Just Playing Around

Here are some pictures I took of Alix after church on Sunday. I edited them on my mac and thought they turned out pretty cute.




I love how I played with this one. I wish Addison was a wake to take pictures of her cause I think I would love to do a whole collection of pictures like these. I know my camera is not the coolest one out there, but you work with what you have :) I would love to take up photography one day as a hobby. This is a dream that I have had for a few years when I was in Utah and saw a class walking around these gardens taking pictures and I just starred trying to figure out what kind of pictures they were taking. I told Jon I totally want to take a class even if it's with the recreation center. I just love learning about the elements of design and the real art of photography. Now I just need to steal my father-in-laws camera and I can go pro. (Hope you read that Dad maybe you'll notice you don't have much use for it, so you will give it to me.) Yeah I don't think their is a fat chance of that happening unless he upgrades to a newer camera. Maybe I will have to get some pointers next time I'm up there!

Fireworks

Later on the 4th we had a BBQ with steak, potato salad, corn and watermelon. We then made my sister Kristie's yummy caramel popcorn and some regular butter popcorn to take up to Anthem for their firework show. The girls and us had a lot of fun. Addison couldn't keep her eyes off the fireworks while Alix was oohing and awing the whole time.



The next day we let the girls play with sparklers in our backyard. They really got a kick out of it. JOn took some cute pictures too.

Boulder City 4th of July Parade

This year I took the girls to the Boulder City Parade. We had a lot of fun. The parade has a No Water Entries and then at the end of the Parade they have Water Entries were you squirt them with your water guns. It's really fun. The girls and I got completely soaked and it felt so good for how hot it was there.

This is what Addison looked like during the entire parade. She had this face of "what are these people doing." It made me laugh.



This is the bundle of candy and junk we got from the parade. I was amazed how much stuff we got.

Airline Fees

So I just booked a flight with Allegiant Airlines and talk about all the little extra fees that they are tagging on to each flight. I actually believe I got the cheapest flight to Bellingham on the web. I checked first with Southwest to go to Seattle and they wanted $300.00 for their ticket which is so high. I usually find my tickets around 120.00 round trip with them; however Southwest doesn't fly to Bellingham (a small airport only one hour away from Jon's parent's home) versus 3 hours away from Seattle. So I started looking at different flights by going to my very awesome web pages Kayak.com they are the best let me tell you and they found me Allegiant Air which before this I didn't really know existed.


The great thing was with all taxes and fees my ticket came to $250.00. $70.00 cheaper than Southwest after taxes and fees. So I will not complain there, but I will complain about the extra baggage fee of 15.00 each way a total of 30.00 for 1 check on bag. I also bought the cheapest seat of $10.00 each way. A total of $20.00 round-trip. And get this in fine print it tells you that it's not guaranteed that you get that seat. So make a note that if you don't get that exact seat they have to refund that money back. Which believe you me I will watch out for it for $20.00. Plus at the end Allegiant Air was trying to sneak in an extra 20.00 for no hassle fee of changing your flight which you have to uncheck and it doesn't even say the cost on the check so you really don't know they are charging you anything until you uncheck the box and your total price drops 20.00. Well everyone knows me and deals and how people don't and can't sneak things like that past me, because I really do read the fine print and do heavy duty research on things especially this time it being a new airline I have never flown with.

So when you buy your tickets watch out for the sneaky hidden fees and find the cheapest ticket on the web. Remember don't go with the cheapest flight you first see. Go into the website and find out all the hidden fees and then at the end find out who really is cheaper. This is how airlines are getting people with lowfares but high fees. Also P.S. if you want a drink unfortunately with security gates don't allow liquids you will have to fork up a drink at the airport, but make sure it's under $2.00 cause that is the new fee for drinks on the plane. Let's just hope this time they just give us the whole can of ginger ale rather then cup that is filled three quarters full of ice:) note: if you fly with Southwest it's still free and they are really nice to give you more. For those who don't know or haven't seen the commercials on the T.V. Southwest doesn't have any extra fees tagged on their price other then security and general fees.

Here's a joke I found off Traveljokes.com
Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?

Passenger: Sure.

Attendant: You're in seat 12B. That will be $5, please!

Passenger: What for?

Attendant: For telling you where to sit.

Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.

Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of $5. It's the airline's new policy.

Passenger: That's the craziest thing I ever heard. I won't pay it.

Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?

Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I'll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.

Attendant: Thank you. My goodness, your carry-on bag looks heavy. Would you
like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?

Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.

Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.

Passenger: What?

Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.

Passenger: This is extortion. I won't stand for it.

Attendant: Actually, you're right, you can't stand. You need to sit, and fasten your seat belt. We're about to push back from the gate. But, first I need that $10.

Passenger: No way!

Attendant: Sir, if you don't comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal. And you really don't want me to do that.

Passenger: Why not? Is he going to shoot me?

Attendant: No, but there's a $50 air-marshal hailing fee.

Passenger: Oh, all right, here, take the $10. I can't believe this.

Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Passenger: Yes. It's stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn't seem to work. Can you fix it?

Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes.

Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air?

Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It's the circulating air that costs 50 cents.

Passenger: I don't have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar?

Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go!

Passenger: But you've given me only three quarters for my dollar.

Attendant: Yes, there's a change making fee of 25 cents.

Passenger: For cryin' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter? What the heck can I do with this?

Attendant: Hang onto it. You'll need it later for the lavatory.

IF you are traveling by air here is a great website to help save some money on your ticket. SmartMoney.com

Jon's Birthday Day!

Monday was Jon's Birthday. The kids and I woke him up with breakfast in bed a family tradition that we love. The kids loved helping me get it all ready for him too.


After breakfast we headed over the Manadlay Bay to go swimming. Casandra and Brett were there for their Anneversay and they were allowed up to eight guest to go swimming with them, so of course we jumped on that boat. The crazy thing is strike two I forgot my camera again, but Casandra had hers, but I know we didn't take a lot of pictures. When she sends them over I will post them.




After swimming the kids both passed out in the care of exhaustion. We brought them home and they slept forever. When they woke up we took an earlier dinner and headed over to the District to eat at the Elephant Bar. We thought it was really good. They always have coupons for the restaurant so really wanted to use them. I highly recommend you get the chinese chicken rice and veggies for the kids. That dish would fill an adult. I even asked when it came out is this a kids meal and they assured me it was. Best four bucks ever spent. I usually hate buying kids meals anyway and usually buy them something off the adult menu or have them share with me. Along with the kids meal they got strawberry lemon-aid (the kind with real strawberries) and a yummy cinnamon cup sundae. Alix got the mac n' cheese but I wasn't has impressed with the portion compared to Addison's meal. Any way to top it off I let Jon order anything off the dessert menu. That's right everyone I actually bought a dessert. I don't think we have ever done that simply cause I think it's a waste of money and I don't enjoy them as much as everyone else out there. He loved it and got the biggest fudge brownie sundae EVER! It seriously was huge. He didn't even finish it and I only took a few bites out of it. i will say I did eat the girls cinnamon cup it really was yummy it reminded me a lot like fried ice-cream at Jose Oshea's, a Famous Colorado Restaurant

Sadly to say I wasn't that good of a wife cause Jon hasn't opened any presents from me yet. I don't just like to buy random stuff that in the end you feel like you just wasted your money on. I really want them to be perfect and Jon was asking for a new phone possibly (maybe that's something he can ask his parents for) or some new dress pants for rotations that are coming up in August. Whatever it is I will make sure I wrap them up so he can open something from me.
Well Happy Birthday Jon AGAIN & AGAIN and I'm sure we will be celebrating your birthday with your parents soon too. It's a Birthday that never ends!

JON'S 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

It's a good thing our friend Cody the FIRE FIGHTER was there cause Jon's candle's could of burned down the park :)Well I only had one candle, but I just thought the joke was funny!



Happy Birthday Jon! Well two full days in the Kitchen, running lots of errands to different stores I finally put together a party for Jon. Jon is thirty now so I felt like I had to up my game a little more then usual and the best way that I know is presentation and lots food preparation. I once learned about the four different love languages (that I am totally into) and found out the way I show my love is through service (such as spending time in the kitchen and always adding small details to everything) So I guess you can say this party had a lot of love put into it. I was so excited that it turned out so well. All the food turned out great and shockingly with 108 weather I didn't give any one food poisoning (well at least I haven't heard of any cases). The sad thing is at the end of the party to be on the safe side I throw out a lot of leftovers (the ones that could of spoiled). I was so sad because I love leftovers. Also Thanks Amy for bringing the Jell-o Salad and Brooke bringing the Chips. I really appreciate the help!



MARIA SAVED THE DAY! I have to tell you that the only thing we forgot to bring was the camera YIKES! but Maria saved the day. Thank you so much for all the awesome pictures. You're the best!





SOME OF THE HOOT 'N PARTY GUEST




After we ate the the yummy food we played games. We had a water balloon toss that turned into a water fight, we also set up a badminton set and a ladder game that Casandra and Brett brought down. The kids also entertained themselves at the splash pad and playground that we were at. I think we can all say we had a fun time.




Thanks again Maria for all the pictures you took I really appreciate it!