Last night we stayed at the Hyatt in downtown Albuquerque, NM. The hotel was really nice, however it was in a "creepy" part of town (as Deni said).
We started on the second and last leg of our trip home to Utah.
We stopped in Moab, Ut for dinner and spent about an hour walking around looking at the various shops to help break up the drive.
After dinner, Ryan mentioned his tooth was loose and that it was ready to come out. Here are a few little videos of me trying to help him get it out as we drove home. I love this first little video, but don't miss the first 2 seconds.
Again, Ryan telling me it's okay to help him with his tooth but he changes his mind once I started videoing it.
Finally Ryan let me give it one good push. After I pushed it, it was barely hanging on.
I took a picture of Ryan's mouth to show him the tooth was barely holding on and Ryan pulled it out after seeing the picture.
We got home to Spanish Fork about 9:30pm. It had been a long day and it was good to finally be home.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Heading home
We left Gilmer, Tx around 6:15am (Texas time) and started the long drive home. We had hoped the kids would go back to sleep, but only Ryan slept after getting the kids into the van. We had a 12-14 hr drive ahead of us on our way back to Albuquerque, NM.
Nothing exciting on the drive.
We stopped in Albuquerque, NM for the night. Deni's uncle, aunt and Grandmother also stopped in Albuquerque, NM so we met up for dinner to visit with them. They only had a 5 hr drive until they got home, we on the other hand have at least 11 more hours in the car tomorrow.
Nothing exciting on the drive.
We stopped in Albuquerque, NM for the night. Deni's uncle, aunt and Grandmother also stopped in Albuquerque, NM so we met up for dinner to visit with them. They only had a 5 hr drive until they got home, we on the other hand have at least 11 more hours in the car tomorrow.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Bishopric - "Bishop Rick"
Today was Fast Sunday. We visited one of the LDS wards in Gilmer, TX.
During the beginning of church the Bishop said something about the Bishopric. Ryan leaned over to me and said:
After church we got changed and went to meet Deni's Biological Aunt's. Deni's biological father, has 2 sisters. Jennette and Alisha Foote. Deni met them for the first time a few months ago when she went back to Texas for her Biological Grandmother's (Nelda) funeral. We had a good visit with them. This was the first time they had met myself, Ryan and Sydney. We had dinner, looked through old pictures and had a good time getting to know each other.
During the beginning of church the Bishop said something about the Bishopric. Ryan leaned over to me and said:
"Dad, that is cool, the Bishop has the same name as the our Bishop in Springville, Bishop Rick".I laughed and wrote it down and handed it to Deni. We both got a chuckle out of that.
After church we got changed and went to meet Deni's Biological Aunt's. Deni's biological father, has 2 sisters. Jennette and Alisha Foote. Deni met them for the first time a few months ago when she went back to Texas for her Biological Grandmother's (Nelda) funeral. We had a good visit with them. This was the first time they had met myself, Ryan and Sydney. We had dinner, looked through old pictures and had a good time getting to know each other.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Bowers Family Reunion
We got to Gilmer, Tx last nigth about 10pm. We are staying at Deni's aunt's house, Denise Craig. Uncle Larry and Aunt Denise were nice enough to let us stay at their house for the next few days.
We were up and out the door by 7:45am for a flag raising at Grandpa Bowers gravesite. We got to the cemetery about 8am. Uncle Stanley had a little program that told a short story or facts out of Deni's family genealogy. We raised the Texas and United States flag at the cemetery.
Here is a picture of Ryan and Sydney at Grandpa Bowers grave.
After the flag raising, we went to Uncle Stanley's for breakfast.
The rest of the day was spent visiting with extended family. The kids played in a little blow up pool.
We had dinner about 6pm. Right after dinner a large thunderstorm came through which made us run to get everything taken down before they blew away.
After the rain stopped, one of Deni's cousins started playing the game of Fireball. The game consists of a ball of twine/small rope that is soaked in kerosene then lit on fire. Once the ball is on fire, it is thrown around a circle, much like hot potato. Obviously you can't hold on to it so as soon as you catch it, you have to throw it again. We got some laughs out of watching them throw a fireball back and forth. I wish I would have gotten some video or photos of it, as it was quite the site.
We were up and out the door by 7:45am for a flag raising at Grandpa Bowers gravesite. We got to the cemetery about 8am. Uncle Stanley had a little program that told a short story or facts out of Deni's family genealogy. We raised the Texas and United States flag at the cemetery.
Here is a picture of Ryan and Sydney at Grandpa Bowers grave.
After the flag raising, we went to Uncle Stanley's for breakfast.
The rest of the day was spent visiting with extended family. The kids played in a little blow up pool.
We had dinner about 6pm. Right after dinner a large thunderstorm came through which made us run to get everything taken down before they blew away.
After the rain stopped, one of Deni's cousins started playing the game of Fireball. The game consists of a ball of twine/small rope that is soaked in kerosene then lit on fire. Once the ball is on fire, it is thrown around a circle, much like hot potato. Obviously you can't hold on to it so as soon as you catch it, you have to throw it again. We got some laughs out of watching them throw a fireball back and forth. I wish I would have gotten some video or photos of it, as it was quite the site.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sydney can swim
Today was our last day at Shane's house. We packed up all of our things and got them in the van.
Today was the great day. For the past few days, I've been watching the rain poor out of Shane's rain gutters, but not at the spouts, they would fill up and then run over the side. So Shane and I got the ladder out and started looking at the gutters to see what the problem was. In at least 2 of his down spouts, he had a ball blocking the down spout. The rest were full of dirt. He even had a few 8 inch tree's growing in some of the spouts because the were so full of dirt. We got them all cleaned out, so that the water should come down all the spouts correctly now.
The sun was out all morning so we all went swimming in Shane's pool. (Even got Shane in there this time.) Sydney can actually swim now. In the past, she has been jumping into the swimming pool and kicking to the top of the water, then I would grab her and help her back to the side of the pool. However today she started jumping in, kicking to the top, then doggy paddling back to the side of the pool. At age 3, Sydney can swim. Who would have thought that Sydney would swim before her older brother?
Not only can she swim, but she can float on her back pretty well too.
Sydney has no fear. She saw Uncle Shane jump from his rock wall and she wanted to do the same.
The kids loved Shane's pool. Sydney relaxing on vacation.
Ryan relaxing and making the most of his last day at Uncle Shane's.
After our afternoon swim, we decided to go out to a movie. We saw Ratatouille. It was a good movie, but quite long. After the movie, as we drove home, the rain came again. I was amazed at how hard it was raining. I was glad to see Shane's rain gutters finally working as they should. We ate dinner at Shane's and then headed on another long drive (about 160 miles) to Gilmer, TX. We will be staying in Gilmer, TX for the next few days for the Bowers Family Reunion.
Brett, Ryan, Deni, Sydney and Shane right before we left Shane's.
Today was the great day. For the past few days, I've been watching the rain poor out of Shane's rain gutters, but not at the spouts, they would fill up and then run over the side. So Shane and I got the ladder out and started looking at the gutters to see what the problem was. In at least 2 of his down spouts, he had a ball blocking the down spout. The rest were full of dirt. He even had a few 8 inch tree's growing in some of the spouts because the were so full of dirt. We got them all cleaned out, so that the water should come down all the spouts correctly now.
The sun was out all morning so we all went swimming in Shane's pool. (Even got Shane in there this time.) Sydney can actually swim now. In the past, she has been jumping into the swimming pool and kicking to the top of the water, then I would grab her and help her back to the side of the pool. However today she started jumping in, kicking to the top, then doggy paddling back to the side of the pool. At age 3, Sydney can swim. Who would have thought that Sydney would swim before her older brother?
Not only can she swim, but she can float on her back pretty well too.
Sydney has no fear. She saw Uncle Shane jump from his rock wall and she wanted to do the same.
The kids loved Shane's pool. Sydney relaxing on vacation.
Ryan relaxing and making the most of his last day at Uncle Shane's.
After our afternoon swim, we decided to go out to a movie. We saw Ratatouille. It was a good movie, but quite long. After the movie, as we drove home, the rain came again. I was amazed at how hard it was raining. I was glad to see Shane's rain gutters finally working as they should. We ate dinner at Shane's and then headed on another long drive (about 160 miles) to Gilmer, TX. We will be staying in Gilmer, TX for the next few days for the Bowers Family Reunion.
Brett, Ryan, Deni, Sydney and Shane right before we left Shane's.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tour de Dallas
We started out the day by visiting Shane's office. It has been 8 years since we have been to Denton. Shane's office looked completely different. It is very nice, he has made many improvements in the last 8 years.
Here is Sydney outside of Shane's office.
Because it has been raining so much, we decided that we should do something indoors. Shane took us to Dallas World Aquarium. (DWA) DWA is much more than an Aquarium, there were birds, snakes, frogs, bats, turtles, Crocodile, flamingo, otter, sharks, fish, stingrays, etc.
Here is Deni, Sydney, Shane, Ryan and Ron.
The DWA was a like a little Rain Forest. Behind us was a cool waterfall.
Sydney and I are looking at the flamingos.
Finally there was a 30 foot underground walkway that allowed you to see the stingrays and sharks swim over you. Shane took this picture from above looking down through the water and into the glass walkway.
We had a great time in Dallas as the Dallas World Aquarium. After the DWA, we went to a bike store looking for a "Texas" bike shirt. I found one that I liked, so I picked it up.
Here is Sydney outside of Shane's office.
Because it has been raining so much, we decided that we should do something indoors. Shane took us to Dallas World Aquarium. (DWA) DWA is much more than an Aquarium, there were birds, snakes, frogs, bats, turtles, Crocodile, flamingo, otter, sharks, fish, stingrays, etc.
Here is Deni, Sydney, Shane, Ryan and Ron.
The DWA was a like a little Rain Forest. Behind us was a cool waterfall.
Sydney and I are looking at the flamingos.
Finally there was a 30 foot underground walkway that allowed you to see the stingrays and sharks swim over you. Shane took this picture from above looking down through the water and into the glass walkway.
We had a great time in Dallas as the Dallas World Aquarium. After the DWA, we went to a bike store looking for a "Texas" bike shirt. I found one that I liked, so I picked it up.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Six flags, or not
Today we had planned on meeting my old college roommate Luke, his wife Misty, and baby Max at Six Flags water park in Arlington, TX. It has been rainy since we got here and it didn't appear that today would be the optimal water park day, but we had already purchased the tickets and figured today would be just a good as any (since the weatherman said it was going to be rainy all week.) We got about 5 minutes from Six Flags and Luke called me to tell me that they closed the park for the day, due to inclement weather.
We then decided to drive to Allen, Tx, about 45 minutes north to an indoor City Recreation Center.
We got there about 1pm and played for about 3.5 hrs. After the water park, we went to see Luke and Misty's new house (that they are closing on Thursday).
Finally we had dinner with Luke, Misty and Max at a local hamburger place called Scotty P's. After dinner we sat and talked for about an hour and then came home to Shane's house. As we were coming home, we hit some traffic. The police had closed one of the 3 lanes because of flooding. Also, somehow I didn't take any pictures. Probably because it was pouring rain all day.
We then decided to drive to Allen, Tx, about 45 minutes north to an indoor City Recreation Center.
We got there about 1pm and played for about 3.5 hrs. After the water park, we went to see Luke and Misty's new house (that they are closing on Thursday).
Finally we had dinner with Luke, Misty and Max at a local hamburger place called Scotty P's. After dinner we sat and talked for about an hour and then came home to Shane's house. As we were coming home, we hit some traffic. The police had closed one of the 3 lanes because of flooding. Also, somehow I didn't take any pictures. Probably because it was pouring rain all day.
Monday, June 25, 2007
A rare sighting
You don't see this everyday, at least not in Utah.
Actually since we have been in Texas, we've seen gas prices much lower than this. When we left Utah, the average price was about $3.15. Here in Texas, the average price is about $2.80
Actually since we have been in Texas, we've seen gas prices much lower than this. When we left Utah, the average price was about $3.15. Here in Texas, the average price is about $2.80
Vacation - Traveling to Texas
The kids loved having their own bed.
Since we were so tired, we decided to sleep in and not leave so early this morning. We left about 9am, however we failed to remember that there was a 1 hour time difference, so we really got on the road at 10am (Texas time). We tried to find things that would be fun for the family to see on the way out. One of those things was, Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch is ten graffiti-covered cars are half-buried, nose-down, facing west.
You can see them in the background of this picture of Sydney and Ryan.
Deni, Ryan and Sydney
Me, Ryan and Sydney
Both kids decided to see if the back wheels of these cars moved.
The rest of the trip was long but good into Denton, TX, which is where my brother, Shane lives.
Since we were so tired, we decided to sleep in and not leave so early this morning. We left about 9am, however we failed to remember that there was a 1 hour time difference, so we really got on the road at 10am (Texas time). We tried to find things that would be fun for the family to see on the way out. One of those things was, Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch is ten graffiti-covered cars are half-buried, nose-down, facing west.
You can see them in the background of this picture of Sydney and Ryan.
Deni, Ryan and Sydney
Me, Ryan and Sydney
Both kids decided to see if the back wheels of these cars moved.
The rest of the trip was long but good into Denton, TX, which is where my brother, Shane lives.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Vacation - Traveling to New Mexico
We left this morning at 6am from Spanish Fork. I had planned on leaving at 4am, however between getting to bed at 11pm last night and Sydney getting up about 2:30pm, I slept in a little when the alarm went off.
Our destination is Albuquerque, NM, roughly 569 miles, or about 10 hours.
We left early in hopes that the kids would go back to sleep and sleep for a few hours. It didn't quite happen the way we had planned. About 10 minutes into the trip we knew we were in trouble when Sydney asked if "Are we in Texas yet?" It's hard to explain to a 3 year old that we have a 20 to 22 hr drive to our final destination.
We got to Albuquerque, NM about 4pm and checked into our hotel. We stayed in the Wyndham hotel right by the Airport. We had a hard time getting the right steet into the hotel, but we had a very nice lady that pulled over and offered for us to follow her to the hotel.
We went out to find something to eat and it appeared that each turn got us further and further into the getto. We finally found a Wendy's and decided it was going to have to do.
After dinner we went swimming. Ryan refused to get into the pool. He's gotten deathly afraid of the water for some reason. So Ryan sat on the side of the pool while the rest of the family had fun in the water.
Our destination is Albuquerque, NM, roughly 569 miles, or about 10 hours.
We left early in hopes that the kids would go back to sleep and sleep for a few hours. It didn't quite happen the way we had planned. About 10 minutes into the trip we knew we were in trouble when Sydney asked if "Are we in Texas yet?" It's hard to explain to a 3 year old that we have a 20 to 22 hr drive to our final destination.
We got to Albuquerque, NM about 4pm and checked into our hotel. We stayed in the Wyndham hotel right by the Airport. We had a hard time getting the right steet into the hotel, but we had a very nice lady that pulled over and offered for us to follow her to the hotel.
We went out to find something to eat and it appeared that each turn got us further and further into the getto. We finally found a Wendy's and decided it was going to have to do.
After dinner we went swimming. Ryan refused to get into the pool. He's gotten deathly afraid of the water for some reason. So Ryan sat on the side of the pool while the rest of the family had fun in the water.
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