Great America Goodbye

FINALLY I've come to the end of my American Vacation pictures - The last week was a whirlwind... all in all we stayed in 5 different houses - one house 2 different times - one hotel, 4 airplanes, went to 3 different states and had a great time. We're so blessed to have such great friends - the Amoses had us stay with them at first, the Beans went to NYC and girls camp so we got to stay in their house and then again watching Ian's bff - Jared. Our other neighbors the Monks let us stay at their house when they went to Australia! It all ended up being a great trip away - which at first I was really quite anxious about. It all worked out - the kids spend most days (and nights!) with their friends.

But the last week we went to Great America amusement park - we went with my friends Laura & Tamara - we had 14 children with us but had a great time! We basically had 3 groups - the teenagers (13+), the in between boys (6-10) and Lucas (oh and the two infants). It wasn't crowded so the kids got to go on plenty of rollercoasters!


Ms. Laura & Tristy-Lu



In front of the famous double decker merry-go-round


All the kiddies


Ms. Laura's grandbaby - Lilly & Tristy-Lu

Finally the day came for us to head back to England. We were smart and took the 7PM flight so we didn't need to leave until 4pm so we got to say goodbye to all our neighbors and friends that stopped by. We even got in a last minute swim in Judy's beautiful pool!

The car service we used made me slightly nervous - I took all 5 kids on the airplane by myself - Mike couldn't come back to visit and ride back home with us - we did well however -

The car service called the night before and said how they weren't sure if they were going to send a van - I was a bit nervous - I said well, we have 6 people, 9 pieces of luggage, stroller & babyseat - we all had carry-on backpacks.

They sent us a Stretch Limo...the kids quite enjoyed it....


We turned on the neon lights in the bar for them - but he got all our luggage in the car....

The kids did great - they changed our seats so my original plan was shot - but in the end it worked out well. They all ate their dinner then slept the whole night - Tristan was on my lap for the whole time, I dozed but it was hard because she would wake up.

We got out, the kids got their bags - helped each other and Mike was there with our car and a taxi to pick us up. It took us a week to get over jet-lag - much longer than last year - but we planned well and had nothing else to do really.

So we had a wonderful 5 week vacation - now on to real lilfe!!

Smiths last night in CA

Here are some photos of the Smith's last night in California - it was an end to an era for sure!!

California 09 - Pictures worth 1000 Words

One fabulous advantage of our trip home - everyone wants to see you (and you want to see them!) We had BBQs, swim parties, restaurants, playdates - we were busy and had lots of fun with our friends & family! Good times!


Lunch with my brother Gavin

My very old friend Barbara

Parisis

Tristan & Teri

Family: Manda Moo, AG & Doni

Nu, Barbara & Me - old roomies :)

Miss Megan & Mashton

Pia & Lucas

Matt & Ian

All the Great grandkids with Yea Yea

Cman

Neen, Tristy-Lu, Ty

Regency Street Kids

Miss Cathy & Tristy-Lu

Kindergarten Buddies - now big 5th graders Cman, Tricia, Robbie

Teri, Beth, Me, Tristy-Lu, Kathy

SIL Sandra & Me

Lucas at Chuck E's

Ms. Laura & Me

Duncan, Andrew & Cman

California 09 - Vegas Baby

In the middle of July time was well spent by driving to Vegas to my parents house - we dragged along my Auntie Karen to help us in the car with the kiddies. Tyler went to Girl's camp with her friends so it was me, the boys and Tristy-Lu.

Tyler got to spend a few days at my friend Laura's house - Thanks Ms. Laura!! So we could go to Vegas and come back when we needed. Technically this picture is of when Tyler returned - but since we left before her it's all I had...



Many of her friends from school went to camp - I was only able to get these few with my camera. We had about 6 non-member girls going to our church Girl's Camp this year. It was terrific! Our camp is not like others - adults have to kind of be on the "in" list to be able to go with the girls. They do rock repelling, water skiing, tubing, hikes, sleep in cabins, the food is AWESOME, fabulous crafts - they do it all! One day I may be able to go - we'll see.



Before we went to vegas we had a small family bbq at my cousin Suzy's house. Here is a picture of Tristan and Moeshe - my cousin's valentine baby...(and cousin ms. megan in the background_

Vegas - did many things - the weather was hot, but not as hot as I have been to in previous years.. . we saw 2 movies (I saw 3, I finally got to see Star Trek! Loved it!) - we saw Harry Potter and Ice Age 3, went bowling, out to eat, finally shopped for school clothes, and went to the Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay....




Fishing for Sting Rays


Chandler got one!




Ian in Brian Gau Gau's glasses


Lucas & Annie


Cman on Lucas' new DS (Pau Pau spoiled him)


Annie & Pau Pau


Ian, Gung Gung, Tristy-Lu, Lucas

We had a lot of fun with my parents, brother and Auntie Karen - it was a great visit and we had a lot of fun. I got to learn or remember lots about my Auntie Karen in the car and the kids got to spend fun time with their great aunt.

My parents have lived in vegas now for 10 years - it is amazing to think time has flown by so fast! We had a great trip there - and I'm glad we went because otherwise my parents wouldn't have been able to spend a lot of time with the kids if we didn't make it down this summer.

I'm getting closer to finishing my Great American trip - so much to cover in the last 3 weeks here at home!

California 09 - Tristan Red Egg & Ginger

Yes I'm still doing my summer catch up - Here are more pictures of our summer escapades - we had dinner at our friends house and got to meet their new baby Joshua - they actually live across the street from us in Ptown - and my next door neighbor also had a new baby as well - Sam - so on our street we have 3 cute new babies within the same year - sadly we aren't there for good playdates!





We had a Red Egg & Ginger Party for Tristan while we were in CA as well - What is a Red Egg & Ginger party you ask? Well - in Chinese culture after a woman has a baby you are supposed to stay cooped up indoors for 30 days after you have it - after the one month has passed they have a party with yummy food for good luck,prosperity and health for the mother and the baby. Good and bad - I don't eat the normally specially prepared pickled pigs feet for the mother to restore bone marrow/blood - after my first baby I gave it to my mom - the others I asked to not have to eat it!


We had lots of family and friends come to the party - sadly I only got a few pictures of Tristan - mind you that normally a baby is one month old - so they normally sleep and are passed around - well since Tristan is 7 months old - and needed a nap, she was a bit more clingy to mom than normal and wasn't expecting all of these people to come see her.

Mike couldn't stay for the party - he had to go back to the UK - but my dad was able to come up in between work from Vegas - my mom drove up separately. Mike's parents flew in for the weekend to be here for the special day also! We're very blessed.

Normally for baby parties the babies (and sometimes the mom) gets lots of gold and jade swag - babies are usually weighed down with jewelry - but alas - along with the whole pig's feet tradition going by the wayside - so are my gold and jade allocation, probably also because she's not 100% Chinese because you usually have sides competing who can give the most, but not in these economic times! But she did get the traditional Crane Baby bracelet that my grandpa john & grandma started - it's 24K gold with her name on it - it's very special to us.

Yes - this is a whole pig - and it is Delish!!

My whole family and 2 grandpas!

Tyler's buds

Lucas & Pia

Linda squatting - I think she was 7 feet tall that day with her heels!

Tammy, Me & Nu - HS buds

Linda, Me, Rachel, Grace - my long time Fremont friends

Lucas & Hayden - BFF

I'm getting closer to August!