HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACE

Can you believe he is 35?!?!
Today he got to spend his birthday doing what he loves. . .
Kitesurfing!
So happy birthday Trace, we love you
and can't wait to celebrate some more when you get home.

I am a Marilyn!

I was surprised by how accurate this was. . .

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear


• * Listen to me carefully


• * Don't judge me for my anxiety


• * Work things through with me


• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us


• * Laugh and make jokes with me


• * Gently push me toward new experiences


• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends


• * being responsible and hardworking


• * being compassionate toward others


• * having intellect and wit


• * being a nonconformist


• * confronting danger bravely


• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind


• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself


• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of


• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger


• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right


• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn


• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger


• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent


• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel


• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty


• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence


• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt


• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Another Hockey Boy

It looks like we have another hockey boy in the family.
Tanner loves to play hockey,
and he love to watch the "hockey movie" (miracle),
and he loves to watch other people play hockey. If only he could get on the ice . . .

Farewell San Diego--Day 11

Our final day in San Diego we started with breakfast at IHop.
We really got a kick out of this sign. Hello-say what?!Apparently it is required by law that all restaurants in California display this sign.

Then we hit the beach one last time.
Tanner once again did this quite literally. He is such a funny boy.

After finishing up at the beach and a early dinner, we took a walk along the marina.

Taylor thought this "pirate" ship was pretty cool.
And there were all these sculptures along the walk.
We took pictures of our favorites.

And the sun sets on another day and a fabulous vacaion in sunny San Diego.

(If the camera hadn't go to Texas with Trace
I would be posting the pictures of the snow that met us on arrival in Anchorage)

Back to San Diego-Day 10

On Sunday morning we visited Los Agladones one last time before heading back to San Diego.
Trace and his favorite taco man in Mexico.

The wind was really blowing and we stopped in Coronado .

Look at all the kites in the sky. Trace was so excited to see so many kiters but . . .
it was sunday so he made himself content to observe. (what a good boy)

Taylor and Trace counted more than 30 kites.

We walked along Mission beach one more time and decided to eat the Joes Crab Shack.
The atmosphere was great--the food not so much.

We stayed that night in Mission Beach and in the morning moved to a hotel closer to the airport for our Tuesday morning departure.

Day 9

Continuing our time in Arizona. . .
Trace had his turn with the dentist.
A night time swim.

More Arizona Day 8

First thing this morning it was back to the dentist. Don't I look excited?

Trace is always enthusiastic.
We finished at the dentist (for the day) early in the afternoon. We went back to the hotel to relax. It was a hot day and the swimming pool was soo inviting.

Tanner didn't want to get in the water or even near the water (of course). When we tried to take him in it was a major meltdown. So I just chased him around the pool, and he played in a puddle until . . .
Suddenly he was inspired by watching Taylor.

Tanner is getting brave.

Finally he decided to get in the pool and when it was time for dinner
he didn't want to get out. :)
Despite our sore mouths we had to go back to Famous Daves for more of that fabulous bbq.

Yummy! We wil miss you Famous Daves.

Arizona (Day 7)

This morning we left our little rental house by the ocean and headed east to Yuma, Arizona.
It took us about 2 1/2 hours driving. Our first stop was Agledones Mexico to see the dentist.
It was soooo hot-in the 90s and our little Alaskan boys were almost melting. Before crossing the border.

This is what Tanner did while Mom had a root canal.
It wasn't so bad, the dentist is extremely nice and is very good.
We'll be going back tomorrow. . .
After crossing back into America we checked into our hotel which we think is great. (Thank you Rachel for telling us where to go!)
But the big news today was that we had the BEST (how can I emphasize that more?!) BBQ ever! at Famous Daves. It was to die for. The sauces were amazing. The smoke and sauce combination perfect, the meat was moist and juicy and tender and just ummmm. . .
I start to drool just thinking about it. If you ever get the chance remember Famous Dave's.

Life's a Beach (Day 6)

Today was a beautiful hot day-- the perfect day to spend at the beach. We spent the first half of the day at Coronado. Taylor found a couple sand dollars!

The second half of the day we went to Imperial Beach to hang out with Rachel--an old friend of Trace's from high school. She has two boys, Hunter and Tanner. Tanner is exactly a month older than Taylor and they bonded instantly and had a fun afternoon together.

Here we all are--Chris (Rachels boyfriend), Rachel, Trace, Tanner, Heather
Hunter, Chris (the son of Chris), Tanner and Taylor

While we were at the beach Timothy called from Camp Pendleton.
He is in California for a couple weeks for some training.
So, we drove up the road a bit and met Tim for dinner. It was so nice to see him and we are looking forward to seeing him again this weekend when we return to San Diego.

The Doctor.

SeaWorld (Day 6)

It was a hot day today, about 85 degrees
but we decided to brave the heat and headed to Sea World. Lets go have some fun.
We got to touch stingrays. That was very cool.

And of course no trip to Sea World is complete without seeing the Shamu show.

And we had to see the sharks.

There was a little sesame street play area.
Tanner climbed around in tunnels and on water spots.

And Trace and Taylor rode the spinning ride.

Did you know that some penquins live in warm weather.
Wow! It was news to me.

Hot, tired and worn out. Time to go "home."
Later, when the weather started to cool we took a walk down the beach to get some dinner.

That is two giant slices of pizza.

We tried to take Tanner on the carosel but,
of course, he would have none of it, so Taylor took his place.
Go Taylor, Go! (It was a little slow for his taste)

Sharing a giant shave ice.
Not as good as Aoki's in Hawaii but it was cold and big.
We ended our walk on the beach.

Taylor couldn't stay out of the water
and even borrowed a boogie board from someone on the beach. (so much like his dad)

And the sun sets on another beautiful day in San Diego.