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.

Back to my roots.....

So, I got to go home for a week to visit with family and friends and it was such a treat to have my whole family there (except for Ike...he stayed behind and worked so he could take our family vacation with us to California in August). It was an awesome trip and full of adventure. I don't think I had a day to relax the whole time until the last day (I'm not complaining, though...it was so much fun). We went to the Virginia living museum (oh, and before that I got sprayed by a cat at the Humane Society...yuck!), Virginia Beach, Busch Gardens, the Outer Banks, NC, the Virginia Zoo, took family pictures and more! Whoa...it was jam packed! Here are a few pictures from the trip and I am still waiting to see what my sisters and mom have...so hurry up you guys and send them! These are in reverse order from how they happened during the week because I didn't want to change it after I started posting!
THis first pic is of Dane on the last leg of the plane ride home...he was such a trooper! We were supposed to leave at 6:30 pm, but had major delays and didn't end up leaving until 12:30 am, got to Dallas at about 3 am, and didn't leave Dallas until 7am. Trying to sleep in the airport is not fun...at least the airline ordered us Pizza and gave us blankets! I would have taken hotel vouchers in Dallas if my layover was longer, but it was only a few hours, so I decided to tough it out. Dane looks pretty chipper for the night we had!

Dane with "Pop Pop" at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk before we left to come home. THis giraffe in the background worked so hard reaching over the fence to get some leaves off of that tree. We sat and watched him for about 5 minutes and he finally got it....yeah for him!

Dane with Jaelyn and Brooklyn (my friend, Simone's girls) climbing to Jockey's Ridge. Thanks for letting me stay with you Simone! Why didn't I get a pic of us? Dumb! I think you purposely took the pictures at Jockey's Ridge so you didn't have to be in any of them....sly one you are!

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip...Dane at the top of Jockey's Ridge in the Outer Banks, NC.

My best friend from high school, Holly. She is 6 months pregnant and so cute. You can't even tell she's pregnant in this picture because she only shows in her belly. How lucky is she??

Finally....back to one of my favorite vacations spots from my youth...the Outer Banks, NC

Crash! Dane and Dylan on the bumper cars

Dane and cousin Dylan riding the boats at Busch Gardens

Dane and cousin, Lahna, playing at Virgina Beach

This one's a keeper...me and Pop

Dane's older cousins...Heather, Hayley, Rebecca and Julian (and little Dylan)

One of my favorites of Dane and his cousins