~ The Happiest Place on Earth ~

We took our annual trip down to Disneyland with the Bosch family. We had a great time until we all got SICK!!!!! Thanks Manda. ;) Alison was finally tall enough to go on Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain, and she LOVED them all. So did her cousin Abigail who is her same age.

Disneyland!

Nana with Tinkerbell at Pixie Hollow.

Alison and Abigail on Paradise Pier.

Lily resting in Minnie's bed.

An Amazing Trip to the Middle East & Egypt

A BIG thank you to my mother-in-law Elizabeth and my father-in-law Frederick for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. Dad Crook and I flew to visit Elizabeth who is working in Abu Dhabi until Dec. We had a lot of fun together! She was brave enough to rent a car and DRIVE us to Dubai. She took us to a 3 Billion dollar hotel where we saw item on display from Christie's auction house. We swam in the Arabian Gulf and took Desert Sand Safaris. Thank you so much! Dad Crook and I had a great time hanging out for over a week together. It was nice to get to know him better. After Abu Dhabi we flew to Cairo and toured the sights with a tour guide. That was an adventure. So thank you again! I had a wonderful trip!

Thoroughly Modern Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a little island that juts out into the Persian gulf. My mother-in-law Elizabeth and I at the Hilton Hotel's private beach. Me in front of the very modern city of Abu Dhabi. 60 years ago it was all sand!

Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque- Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi they are finishing the 2nd largest mosque in the world and naming after their beloved former Sheik Zayed. The women visitors have to don the traditional "Abaya" out of respect.

Sand Dune Safari- Abu Dhabi

Fred & Elizabeth and I went on a really fun sand dune ride followed by a dinner in the middle of the desert with a belly dancer!

Mummies on Halloween!

At the first group of pyramids there was a museum. Here is a mummy at the museum.

Here I am at the first pyramids in Sakkara. The pyramid is a "Stacked" pyramid. I was surprised that they were all so crumbly. I imagined them smooth. I got to go down into one. There were hieroglyphics and a sarcophogus. We were not allowed to photograph inside.

Lunch & Baby Lion in Egypt

I couldn't believe that they had a baby lion at our lunch spot. But then again, I was in Africa. The food was actually very tasty. I stuck to the chicken kabobs on most days. Avoided the "pigeon" and other exotic items. I was able to help make the bread which was actually a flatbread. YUM!

Egypt- The Amazing Pyramids

I would definitely say that visiting the Pyramids was one of the highlights of the trip. To look at something over 4,000 years old is beyond words. We went to 3 different sights, including the famous Giza sight with the Sphinx. The camel ride was unexpected. Some Egyptian "guards" let me have a ride.

Numbers 5 & 6

Last evening around 6:45 pm I went to put the rabbit back in her cage. After finally catching her, I turned around and there was #5 rattlesnake. I hollered for the girls to get me a shovel since I did not want to step over it or take my eyes off it and lose it. Finally the girls heard me, and brave Alison brought the shovel so I could take care of #5.
Tonight, about the exact same time, I tried to get the rabbit, but couldn't. I came in and asked Dan if he would try. I suggested that maybe if he went out he might find a rattlesnake. (He has been a little envious that I have had all the action.) So, out he goes. To my shock, he comes running back by the slider and gets the shovel. I couldn't believe it!! He killed #6 in Ruby's pen, not too far from her. I had just spent 2 hours today putting up rattlesnake fencing in part of her pen. I will get the rest up before she can get back out!!

How 'bout dem apples?

We went to Apple Hill last Saturday with my parents, my sister and her family. It was raining, so these are the only two pictures I got. We stopped at High Hill Ranch and had apple fritters and donuts. Then we went on to Goyette's Apple Farm to pick our own apples. Alia picked a whopper! Her cousin Isabelle shows a tiny one. Since it was so muddy and wet, those were our only two stops this year.

Watch out!

The one by the wheel referred to in previous post.

Rattlers!

Amy is collecting rattlesnakes. We have found 4 babies in our yard so far in the past two weeks. You have to look carefully before going out to play. Note the one next to the wheel of the BBQ. We are thinking of installing a rattlesnake fence. What do you think?

Las Vegas

On the way home from UT, we stopped at the Las Vegas strip. The girls were a little scared. I don't blame them. We stayed at Circus Circus for the night.

More Zion National Park

Alia is "sworn in" as a Junior Ranger.

Lily & Jill are tired after a hike to a small waterfall.

Zion Ponderosa & Zion National Park

Lily

Alison & Cousin Christian

Visiting the Crooks

After Yellowstone, we stayed with Grandpa & Grandma Crook for a few weeks (thanks!!). We had so much fun with reunions and cousins, Aunts & Uncles.

Yellowstone

We next stopped in Yellowstone National Park. We saw all the famous landmarks like Old Faithful. The girls especially liked getting caught in the middle of a herd of buffalo crossing the road!

Sabbatical

Dan was lucky enough to get an 8 week sabbatical from Intel. So, we decided to spend a month traveling about, mostly in UT. First stop was at Unkie Andrew & Aunt Celeste's house. My parents and sister and 3 of her kids caravaned out with us. We had several days of cousin fun. One of the days we went up to Salt Lake and Temple Square. We toured the Beehive house. Here we are at the Fountains. We are thankful to Andrew & Celeste for putting up with a houseful!