Tokyo

47 hours in Japan

Last September my friend from Naomi and I started talking about going to Japan for a day. We had the trip planned out, and then some things came up and we were not able to go. In February I started getting the bug to go again and started looking at the flights. We found the dates in March that we could get off, and then it became an open invitation to those who wanted to go. So it was 5 of us from my department at work on a girls trip. We flew through LAX both ways on a double decker plane.I have to say one of the best things about my job is the fact that I get to fly in Business class if space is available. We made sure it was on all of these flights cause it was 13 hours going there from LA, and 11 coming home, even though I liked Japan, I loved the flights. Having my own chair that lays flat, my own TV to watch anything I want and a menu with a 5 course meal. You feel so pampered. Just writing about it makes me want to jump on another international flight.
We arrived in Narita (about an hour away by train from Tokyo)at 4pm and left two days later at 3pm. My friend Rachel got us a great hotel right by the airport in Narita Japan that we stayed at for two nights. The first night we just hung around Narita, and then the next day we took the train into Tokyo. We saw some beautiful gardens with plum blossoms, took a cool boat ride and then saw a cool Japanese Temple. We went the Tokyo's "Time Square", and then back to the hotel. On thing that surprised us all was that we saw so many people wearing these face masks. I guess if you are sick you have to wear them. Well I found some in a vending machine in the Subway, so we thought we would try and fit in. I then took the best picture of my friend Lexi in a Japeanse toilet, only to find out later that she was standing the wrong way. 5 crazy moms is all I can say :)
That morning Rachel and I took the hotel shuttle to a mall in Narita and walked around a bit and then we were on our way back to the airport. Short trip, but super cool. Who can say then went to Tokyo for 47 hours? Oh, me and 4 of my friends. The cool benefits of working for Delta.

Austin goes to Austin

***This is a post I had saved as a draft, cause I need the pics to post with it***

So one of the best things I have ever done since I began my "time" (that makes it sound like prison...well right now it somewhat feels like it) at Delta is take Austin to Austin Texas. I think that I mentioned he has wanted to go since he saw his name on the map. Well Scott had a Thursday off work, and so we decided to surprise him with a quick trip. I woke him up early and told him he was "Daddy Day" (which is usually Fridays) and that we were going to go do something fun. We got in the car, and he asked what day it was, I told him January 7th, and then he said, but what day of the week? I then told him it was Thursday and he was going to get two "Daddy Days" that week.

One of Austin's favorite things is Thai Chicken Pizza at California Pizza Kitchen (although to him it is Peanut Pizza)in the airport. So as we were driving down to Salt Lake I told him I wanted a "peanut pizza". We get to the parking lot and he still didn't have a clue, but I had told him there was a suprise. As we were getting out of the car I told him his surprise was the whole family was going to go on a trip. He was so excited...and we hadn't even told him yet where the trip was to. When we got our boarding passes I showed him his name, and then I showed him the destination. It took him a minute, but once he realized what it was, he was SOOO excited and kept saying " You are the best mom and dad ever! I love you soo much." The flight was about an hour delayed and he was going crazy. As we began to land he looked out and was so happy to see Austin Texas. As we walked through the airport and he saw his name everywhere, it was so dang cool. I don't think I have ever been that excited for a trip. He told everyone we met that he was in Austin cause his name is Austin. I got a great hotel on Priceline called the Omni. They totally catered to kids and were so dang nice. I was just impressed all around with the people in Austin.

Before the trip Austin would get on www.austin.org and look at pictures. We decided to go to a restaurant that we saw on the website called the "County Line". Aussie actually ate ribs. When I say "ate" he really did. I don't think he has ever eaten that much. After dinner we went back to the hotel so he could go swiming. We were in Austin from 3:30 pm to 6:45 am. Such a short time, but yet I really loved it there. The drive to the restaurant was beautiful and I really liked Texas, Austin wants to go back which hopefully we will

Gotta catch up...a few pics for now

So hard to catch after 3+ months of not posting. So many reasons, but let me just say from the end of February to the first of May it seems I was always up in the air (the "normal" person would say always on the road...)a brief list of cities, if I can remember them all and then I will post some pics in the next few days. Phoenix with the boys and my friend from work and her daughter, Girl trip to Japan for 47 hours, Disneyland, Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York City, and then a cruise for my 40th birthday with my Ricks College friends. Things are slowing down now, in a sense with the end of school coming that is crazy, and hard for me to believe Aussie will be done with kindergarten :( So here are recent pics of the boys. The one of them together I took so I had on my camera while I was on the cruise, the one of Brocky is right after he got his hair cut about 2 weeks ago. He looks so grown up!

Hopefully in the next few days I will get some cool pics up of our adventures...

New Years Day

Mess!

The oatmeal got spilled and before I knew it, the boys were playing in it. I figured at that point, there was already a mess, so why not let them have fun :)

Christmas pics

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe it has been 2 months since I posted. I thought once the holidays were over I would get my act together, hasn't happened yet. I guess I am hoping for February, but with the amount that I have been working lately that is not looking possible.

We had a great Christmas, and the boys were soooo cute. I was able to get off Christmas Eve, and we went to McGraths for dinner. That was what we did on Ethan's last Christmas Eve, and we have done it almost every year since. It is important to me to do things we did with him and honor his memory. I had to work Christmas night, so Scott took the kids to Logan to see his mom. I thought last year was the best Christmas, this one topped it. I am sure that is just the begining...

New Years Eve was spent with our great next door neighbors...the kids had a blast, and we had great food. We tried some new things, some worth getting again, others not so much. New Years Day we went up to the cabin and spent the night. We had a great time hanging out with Vicki and Kids, Yod and kids, and Ry and Brit and Jailee. The sledding hill at the cabin is awesome, and Austin and Tate did not stop. Scott is a great dad and spent the whole day outside with them.

Ok...so that is the holidays in a nutshell...I will post on the rest of the month in a few.

Las Vegas girls trip!

I was able to go Vegas with my 2 sisters, 2 of my sister in laws and 1 niece. We had a great time and did lots of Christmas shopping. Ok, I will rephrase that and say Brittany and Vicki did a lot of shopping. Just kidding. We were able to go to the Donny and Marie Show for free! If anyone wants to know how...just ask me...It was a great show and lots of fun to go to. Nice little trip getting away and hanging out with the girls. Thanks gals for a great little get away!!

Vegas!