Adventure in Treasure Valley!!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Meridian is the second-largest city in Ada County, Idaho, USA, and the third-largest in the state. As of July 2007, the population estimate of Meridian was 64,642.[1] Having recently surpassed the eastern Idaho cities of Pocatello and Idaho Falls, the 2007 estimates placed Meridian as the third-largest city in Idaho behind Boise andNampa, all in the Treasure Valley. Meridian is the state's fastest-growing city, with a 81.5 percent increase in population since 2000.[2] Adventure in Treasure Valley means I went to Idaho to see Willie and Tina and Family for my birthday! They are a very fun family and give me a good time. I arrived on Friday afternoon and was greeted warmly by grandchildren.. We chatted a minute and then seen the hard copy of slide show from Katelin's baptism and included vacation photo's of visiting inWisconsin and Chicago!.. Was wonderful to see on big screen definition!! Loved I got to take DVD home with me. After Willie got home from work - we loaded up and went to Drive-INN movie called the Terrace - in McCall. We took 2 cars but only used the Van to kick back in to see the double feature. We saw "Despicable Me" and "Eclipse". First feature most of kids was awake to watch - Willie took the bucket seats out and set them where Van was backed up at. It was after 11:00pm when 2nd feature came on. I remembered I had blankets in trunk of the Toyota so laid them across the ground and got pretty comfortable there. Okay I snoozed through some of it...woke up in time for the ending and was surprised that Libbie stayed awake all through Eclipse. LoL.. Saturday Morning, Willie fixed up some egg and bacon burritos and orange juice for breakfast, and we decided we would go to Boise Zoo early afternoon! Tina has a season pass to take Kids there ever so often to enjoy animals often. This was Willie's first time at the Boise Zoo too. There was Tulip Tree there to show what theirs will look like when big..We saw the monkeys, the elephants, giraffe, zebra, lion. Wallaby Walk-about - penguins. Birds and Snakes and much more. Was glad that we didn't let sore knee make me have to sit it out and miss the fun. We also got to use Tina's new fancy big silver washer and matching dryer - It was cool, it even told us how much our laundry weighed. Saturday evening - Willie and Tina got Nana Linda - to babysit kids while we went to dinner reservation to Gina - a nice Italian Restaurant --- enjoyed the meal -- then went a picked up some ice-cream and cake for Sunday. Willie has this deal with Netfix that he can get hundreds of movies from his game station or Wii is cool and has many to choose from. He got the movie - 2007 "Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium" that they watch for first time. I had seen once but only in and outs of it. So watching it without interruption was a better experience. We all liked the movie and the good message it was giving. During the night there was a unusually bad wind storm - or bad enough to knock out the power system somehow at the Sleep Lab - so that Willie had to go and take care of some damage - while we are all getting ready for church. -- Me and Mindy running a little late - so would take my car - not - left my keys in the Van. That's okay - I just walked to their ward. Mindy stayed back but - that's okay - Willie come home and took her up with him. Willie teaches the Gospel Essentials class and me and Mindy got to go to his class at the Seminary Building. Then afterwards I got to go with Erin to her Sunday school class. Mindy went to RS. Tina had nursery with Jonathan. Libbie is almost in YW and James is in class preparing for baptism.. After church we had a big Sunday Snooze. Till Willie called Heather to find out name of movie thats called "Grown Ups". By the time he was talking about BSC and Football picks I realized he was talking to Ryan. Then Yes, I did get to talk to Ryan for a bit - even though his mouth was still swollen from surgery he just had...Alissa, Madi, and Kate all told me his mouth area was pretty puffy and that Zack and Brylee like to have screaming contest!! Whew!! That was fun! By then it was dinner time for them and us. We had lasagna - hot rolls - and salad. Then we took trip to Paramount Elementary to see what teachers James and Libbie had posted for this year. Libbie is in 4th and James in 2nd. When we came back we had the ice cream and cake with one candle on it ...... and Jonathan helped me blow it out. Then it was bedtime for the kids.......and me, Mindy, Willie and Tina. Played some Guitar Hero. I started out on drums - but would only get like 30%. So traded to get to strum guitar. I got up to 98% once but mostly was in 60 - 70%. Mindy was better on drums and Willie and Tina kept in the 90% singing cool songs on microphone or strumming lead guitar... Monday morning we had yummy breakfast with scrambled eggs and biscuits and berry-banana -yogurt drink that Tina mixed.. Then Willie went to work. And after did more laundry and find my cell phone we headed back to Salt Lake Citywith very full tummy. (They feed us very good),,, Got home that evening!!! :)

Lion King at Capitol Theater

Mindy got ticket for this April of 2009 - so we have had these tix for over a year. Is the cheapest way to get in LOL... Should have done it this was to see WICKED last year!! So we got there on time and found our seats - started out with big elephant that dance down the Isle near our seat - and many more - was amazing They sold merchandise in the lobby - (way expensive) - but found some cute stuff to give Grandkids when we see them!!

Christmas 2009

Halloween 2009

Green Haired witch looking --- for blonde Asian Girl!!



Innocent-unsuspecting Halloween Asian girl busy reading a book!!



Oh nol!! The green haired witch gots the little Asian girl (while on horsey) on the arm...



Now look what Happened!! --- little girl did turn into and green hair witch too!!
but not a vampire!! (busy checking the evidence on the camera)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Sunday Easter Hunt 2009

Gma in Kenosha!!

Katelin's Art

At the end of February I benefited a trip to
Ryan and Heathers

compliments of Nancy Jones
for Wisconsin Winter time visit (must be my favorite)
This time I went via SLC - Minnesota - Milwaukee rather than
SLC to big Chicago O'Hare Airport.
It was a quick 2 day trip and of course it was during
the cold n flue season....but knew I needed
to get to see new Brylee and everybody and get it accommodate to
the mandatory job search that is required of me with completion of
my Business Courses. (Madi's Art)
I figured it would be way more difficult to travel once
I start a new job and other upcoming events.

Ryan and the girls came to the Milwaukee Airport to pick me up
they were all dressed up because they had just attended
a funeral for a little boy that was in there ward.
The weather was really nice that day.
I managed to get there in one piece but then I dropped
my camera the first time I went to use it and broke it good.
Crazy since it has dropped
a number of times before that and was fine.
So here are some of the good pictures sent by Heather
to save the day..

Here is finally getting to hold little Brylee
Pretty Brylee Joy

Here is of Wisconsin Grandchildren just before we went to Saturday Jelly Belly Tour
Katelin's hair is a pretty profile.
Smiles of all..
Madison made picture
of Jelly Belly Balloon Freehand.

This is when we squished into Photo booth



That night when the kids went to bed. Ryan hooked up
Willie and Travis to play some online Mario Kart.


We did art work and went to Church.....
Coloring with Alissa and Zack also
Toilet Paper Roll Person with Curly Hair Project with Madi and Kate

.

Jelly Belly Tour

Not far from their house - Just outside of Kenosha - Is where the Jelly Belly Factory is.
There was photo booth inside the little candy store there was just after the tour of the Jelly
Belly Tour..

Here is that Jelly Belly Balloon you see when you first get on on the Train.

Just after the tour and just outside the exit is a Jelly Belly Volkswagon. It is fun to catch a picture there -- some tourist caught me to get a picture of them there -- It was fun to oblige...
Here is one with my cell phone!