Random Pictures 2011

April's birthday party

Flag's up at the cookhouse

Souvenir shop in West Port WA

Gigi and Georgia Long Beach WA



A visit with family



Me, Simone, Paulina and Lana

Jenga Toot

Kids in the pool
Noah, Georgia, Lana, Tootie and Paulina

The girls at Subway

Georgia & Lana on the carousel

Mongolian Grill
Tootie, Noah, me, Lana, April & Georgia

Unicycle practice with Uncle Ron & Lana



Simone heel hang



Faces

Weekend slip & slide fun

More Chandlerisms

Yet another installment of my dad's quips, smart remarks and somewhere in the midst...life lessons.

You don't get extra for killing yourself

Either you can do it or you can't  (Dad's thoughts on the use of a mechanic)

Smoked a .45 (referring to someone who'd committed suicide via firearm)

All you fruits, nuts and boleweavels get the hell out.

Lock 'em up...these aren't the nice kiddies of Kettering.

Looked like Nita Naldy moments before her death.

I feel/you look like the picture of Dorian Gray (how he felt on a hot sweaty day or if someone's makeup was running/sweating off)

Quit Robert Younging me (when someone would press against his arm to make a point during conversation)

If I had my own circus it'd be all pitches with acts to stall and I'd call it "Pitch Bros. Circus."

What do you need two for? One to s#*t on and one to cover it up with? (when someone would unnecessarily buy two of something)

One drink and I can feel it, two drinks and anyone can feel it.

One cold shower and the whole world knows.

Who shot John? (could mean, 'what's going on?' or in place of 'etc...')

What’s your buzz? (what's your problem)

New Jersey’s nice this time of year. (what he'd say to someone he'd rather not be talking to/dealing with)

Like a moose needs a hat-rack.

Like giving a monkey and open straight razor.

Where did the ducks go? (referring to time going by fast)

Not exactly burnt up with energy.

Tonight’s film features are… (usually there were two film features a night, a western and a comedy.)

Minnesota Fun

 
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All smiles after the Splat!

  

  We've been in Minnesota for about a week now and I love the scenery.  The farms are pristine and this is the time of year that Georgia and I take in the landscaping as we pass perfectly manicured lawns in some of the quaint towns through which we drive.  The colorful flowerbeds and sharply cut shrubs remind me of growing up in Dayton with my grandparents.  Grandpa and Grandma kept beautiful beds of pansies along side the car port.   Every tree and the lamp post by the street were surrounded by multi-colored tulips standing at perfect attention.  And when I hear the mowers and smell the fresh cut grass I can see Grandpa behind the mower in the backyard. 

Georgia's 2nd visit to Claire's

  Since we hit Minnesota Georgia's been asking about the Mall of America.  The last time we were there was on this show in 2007.  Georgia was 4 and remembers our visit vividly because she got her ears pierced at the Claire's on the first level.  Since her cousin Lana has two holes in her ears, Georgia's been expressing an interest in getting a second piercing for quite some time.  After thinking it over and running the idea past Casey, we decided it would be perfectly fine for her to visit Claire's again.  She was a little nervous at first but bit her lip and toughed out the sharp pinches.  Her pretty purple flower studs sparkled as much as her smile when we left the Claire's.

  A must-stop was the Build-A-Bear.  Lana, Noah and Georgia have been to many a Build-A-Bear but we were all excited that this would be Toot's first visit!  And, at the Mall of America!  How special!  Lana decided on a fuzzy monkey, Georgia picked out a white sparkly kitty and Noah picked a cute penguin. They were all excellent choices but I was a little surprised no one chose a doll from the new line of B A B Smurfs.  We looked around at all the possibilities of  a potential bear friend for Toot before she finally decided on a white bear with multi-colored hearts.  She was a little groggy as she'd fallen asleep on the ride over hadn't been awake too long before we entered the store.  Her excitement level wasn't really what we'd hoped.  But, she did pick out the heart to put in the bear and seemed to enjoy watching her new buddy get filled with fluff.  We picked out a bathing suit (it is summer time) and promptly dressed the bear to Toot's delight.  

  We were able to wander around the giant mall for a few more hours. All of us wanted to eat lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe but decided we'd rather shop and eat on the go since our time was limited.  We snacked on everything from giant salty pretzels to Toll House cookies.  We visited a few more stores and needless to say I got my souvenir magnet.  The one thing we all were anxious to do was ride some rides!!  Since our last visit the theme of the park had changed.  It's all Nickelodeon themed, which was just fine with the kids as they are fans of Brain Surge, Dora and Diego, Yo Gabba Gabba ( :/ ), the Fresh Beat Band and dozens of other Nick shows.  Noah, Lana and Georgia had a blast on the Splat ride and the Pepsi coaster.  My personal highlight was riding the Blue's Clues ride with Toot!  The expression on her face was priceless when we pushed the button to make Blue rise high in the air!  (And me without a camera on the ride! :/ )  We hoped to visit the aquarium but ran out of time.  So, we quick bolted through a couple must-visit stores before we met up with Robin, Simone and Mel Ray and headed back to the lot.  A good time was certainly had by all!

  Since Monday's town in only a half hour from the mall I have a second chance to get that picture of Toot on the Blue's Clues ride!  And we hopefully we'll get to take a look around the aquarium and make time for the Rain Forest Cafe.
 

Catching Up With Us

  Wow!  Has it been a month already?!  As my friend Jack Ryan said to me the other day, I left you all in the Redwoods...

Curtis and girls

  After our Redwoods tour the show ran through green lush Oregon for about a week or so.  We had the pleasure of visiting with my uncle by marriage, Curtis Cainan.  Now it has been so long since we've visited that neither one of us could really remember when we saw each other last.  He'd never met Genevieve and was thrilled to see her and to see how Georgia had grown.  He stayed for the show and I told him that my dog act was still a bit of a work in progress as I have a few new dogs and it wasn't the act it had once been.  I was a little nervous to have  Curtis watch seeing as how he's a tremendous dog trainer (if you've seen Trashcan Twyla, he trained that act!!).  But, the act went well and he said I did a good job.  I was glad it met with his approval!  We caught up on each other's lives in a few hours and before I knew it Curtis had to be on his way.  Now that he has a cell phone, I've been keeping up with him a little more via texting.





   We've traversed through Washington state where I played on the shore with my girls, my nephew Noah and their friend Gigi Perez.  The Pacific waters were beautiful and pretty icy but it didn't stop the kids or me from rolling up our pant legs and splashing around for quite some time!  We found shells, various crab shells and pretty rocks to add to Georgia's ever growing collection of unusual rocks.  We also enjoyed the beauty of Mt. Ranier from a distance.  In Westport, WA the lot as right on the shore, we were literally a stone's throw and across the street from the beautiful shore. We could hear crashing waters on the giant rocks all day and all night.  We went shopping up and down the Westport strip and bought various souvenirs to remember one of our favorite towns.  While in Washington state we got to visit with family we hadn't seen in several years.  We all had a good time and caught up on each other's lives...the visit went by far too quickly.  It's one thing to keep up with family on Facebook, but so much better to visit in person!  Sadly, I don't know when we'll all get to see each other again, but that sure doesn't mean we won't stay connected.

Idaho waters

  Next we made a run through Idaho.  It is one of my favorite places to visit.  Though the roads we traveled were windy, they ran along beautiful waters and giant hills for miles.  We stopped a couple of times on turnouts to take a quick break and a few pictures of the breathtaking scenery.  While we were in Idaho we were able to take the day off in Kooskia and stay at an awesome little resort nestled keep in the hills near Three Rivers.  Georgia, Toot and I spent the day with my family and friends in the hot tub and pool.  Others dared to go white water rafting!  Something I'd have loved to try, but just a little unsure how my back would fair the bumps and jumps!  We got to see a video of my niece and her friends on the ten mile river adventure...and it sure did look like fun!!  Toot and I napped for a while before we got dressed for dinner at the resort's restaurant.  We had a relaxing time and were all able to take a breath and recharge. 

  They don't call Montana big sky country for no reason.  As we traveled the long highways and took in the hilly scenery Georgia and I were amazed how this state really does seem to be half sky.  Our time in Montana was limited but we were able to visit the historic Little Big Horn battlefield.  We took a tour where the guide gave us all kinds of interesting details about the battles, grave sites and some of the more notable soldiers and American Indian figures.  (If you get a chance do some research on White Man Runs Him, famous Corporal Noonan and Mrs. Nash.)  We took some incredible pictures as we toured the giant

historic park and unfortunately didn't get to spend too much time in the museum, but we all soaked and bought reminders of our visit.

  As we touched South Dakota I'd hoped we'd get close to the black hills so I could take the girls to see Mt. Rushmore.  I've been there a couple of times before and took Georgia when she was a toddler but I really wanted her to see it now so she could appreciate the massive sculpture.  If you've seen Mt. Rushmore, you know that pictures do not do this Presidential tribute justice.  Hopefully one day we'll manage a trip to that historical part of the country! 

  Our tour is currently taking us through Minnesota.  When Georgia found out we were headed to Minnesota she asked if we'd be anywhere close to the Mall of America!  The last time we were there Georgia was 4 and she remembers it well because she got her ears pierced at their Claire's.  It won't be long till we are a reasonable traveling distance from the giant shopping center.  We've saved some spending money and we plan on hitting the rides, having some lunch and primarily going to the kid stores.  It'll be a full day and a memorable one, I'm sure.

Greasy Grass Ridge Bighorn County MT

  More to come...