the sides of the structure (did I mention it is about 1000 ft in the air?). We stayed up there for a while to watch the crazies scream their heads off, then we played a few slots with about $20 and then headed home. It was a really fun night, and since we hadn't been on a date in a while, it was definitely a nice night away. I wish I could get videos to work on this thing, because I have a great video of one of the rides. Next time, maybe.

Air Show 2008

We went to the air show at Nellis Air Force Base on Saturday. It was Dane's first, and I haven't been since I was so young that I don't remember anyway. We got there right after the doors opened and I am so glad we did. THey bussed everyone from the Nascar parking lot to the base, and by the time we got on the bus the line looked like at least a 1/4 mile long. We were worried about the traffic, so we only stayed about two hours, but saw some really cool jets, stunt planes, parachute tricks, helicopters, and even a jet car that raced an airplane. I will definitely take a chair, some more sunscreen, a hat, and be prepared to stay longer next time....what a cool event....and it's FREE! Here are some pics..

Dane loved being able to climb on some of the airplanes



There was a huge military cargo plane on display that you would walk through.

Here is us walking up into the rear of the cargo plane...it was ginormous!

the Thunderbirds were impressive (although we left before their demonstration because, as you can see, Dane was out)

Halloween 08

We decided at the last minute to go to california for the weekend after going back and forth for about a week on it. We are glad we did, because we had fun at Grandma's Trunk or Treat at church, and we we enjoyed a day by her pool! Here are a few pics....

I love seeing kids dressed up for halloween! Dane picked out his Ironman costume...he pretends he is Ironman a lot lately. Little Waimea was such a cutie in her little costume.

Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Dave..they looked so cute dressed up.

Ike and Dane Trick or Treating. Dane was too shy to go up to most people, so we had to do most of the work for him.

And now we can relax....

I know it has been a while, but it has been a crazy month! We decided to back out on the house we were going to buy because the loan we wanted expired before we could close, so now we are renters again. We did find a nice, large single story with a yard big enough for Dane and Bo to have a little running room. (When I say big, that doesn't say much because it's Vegas). Anyway, I think it was a blessing in disguise not to get the house because the economy is so bad right now and we don't know how long we will be in Vegas...2 years, 10 years??? Who knows??

Anyway, here are some pictures of a weekend hike sponsored by Dane's montessori school. It was at Red Rock Canyon...and little did I know how much beauty there is (Mom...there is a whole other part we did not explore!) It was so beautiful, and I am definitely going back again and again to try other trails or maybe a jog or bike ride sometime. Too bad it was in the upper 40s when we first got there! We saw snow flurries on the way to the trail...yes, snow flurries in the desert! The highest point on the scenic route to get to the trail was about 4700 ft, so that explains it. Funny how three days ago I was sweating outside in 90 degree temps and today we saw snowflakes! Anyway...enjoy the pics! (click on them to enlarge and get a better look...I just realized I made them small)

The canyon is so beautiful...it's hard to believe you are in the desert when you are on a trail like this. Here is a shot of the view from one point on the trail.

This was at the end of the trail. There is a "seasonal" waterfall, but we missed the season for it. I think it is there in the spring after the winter snow melts in the mountains.

Dane's montessori teachers: Miss Jessica (L) and Miss Brianna (R)

There were tons of huge rocks...here's one we were able to climb on

I love this picture...Dane looks so cute in hoods and hats

Quick Update..

This is just a quick update in case I don't get to blogging for a few weeks. I started my new school year two weeks ago, and it is never fun in the beginning. Working for a new school district makes it even worse because you have to learn all the new software and policies and it can get kind of crazy. I think it will settle down by the end of the month and I will finally be in a rhythm. Just about then we will be moving into our new home and we are so excited to have more space again. Poor Bo will have a yard again to run around in (although much smaller than our yard in Utah), and Dane will be close enough to his cousins that he can see them more often (our community is right next to theirs). As soon as we get settled I will post some pics of our new home.

Dane has started a new montessori school and I think he is settling in to that, too. It was hard for him the first week, but it always is after being with mom and dad all summer long. It makes us really appreciate the times we have with him now. He is potty trained now and makes his dad proud when he calls him over to show him his "snake poo poo" (sorry for the visual). He is also keen to our "procedures" or discipline policies because he frequently reminds us of them when we do something bad (or he tells mom not to touch a pot because it's too hot).

That's about it for now...Please keep in touch with us...we will try hard in this really busy year we have started. Love to all...

Newport Beach 08

We had a great time at Newport Beach this year! It is the time when the Turleys and Whiteheads (My mother-in-law's new husband's family) get together for some time at the beach. We had a packed week and here are some pictures to show it. I have a ton, so if anyone involved wants more, I can send them in a file to you. We went to an Angel's Game, the LA zoo, and spend the rest of our days at the beach. We even started a new tradition...the Turley/Whitehead Basketball game (Won by the Turley's this year). I have a pic of it below...Ike's showing some skills with the ball. It was a great vacation before I had to get back to work, which I started this week. I am really excited about my new job and Dane is finally starting to get used to his new montessori school and is really enjoying it now (which always makes a working mom feel more at ease). Hope you enjoy the pics of our vacation! THey are smaller pictures because there are so many, but if you click on them, I think they will enlarge.