Six Flags ~ Discovery Kingdom

These posts about our trip to California are going to be completely out of order. Oh well! There's probably a way to fix that, but I don't feel like taking the time to mess with it right now.

Aside from the wedding, the highlight of our trip was a day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA. The whole Mouser gang came along. It was a great family time with lots of special memories to share. This particular park is part zoo, part amusement park. The girls got to see giraffes, elephants, lions, etc. which our little local zoo doesn't have...yet. We also got to watch some really cool animal shows starring Shouka the killer whale, a walrus training session, a dolphin show, etc. The rest of the time was spent on great little rides and kiddie roller coasters. The girls LOVED all the excitement. I would highly recommend this park to families with small children. We were busy, busy, busy all day and still didn't have time to do and see everything.

Up close with a walrus.

The Shouka Show.

Feeding the seal lions.

Waiting for the dolphin show to start...on Grandpa's lap.

The girls were a little scared of the various characters roaming the park.

Sierra's first flying lesson.

Sharing a $5 scoop of ice cream. Rip off!!!!

Marc and Sierra on the killer whale ride.

Grandma Carolyn joins in on some hopping action.

Wedding "Belles"

They did it! Both girls cooperated and happily took part in Uncle Steve and Aunt Kim's wedding as adorable little flower girls. Up until the last minute we weren't sure if they would walk down the aisle and stand up on the stage, but they surprised us. Ally came to "visit" me in the front row a couple of time during the ceremony...but it wasn't too bad. Marc's mom made these dresses to match the bridesmaid's dresses. (Aren't they cute?!?) The backyard luau wedding went very well and we were so proud to be a part of this special day.

Sierra and Ally in front of Uncle Steve's waterfall...the candles looked beautiful at night time.

Ally "smiles" for her picture.

Sierra admires herself in the mirror before the wedding.

Marc and the girls up on stage....where are Ally's shoes?!?!

Uncle Steve, Aunt Kim and two sweet new cousins, Samantha and Heather.

It Ain't a Real ROAD TRIP Until...

... the car is so loaded that we can't see out the back window.

... the girls have watched Miss Patty Cake at least 17 times.

... Marc has 64 ounces of Coke sitting precariously on his lap.

... Sierra's feet have turned into a virtual cushion for pins and needles.

... the "spittoon" that we've been using has overturned leaving a pile of empty sunflower seed shells on the floor mat.

... we've listened to radio static for 42 minutes while Marc tries to hear the score of the Dodger game.

... Ally has puked all over her car seat within the first hour of a trip.

... and Mommy pretends to be in a coma so that she doesn't have to find any more snacks, pick up any more dropped toys, or answer any more questions.

YUP! We're home. It was a great trip....but, boy, are we glad to be out of the car!!!

WHAT....no pictures?!?!

Yes, that's right....a post without pictures. How sad. I do have some pictures in my camera but they will have to wait until the next time. We're down in California at Marc's brother's house. We left Idaho on Tuesday night and drove through the night so that the girls could sleep in the car. Ally doesn't do well in a car for long periods of time, therefore it was necessary to drive while she slept. The trip went very smoothly and Marc and I have recovered from the sleepless night...well, mostly. Thanks to all of you who prayed for our safe drive.

The last couple of days have been spent getting ready for the Hawaiian theme wedding that will be held here at Steve & Kim's house tomorrow night. We've been trying to stay out of the way for part of the day by taking the girls on little outings to the library, shopping and today to Chuck E. Cheese. We've also been helping build a stage area, paint props, string lights, print programs, etc. There is still SOOOO MUCH to be done, but I'm sure that it will all come together. It is certainly not your traditional wedding but it will be fun...leis and flip-flops, tiki torches, hula dancers, etc.

Marc's parents have been enjoying some special times with Sierra and Ally. Last night they were all playing Leap Frog and Ring Around the Rosie, or as Ally calls it, "Ashes", in the sun room. It's a crazy houseful, but it's fun to have the Mouser family together. More later.

A Tradition is Born

We've been talking about it for a long time....and now it has finally happened! Last weekend we took Sierra and Ally on their first official camping trip. It was the real thing, mind you. Pine trees, mountains, lakes, tents, outhouses, a water pump, s'mores, hot dogs, cold nights and LOTS OF MOSQUITO BITES!!!! (Or as Sierra calls them, "Beto skytes.") It was exactly what Patrick McManus describes as a "fine and pleasant misery."

We barged in on Uncle Chuck and Aunt Missy's plans to camp at the Iron Creek campground just outside of Stanley, Idaho. Every July, the town of Stanley holds an Arts and Craft festival that we like to attend. We turned that event into a full weekend of fun. Some of the highlights of the trip were: exploring our campground and setting up our new tent, feeding the fish at the hatchery, eating ice cream and playing on the shores of Big Redfish Lake, meeting the rest of the gang in Stanley for the craft fair, pizza at Sawtooth Luce's, campfires, crossing Iron Creek on the fallen tree "bridges", fishing and swimming at Stanley Lake, and several nature walks. We plan to make these wonderful experiences a regular part of our family tradition. Thank you, Lord, for a beautiful land to enjoy!

The Mouser family in front of the Sawtooth Mountain range.

Sierra at the water pump....real rustic camping!

S'mores anyone?!

Ally enjoys one of her many "nacks." (snacks)

Chuck and Missy playing a evening game of Yahtzee.

Sierra balances her way across one of the many fallen trees in our campsite.

Sierra enjoyed collecting wild flowers for her hair arrangements.

The girls splashing in Big Redfish Lake.

Ally and Uncle Chuck at Stanley Lake.

The girls "helped" with packing up camp.

Time is Flying

It was quite an ordeal, but I finally got some pictures uploaded. (Did anyone else have trouble recently?!) We don't have any major headlines, but it was another fun and busy week. We had a full cabin over the weekend. Mom and Dad were visiting old college friends out in Ohio, but all the Cook kids spent a couple days together up here in Garden Valley. We also had the Mungers, friends from church, up for a picnic and an afternoon swim on Saturday.

This will probably be our last full week at the cabin. This weekend we plan to take the girls on a one night camping trip near Stanley. It has become a tradition to go to the Arts and Crafts fair on Saturday and then spend some time fishing at Stanley Lake. We'll probably save up our quarters and go feed the trout at the fish hatchery as well.

Next week we will be driving down to California for Marc's brother's wedding. Steve and Kim live in Sheridan, about an hour outside of Sacramento. It will be fun to have the Mousers together for a few days. Grandpa and Grandma are also working in that area, so we are very excited to get to see them again! We are trying to find a day when all of us can visit Six Flags Discovery Kingdom together during that busy week. Should be fun!

After that we head into the month of August and before you know it school will be starting up again. Marc is not anxious to go back to "real" work...but this year will be very different. Grandpa and Grandma Cook will soon be moving into their new house just two miles away from us and begin pastoring our church in Meridian. We are excited about all that God has planned for us.

"It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans, and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe, much less happy, but in proportion as we are weaned from our wills, and made simply desirous of being directed by His guidance....I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied that, had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me." ~John Newton

Sierra's new pj's (Disney store $4.99) ... doesn't she look so grown up!?

Ally trying to catch minnows in the river. No luck!

Happy girls after an evening swim.

A picnic with the Cook, Beck and Munger families on Saturday.

Savannah Jane ~ two months old

(Have I mentioned that I love this kid?!?!?)

We have a Winner!

Melitsa

is the name I drew as the winner of the comment contest.

Thanks for playing along!

(Your small package of goodies will be mailed as soon as I get back to civilization.)

***Blogger is refusing to upload my pictures tonight. Ba-humbug! Check back soon.***

Tagged!

My first tag....and who else, but good ole' Kelly! It was fun to think through some of these answers, but it's late so I'm sorry if they don't make sense.

5 Things On My To Do List:
1. Wash windows (uhg!)
2. Add dental insurance to my policy
3. Buy a wedding gift for Steve and Kim
4. Get a hair cut
5. Organize/decorate the play room

5 Jobs I've Had:
1. Library Technician - work/study job at Master's
2. Camp Counselor
3. Life Guard
4. Retail at "Learning Express"
5. Elementary Teacher (Kindergarten and 1st Grade)

5 Places I've Lived:
1. Jerusalem, Israel
2. Natal and Sao Paolo, Brazil
3. Santa Clarita, California
4. Grand Rapids, Michigan
5. Meridian, Idaho

5 Favorite Snacks:
1. Nuts - almost any kind
2. Popcorn
3. Red Vines
4. Coconut popsicles
5. Yogurt

5 Things You May Not Know About Me:
1. My sister has to pluck my eyebrows for me....I have no willpower or patience for it! (In return, I cut her hair.)
2. I played sports and loved acting in plays in high school. What happened to me?!
3. I have never seen all of Lord of the Rings - I have a hard time staying awake during movies. (Plus it's not my favorite genre.)
4. I am scared of most animals. They are fun to look at, but don't ask me to hold them! Even cute and cuddly little kittens.
5. I'm pregnant! (Just kidding...I couldn't think of anything else. Gotcha, didn't I?!)

5 Things I Would Do If I Were a Billionaire:
1. Try to repay some people who have been very generous to us through the years!
2. Give to missionaries or mission agencies.
3. Plan really fun family reunion trips for both the Mouser and Cook families.
4. Pay off school loans for deserving college kids who need a break.
5. Buy my grandparents' house in Roswell so that they wouldn't have to worry about the upkeep or selling it anymore.

5 Things I Love:
1. Taking the girls out for snow-cones in the summer.
2. Watching old home movies.
3. Playing board games.
4. The smell of pine trees.
5. Getting a package in the mail!

5 People I Tag:
1. Colleen
2. Melitsa
3. Chuck (or Missy!)
4. Andrea
5. Susie - gotta start a blog, sis!

This Week in Pictures

Daddy takes a break from working to enjoy the river with the Sierra and Ally.

Grandma bought a craft box for the girls to enjoy at the cabin.

Sierra twirling a sparkler on the 4th of July.

Grandpa helps Ally with her sparkler.

The girls inspect a dead bird - one of the many that has hit the large windows at the cabin. Ally kept saying, "Birdie....broken.....sad!"

And, of course, our weekly dose of Savannah Jane...asleep in Uncle Chuck's arms.

It has been a fun and busy week! Marc spent several days painting Mom and Dad Cook's new house in Meridian...both inside and out. Then we were back at the cabin for the holiday weekend. The Obenchain clan had their annual gathering up there on the 4th of July. It was fun to see my aunts, uncles and cousins on Mom's side. On Saturday, we had several of the deacons and their families up at the cabin. Marc and I watched the younger kids while the adults had some brief meetings. The river was a virtual highway of water traffic all weekend. It was fun to watch families enjoying the outdoors together. The girls really like to watch the floaters go by in front of our beach area. They both also enjoyed a quick trip out in the kayak.

Just a few more days for the comment contest, if you wish to participate....