Spiderman

Down on the Farm

Saturday we went to a farm about 45 mins away. I had been there before with Jenny and Co., and Lyman had wanted to check it out some time ago. It was the perfect day. After a week of )no kidding) 106 temps, it was only 76ish. I still managed to burn the back of my next, farmer style, but no one else. We went into the petting zoo. Lyman was careful not to touch anything, and he washed his hands like a dozen times, but managed not to get an allergy attack. It was great.

There was a animal show...

a tractor to ride...

and food to pick. We picked 3 big bags of food for 9 bucks. I wish this place was closer!

Science Museum

On the way to Milo's daycare/preschool, there are all these lamppost signs for the mummy exhibit at the Science Center downtown. Milo has been talking and talking about going, so Lyman took him last week when I was working prof. dev. hours. It turns out, the mummies were really creepy- no wrappings or coffins just bones. "Mommy there were Mummy kids!" Milo shouted. Lyman followed with a meaningful tone, "That's right Mommy, mummy kid skeletons." They didn't spend a lot of time in there (ironically, that's the only part that cost money, expect parking), but it looks like they had a lot of fun in the rest of the museum.

EDIT

Lyman here. I'd like to show you folks some pictures of the actual mummies that I took my 3-year-old son to see including not the "mummy kid" rather the "mummy baby." I had reservations about taking him, but he had already been told he could go and we had a day to kill. Is there any wonder we didn't make it through the entire exhibit?

2nd Dodgers Game

Last Saturday evening, I was able to see Lyman in concert (thanks to Jenny and Louis!) with Steve Tyrell. After the concert, Lyman told me he would probably go to the Dodger's game with Steve the next day. I, of course, gave my usual eye rolls, heavy sighs and suggestions for more family time. Lyman, as usual, stuck to his plan to go to the game. The next morning, 15 mins after Lyman left, Steve called to say he had a second ticket for Milo. So, Lyman did a U turn and got him. Here is the ridiculous part where I should be elated the opportunity to have 4 hours alone, but felt rather panicked at sending M off with L and wondering what to do. Don't worry, I pulled myself together, watched a movie, finished my novel and exercised. It looks like they had a lot of fun from these pictures.
These seats were higher up, but they still had the great Sunday brunch.

Vegas

Lyman and I always kind of thought we would re-new out vows some day. As the ten year mark approached, Lyman got more serious about it. Frankly, when your husband says he wants to marry you again, you don't turn him down. Off I skipped to buy Martha Stewart weddings again and started planning. Weddings Vegas style require a fraction of work the rest of us have encountered. Now I have had both experiences! Fourteen of us made our party, and we had a great party. I haven't see the hands past midnight so many nights in a row since- well to admit it would be embarrassing.We had friends from California, Indianapolis and Chicago. It was so nice to see everyone, and we loved that people wanted to come and celebrate with us! Here we are Saturday afternoon in the cabana at the pool.

And this was Friday night. I lifted these pictures from my sister K who remembered to get her camera out. Thanks! Her blog is much more humorous in the description of the events, so I'll leave her to it.

Here comes the bride, again.

This was really the show stopper- Lyman's vows. Everyone cried at his sweet and right-on-the-money truth about our marriage. I had something prepared as well, but not a whole typed page. Frankly, even if I wrote a song, did a dance and wrote a poem, he was an impossable act to follow. I'm lucky to be married to him, especially now that he has said so publicly, how lucky he is to be married to me. It was a perfect event- much more than we imagined.

I do, again.

The rings were Lyman's idea, sort of. He needed a new one, and I wanted a new one. Not that I don't love my other, now I just have more to love. This is a rose amethyst, and so lovely. Thank you Lyman.

Guests

Look at all these beautiful people!

Dinner

After the ceremony, we went to the Grotto Italian restaurant in the hotel for dinner. I think everyone liked their meal; I know I liked this cake. The server said it was traditional Italian wedding cake with a ricotta cream filling. Yum.

Saturday Night

The sisters Blake

After dinner, we traipsed through most of the bars in the hotel closing them down as we went. Gold Diggers was not amazing by Vegas standards, but it suited us fine being right in the hotel, no cover, free drinks, and had a nice patio overlooking the "Fremont Experience". Vegas in Summer has an odd relationship with temperature. Just because it's 109 (!) outside does not mean it has to be 46 degrees indoors. A chill 68 degrees would do, but no, you must be sweltering hot or freezing cold. That's why the patio was so nice, standing in the archway, you could reach an equilibrium.

Sunday Afternoon

After K and M checked out of their room, we had mere minutes to spend together. What better way to culminate ones' Vegas weekend than making sure you ate all it had to offer. Fried Twinkies and oreos. K could feel the coronary coming on almost immediately. Lesli (who had stayed out the latest of all of us) ate not a bite, Milo and I had to try at least the oreo, but no one could finish them.
Later that day, we went to the pool again. The yellow tube is the end point of the water slide that went through the shark tank, but with my flash you can't really make out the sharks.

Sunday

Our weekend extravaganza ended with a bang at Treasure Island where we saw Mystere. This is my idea of fun in Vegas- the shows. Jason and Corinne bought tickets to see the show with us, but since they saw it (many years ago) and Jason was missing hanging out with toddlers, he gave his ticket to Donna and stayed in with Milo. This is a generosity I cannot understand; well, I guess I could be that generous with the ball game ticket. The show was jaw dropping amazing, and I want to see the whole franchise now.
When we walked out of the show, the pirate boat show was just about to start. We stayed, but, compared to the amazement we had just seen, it was boring and lame. That night, I crawled into bed after midnight, again, so dead tired I could barely lift my limbs, but very satisfied with everything we had done over the weekend.
Monday morning, we checked out of our lovely hotel rooms, and headed next door to the California Casino, which is where all the Hawaiians like to hang when on holiday. Lyman and Donna got their plate lunch fix. Donna even splurged and ate three mac salad noodles. Her resolve to follow her strict diet is remarkable. Doesn't she look great?
We couldn't let Milo go home without one last indulgence, so more ice cream followed. But now we're home, missing Donna, tired and ready to get back into a lost routine.

Disney Fun

During Donna's visit, we hit the road for Anaheim to visit Disneyland. We decided to get a cheep (not bargain cheep, just cheep) hotel for the night to maximize our time. The night before the park, we went to Downtown Disney for dinner. Not knowing really what to expect, we thought we would check out dinner with the characters in the Disneyland Hotel. It turns out, it's really expensive, but Donna was in for the ride and before we could say boo, she handed over her card. It was super fun. Milo loved all the characters he met, and (biggest surprise) the food was great.

"I love Chip." Milo said. How cute is this? The whole dinner was so fun, and it took all the stress off needing to see anyone the next day. In the park, we saw a lot of characters at a distance with LONG lines to hug them and take a picture. We skipped all that that since we did it over dinner. I didn't pay personally, but I do think it's worth the money especially for these cute pictures. Thanks Donna!

More Guys

During your dinner, Goofy & friends would come out to dance with the kids and make food with some big toy bowls, spoons and ingredients that the kids could shake. It got the kids out of their antsy seats in a fun way.