Monday, April 21, 2008

Here we have Idaho (and SeaWorld)

I hope that last post didn't come off as too gloomy. I didn't really intend it to be. I was aiming more for just an update of the situation. I felt a little weird blogging about it since:
1) I didn't really get Ryan's permission before posting and it's a little personal (I don't think he minds, but still. . . ), and
2) sometimes I'm not entirely sure of my motives. I really don't want to be fishing for sympathy.

But, it's done and we're adjusting. I just have to remember to put the wheelchair inside the car before I start backing out.
Before all this surgery stuff happened we had a few family adventures. A few weeks ago my parents happened to be in California (my dad's choir was on tour) so we met up with them at Sea World.

Waiting to feed the dolphins:





It was a fun day of feeding dolphins, holding starfish, and getting wet. A few minutes after that last picture was taken, Benjamin decided it wasn't fun to be splashed, so he moved up to the dry seats. It was fun to spend a little time with my parents, and easy to say goodbye since we saw them a week later when we went to:


Idaho! They look thrilled, don't they? This was at the potato museum (of course!) in Blackfoot. I don't think the kids were as bored as they look. It was a really nice week. We were excited to see some snow, even though all the locals are sick of winter. We got to see a lot of family (three of my siblings and their families, Ryan's sister and her family, my parents and grandparents), and Ryan took the kids and my dad fishing one day. Mostly we just relaxed, went to see a movie, went shopping, etc. Ryan and I even went to a spa one day and had a couples massage. I didn't want to come home at the end of the week.

Snow!


Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Joel's overalls.

I don't know if you can see it very well, but I love Benjamin's face in this picture as he shovels in some angel food cake.

Alex is holding a bag of dehydrated hashbrowns - our souveniers.


The museum had a lot of pictures of Marilyn Monroe clothed in only a potato sack, and the Guiness Book of World Record's Biggest Potato "Crisp" (not chip). There is also a potato song, but I can't remember any of the lyrics.

4 comments:

Kristen said...

wow, who knew Idaho could be so full of adventure. As they say in Toy Story (the first I believe), "Way to go, Idaho!" I thought your rundown of Ryan's disasters was very helpful, as I was starting to lose track. I am actually going to do the same thing soon on my blog, except for Eli (if you haven't heard, last night he broke his wrist and his nose - yeah).

Kristen said...

Oh, I keep meaning to ask, what is the meaning of the title of your blog? What's with the umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh?

emily said...

your blog is doing funny things to my life: you and ryan were in my dreams the past couple of nights. those dreams that are just to weird to even explain. it was fun to hang out with you guys again - even if only in my dream. :)

i think you need to take a family photo every year with that potato. send it out for your christmas cards. i love it! you guys all look fabulous.

megan said...

Emily- your family has shown up in my dreams a few times, too. I can't remember any of the specifics, but I'm sure it was probably just as weird as your dream.
Kristen- I was about to explain what my title means, but then I realized it will end up being a really long comment so maybe I'll just blog about it.