Haley's Cool Picture

Haley took over my camer for a while and she shot this fun picture of the Bay Bridge.

Salad & Tide Pools

So, they call the Salinas Vally the salad capitol of the world. There is lettuce growing everywhere, with strawberries and artichokes in between.


We had so much fun exploring all of the tide pools we found just down the street from the aquarium. I have always wanted to find a starfish and we found a couple of dozen. This was my favorite part of our entire trip.

You "Otter" Know

At the aquarium they had an educational game show to learn about otters. Max was chosen as a contestant. He was excited and mortified at the same time. All of the contestants received a very impressive prize. A brand new florescent light bulb! Max is so excited to use it in his room.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

This was the most incredible aquarium I have ever been to. We made 4 or 5 trips here because we just couldn't get enough.

The Big Chicken

I just discovered why I like chickens so much... I am one. I am probably the biggest chicken on Earth.

Today we all went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. It was really fun. I was having a great time until this one ride. Haley and Nick (Suzie's boyfriend) wanted me to ride the Vertical Velocity. It is the kind where you go forward one way, then backward, then forward, then backward, then forward, then backward, all the while running through a continuous cork screw. I was willing to go on the ride until I was on it, and buckled up. It sunk in that right at the beginning we will be shot forward. I HATE being shot forward. I like the rides where it goes click click click click click click click click up a hill. Then you wait a second, and slowly you fall. I like gaining momentum that way, not being shot forward.

Anyway, when the Six Flags guy came by to make a final check of the seat belts I completely lost it. I made him let me off. He had to release everyone's restraints just so I could escape. I was so happy! I was so relieved as I walked the walk of shame. As it turns out, it was a good choice because the lady announcing the take off was joking around and counted off 4 false starts. I would have wet my pants many times over.

So for future reference, if anyone wants to take me on an amusement park ride I'm in, but please be merciful, I will never ever go on a ride where I get shot!!!

Hopefully Miranda and Natalie won't be too ashamed of me. Haley said it would be okay if I got off, especially since I was almost crying.

Splash Zone

Max wanted to sit in the splash zone at the whale and dolphin show. The rest of us wanted to stay dry. So being the nicest mom ever (like I am) I let Max go sit with some strange family.



Max happily sat with this other family and enjoyed every minute...espically when the whale got close. He got wet, but he didn't think it was wet enough.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Today we went to Sutter's Fort. We learned a bit about pioneer life in California. Dexter had to inform every single person giving a demonstration that this was just what it was like for Joseph Smith. The boy is going to be a fantastic missionary.

There was one guy who was doing a demonstration with a rifle that uses flint. The boys were really excited to see the sparks that the flint made when it struck the metal plate. In order to see the spark, Max and Rex help their eyes open by pulling on their eye lashes to hold their eyes open. Rex calls it keeping his eyes peeled.

I should take a lesson, because on our way home from this outing I tried going the wrong way on a one way street. You should try to maneuver an Excursion in that kind of stressful situation. We all came out of it okay, and I didn't yell at anyone! What a miracle!!

Flipping the Bird

Max and Haley had a fight over who got to pick the bird off of the car. We decided that they could both do it. It ended up that they had to use sticks to flip it off. It was pretty gross.