Just like every year in my life...there were ups and downs in 2011. BUT the ups out did the downs for sure! I started out last New Years working a photo job for a man that was throwing his Mom a 60th birthday party but was still able to make it to be with my friends to watch the ball drop! Great way to start a fantastic year! I wanted to write a blog about all the fun adventures I went on this year....and of course I have to show you the adventures through pictures.....
Started out the year with a trip to Yosemite....
First stop...a barn on the side of the road
A blanket of snow had fallen the night before...making the park look magical.
We found a waterfall
This is the best view of Yosemite...AMAZING!
Next trip was to Colorado in March...had a great time visiting my brother and his family. We went to the zoo, butterfly pavillion, and had a great time with the kids!
That smile makes me happy!
Alex LOVED the merry go round!
Kristen bought Alex this shirt..says "My Aunt Rocks" :)
It's hard to leave the kids every time I come back home, but the memories I make when I am with them will last a lifetime!
Next big trip was Florida in April....I wanted to see Melissa and to take Gabe to Disney World. She drove and met us at Disney World for a few days. Loved seeing her...but it was so hot and humid that Gabe and I were melting in that southern heat.....so we would wake up early and get all the fun stuff done before the humidity got to bad...
We took the kids to dinner with the charactors on Easter Sunday!
Gabe thought it was the coolest thing to have pizza delivered to a hotel and eat in bed. It's the little things in life that make us happy!
French Ice cream...it was good but melted so fast from the heat!
After Disney World we went to Cape Canaveral...we were hoping to watch the shuttle launch but the changed it at the last minute. We did take the tours and see the shuttle on the launch pad. Gabe and I had lunch with an astronaut...which was our favorite part of that trip! The next day....off the Universal Studios. Gabe really wanted to see the Harry Potter park there. He was in HEAVEN...he loved it. We even had their special root beer! That day we took the long drive to Southern Florida where we went on a tour of an alligator farm. That was awesome! We even got to hold snakes and baby alligators. Cool experience!
Lunch with the astronaut. This was our favorite part of the NASA experience...not only was the food really good (we were so tired of fast food) but Gabe was able to ask her a question and we learned a lot! Gabe talked about this for a long time after!
Here is the shuttle ready to launch!
Gabe loves Harry Potter...This was a huge deal for him...we got butterbeer...
The alligators came right up to the boat...awesome!
They even let us hold the baby alligators and snakes.
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the southern most part of the U.S. It's the only place in America where you can get a sunrise and sunset picture on the same beach! We took the LONG drive down the Keys. Key West is beautiful and full of history. We had to stop and have key lime pie since we were there...and we did get a sunset picture...however there were to many clouds in the morning to get sunrise pictures!
Key West...Yah for sunsets!
He was so excited to eat Key Lime pie. He tried it...and then said it was gross...sad sad disappointment...obviously this picture is before he tired it. :)
This is the spot I wanted to go to. It was on my bucket list. I have now been to the southernmost tip of the U.S.
On our way back to Orlando we stopped at the Coral castle, Miami and a few other stops along the way...
We stayed the night in Ft Pierce. Florida. It was a very cute town.
This is the Coral Castle...a man spent his whole life building this place out of coral for the love of his life...she broke his heart and never moved in with him. Great story, huh!
Another amazing sunset in Florida
It was 12 days of lots of fun and new experiences!!!!
Next trip was with my girls again in Half Moon Bay and San Francisco!
We got matching superman shirts for the day!
Our romantic dinner cruise under the golden gate bridge. Best dates I have ever had!!!
All the couples were having their picture taken like this...so of course we did too!
We also took a "romantic" dinner cruise under the golden gate bridge. It was so fun....other than a nice guy that was with his nephew...we were the only ones that we not a "couple". Which made for some great people watching. :)
Next trip was Tahoe for 4th of July week!
Adam, Kristen and the boys came out to visit...
Such a handsome boy...
Golfing with my Dad and brother
Coop had a dragonfly land on him. He was so excited.
Some of my best memories as a kid was riding bikes with my brother in Tahoe...glad that my nephews and Gabe get to do the same...
We still have the same swing in the backyard....Coop loves to swing!
Kristen and I had matching shirts...but did know it...
When we took Cooper fishing he was more excited about playing with the worms than fishing. He kept saying, "They are cute lil fellows"
Cooper has an ear fetish....
How do you not fall in love with that sweet face!
Next trip was up to Volcano with Jess and Marcia again...
We decided to go up to Volcano and Indian Grinding Rock....I drove through in the spring when I went to Daffodil Hills. It seemed like a great place to take pictures but Indian Grinding Rock was just that...a big rock with holes. Not to exciting...and then Volcano was a cute town...just not a lot to take pictures of...we made do though. Had a great time at the bar up there and grubbed on food! They have a tradition at the bar up there to sign a dollar bill, then pin it on the wall....we did not want to break tradition!!! Even if our photo plans don't always pan out...we find something fun to do and make it a GREAT day!!!!
We kept ourselves entertained at indian grinding rock...
Time for some drinks and food at the bar in Volcano
In September I flew down to Southern California to visit Chontel and her family. All three of their kids are my Godchildren and I love spending time with them...they are awesome little people!
We took the gondola up the mountain in Palm Springs. It was a scary ride since Chontel and I are afraid of heights...but so worth it once we got up there...
Our tour guide...Chontelllleeee
We felt like we were on top of the world
Next stop...Colorado again...this time Adam and Kristen left me alone with the kids for the first time while they vacationed in Mexico. I had so much fun with the kids...took them to the zoo a couple of times, wildlife experience, butterfly pavilion, and went to ride Thomas the train. I look forward to every moment I have with my nephews...this was one of my favorite times so far!
Thomas the Train...the kids LOVED it!
We baked cookies...I think the boys just wanted to lick the spoons though!
Spent a couple days at the zoo...Cooper was able to feed the birds. He was so excited!!!!
We also went to the aquarium. The sting rays splashed Cooper...he said that means they love him.
What's better than a picnic in the living room????
Maybe a big blue Slurpee...
I love that they love each other!
The day after I got home from Colorado, Marcia and I left for Virgina City, Nevada. It was a fun trip...we got lost (even with a GPS) saw an awesome lightning storm from the top of a mountain...and did our usual singing and dancing on the long car ride!
OK...this is where we got lost...I stopped and took a picture of the sign...1st clue. My GPS kept saying "re-calculating route" 2nd clue... and there was NO ONE in sight, 3rd clue....yep...I can get lost ANYWHERE!!!
All the way up to Virginia city there were signs saying that you had to see the "famous suicide table". I thought it was going to be mesmerizing....NOPE...just a table.
Thought this was awesome...looks like baby Jesus giving the peace sign. Stopped in the rain to get this picture!
We drove to North Shore Tahoe and sat on this dock and drank coffee...so relaxing!
Last trip of the year was up to the wine country to do a segway tour. We had this planned since we got the groupon in the spring. I admit...I had a mixture of excitement and nerves. We all know that I have a history of hurting myself doing "nothing". Soooooo...when it comes to activities where i may break another bone...there is a part of me that is like, "maybe I will go sit at the bar and have a drink while you take that adventure." Despite my nerves...I climbed on and took the adventure. Other than the ducshbag that was included in our group that keep trying to make dangerous maneuvers...it was great. (yes...I did tell the duschbag "I don't like you, you scare me." I know it sounds juvenile but it was a total reaction at the time. :) ) Now...I am a segway junkie. Once you go segway, you don't go back!!!
Just in case you want to know which one is the "ducshbag"...It's the guy right next to Marcia.
We laughed so much and had a great time!
All the segways parked as we wine tasted.
I am so blessed in life...I have amazing people to share it with and have opportunities to go on so many adventures. I love and live life to the fullest! I want to see as many places, experience as many things and meet as many new people in my life as I can...
2011 was an awesome year...here is to 2012 being just as great...if not better!
