Dear Anheuser-Busch,

6/10/08

We (as in my family) don't drink your alcohol but thanks for supporting us (as in all military families) with free admission into Sea World.

Love, Shauna

We spent a couple nights with Justin's aunt Connie in San Diego on the way to Monterey. When we visited Sea World, our big-headed moment was at the first Shamu show of the day when they had all the military (past/present) and their families stand to be recognized.

Only in California...

...will the recycling barrel be bigger than the one for trash.

That thing is tiny and gets filled up in 2 days tops.

I'm going to start recycling diapers and see how they feel about it.

I knew you were dying to see our trash cans.

PS I'm copying Brent & Errin's "Only in Mexico" idea

No Words

This is how much paper they used to pack one glass.

Apparently our glassware was packed better
than our entertainment center.

It showed up with a broken door
(and not at the hinges)
(and not the door Owen (or Drew?) broke in NC).

Also, our vacuum is mysteriously missing.

We will be compensated for our losses
but it will be a hassle and a pain in the booty.

I don't like hassles. Or pains in the booties.

But I do like my Internet!

Isn't She A Beauty?

Obviously not... But this house is all about location.

And compared to a hotel room for a month it's a mansion.

We moved in last Tuesday (waiver took FOREVER to get signed), got our stuff yesterday, and Internet TODAY.

I'm a happy girl.

101 Things to Do in a Hotel

Get ice in the bucket

Play at the playground

Watch movies (not TV cause there are no kids' channels, not even PBS!)

Fight over who gets to open the door from the inside (Owen & Drew)

Fight over who gets to open the door using the card from the outside (Owen & Drew)

Fight over who gets to do laundry (Justin & me... anything to get out of the room!)

Go to the pool (just discovered an indoor one with a kiddie area across the street)

6/23 - Sally's first swim

Take turns at the computer in the lobby (10 cents a minute is adding up!)

Walk to the mini mart

Get soda and treats from the vending machine


Wait... that's only 10 things.

We have been seeing a lot of cool stuff though so we don't go too stir crazy. And we got together w/my cousins Chad & Cherisse's family a couple times.

And the end of the hotel is in sight! The house near Justin's school SHOULD work out for us to rent (move-in date is July 3). I say SHOULD because what are the chances that the home owner is the dean of Justin's school? It's a base policy that deans can't rent to students (conflict of interest/could look as he's playing favorites) so we're in the process of getting a waiver signed to allow us to still rent his home.

Oh and we were so close to getting scammed in this whole house searching thing! We've been looking at Craig's List and I found a home that was awesome... newly remodeled, decent size, good neighborhood for less than anything else we could find and even included utilities. I was emailing the "home owner" back and forth for a few days... he was in China doing missionary work and was looking for someone to rent his home while he was away. There were so many fishy things and warning signs like he wanted me to Western Union him the deposit, THEN he'd courier the house keys to us at the hotel. He even called to ease my fears about me not meeting him or seeing the house. I wanted so bad for it to work out so I was ignoring warning signs. Luckily we drove by the house (a 2nd time with Justin... I was alone the first time) and a guy was working in the driveway. We pulled over to talk to him and found out this guy is a total scam. A few other families had driven by too and one had even sent him the money ($1500)! He's been reported to the police but they can't do anything about it cause he's in China and it's over over the Internet. SO glad we never sent the money.

Homeless

We're here!

But not really... still homeless.

There is not even a chance we might get the new military housing. It's so full and nobody has even put in a 30-day notice that they're leaving. We looked at the old military housing today and I started crying when I saw the kitchen. Seriously.

We found one house near where Justin will be going to school that we're hoping works out. But it won't even be available until July 4. So we might be living in this hotel until then. Ah!

But Monterey is cool. So much to do, see, eat, shop. I don't know where to start.

So I'm not complaining!

But if I were you I wouldn't check my blog for at least a week... I won't have our comp to download pictures until who knows when?!

Generations

Always a sucker for the generational pic.

Justin's grandpa is about to turn 93!!!

Welcome Home?

So Justin's brother Brett came home from his mission Wednesday...

It was such a happy occassion.

But then he did this to Drew at a celebration in his honor:

So I'm pretty sure he can go back to Mexico.

Him and his maracas.

Ghetto Jacuzzi

Seriously... name any random thing and my dad probably has it somewhere in the backyard.

The jacuzzi was given to him from a guy at work who was upgrading... hmmm wonder why?

The heat pump doesn't work so it's a play pool for summer.

Qui-Gon Who? Jabba the What?

The weirdest thing came out of my mouth the other day...."I think I want to watch Star Wars."

The only cool thing about me is that I haven't watched any one of the 6 Star Wars movies. They were always such a turn-off. But I can't help it, Owen's addiction is contagious! Who knows how he got hooked, Justin's not die-hard but he's seen them at least. And when I said I was ready to start watching he & my mom started debating if I should start with #4 like the rest of the world or watch them in order. I think #4 won.

Now for Owen & Drew vs. Weird Al

Holding Sally

Pappa 5/24


Nonnie 5/25

Cousin Briant 5/26

Grandpa 5/26


Great Grandma 5/26


Cousin Jones 5/30


Aunt Tami 6/1


Cousin Emma 6/1


Cousin Brook 6/1


Aunt Rachel 6/2

Uncle Brett 6/7

Aunt Bethany 6/7


Grandma 6/8


And lots more I didn't get pictures of. She gets around.

Root Beer Bong

This is also how we are on a Sunday after church (last Sunday):

My brothers Brent versus Derek.

Belly Shirts and Boogers

This is how we are on a Sunday after church.

Here are ALL 13 of my parents' grandchildren.

Clockwise starting with Sally: Brook (Tami/Jay), Max (Karen/Jared), James (Tami/Jay), Janna (Tami/Jay), Jones (Brent/Errin), Briant (Karen/Jared), Abbey (Tami/Jay), Lilly (Tami/Jay), Emma (Tami/Jay), Bob (Tami/Jay), Drew, Owen

Some Awards

Best Way to Start a Trip

Owen & Drew with cousin Tristan in Greensboro NC, May 15

Paul & Robyn's house... just relaxed and recovered from all that hard work moving (well the cleaning part was hard). Got to meet new baby Griffin and celebrate Tristan's birthday.

Cutest Bums

Kirtland, OH, May 17

Standing in front of Newel K. Whitney's Mill and Ashery. So pretty there.

Best Temple in Ohio

Kirtland OH Temple, May 17

Really, I just like this picture and couldn't think of what award it should get. Ooh Justin gets the best driver award... he drove the ENTIRE time (at least 4,000 miles).

Funnest to Pass on the Road

Shipshewana, Indiana, May 17

Amish country. We decided to stay there spur of the moment cause we were fascinated by it. We timed it all wrong though because it was a Saturday night after everything was closed. They keep the Sabbath more holy than the Mormons - we couldn't taste their food or shop their handcrafted items. It was fun falling asleep to the sound of horse hoofs on the road. I want to go back and be Amish for a week!

Best Traveler

Nauvoo, May 18

Did not make a peep the whole time in the car unless she was hungry.
11 states in her 2 1/2 months of life: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona.

Best Caged Animal Impression

Carthage Jail, IL, May 20

He had a rough time in the car. "We're almost there" means nothing to him anymore.

Wouldn’t Have Made it Without

Nauvoo, May 19

Troy was so good with the kids and easy to be around. He kept Owen entertained in the back and never complained about anything, not even the caged animal.

Biggest Ripoff Souvenir

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

Tin whistle: $14.25 at Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store in Nauvoo.
Dollar store quality.
It is the least annoying whistle I've ever heard, though.

Best Covered Wagon

Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs, Iowa, May 21

Not that covered wagon, this one:

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

This is where the pioneers left Nauvoo, crossing the river with their covered wagons.
Even with a car, this trip had its rough moments.

Can't imagine doing it in a real covered wagon.
And you can make fun of us for a) taking a picture of our car and b) getting a roof box

Best Ancestor Connection

Nauvoo, May 20

Researching my pioneer ancestors at the Land & Records Building in Nauvoo... locating the land of my 4th great grandpa, Lyman Curtis. His land, where I'm standing, is right on the Trail of Hope where the pioneers left Nauvoo across the Mississippi River. You can see the Nauvoo Temple in the background.

Best Meltdown

Winter Quarters, Nebraska standing in front of the Omaha Temple and cemetary, May 21

This picture makes me laugh because we (and by "we" I mean Owen, Drew, and me) were so done with visitor's centers at this point. We didn't even have it in us to check out the Temple grounds and cemetary. The Mormons can make a mean Visitor's Center but we saw a lot of them and it takes a lot of energy to get 2 boys who have been cooped up in a car and hotel rooms for way too long to be quiet and interested in things they care nothing about. The senior and sister missionaries that were our tour guides were awesome and did their best with us.

Best Surprise Weather

May 22

We drove through all sorts of weather: wind (crazy tumbleweeds going across the road), heavy rain, cold, fog (could only see a couple feet in front of us), and this snow in Wyoming. We'll get the heat here in AZ.

Best Grandparents Serving a Mission in SLC

Standing on the observation deck of the Church Office Building, where Grandpa & MarJean serve in the translation department, May 23

It made me so happy to a) finally get to Salt Lake and b) see familiar faces

Best Distraction

May 23

Finally something Owen & Drew liked! The dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. We met Justin's sister, Ashley, and her kids there for the afternoon.

Worst Lodging

May 24

This is NOT the Four Seasons hotel I had in mind. Our worst hotel (and most expensive) by FAR. Everything in Kanab, UT was sold out... but one nice woman volunteered the apartment in the back of her Four Seasons Motel that wasn't being rented at the moment. I booked it over the phone cause it would be midnight when we got there and we couldn't go any further. WOW. The place stunk, and not the stink you can get used to. Owen & Drew's room had no door (notice it propped against the back wall). The door to our room had a hole punched in it. There was electrical tape sealing the edges of the shower/bathtub (which we didn't dare use). I had to sing primary songs in my head to fall asleep.

Good-bye

The military hired movers for us...we just directed traffic. Or played video games.

They were fast! They packed half-eaten boxes of cereal and who knows what else before we could set it aside. So we'll be looking forward to some stale food in a month

Have I mentioned I hate saying good-bye lately? Can't even say bye to a house without crying!

Travel Plans

KNITTING

A Hollobaugh family friend, Jen Truscott, taught me how to knit right after Justin & I were married and I totally loved it. For my first knitting project I did a blanket that was supposed to be big enough for a queen bed. It was a mess. Holes everywhere. And sized all weird. It might've fit 2/3 of a queen bed. So I took a knitting class at The Fiber Factory in downtown Mesa and loved that, too. Then I made baby blankets for my nephews Briant and Bob. Brent got a sexy scarf for his mission in Mexico but it wasn't that cool cause he gave it away. Then I just stopped knitting, who knows why. But I took it back up again a couple weeks ago to keep me busy for the 50+ hours we'll be on the road.

READING

John Steinbeck is from the Monterey area and this book takes place there. The book was a gift from my mom for Justin, but I'll probably be the one reading it and I'll tell him about it.

And I'll get to knit and read while traveling with 3 kids thanks to our secret weapon, Justin's brother Troy:

Tomorrow the movers come to pack up the house.

Tuesday they load everything up.

Then we get to clean and clean some more.

Then we'll leave whenever everything is all clean.

We're going through Greensboro first to say good-bye to Paul & Robyn. Then to Kirtland, OH to see church sites. On to Nauvoo, IL for the same thing. From there we'll follow the Mormon Pioneer Trail across the country down through Salt Lake. We'll go to AZ for a couple weeks to see family. THEN in 3ish weeks we'll be in Monterey.

I'm Feeling Lucky

I always click on the "I'm feeling lucky" Picasa tab when I'm editing pictures to see if it makes the pictures better or worse. Usually it makes outdoor pictures better and indoor ones worse. But that's besides the point. What I'm trying to describe, but not very well, is that even before I started editing pictures last night I was feeling lucky. Then when I opened up Picasa it read my mind and made me laugh. Oh man I butchered that but hopefully you got the point.

Above is my favorite picture of the week. Not the best quality picture but what happened is my favorite. Sally was fussy so I asked Owen to make her happy while I was getting ready for bed. He laid by her and held her binky in (she always spits it out) and they both fell asleep that way.

And this is my other favorite picture:
This was on the front of my Mother's Day card from Justin. Rarely does a picture get taken around here without me knowing about it. It made my Raisin Nut Bran (that Justin went to FOUR different stores to find) and smoothie taste even better than normal. This was my breakfast request... cold cereal I know but we have 9am church!

Happy Mother's Day!