Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Summer Fun Part 4

Part of the fun at Disneyland is people watching while you are waiting in line. The wait for Splash Mountain was no exception. We had to wait 90 minutes for our turn as all the Fast Passes were gone for the day. There was a family in front of us and in front of them was a young couple who COULD NOT KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF ONE ANOTHER! There is a time and place for this! Disneyland lines are NOT the place! Especially when there are kids ALL AROUND. After watching this couple for an hour, I told Omid I was going to take their picture. Touchy couple (the woman in front of us told them to 'get a room!').
After the girl saw me snap a photo, she started pushing her man away.
I think she got the message.

Splash!

Matty couldn't resist the famous Disney turkey leg.
After spending the entire day at Disneyland, we headed over to California Adventure. We loved the GlowFest party at this park. There is a huge dance party with black lights, glow-in-the-dark costumes and all the music we like to listen to. If that's not your thing, you can watch the World of Color show on the water.
Nas dancing to Justin Bieber's 'Baby.'

Street of dancing tourists.

Kids dancing to great mixes.


Below is a video of Nas & her friend having a glow-sword fight.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Summer Fun Part 3

Waiting for Thunder Mountain Railroad. Guess what!? One second after I took this photo, the ride broke down. We had to come back a few hours later (& stand in another 45 min line) to ride it.
California Adventure

Peek-a-boo!


Tower of Terror photo! Omid is genuinely sick!!
This was the one and only time he went on this ride.

One of my favorite rides! Tower of Terror!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Tea Cup Rides

Oooh! The exclusive Club 33! Matty found it for me.
We had dinner reservations downstairs at Blue Bayou. While we were waiting for our names to be called, we watched America's Rich & Famous ring the secret doorbell & go inside. I waited, but no one invited us to join them.

Walt's Club 33
Club 33 Secret Doorbell

Inside Blue Bayou
The restaurant is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride (by the swamp section).
It was so cute!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Summer Fun Part 2

Let me just start by saying if I don't fly away somewhere, I don't consider it a vacation. Omid knew this and thankfully we were able to fly out to visit sunny California. Thanks honey! This beautiful sight was ten minutes out of PDX. I had my iPod on, so was unable to hear what the Mtns. the pilot said they were. I am guessing Bachelor and ...one of the Sisters?
Our first stop once we landed was at In-N-Out burger. Matty enjoyed his 'double-double."

Disneyland!!! I don't think you are ever too old to visit.

Ohh! Cruella DeVille.
Look at Omid - he's scared!

The Sword and the Stone. Matty tried first.

Then Nas....

I pushed Nas aside and had a go. No luck.
We missed the show - otherwise I would have been up front yelling, "Pick me! Pick me!"

Naseem was in churro heaven! She had them a lot.

Lucky shot with Mickey.
I have visited Disneyland 4 times and DisneyWorld twice. Not once have I ever been able to get a picture with Mickey. The lines were always too long to wait. But not this time! There were only 6 people in front of us. It pays to visit the park early!

Shot from California Screamin'
I was a screaming momma on this ride. Lots of fun!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Summer Fun!

In case anyone missed my posts these last few days...I was on vacation. I loved every darn minute of it too. My darling husband decided a month ago that we all needed a break from the gray, cold northwest weather & booked us a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth! Yay!! The weather was LOVELY. The palm trees & bouganvillea were LOVELY. Disneyland & California Adventure were LOVELY. All in all, we had a lovely time! The only sad part: we missed Remy something terrible.

It will take me several days to blog about the trip, so I will start with the end - because it's juicy.

See this guy? What a CREEP! The news is full about people going crazy on airplanes. This guy was one I thought for sure would go crazy. He was a complete poop on the plane, but off the plane is where he lost his temper.
There was this adorable little boy sitting behind Nas, Matty & I. He was about 2 or 3. He was sleeping and when the plane began it's descent, he woke up crying because his ears were hurting. This little boy started out whimpering and after a few minutes, it turned into loud crying. The crying didn't bother us - because our ears were hurting too - so we understood how he felt.
The CREEP in the photo above: he was clearly agitated that this boy was crying. He muttered under his breath 'shut up' several times. Then....he leans over to the mom (who also had an infant in her lap) to "Shut that kid up!" WHAT!?! The mom just ignored him. The grandma (bless her heart) was sitting right behind the jerk, stood up and gave him a piece of her mind. He just ignored her. Matty asked if he could punch him (ha!). I turned around and reassured the mom that the boys crying was not bothering us. Several other passengers did the same. Soon after, we landed and everyone around us was glaring at this guy & muttering jerk under their breaths. I just stared at him with my meanest eyes. He stared back at everyone around him, nonplussed about what had just happened.
While leaving the plane, Matty (who was seated across the aisle from him) got up at the same time as this jerk. The jerk wanted to get himself plus his wife and young daughter off the plane fast. You know the type. But he underestimated Matty. Matty was so good. He wouldn't budge and let several people go ahead, making the jerk wait. :)
The pick up area is where the jerk really lost it. We were about 10 feet away from him when we overhead him call for his ride. The conversation went like this (anything in capital letters is YELLING!).
Hi. WHERE ARE YOU?
We are outside Alaska where you pick people up. PICK PEOPLE UP!!!! What?! BAGGAGE CLAIM! I SAID BAGGAGE CLAIM. F***! (He was also shaking his fist at the sky - no joke!).
F***! When will you get here? Just....HURRY UP!!!!
About 60+ people heard this conversation. Everyone was staring at him. His wife realized this and was patting his arm, asking him to calm down. Then he turned on her.
The good thing: what goes around comes around! I hope you get it good, Mister!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to our dads!
We love you!! My dad with my sister & I (that's me in yellow!).
Omid's dad.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Summer Kick-off!

School is finally out and our good friend Jeff decided it was time to start the summer off with a bbq - just not as his house. Omid's parents were nice enough to host the party. Omid & Ward made ribs (a contest). Actually it was no contest. Omid's ribs won hands down like always. You can't mess with perfection! The boys checking out the ribs.

Omid's baby back ribs. Sooooooo goooooood.
This was before he painted them with his secret bbq sauce.

Omid's ribs are finger-licking good!

Hungry kidlets.

After dinner, Omid's dad made Turkish coffee for everyone. Omid's mom has a hidden talent we never knew she had. Fari can read coffee grounds!

Sampling Turkish Coffee

Wards coffee grounds about to be interpreted.

What does it say???!

Wards grounds said what we all knew. He has a big ego & is full of wisdom. So funny!
Lin found out she was going to get a 'big diamond' soon. She is really looking forward to that!


Next we all played the game Catchphrase. So much fun! It started out as the boys against the girls. The boys didn't like that we were winning, so then we switched to all play. We are a competetive bunch - I only wish I had taken video of the rounds. It was a lot of fun!


The girls winning - like always!

"It has big feet, big shoes & a red nose..."
The word was clown, but Omid guessed Rudolph. So funny!

Sour....cream!
Get this game for loads of fun! Just look at Ward laughing if you need confirmation!



*We actually heard about this game about ten years ago while we were camping. The campsite next to us was having so much - Naseem went to investigate. The next thing we know, Naseem is sitting around a picnic table with this family having loads of fun. We bought the game a few days later.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Oops!

Sometimes, it pays to thoroughly read your email. I have been so busy lately and have just been scanning or deleting emails I haven't had time to read. I recently responded to an email from a PTO friend at Matty's school regarding help with the 8th grade party. I said I would be there from 8-9:30 a.m. to help out. I briefly scanned & deleted all other emails regarding the party because I had already responded. No use completely reading them when I have all the info I need & they weren't marked 'urgent'. Oops! Guess again.

Well, yesterday's party rolls around and HELLO! It's a full-blown 8th grade graduation! What?! Needless to say, I didn't help out. I took my seat & enjoyed myself! I do feel bad that Omid wasn't able to be there. Oh well - That's what mom's are for, right?! RIGHT!!

Note: Matty wasn't the only one in jeans so please don't give me (or him) grief about this. Less than half the boys dressed up. Matty is like me - he dresses for comfort. ;)

What happens when your last name begins with a Z? You are last in line (but not least!!).


8th grade graduate! On to high school!!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Pillowcase dresses for Africa

I LOVE this project. I don't sew - but I can certainly collect donations & supplies for others who have the talent.

If you would like to donate - this is what the seamstresses need:

new or gently used pillow cases
double bias tape
1/2" elastic
thread

If you'd like to sew your own pillowcase dresses - here is the link to the pattern.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Goat Farm!

One of the fun perks of my job: field trips! On Friday, I was lucky enough to accompany a group of Kindergartener's to the local goat farm. Yay!! I had actually been waiting all year for this. My good friend & coworker: Arnita

Look at that smile! Love it!

This big guy was super friendly.


Kids!
It was all I could do not to smuggle one out.


These babies were just like dogs. They wagged their tails and loved to be scratched behind the ears.


Another highlight: a goat milking demonstration. I tried milking the goat and it was just as easy as it looked.
Look at the farmer...she was so proud of me. :)

You're hired!