Sea World!

After five wonderful days in Carpinteria we headed through LA (YUCK) and landed in San Diego for two fun days at Sea World. We even got to ride Shamu *wink* !

I don't think Dallin and Garrett were very impressed by Shamu. For souveniers Dallin got a stuffed penguin and Garrett a plastic shark. But, we did see the show "Believe" and Adam thought it was just too sappy for his taste.


The tide pools were cool-but we had kinda already seen this stuff at the pools in Carpinteria. The boys knew exactly what things were.


They did like picking them up and looking at the parts.


"Shamu's Happy Harbor" (a giant play place) was a fun place, but we didn't spend much time there-Mom got too bored! We should have brought our lunch here to enjoy while the kids played. They could have spent an entire day just here!


One of our favorite shows was Cirque De La Mer-very entertaining!

A great trip! We had a blast! I have sooo many more pictures, just not enough time or brain power. I'm off at 5am tomorrow to SLC to visit my sister then from there up to Star Valley and visit another sister and dad. Yahooo! Vacation #3 here we come!!!

Beach fun!

Dallin was a brave one this year and learned to boogie board! This kid LOVES the beach!

I can just imagine him as a surfer...well, maybe not he burns too easily!


One of the favorite things to do, chase waves and jump over them.


Adam helped Garrett jump.


Our Junior Rangers are observing a clam.


Sand, sand everywhere... in every crevace, article of clothing, piece of electronic equipment, and vehicle for days and days and days!

The Camp

Carpinteria is a great place for a vacation! This is our camp-ground. Not a super remote area like you would imagine camping would be like, but it was only 20 steps to the beach-can't beat that!

This is the Woolf/Russell compound.


Yep, this is what we do at the beach-adults hang out, kids eat sand, some kids play in the water, and everyone gets a sunburn!


We (namely the very burnable Russell family) are sooo grateful that the Woolf family brings their shade canopy.


Adam and his very own beach chair. I think the most he has ever read was while at the beach! It just seems like the thing to do!


Garrett enjoyed the water, the sand and mostly the sun!

And away we go!

Summer of 2007 vacation #2 (and it's only June!!) LOVE THAT!

Here we go, off to Carpinteria Ca for five days at the beach! Soooo much fun, sooo much dirt, and suuuuch good friends!

Dallin and Garrett ready to hit the road at 5am with pillows and a movie!


Adam was the one awake enough to drive! We even left on time!


This was our view for most of the trip. We caraVANed with the Woolf family (a good thing too because we had 11 people and all the stuff it takes for them to go camping-it took two vans to haul all of us).

We should have written "Beach or Bust" on the back...oh well, maybe next time!

No dangling bits!

Went to my Dr. Appt this morning and we are pretty sure we have a girl. No boy parts today! Adam is sooooo excited! He has always wanted a daddy's little girl. Now he will get to go to Father/son camp outs AND daddy/daughter parties!

I'm excited too...for now- I don't know what to do with a girl! I don't do girl hair. I don't do girl drama. I don't do girlie clothes! Guess I have a lot to learn.

Dallin and Garrett have been talking about the baby for quite a while now and what they will do with 'it'. So today after they found out they are going to have a little sister I asked them:

What will you do with a sister?
Dallin: "I want to play with her and always love her. I want to play tag with her. I want to teach her how to walk and I will be a big, big brother for her."

Garret: "Play with him and take careful with him and hit him."

Are you excited to have a baby sister?
Dallin: "Yes, because they are cute."
Garrett: "Yes, so Parker can play with him."

Well, looks like I know who is going to be the baby-sitter!

We had a hard time naming our two boys...seems good boy names are hard to choose for us, but we've had a girl name picked out for a while-I guess we always knew we were suppose to have a girl. Her name will be Maura Lynn Russell (Maura after my father Maurice and Lynn after Adam's mother Linda). At least that's what we think now...you never know, maybe she'll be born and she won't be a Maura Lynn. Guess we will have to have some names in reserve just in case!

Friday, June 1st

Sadly, the week had to end. On our way home we stopped in Flagstaff to have some lunch. We were all wanting just a few more hours of cool weather.




We pulled off the freeway just south of Flagstaff near the airport and found a place to stop. We made quite the picture, cars loaded, kids piling out and making a scene. *Sigh* It was way too short!

Thursday, May 31st

Today was another day hanging around the ranch. Several families drove to see cascade falls or to other places. The boys and I and a few others chose just to hang around the ranch.


Playing card games was a favorite of all the kids young and old.


Sammy and Dallin are fast friends after a week of adventures.


The minute we got home Dallin had to call and plan a time Sammy could come to visit us.

More Bryce canyon and cousins...

We took a hike and needed a rest in the shade. Right to left: Kylan, Zach, Garrett, Dallin, Jill


We didn't let anyone fall into the ravine-whew!


Getting organized for the hike.


Silly Garrett and Bryce.


Muscular Dallin and Bryce.

Wednesday 30th

Today we ventured to Bryce Canyon. We stopped to enjoy the view!


The boys think they are very cool!


We saw a scary bear.


Garrett got to feed a raven.


After seeing the rocks we wandered around in the shops and tried not to break anything. Luckily you can't break petrified wood!

Tuesday, May 29th continued...


Dallin and his good buddy Sammy (son of Mike, the oldest Heaton sibling) hiked the mountain by themselves! They had a great time together all week.



Dallin and Garrett learned how to row a boat!


There were numerous water gun/noodle fights. This is Garrett and his good buddy Zach (also Mike's son).


Ready for action.

Don't shoot the photographer!!!

Tuesday, May 29th

We could finally go swimming! The ranch tradition is that once you reach a certain age you get thrown into the pond. (I'm not sure what that age is, but it has to do with being willing to be thrown in). Dallin had reached that age...bummer missed him flying in the air, but he made a good splash! This was the day for hanging around the ranch, swimming in the pond, having noodle fights, water fights, and mostly just enjoying the ranch.


The rope swing was a favorite

Even Garrett liked it!


This was pretty much the standard attire for the week. Flip-flops, shorts and dirt.

Day by day account...

I guess the best way to talk about our trip is giving a day-by-day account of what we did.

Saturday, May 26th
We left Mesa early on Saturday and drove to the ranch arriving in time for dinner. We found places to sleep then mostly just got to know everyone who was there. We traveled with Ron and Jan in two separate vehicles (Ron and Janessa had to come home early for camp and work).

Sunday, May 27th

We tried to keep it quiet and simple. We opted to have our own meetings at the ranch instead of driving to Alton (I think mostly because church services began at 9am and we didn't think we could make it!).

We tried to have everyone stay in their Sunday clothes to help us remember it was Sunday. The number one rule on Sunday is "No swimming" but they were so tempted!


Monday, May 28th
Trip to Pipe Spring (see previous post). Oh, by the way the hours at the ranch are definitely vacation hours. We rarely went to bed before midnight or got up before 9am...ahhh what fun!

The Heaton Ranch

Whew! We're finally home. It's nice to go on vacation and nice to come home! We spent almost an entire week hanging out at the ranch and doing day trips to nearby sights. Dallin and Garrett played hard and long and were very dirty and happy every day. Adam wasn't able to come with us, sadly, and we missed him!

The Heaton Ranch is about 30 min north of Kanab, Ut.


One of our day trips was to Pipe Springs (near Moccosin, Ut) where Jan's Grandfather helped to build this fort. Jan spent many summers here and it was fun to visit and have her tell stories of growing up here.

I won't list them, but if you want to know all of us who were there just ask! It was a rowdy group! Can't wait to do it again!

Our guide through the fort was this Native American who knew Jan's grandfather. Once he found out who the group was, he stopped talking about the fort and started asking us questions about what it was REALLY like. It was funny to hear how his version of the story was different from what Jan and her brothers had experienced.