More on the New York Trip

Random Fun Here is a shot of all of us driving around in a van just like we did on vacations when the kids were little.

This could also be referred to as enforced quality family bonding time.

There are some tips in this entry that I needed to remember, tips like, be sure to limit movies and Ipods, even if they squabble, they will probably squabble less without too much of either these things, plus they will remember the trip and the time together more readily later on, probably.

We stood around, and walked around. We changed the baby and fed him. We loaded and unloaded the van and or stroller several times a day. We made garbage can runs, took Potty breaks and petrol fills, studied maps and guidebooks, ate snacks and many meals. We saw pretty country, stayed in good hotels, lugged suitcases and lots of paraphernalia to lots of great places, drank a lot of bottled and refilled again water, (Polish Springs is the eastern favorite as opposed to Arrowhead in the west) and took a lot of photos all while having a really good time.

We played "The 100,000 Pyramid", sometimes as we drove the miles. We also read books, listened to music, and plugged into personal music players, all while eating healthy junk food, and these are just a few of the typical trip fillers.

Dave and Dan took their skateboards. Enough said there.

Remember your spouse is really your only ally in all this. He also helps you to remember one of my "mother of big boys" mantras, "Just don't look!" ( and also helps to make mental notes of Emergency room locations).

Gazing at Eli was a favorite pastime, whether awake or asleep.

(When they are this size they usually don't require emergency medical treatment.) In all fairness Allison required just as many E-room trips as Davey.

Be sure to give nap times and bed times high priority and hang on to somewhat normal sleep patterns. This helps to maintain higher levels of patience and forgiveness in travelers of all ages.

Try not to let the rabble take over the decision making. You can never please everyone, and it can take up a lot of time. But most of all Be flexible and happy with whatever comes!

Be sure and plan times to blow off steam and use those big muscles. Even if Dad has to stay at the van with the baby or maybe especially if he can stay and quietly stretch. Such activities can include hurdling picnic tables at rest areas along the Susquehanna River, (We waited until after the Muslims had finished praying) or pushups in the parking lot.

We visited a beautiful state park one evening and hiked and ran and climbed around gorgeous gorges with lots of waterfalls. (I've always wanted to say that.)

We had lunch at a little place on the Erie Canal in Palmyra NY one day.

The lady was all alone and made a great sandwich.

If traveling with a family or group, make sure you eat on time to prevent grumpiness, DO NOT put it off. Plan it in and just do it. You run the risk of trouble if you don't. I needed to recall this family rule quickly. It is hard to stand strong on but important to do so.

Finding good food was a big item for us of course.

We stumbled across Bobby Flay's favorite Thai restaurant while in Manhattan. Delicious! I will try and remember the name or ask Allison what it was and get it in later. We were trying for the Shake Shack and parked by the wrong park. Which just goes to show once again that even a mistake can turn out for the best if you let it.

We did not actually come to blows with the Green Peace workers despite rumors to the contrary.

I love family vacations!

to be continued...

Niagra Falls

While in New York for Eli's Blessing, we decided to drive upstate. This entry is about one of the things we found there, Niagra Falls. Here is the bridge that crosses from The US into Canada,

and way down below is the dock for the "Maid of the Mist" boats. Look closely and you can see the people lined up in their blue Rain Ponchos.

We decided to go get on one of "them little boats".

American Falls shown here. One of 'em is Rainbow falls.

Eli was snug in his little blue world, his stroller under a poncho.

We boated up into the mist at the base of Horseshoe falls. It was very"misty". We got very wet!
We really had a blast.

to be continued...

Ian and Allison Kelly Visit the Desert

This is not the Bronx.

We wore 'em plum out?!

Aren't we the same age?

Uhmm, no I guess not. see below for evidence.

Sedona is beautiful.


Before, during, and after the 50 foot plunge--together!

Kinda like marriage?"

More at Slide Rock Park

That is Alli ,Spencer, and Davey in the background contemplating a slide in brisk, refreshing,"coldee" water.

All we need now is a Palominohorse for them to ride off into the sunset on.

Oversite

How could I have forgotten the awesome game of Sardines? I actually left it off the agenda list at first ( the oversite has now been corrected).

P.S. What are your sources for real info on the candidates stands on issues or details of their platforms? maybe webswites? even Party platforms, or voting records? I used to go to the library but no more,so..Would you tell me ? I know, I know, but hey...

Opposition in All Things I Guess

There is a beautifully simple chapel built high above Sedona. It seems to almost grow out of the rocks and mountains themselves. Candles are lit and prayers ascend, people ponder and meditate there, and the views are beautiful, except for one thing--Someone is building a horrendous mansion right across the way!
It is gaudy and ostentatious in the extreme. The contrast is like day and night, good and evil, and it is blatantly worldly like a "great and spacious building". It is not quite completed, and no one lives in it yet, but the architect has a sign up procaiming his ownership in the creation of this folly, this blight on the landscape, but, it is also sure that someone will soon move in, oblivious to the insult.
This is beyond one of those "McMansions" I dislike so much. I was appalled at its "grotesque audacity". (Okay, now I am stretching.)
I know I am ranting, but I couldn't help myself this time and it is my blog, perhaps I will start using this forum more often. I do love to climb on the old soap box once in a while.

If we become aware of this frightening trend, we can battle it in our own way. I don't know what that way may be but I hope we find it. I know awareness is the first step toward change.

Here is a photo in one direction from the courtyard entryway of the Christian chapel. ( I think it was Catholic) I did not take a picture the other way. I could not bring myself to do so. Maybe I should have. No, I don't think so, that might have given it some sort of perverse recognition "it" somehow craves.

Agenda for the Past week

• Serious game of Sardines!(friends too, whole house, in the dark)
• Early am Golf 18
• Joe's Real BBQ -Food-pulled pork and baked beans with lemon icebox cake
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Shopping
• Tennis-two hours of doubles against the young couple o' Kellys
• Pei Wei Chinese -Food-Honey seared chicken
• Lifting weights and jogging at the clubhouse
• Gecko Grill-food- fabulous bean dip and Shrimp/Mango quesidillas
• Rent and watch Movies-The Music Man-(yup, we imagined Isaac instead of R. Preston)
• Drive to Rocky Point, Mexico and explore the famous tidepools
• Wally Ball at the club house.
• Grill Brats and Burgers by the pool and play water volley ball. (Ashley, I used "The Pioneer Woman"for a texas sheet cake recipe and it was great.)
• Take the boat out and wakeboard.
• Lunch at (Danny's) Otto's (best pizza ever) in down town Tempe.
• Scenic drive through Payson and Pine
• visit the Biosphere
• Cliff jump and chute slide in the cold water of Slide rock Park
• tour Tallisin West-(Frank Lloyd wright's place)
• lunch on excellent Mexican food in the totally cool Talaquepaque area(who knows how that's spelled?)
• Mesa Temple
• Go to church
• Visit a Vortex(center of earth energy, a Hippy/crystal thing Sedona is full of 'em)and lots of other cool stuff, in Sedona
• Visit Paul and Cathy Davidson-dear old friends from Colorado
• Play Rock Band and Guitar hero
• Open Danny's Mission call!!! and celebrate.

Okay so there are 3 or 4 things on the list that we ended up not doing, (Rocky point,boating) but we wanted too! Anyway, you get the idea.

Like I said,"Ain't We Got Fun!"

At Slide Rock State Park

This is in the canyon south of Flagstaff on 89 just before Sedona. It is a beautiful part of the state.
Our friends, the Handy's, have a cabin there. (Yup, it is a "Handy cabin".) We're going again for Labor day weekend.Rachel and Lara judging the jumping
from a safe spot down below. "I give it a 9.5"
Allison and Ian in mid fall, jumping from the highest spot there. The one in the leaves in the upper right hand corner of the photograph,not the spot where all the people are gatheredin the background. (I need to make sure they receive the appropriate amount of awe for the feat.)
I wore a big hole in my shorts sliding down some of the many chutes. I did have a swim suit on underneath them.
The water was cold enough to take your breathe away. A refreshing change from Phoenix that is for sure.David Cannonballing into a lesser pool at the end of one of the chutes.
Spencer jumping "the big one" (we think it is about 50 feet) one of his many plunges.

More on "Blooming Where You are Planted"

Doctrine and Covenants 51:16,17

And I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I , the Lord, shall provide for them other wise, and command them to go hence;

And the hour and the day is not given them, wherefor let them act upon this land as for years, and this shall turn unto them for their good.

Recent Favorites

My Boys/cool men dudes

Notice Gracie is carrying around Aha's regency Novel.

South rim of the Grand Canyon

That is Davey and I. (really,click on it and verify) I am afraid of heights. My youngest child at home is not. Thus our hike to the edge of the big hole.

If you are trying to go north to almost anywhere from where I live there is a big hole in the way. It is called the Grand Canyon. There is a dam and a bridge in the western corner of the state with Lake Mead behind it, and a dam and a bridge with Lake Powell behind it to the east, and all the way in between is a big hole in the ground called the Grand Canyon with the Colorado River running through it.

That's one big hole in the ground!

We stayed in Flagstaff in our friends', the Handy's Cabin and spent the day at the Canyon.