More Christmas pictures to come! Just stole this one from Charayye's blog!Sunday, February 1, 2009
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Life's a Beach
Our last day in So Cal was spent at Laguna Beach. I like Laguna because it seems to be less crowded (at least the part we go to) and there's tidal pools to look at. The last time we were at the beach was in Hawaii last spring. Hawaii will really spoil you. The water at Laguna was frigid. I'm pretty sure I saw an iceberg float by. None of us spent much, if any, time in the water other then Brenner. He doesn't care if his fingers are numb... it's water!
Who's that fat guy with the hot red head?
Everyone had a good time
Brenner Cousteau
Brenner at Laguna Beach from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
Who's that fat guy with the hot red head?
Everyone had a good time
Brenner Cousteau
Brenner at Laguna Beach from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
The Happiest Place On Earth!
It's been a few years since we've been to Disneyland and I was just aching to stand in a few lines so we packed up the van and headed to southern California. Of course the kids had a great time. Charisse had a great time... and ok, I had a great time too (the lines were short!).
The Trip started out just like all our family vacations: FIRE!
This is the view from our hotel room. Can you see the Matterhorn?
Disney all dressed up for Halloween
Did I say it wasn't crowded?
Ready to ride! Brenner knows who to sit next to when it comes to roller coasters
Smile
Wheee!
Just how fast can we spin?
When Tyler was 6 or 7 yrs old he really wanted to ride the Dumbo ride. Charisse waited in line with him but when it came time to ride he would not let her ride with him, he wanted to ride alone. So a 30 something year old woman had to ride Dumbo solo too :). Finally, Tyler let her ride along.
California Adventure... the Disneyland where you can buy beer.
Standing in front of the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride
The Hollywood Tower of Terror is a pretty fun ride that does a pretty good job of mixing "roller coaster" fun with "Disney" fun. "Disney" fun is what I use to describe most if not all the rides in Disneyland. These rides are more about what's going on outside of the car you're riding in then what's happening to the car. There's always so much stuff to see. "Roller coaster" fun is all about what's happening to the car you're in (it's fun falling, right?). So the premise of this ride is that in the 1930's the hotel was used for Hollywood types but a strange thing happened back then when lightning hit the hotel and fried the guests and made the elevators sometimes fall. In great Disneyland fashion the ride looks like the lobby of an old hotel and they show you a movie explaining all this to you before you actually get on the ride. Then when you're on the ride (elevator) the elevator door opens and you can see down a hotel hallway and the ghosts you saw down in the lobby in the video show up standing in the hallway beckoning you to come... then they disappear, everything goes dark, the door at the end of the hallway starts to twist like the Twilight Zone scene and suddenly the elevator falls about 3 floors. The elevator then goes back up and falls and falls again. Rinse and repeat. Great fun. Only one problem. Brenner was afraid to sleep that night (even in a hotel room with everyone sleeping in the same room) due to this ride. Not due to the falling, but due to the whole story behind the ride. He was worried that it was true and didn't like the ghosts. Nothing's more fun than rides like this with an impressionable 7 yr old (see Indiana Jones below). It probably doesn't help when his dad feeds his paranoia :).
In the elevator
Since none of our friends and family could join us, here's a video ride for you!
Ride California Screaming Coaster from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
Having a good time
Brenner at one of the Parades. Tow Mater is his favorite.
Tyler loves Tikis
Waiting in line for the Indiana Jones ride. As the video tells you (while waiting in the line), DO NOT look directly into the eyes of the Idol (or you'll turn into a skeleton). Brenner really took this to heart! The first time we rode this ride, I looked down at Brenner when the ride gets to the idle and he was scrunched down low in his seat using the hand rail on the ride as a shield to block his eyes from looking directly into the eyes of the Idol. He was proud as a peacock when we exited the ride telling me that he DID NOT look at the eyes and wanting to know if anyone else did look. All the other times we rode it he knew the point in the ride where he Idol was and he closed his eyes during that part so he was safe!
Brenner (and his map) in anticipation of the big parade.
This is a restaurant very close to our hotel and directly across the street from the Disneyland entrance/exit. Buffet for $8.69? How can we possibly go wrong? Aaaggg... you couldn't pay me to eat there again. My advice: if you're at Disneyland and tempted to eat at the Kidd's, resist the urge (unless diarrhea is a friend of yours).
A few brief clips in Disneyland
Disneyland from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
I'm someone who likes "roller coaster" fun more then "Disney" fun so Disneyland isn't my favorite park to visit (but I do like watching the kids have fun, which is really why we're there anyway). Regardless, one thing that Disneyland has figured out is smiles. It doesn't matter how stupid your question or how many times that stupid question has already been asked that day, the Disney worker will still smile and kindly answer it. I don't know where they find these nice people and I'm sure they cull hundreds to find the ones they have, but being nice seems to be a requirement to work at Disneyland. We spent 3 days at the park which in retrospect was one day too long. We rode everything more then once within two days. The third day was more relaxing but it was re-repeats of the previous two days. We should have spend day 3 at Knotts Berry Farm instead!
The Trip started out just like all our family vacations: FIRE!
This is the view from our hotel room. Can you see the Matterhorn?
Disney all dressed up for Halloween
Did I say it wasn't crowded?
Ready to ride! Brenner knows who to sit next to when it comes to roller coasters
Smile
Wheee!
Just how fast can we spin?
When Tyler was 6 or 7 yrs old he really wanted to ride the Dumbo ride. Charisse waited in line with him but when it came time to ride he would not let her ride with him, he wanted to ride alone. So a 30 something year old woman had to ride Dumbo solo too :). Finally, Tyler let her ride along.
California Adventure... the Disneyland where you can buy beer.
Standing in front of the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride
The Hollywood Tower of Terror is a pretty fun ride that does a pretty good job of mixing "roller coaster" fun with "Disney" fun. "Disney" fun is what I use to describe most if not all the rides in Disneyland. These rides are more about what's going on outside of the car you're riding in then what's happening to the car. There's always so much stuff to see. "Roller coaster" fun is all about what's happening to the car you're in (it's fun falling, right?). So the premise of this ride is that in the 1930's the hotel was used for Hollywood types but a strange thing happened back then when lightning hit the hotel and fried the guests and made the elevators sometimes fall. In great Disneyland fashion the ride looks like the lobby of an old hotel and they show you a movie explaining all this to you before you actually get on the ride. Then when you're on the ride (elevator) the elevator door opens and you can see down a hotel hallway and the ghosts you saw down in the lobby in the video show up standing in the hallway beckoning you to come... then they disappear, everything goes dark, the door at the end of the hallway starts to twist like the Twilight Zone scene and suddenly the elevator falls about 3 floors. The elevator then goes back up and falls and falls again. Rinse and repeat. Great fun. Only one problem. Brenner was afraid to sleep that night (even in a hotel room with everyone sleeping in the same room) due to this ride. Not due to the falling, but due to the whole story behind the ride. He was worried that it was true and didn't like the ghosts. Nothing's more fun than rides like this with an impressionable 7 yr old (see Indiana Jones below). It probably doesn't help when his dad feeds his paranoia :).
In the elevator
Since none of our friends and family could join us, here's a video ride for you!
Ride California Screaming Coaster from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
Having a good time
Brenner at one of the Parades. Tow Mater is his favorite.
Tyler loves Tikis
Waiting in line for the Indiana Jones ride. As the video tells you (while waiting in the line), DO NOT look directly into the eyes of the Idol (or you'll turn into a skeleton). Brenner really took this to heart! The first time we rode this ride, I looked down at Brenner when the ride gets to the idle and he was scrunched down low in his seat using the hand rail on the ride as a shield to block his eyes from looking directly into the eyes of the Idol. He was proud as a peacock when we exited the ride telling me that he DID NOT look at the eyes and wanting to know if anyone else did look. All the other times we rode it he knew the point in the ride where he Idol was and he closed his eyes during that part so he was safe!
Brenner (and his map) in anticipation of the big parade.
This is a restaurant very close to our hotel and directly across the street from the Disneyland entrance/exit. Buffet for $8.69? How can we possibly go wrong? Aaaggg... you couldn't pay me to eat there again. My advice: if you're at Disneyland and tempted to eat at the Kidd's, resist the urge (unless diarrhea is a friend of yours).
A few brief clips in Disneyland
Disneyland from Jon Finch on Vimeo.
I'm someone who likes "roller coaster" fun more then "Disney" fun so Disneyland isn't my favorite park to visit (but I do like watching the kids have fun, which is really why we're there anyway). Regardless, one thing that Disneyland has figured out is smiles. It doesn't matter how stupid your question or how many times that stupid question has already been asked that day, the Disney worker will still smile and kindly answer it. I don't know where they find these nice people and I'm sure they cull hundreds to find the ones they have, but being nice seems to be a requirement to work at Disneyland. We spent 3 days at the park which in retrospect was one day too long. We rode everything more then once within two days. The third day was more relaxing but it was re-repeats of the previous two days. We should have spend day 3 at Knotts Berry Farm instead!
Monday, August 25, 2008
What a Long Strange Trip it's Been
19 yrs ago I tricked Charisse into marrying me. It was a very good trick, she still hasn't figured out how to get out :) . We never seem to go anywhere special for our anniversary, but we always seem to have a good time.
Example: Last year we thought we'd be a little tricky. We pawned Brenner off to his cousins and the two older kids slept over at friends houses. We told the kids we were going away to SLC for the evening and would be back the next day. What we really wanted to do was go out for a nice dinner, rent a couple movies and sneak back into the house and watch 'em without having to worry about chasing kids around the room. We specifically told the kids that the house was off limits while we were gone (i.e. we didn't want the kids playing with friends at the house while we were gone). We didn't even get 10 min into the first movie before Whitney and her friend wandered in. A half hour later Tyler came wandered back too... Oh it was very romantic evening. Not only did they hamper the ambiance of the evening, they showed that they are incapable of following simple instructions.
Not again said Jon! We decided to spend the weekend in Park City. We again pawned Brenner off at his cousins (thanks Charelle!). The two older progeny were given specific instructions of what was acceptable to do while we were gone and what wasn't. We'll never know if they obeyed, but the house wasn't burned down when we came home so it must not have been too bad. Charisse really wanted to do a little shopping, so she directed me to Main St.
Now you all have been on Main St in Park City right. We shopped and shopped, but in the end just couldn't bring ourselves to spend $500 on a lamp shade. Main St is a little out of our price range...
Ok, this is more fitting for my pocketbook!
After walking around all day I was ready to sit for a while. We were going to go see a movie, but found out The Canyons was doing their summer concert series that night. I had never heard of Jason Isbell but it's live music and free... two of the things I like best. It was actually pretty good southern rock. Kind of an Alman Brother's Band meets Tom Petty kinda sound. Live music in the shade of the mountain is a nice way to spend an evening.
After the concert we went into Park City for dinner. We were trying to find Bangkok Thai but took a wrong turn on Main St and couldn't find it. We decided to try The Eating Establishment on the upper end of Main. It was pretty good but it gave me terrible gas the next day (but then again many things do that to me). We made it back to the hotel without issue and eventually fell asleep.
On Sunday we slept in and had a late breakfast. Then drove around Park City looking at some of the homes in the Home Show to, as Charisse told me, "get some ideas for finishing the basement". Hahahahaha, we better win the lotto! It wasn't a total bomb, Charisse did see a nifty way to store her laundry soap!
I had never been over Guardsman Pass (and Charisse didn't even know the road existed) so we decided to take it home. For the Charisse amongst you, it is a road that links Park City to Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton. It was a very nice drive with great views. We'll have to do that one again.
PS. I took a few other pictures that were AWESOME, but I think Charisse accidentally deleted them off the camera.
Example: Last year we thought we'd be a little tricky. We pawned Brenner off to his cousins and the two older kids slept over at friends houses. We told the kids we were going away to SLC for the evening and would be back the next day. What we really wanted to do was go out for a nice dinner, rent a couple movies and sneak back into the house and watch 'em without having to worry about chasing kids around the room. We specifically told the kids that the house was off limits while we were gone (i.e. we didn't want the kids playing with friends at the house while we were gone). We didn't even get 10 min into the first movie before Whitney and her friend wandered in. A half hour later Tyler came wandered back too... Oh it was very romantic evening. Not only did they hamper the ambiance of the evening, they showed that they are incapable of following simple instructions.
Not again said Jon! We decided to spend the weekend in Park City. We again pawned Brenner off at his cousins (thanks Charelle!). The two older progeny were given specific instructions of what was acceptable to do while we were gone and what wasn't. We'll never know if they obeyed, but the house wasn't burned down when we came home so it must not have been too bad. Charisse really wanted to do a little shopping, so she directed me to Main St.
Now you all have been on Main St in Park City right. We shopped and shopped, but in the end just couldn't bring ourselves to spend $500 on a lamp shade. Main St is a little out of our price range...
Ok, this is more fitting for my pocketbook!After walking around all day I was ready to sit for a while. We were going to go see a movie, but found out The Canyons was doing their summer concert series that night. I had never heard of Jason Isbell but it's live music and free... two of the things I like best. It was actually pretty good southern rock. Kind of an Alman Brother's Band meets Tom Petty kinda sound. Live music in the shade of the mountain is a nice way to spend an evening.
After the concert we went into Park City for dinner. We were trying to find Bangkok Thai but took a wrong turn on Main St and couldn't find it. We decided to try The Eating Establishment on the upper end of Main. It was pretty good but it gave me terrible gas the next day (but then again many things do that to me). We made it back to the hotel without issue and eventually fell asleep.
On Sunday we slept in and had a late breakfast. Then drove around Park City looking at some of the homes in the Home Show to, as Charisse told me, "get some ideas for finishing the basement". Hahahahaha, we better win the lotto! It wasn't a total bomb, Charisse did see a nifty way to store her laundry soap!
I had never been over Guardsman Pass (and Charisse didn't even know the road existed) so we decided to take it home. For the Charisse amongst you, it is a road that links Park City to Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton. It was a very nice drive with great views. We'll have to do that one again.
PS. I took a few other pictures that were AWESOME, but I think Charisse accidentally deleted them off the camera.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Camping in the Uintas
Being the last weekend before the kids go back to school, we decided to spend it camping. I haven't been up in the Uintas since I was a kid and Charisse has never been. Not sure what to expect in terms of campsites, we adventured off. The Mirror Lake highway, like the Alpine Loop, is a toll road. The ranger in the shack assured us that there would be lots of places to camp in the Mirror Lake area. It's a beautiful drive following the upper Provo River drainage.
Whitney's always a better passenger when she's got her headphones in.
Mirror lake with Hayden and Agassiz peaks behind.
Everyone at Mirror lake.
Charisse reading some drivel about vampires and werewolves and the girl who loves them. Apparently in this book the vampires can't turn into bats... stupid book. But if it entices her to snuggle a little more, then I won't object.
Oh yeah, that's frost. It was pretty cold once the sun went down. Charisse and Whitney thought it was cold all the time, but it really wasn't that bad during the day as long as the wind wasn't blowing (and it didn't blow too much). The great thing about the cold is that all the bugs were dead. No mosquitoes or biting flies! Tyler slept out on his cot both nights... now if we could just talk Whitney and Brenner into a tent :)
Whitney's always a better passenger when she's got her headphones in.
There turned out to be many places to camp along the road. We decided to camp in a large piney flat just below the pass between Lily/Lost lakes and Mirror lake on the Lily/Lost lake side.
Charisse, Whitney and Kirby standing on an overlook into the area where we were camping.
Mirror lake with Hayden and Agassiz peaks behind.
Everyone at Mirror lake.
Charisse reading some drivel about vampires and werewolves and the girl who loves them. Apparently in this book the vampires can't turn into bats... stupid book. But if it entices her to snuggle a little more, then I won't object.
Oh yeah, that's frost. It was pretty cold once the sun went down. Charisse and Whitney thought it was cold all the time, but it really wasn't that bad during the day as long as the wind wasn't blowing (and it didn't blow too much). The great thing about the cold is that all the bugs were dead. No mosquitoes or biting flies! Tyler slept out on his cot both nights... now if we could just talk Whitney and Brenner into a tent :)On Saturday, since Charisse and Brenner didn't get to hike Timp last week, we decided to hike up Bald Mountain. Bald (11,950 ft) is a little bit taller then Timp (11,750 ft) but the trail head starts much higher at around 10,500 ft making it a much easier hike. Still, it was a good workout for Charisse.
The hottie behind me...
and the noisemakers ahead.
The summit is just above those cliffs.
The summit... don't fall!
From the summit, looking down on Mirror lake.
Kirby had to get just a few inches higher then everyone else!
Looking to the west, Timpanogos and Cascade look very close! We were very surprised at how close the Uintas actually are to us. In the back of my mind I was thinking they were about 3 hrs drive, but in reality we were at our campsite in close to 1 hr 45 min. That's not too much longer than getting up Payson Canyon from Pleasant Grove.
The hottie behind me...
and the noisemakers ahead.
The summit is just above those cliffs.
The summit... don't fall!
From the summit, looking down on Mirror lake.
Kirby had to get just a few inches higher then everyone else!
Looking to the west, Timpanogos and Cascade look very close! We were very surprised at how close the Uintas actually are to us. In the back of my mind I was thinking they were about 3 hrs drive, but in reality we were at our campsite in close to 1 hr 45 min. That's not too much longer than getting up Payson Canyon from Pleasant Grove.I again flew one of my planes from the summit. I wanted to fly out over the cliff face, but there were too many people hanging around there so I just flew overhead. Just as I launched my plane, a couple F-16s came screaming right past the peak! I chased them away for a while, but just after I landed my plane they made another pass by.
Whitney proving she's not afraid of heights, much to her mother's horror.
We made it.
Brenner made it with nary a grumble. I think he might have been able to make the Timp hike. Although, he's got a kid's level of curiosity when it comes to cliffs... mixed with a kids level of dexterity. I don't think his mom will let him attempt Timp for a few more years.
Tyler making the last pitch to the summit. He went the hard way.
Smile!
Kirby looking down the face wondering what the hell her masters are doing in a place like this.
Whitney posing for Cabela's Monthly. Miss August.
The happy couple at one of the upper Provo River falls.
And their offspring at one of the other falls.
Once you get tired of sitting by the fire, you play games.
Whitney proving she's not afraid of heights, much to her mother's horror.
We made it.
Brenner made it with nary a grumble. I think he might have been able to make the Timp hike. Although, he's got a kid's level of curiosity when it comes to cliffs... mixed with a kids level of dexterity. I don't think his mom will let him attempt Timp for a few more years.
Tyler making the last pitch to the summit. He went the hard way.
Smile!
Kirby looking down the face wondering what the hell her masters are doing in a place like this.
Whitney posing for Cabela's Monthly. Miss August.
The happy couple at one of the upper Provo River falls.
And their offspring at one of the other falls.
Once you get tired of sitting by the fire, you play games.And finally, here's a bit of video from the weekend.
.
We'll definitely make more trips up there in the future. Believe it or not, but we forgot our fishing poles *doh*. Next time we're hitting the lakes... Brook trout beware!
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