Video post

Click on the top video to see a bunch of clips from Elijah's Jedi training at Disney. Unfortunately, there is another kid named Elijah that did the same thing, go figure! Enjoy! I will try and post more pics later.

Slideshow

I've added a slideshow with some pics from Disney. I will add more later, still trying to figure this damn thing out. You can click on the photo and it will take to the Flikr website were the photos were uploaded to. Once there, you can see all the photos bigger. Enjoy the pics. I am still trying to figure out how to add a video.

A good time for all

What can I say, it was hot and crowded but fun for the whole family! Luckily for us we did not know how hot it actually was in California at the time. We were to busy playing and site seeing to watch the news or see the temperatures at the banks or else we would have been miserable. We left Lynden with the local temp being mid 50's and low 60's. We arrived in California to 100+ temps for the most of the time we were there. I new it would be hotter but damn! Like I said though, it is a good thing that we did not know hot it really was. We actually got a little cold when the temp dropped down to the 80's the last couple days were there. (Can you believe that shit?)

The kids had fun but weren't very daring when it came to the big rides. We started off with Splash Mountain, what a mistake that was. Both kids got scared and Alysse cried by the end of it. That kind of set the tempo for the next couple days, frustrating. They were very reluctant or refused to ride anything else after that for a while. I did get Elijah to go on the Star Tours ride and into the Haunted Mansion. The latter was a big mistake because he was bawling half way into it. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't real but he didn't care.
I was grumpy because of the fact that we had spent a lot of money on the trip and they were refusing to experience any of the rides for fear of being frightened. Kelsey and the kids even called me Grumpy so I bought a hat and shirt with Grumpy on it, only fitting right? They slowly warmed up to some of the rides and I went off on my own to have some fun. Kelsey is not a big thrill seeker so it was up to me to enjoy some of the big rides on my own. I figured that if I rode the big ones that I could talk the kids into trying more exciting stuff, not! I rode the Hollywood Tower of Terror, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones and some other ones that I don't remember the names of. I had a good time even if was on my own sometimes. I sure hope that the kids get a little more adventuresome the older they get because I honestly don't see us spending all that money on trip like that if they don't fully experience it.
We got to ride many rides together as a family which was fun. We rode the brand new Midway Mania (Toy Story ride), Finding Nemo, Honey I shrunk the audience, Buzz Light Year's ride and Alysse's favorite Autopia. One of the best things we did as a family is when Elijah got picked to go up on stage and be a Jedi knight and fight Darth Mal. I honestly thought that he would balk at it if they did choose him but he did great and had a blast. He did have some problems with his lightsaber at first but what guy doesn't, right? I will try and put the video clips on the blog.

We made a trip down to San Diego, on a Saturday, to take the kids to Seaworld. The place was packed and once again, it was hot! We made the best of it and had fun. I have to say though that Seaworld has a lot to learn from Disney when come to setting up there attractions. They all seemed to exit at the same place causing some serious congestion.
There was lots to see and if I ever have to deal with parents and their strollers again it will be to soon. They have to be the MOST inconsiderate people I know. You think that they would be the opposite but not there. They stopped in the middle of the streets and strolled side by side thinking they owned the god damn place. Who cares if there are 200,000 people waiting to get by them.

All and all the trip was fun and it was nice to get away. We came back to nice 80 degree weather and the kids took advantage of the pool. It looks like we will have summer after all.

The dogs were very happy to see us and Mojo changed a lot just in that short period of time. They stayed with Kelsey's mom at the cabin in eastern Washington and kept her company while Buzz was at a business meeting. Mojo is getting better and better in regards to the house breaking. I still think that he is not as smart as Zoey but I'm a little biased.

As you can see, the Lynden Fair is our next big project. We'll see how that goes.

Holy webbed feet Batman!

Can someone please turn off the rain already? I'm starting to grow roots and this shit is getting real OLD! I know that they say it rains a lot in Seattle but damn! I have a new motorcycle and can't even enjoy it. We would like to have a spring let a lone a summer. The rest of the country is having sweltering heat and we are freezing our butts off. The pool is ready and the kids are dying to get in it. They have been in it once already and froze their butts off.

We are getting close to Disneyland and while I can say that I'm excited about it, I'm sure that Kelsey and I will need a vacation from our vacation. We are really hoping that the kids will be up for the trip. We have already told them that it will hot and that there will be a lot of people. We will see Sea World while we are there and a couple other side attractions. Kelsey has it all planned out so we will see.

Mojo has been a nice addition to the family but has his drawbacks. He is definitely more Yorkie than Poo. He seems to be harder to potty train than Zoey thus far. He likes to pick on Zoey and will definitely be bigger than her. I'm sure that Zoey has mixed emotions about Mojo. They wrestle together but Mojo can get a little rough.

The motorcycle, call it a mid-life crisis or whatever but it is fun and I wonder why I didn't get one sooner. It is a 2005 Yamaha Warrior, black cherry color with flames. I will post a better photo soon. The last owner only put 800 miles on it so it is practically brand new. It will also help by saving on gas with the prices as high as they are. I've taken it to work a couple times and would like to use it more. Can you believe this shit? $4.21 a gallon out here with no end in sight. Please, no safety tips from people! Kelsey and her family has given me enough for everybody. I am 41 yrs old and not some 21 yr old, snot nosed, kid with reckless abandon. I am responsible and will be careful. Thanks any how!

Hope all is well on your end!

Youth Fair 08'

Our first Youth Fair is done and over with! Alysse did great and got 4th place with Stormie. It was a BIG learning experience for all of us and we glad we did it. Stormie did better than expected until the showmanship judging starting at which point she had had it! Alysse was almost in tears because Stormie would not behave but kept her cool until the very end. The judge made her switch goats to see if it was just the goat not behaving or if it was Alysse that was not good a showing. She quickly found out that it was Stormie indeed. We have a lot of work ahead of us before the Lynden Fair starts in Aug. Elijah was a big help with clean up and keeping the place swept up. We learned and so did the goats, we hope. It is a lot harder than you think. Animals get bored and tired just like people do and when they are ready to go they are ready to go.

Undecided

Well, we went to see the puppies again with the hopes of deciding which one it would be. We left there a little closer to a decision. The good thing is is that they are starting to show us their personality traits more and more. The one on the left is the one that Kelsey and Elijah like. Alysse and I both like the one on the right. The one on the left has more personality and a cute little tail that bops around as he plays. The one on the left was a little more reserved and has a cropped tail but more coloring. Alysse left there liking the one on the left a little more. I told Kelsey that I would be happy with either one. We have one more week to really make our minds so at least we are getting closer.

Kelsey is finally feeling better and hopefully we will be over the Flu bug for the year!! The funny thing about this Flu bug was that I never lost my appetite and never felt nauseous. The aches, pains and fever were there though.

Alysse has the Youth Fair this weekend and it should be a big indicator as to how she will do in the 4-H fair this summer. It will also let us know if she is really into the goats or not. If she doesn't start taking more responsibility with the care and maintenance of the goats then she can forget about getting any other animals! Wish us luck at the fair. I will post some pics after the weekend.

Got "MOJO"??

Well, we think that we have found our "MOJO". He is a Yorkie Poo from a local breeder and is 5 weeks old. We have met the whole family once and will visit one more time prior to picking him up in 3 weeks. They are all very cute and he will be a little bigger than Zoey. He will be more Yorkie than Poodle by the looks of it but that is just fine with us.

I am getting over the flu and so is Alysse. Hopefully it won't run through the whole family but one never knows. The thing that pisses me of the most about getting sick this time is that it started on my DAYS OFF, of course. Murphy's law I guess.

03/31/08
The name for the new puppy changed because Alysse does not want to remember all that happened with the other one so we decided to start new. We have been kicking the name "MOJO" around for some time now and this puppy just looks like a "MOJO."
Kelsey got my flu yesterday but still went to work. Alysse is better so now we hope that Elijah won't get next. He was sick with it once already so he should be safe, we hope!