Summer reading list

Help! I need some good books to take on my trip. Anyone know of some good summer beach books I can read? I am SO ready for this vacation...let the countdown begin cuz soon I will be here...
Has anyone ever been to Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas? Any must-sees/dos I should know about?

P.S. Now that I've had some time to let things soak in after seeing Pirates 3, I have decided that I am a fan.

P.P.S. I also have decided that it is a good thing the Jazz lost last night and will not be going to the NBA finals. My dad would go nuts if we were out in the middle of the ocean with no way to watch the finals. I have been on vacation with him before when the Jazz were in the finals and he had his headphones on listening to the games everywhere we went. Needless to say, his mind was not focused on the task at hand--including driving--and he would whoop and holler when something exciting in the game happened. This was rather awkward when it just happened to be at the same time we were trying to rent a car or eating dinner or at the flea market or something.

World traveler

create your own visited country map

According to this lovely map generator, I have visited a whopping 6% of the countries in the world. On the top of my list of places I would like to visit are...Tahiti, the British Isles, Greece, and Italy. However, when opportunities arise I must take them. My friend April is moving to China for a year, so I think a trip to China will move its way to the top of the list. When else might I have the opportunity to know someone who lives in China who could show me around? Seize the day!



create your own personalized map of the USA

Within the country I've done a bit better (82% of the states in the Union). Since my dad was in the army when I was growing up and we moved around a lot, we took advantage of wherever we were living and made an effort to see the surrounding sights. And driving across the country 4 times helps you see the country too! One of the funnest trips was when my mom and I drove out to Atlanta and back (a year apart!) and stopped to see all the cool things along the way. On the top of my list of things I have yet to see in the U.S. are Mount Rushmore, Churchill Downs (the home of the Kentucky Derby), Austin, the Everglades, and Chicago.

What's on the top of your travel wishlist?

Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

In preparation for Pirates 3 that is coming out this weekend, we had a pirate pre-party. Emma is the bomb! I think she loves throwing theme parties even more than I do. They had everyone "become" a pirate when they first came in. They had to choose a pirate name, put on some pirate tattoos, facial hair and sashes, and wear an eye patch.

They named all the food after things from the movie like Commadoritos, Norring Dip, Elizabeth Swalad, Jack Sparr-scones, Davey Bones, Aztec Gold and more. We had a treasure hunt in which we perfected our compass reading skills, and had a treasure chest pinata that was full of fabulous pirate goods.

Of course we had to build a big bonfire and dance around it drinking 'rum' and throw ourselves onto the sand. What a great party! Let's just hope Pirates 3 is any good...cuz Pirates 2 sure wasn't!

Firsts of the season

This week I had my first Slurpee of the season! You know it's time for summer to start when you get a Slurpee craving. Nothing says bring on the summer like a nice cold Slurpee from your local 7-11. I just want to know what happened to all the original flavors like grape and cherry and blue raspberry. Anyway, I also went on my first hike of the season and did my first yard work session of the season, climbed my first tree of the season and went on the second motorcycle ride of my life. Here's to summer...I love it!

We had our ward talent show this weekend. It was great fun. I never knew I was surrounded by such talented folk like 90s rappers, Irish jiggers, glow stick experts, swing dancers, song maker uppers, and the like. I did my annual ward talent show hula and dragged Rachael into hulaing with me...she is awesome!

She was such a hula pro! Hawaii here we come. Happy Mother's Day to my fantastic Mom today. I love you! Does anyone want to do a triathlon with me the first weekend in August?

Where a kid can be a kid

So last night, my friend Shawn and I went to Chuck E. Cheese. As we were sitting there enjoying our pizza and singing along with ChuckE and the gang, the little girl at the table next to us decides to befriend us. She waves at us and just starts chatting away and proceeds to tell us all about her pizza and her favorite games in the arcade. Then she motions for us to follow her so she can show us the “dinosaur game”. Intrigued by the whole thing, we get up from our table to go check out this famous dinosaur game.

It turns out to be this monster truck ride thing, and she climbs in and insists that I ride in it with her. So I squeeze myself into this truck made for 4-year-olds and “ride the dinosaur”. It was great fun. Then she takes us all around the arcade and teaches us how to play all the good games. We pretty much rocked at Chuckee’s Duckies and the Smokin’ Token. Her parents asked her if she’d adopted a new family. There was also this one thing like a photo booth where you sit there while it sketches your picture. It is so dang awesome!!! So here we are with Emeritus, our fantastic new little 5-year-old friend. Oh, and we won some fabulous star-shaped glasses and ChuckE playing cards that are so cool! Here’s to Chuck E. Cheese!

A little taste of heaven

Has anyone ever tried an Aero chocolate candy bar? Well if you haven't, you are missing out big time. My friend went to Canada over the weekend and brought me one of these delectable treats. I'd never had one before and it seriously was one of the best chocolate bars I have ever tasted in my entire life! Definately in the top 5 candy bars of all time. What is it with foreign candy being so much more tasty?