All Alone

This weekend I got to practice what it will be like when Andrew leaves home. Andrew announced on Tuesday that Bruce and him were going camping this weekend. They left Friday morning and Grandma and I totally expected them home when we saw the dark clouds and lightning in the direction of their camping site. Instead we got a call from them saying that there was a problem with the tent and they were staying at a nearby motel and would come home late on Saturday (this actually scared me more than the camping in lightning given their bad taste in motels). This afternoon we got a call that they got the tent up and were going to stay another night. So Grandma and I went out to eat at Mi Amigos (0ur favorite Mexican restaurant-that the boys don't like). I made three gingerbread houses, visited the make-up counter at Dillard's and Sephora, went to Michaels, shopped online, balanced my checkbook, put up the Christmas tree and put on the lights, spot cleaned the carpet............

What in the world did I do all day before I had Andrew-oh yeah I called everyone and told them I was bored!!

Back to School!

I haven't been writing lately because I decided to take a grad class in the education dept. I was convinced it would be so easy. To be honest, it hasn't strained my brain but it has been terribly time-consuming and I have learned so much. The class is in Instructional Technology. We have basically only used software that I already use regularly but we are using new features that I would never have tried. We are also using Inspiration and Taskstream-specific education programs. I have enjoyed getting out of the house once a week and learning new things. I am trying hard not to obsess about grades but I mourn every lost point. Tonight as I was rewriting an assignment, I forced myself to upload it when it was far from perfect.

We haven't been doing much. We went to the Emergency Preparedness Fair at Bass Pro Shop last Saturday and saw this awesome Incident Command Center. We love Bass Pro Shop and to make it even better the Boy Scout Shop is just around the corner.

I am a GREAT AUNT!

Okay, I think I have always been a fairly good Aunt but now I am a Great-Aunt. Ben and Tara had a beautiful baby girl on Friday, August 22. Her name is Harmony. She is beautiful (based on pictures and word-of-mouth since I haven't actually seen her). Maybe it is my imagination but she looks like all the other Layton babies I have ever seen.

I can't wait to meet her and hold her. See the picture below to confirm the rumors.

San Diego

Once again, we went to San Diego for our summer vacation. We got to San Diego about 2 pm and decided to go see Mission San Diego de Alcala. We ended up going to the wrong direction and ended up at the Mission Gorge Park and Old Mission Dam. It was really beautiful with a nice interpretive center. We finally found the Mission later.

The next day we went to Sea World and went on the Journey to Atlantis which was scarier than we expected. We went on a Saving the Species Tour and got to touch sharks and feed sea turtles.

On Tuesday, we went to the USS Midway Museum and toured the whole aircraft carrier. I have never thought I was claustrophobic but boy did I want out of there. Andrew loved seeing the F-14 Tomcat. We then took the ferry to Coronado and on the way back stopped at the Naval Base.

We went to Sea World again on Wednesday and then heading home on Thursday. We stopped at the Chula Vista Nature Center which has sea turtles, sharks, rays, raptors and shorebirds. The vacation was lots of fun but we were sure glad to head home.

Poop Scene Investigator

The Arizona Museum of Natural History has a new exhibit called "Poop Scene Investigator". Bruce, Andrew and I went to see it a couple of weeks ago. Andrew refuses to add any information on his blog because he said it was "too childish". But how often do you get to hear an angelic looking blond three-year old girl scream across the room of a museum, " Daddy, Daddy I found some poop". Grandma didn't come because as Andrew said, "she is a party POOPer". I added a couple of pictures. They also had a great exhibit about feathered dinosaurs that was amazing but not as funny.

Family Reunion

We headed out to the Family Reunion on June 27, after the 6 hour drive we ended up in Beaumont at the Holiday Inn Express. They were experiencing a swallow invasion, they were fun to watch diving around the hotel but what a mess. The family reunion was held at Barbara's. They have a great new pool and outdoor living space that was the envy of the family. It sure made a difference to have all the kids busy I don't think there was an fight all day and no whining about being bored. Of course, the kids had absolutely no contact with their adult relatives and only appeared briefly to get some food. We had a total of 36 people at the reunion which is not the highest turnout but it was a nice number. (Thanks to Barbara for all her hardwork) On Sunday, Pam and Jim hosted a breakfast and the kids played Wii (there were a few minor scrimmages over the remotes). Pam and her son Henry produced a great DVD of family pictures (Thanks! Pam and Henry) Henry now knows the names of all the Alvarado family members. We had a really great time and despite the cost of gas I am so glad we went.