****** Christmas Trip to D.C/ Virginia ******

December 20 - December 28 2008

We took a family trip with the Bladh side of the family during Christmas to Washington D.C. and Virginia. We saw some awesome historical sites... things that are only in pictures, that you think
are only in stories. It really brings our countries history to an amazing light. Our founding fore fathers really were guided by God in order to bring a country full of future and freedom.

We had a great time with all of the family in the 4 bedroom condo we stayed at in Virginia. Tyler and Elle get so much attention being they are the only 2 grand children in the family thus far.

The hard thing about this trip is it isn't young child friendly, don't go to Washington in the middle of winter, found out I don't want to be away from home during Christmas, count on not getting any sleep as long as Elle is in the same room as us, and bring lots of meds just in case your children get colds, stomach flu and ear infections since Tyler and Elle did. On a positive note, we missed our adjoining flight in Chicago because of weather so we should have had to stay 4 extra days in Chicago if some awesome person didn't bump us up over 111 people for standby and we made it home the next day.

Overall, it was a positive experience. One everyone should try at least once.

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Mt. Vernon - Washington's Home

No picture policy but you can see the house in back of us.

This is Washington's backyard. If you saw National Treasure 2 at President's birthday party... this is it! Awesome view.
Elle did a pretty good job with the lack of sleep she got. The night before she was up to 3:30am (because of travel) and then got up at 9am and didn't take a nap that day.
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Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial

No picture policy in the Pentagon. Kind of a boring tour, but the memorial site for 9-11 was really tender.


This is what I mean by don't go with little children in the middle of winter
Arlington Cemetery was one of those places that just makes me feel good about our country. Since it was so cold it was hard to really feel the reverence there, but it still had an impact on me. The rows and rows and rows and rows of tombstones. This is the unknown soldier site and the funeral services are held here.

The "Unknown Soldier" graves. Each tombstone represents a war and the unknown soldiers in that war. There is always (24/365) a soldier present to guard the tombs. He marches 21 steps in 21 seconds then stops and counts 21 seconds and resumes again. Amazing!
Lincoln Memorial was way different then I expected. Lincoln is way larger in person then you see in pictures.
Taken from Lincoln Memorial. Washington Monument in the background.
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Smithsonian, Capital Building and Library of Congress

This is the peak of the interior of the Capital Bldg. To give an idea of how high the peak is the people in the paintings are about 11 ft. in length. It is really cool in person.
In this room there is an individual statue for each state. Brigham Young represents Utah.

This is the original congress room. They of course wouldn't allow us to see the current room. But it looked really cool.


The exterior of the Library of Congress

Interior of the library. Amazing workmanship!
One of the Smithsonian Museums. Lots of fun stuff for kids.History of Transportation. Tyler loved all the trains.

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Christmas in Virginia

We made it the best we could. Santa came! And we played a family game of out door volleyball. (crazy, it was 65 degrees on Christmas when it was 25 degrees 2 days before in DC) But I might add it was very different and a little hard, but we were with family and that's what really counts.

Christmas Dinner - we did a pretty good job!

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The day before we left we visited Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It is 1 among the first towns settled in our country.

Below is the Governor's palace. Thomas Jefferson and other well known politicians lived here.

Tyler and Elle just loved running through this shrubbery maze behind the palace

Cute little orchard in the backyard of the palace.

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My favorite part of our vacation. We went to D.C. Temple and went inside for 45 min. while the older kids watched our kids. My parents were married there 33 years ago. Loved it!

Sorry to bore with everything but if I don't get to scrapbooking this will be my scrapbook!

We're back!

December 13, 2008

Chelsea Biggs took our family pictures at Corona Del Mar Beach. We had so much fun and really enjoyed the pictures. Chelsea is really good at fun candid pictures which are my favorite.

Salmon side Pictures
6 kids
4 married
12 grand children

Disneyland Trips

Our Family Trip to Disneyland

Josh finally took a half day at work to come with us
Too bad we had to leave early because Josh's knee hurt and my back hurt
It is really neat to see Elle enjoying herself at Disneyland now. She use to be overwhelmed by everything and everyone. She loves to go up and down on the merry-go-round and she loves flying in the rockets. We are so proud of her and the big stepping stones she has reached.
We love you Elle!

Waiting in the 15 min. line at Toy Story. Our new favorite ride. (Josh and mine)

Mr. Potato Head said,"hey you kid there in the blue shirt." Tyler looks down, see's his shirt, turns to me and says, "is he talking to me?" There really is a person behind it so you better be careful what you do in line. Someone is always watching!
Josh and Tyler getting ready

Our scores...
Josh 164,000
Erika 160,000
Tyler 60,000
Elle 0
(Elle, Sorry that we drag you on this ride)

My mom and I took the kids and cousins to Disneyland a couple of weeks ago.

Elle and I waited while the older kids went on Soarin' over California since the line was 5 min. long. She found this bubble maker and couldn't leave it alone.

Elle, Trey, Tyler, and Julia waiting for Jedi Training to start

Tyler was the last kid picked. I felt so bad because he was jumping up and down with his hand raised for 5 min. You could tell he was tired but he wanted to be picked so bad.

My camera is awful. After some photo repair this is all I got.
Tyler fighting Darth Vader.

Their official Jedi Training Certificates

There's no place like Disneyland!

Happy Halloween

We had a blast on Halloween. We did corn bread chili and the fixing at the Jorgenson's home About 10 families joined in. We did trick or treating around the neighborhood and we used Josh's parents huge screen and projected a movie for the kids to see in the backyard. It turned out to be really fun and a great way to get to know more people in our ward.
(Tyler, that was some really yummy hot chocolate!)


Elle would not sit still for a stinkin' picture so this is the best one we got. Sad... She was just so excited to be with so many kids.

Tyler had to be a Red Power Ranger. There was no other option. Surprisingly he didn't get lost with all of the other Red Power Rangers.

Tyler's preschool had a party and sang 3 Halloween songs. Tyler told us it was a surprise so he wasn't ever able to sing the songs when he was at home. I wish we had our video camera because he was so loud that it was kind of hard to hear the rest of the kids.

Elle loved all of the singing and was dancing away

Both Grandma's came to watch

We got these costumes given to us and Tyler had to dress up.

Elle didn't like it too much!

Tom's Farm

Yesterday we went to Tom's Farms to pick out a pumpkin. We had so much fun. However, it took us 20 minutes to pick out a pumpkin. Tyler just made us laugh along with other people looking for a pumpkin. Tyler would pick a pumpkin and then Josh would say alright is this the one you want to buy and then Tyler would say, "no, I think the one I want is over there," and then he'd run over to the other side of the pumpkin patch and look for another one. It took him at least 7-8 times of doing this until Josh convinced him that was the right pumpkin.
After the pumpkin patch we went and saw the animals. I was very surprised that neither one of my kids were scared by any of the animals. In fact they both were very willing to feed them. After the animals we ate at their BBQ and Mexican restaurant.
We had a great family outing!

About Prop 8

Lately all I have been able to think about is Prop 8 and the percussions it will have on my family and our posterity if it doesn't pass. I have family, friends, and acquaintances that either are gay or are in an opposing view as me on this proposition so I feel the strong necessity to write about it in my blog to inform those whom may not know what the prop is really all about.

If the proposition passes the constitution will be changed to marriage between a man and a woman is all that will be recognized in California. Therefore, 4 judges or high up politicians will not be able to change it again.
If the proposition doesn't pass then we will have to recognize gay marriage as legally and morally constitutional. This will not only change the definition of marriage. It will take away those people's rights who do not believe that gay marriage is morally or religiously right. This will lead to teaching it in schools (probably when they are taught about sex eduation, but will be able to be taught at even a younger age. Look at what's already happening in schools in Massachusetts's: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815825713). What scares me the most is that we may not even know that our children are being taught about it. Religious rights will also be taken away. Preachers, pastors, bishops, teachers, etc. will not be able to speak out about gay actions as being immoral and will have to marry same sex couples in order to get tax exemptions.

I am not one to be good with wording or creative writing. But I did want to proclaim what I feel is right and let all those who want to listen to know that I want to protect my marriage, my children's future marriage's and their rights to their own belief's.

VOTE YES ON PROP 8

Cruise #4 - Puerto Vallarta

We didn't do much in Puerto Vallarta, but we saw a Sam's club and Walmart close by. We did some shopping right off of the ship and then Josh and I got some really good and relaxing massages. It was a perfect, tropical setting with the white sheets all around you blowing in the wind, the distant sound of the ocean, and the smell of relaxation.
We had some great dining service. Our head waiter, waiter, and assistant waiter just loved our table. We had the best view of the ocean when we ate and the food was so yummy as you can tell by the tightness of our clothes by the 7th day.