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!!

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 - The UC

I'm plugging through my pictures - while we were there this summer we got to hang out with Auntie Nu, Uncle Max & Pia - Lucas even got to have a sleepover at Pia's grandma's house!

One day we went out there to have American McDonalds for the boys and we went to Kennedy Park (which was drug central when we grew up) but it is completely renovated and very fun. We got to meet up with an old friend - Karen S. (who married her high school sweetheart) and her very cute kids.

Her kids were about my 3 middle kids ages so they had a great time and made friends easily....

Here are our pictures of the 'hood...

California 09 Part deux - Utah too

We stayed in CA for just 5 days before heading out to Utah to visit Mike's family. I forgot to post this other picture of my cousin Emily holding Tristan when we visited my Grandpa John :)


Before we left I also got to go to dinner with my girlfriends....We went for Sozo Japanese - something I don't get very much of here in London.....

Michele, Christy, Me & Laura - Christy is my great friend that got to come visit us last Easter (and let us stay at her house!!) and Michele & Laura are coming this year at Thanksgiving!!! I cannot wait!







So then the next part of our journey commenced and we had to get onto another airplane. The one hour 45 min flight to SLC was a breeze! Except we felt more harried at the Oakland airport than we did at the International airports!

We got to Grandma & Grandpa Bob's house in Centerville and had a great time. We got to go to Lagoon, watch a 4th of July parade, fireworks, family parties - oh what fun!

4th of July and lots of glo sticks!

Uncle Ryan, Cman, & Mike ran in the Centerville 4th of July races - Chandler came in 10th for his 1 mile race - not sure about the old men ;)

Dad & Tristy Lu

New cousin Gabbie and Aunt Rachel

Lagoon - we went on the water rides first so we could "dry off" - little did we know we were in for a summer monsoon! It was freezing!

Me & my SIL Juliann

Mike and his old friend Brent

SIL Rachel, Tristy Lu, Gabbie & Me

We also had a fun BBQ - Mike's parents best friends have all been together for 60 years... their kids were like each others cousins so whenever they can we try to get everyone together. Amazingly all of the kids and grandkids were able to come to a BBQ
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So what started as this Six Pack, as they call themselves....

Became this group........

Then with spouses they created this......

And when we do come into town the kids all know who are cranes, gledhills or laytons and all have a great time together...now how fun is that?