So, after leaving Havasu, I zoomed down the 40 and headed East toward New Mexico.  It was a pretty uneventful drive, with the exception that I realized I hate truck drivers.  My biggest apologies if any of my readers out there happen to have this profession- my grandfather happened to drive rig for several years…HOWEVER…it seemed as though  between Lake Havasu and Albuquerque, on every hill- there seemed to be a slow semi passing an even slower semi, leaving us normal folk going 35 uphill behind two slow semis.  It wasn’t once or twice…EVERY hill….

Well, we got back and headed over to Shawn and Jessica Dickman’s home.  Quick intro:  Wayne went to college with them, they live in the Querque and have 3 adorable children- Brody (5 years), Cort and Ella (3 year old twins).   Other college friends, Paul and Kathy Ruckel were driving through Albuquerque and we all decided to get together.  Another quick intro:  Wayne went to school with Paul and Kathy as well; for those of you that were at our wedding, they were in it (Paul read a passage, I think?) and they have 2 adorable kiddos Claire (5 years) and Jay (4 years).   We haven’t seen Paul and Kathy since I was pregnant with Jacob- so it was a big deal to hang out last night!  It was wonderful to see them and let all the kids play.  We had such a good time, that we got up early and all had breakfast together before the Ruckels left for their camping trip in Colorado.

We got to Havasu Thursday afternoon and the kiddos were in Aunt Kay and Uncle Nick’s pool within 5 minutes of our arrival!  It was toasty hot out there- just the way I like it!  On Friday, we took out the Party Barge- and met up with Eddy and Kathy, friends of the fam.  It was a beautiful day out on the lake!  The kiddos had a blast- Jacob loved the big squirt gun and playing with his cousins John David, Austin and Big John.   Caitlyn loved playing mermaid- she was either Mermaid Ariel or Mermaid Tasha and I had to be whichever one she wasn’t at that given moment.  She loved climbing up on Eddy and Kathy’s boat to pet their 3 little dogs.   She got a little spooked about swimming in the lake after Eddy caught two decent-sized catfish…but after awhile and lots of reassurances that they were far out in the “deep parts”, she was back to her swimming.

It was tough to leave, especially after such a wonderful day out on the water.  BUT- we had to get up early Saturday to head back to the Querque!

Here are some more pics- off my mom’s camera and then from our second day at Disneyland….enjoy!

It seems like it took forever for our trip to get here, and now, in the blink of an eye, it is time to start packing up and head back to the Querque!  We hit Disneyland one last time Tuesday afternoon with Julie, Makenna, Madison, Grace (Julie’s Mom in Law) and my mom…it was much cooler than last Friday!  We even got to go on one of my favorite rides, Pirates of the Caribbean- which Caitlyn thought was cool.  Of course, Jacob had to go on Star Tours- his all time favorite!  

I”ve also met up with Nicole (met her in 2nd grade), Kara (friend since kindergarten) and Millie (BFF since Jr. High) at various times this week…what amazing ladies!  You know the type of friend where you might not see each other often, but when you do- it’s like you didn’t miss a beat?  That’s exactly what it’s like…I am so blessed with amazing friends out here and it’s been wonderful to see SOME of them!  My heart is sad that I didn’t get to see everybody I wanted to- but there is always next time!

And then there’s the Curlee fam….Mom, Dad, Julie…where my heart just fits right in.  I had a wonderful time just being with them these last two weeks.  The hardest part about living in the Querque is being away from them- but it makes trips like these even more special for me and the kids.  I can’t wait for Mom and Dad to retire to Arizona (hint, hint)….one state closer!  I’m not going to get all mushy here- we’ll see each other in 4 short weeks when we all get together in Havasu!

Does it sound like I’m bagging on the Querque?  Oh no, no, no…my hubby is waiting there and ultimately that’s where I’m ready to head back to (as long as our air conditioner is fixed, right babe?).  The kids miss, need and love their dad and I miss, need and love my husband- so we are looking forward to heading back home soon.  Not to mention that I also need a reality check that school starts in 6 short weeks and I need to start preparing!

However, I will be making one last stop in Havasu for a couple of days before heading back to the Querque- Oh yeah!  I CAN NOT wait to be back on the water…and to see my family there!  Yet another place where my heart fits right in…I am so blessed….thank you Lord!

So we went to Knott’s Soak City yesterday- very fun since it was over 100 degrees here!  If you aren’t familiar with Soak City, it’s a waterpark…We rented a cabana, so we would have some shade and a place for the kiddos to nap.  Our cabana was right next to the wave pool- which was Caitlyn’s favorite part of the park!  She put on her life jacket and wanted to be out body surfing all by herself!  Jacob went on a couple of waterslides, but preferred the “Beach-House”- where there’s a couple of slides, a whole bunch of water guns and buckets you can pull.  There are 3 gigantic buckets that fill up and then dump out on anybody “down below”…the water comes crashing out- and the kids just love it!  Madison and Makenna had a blast at Gemmie’s Lagoon.  It was the toddler play area, with slides, a submarine and a wading pool.  The adults (Mom, Me, Julie and Jason) took turns going on the lazy river!  It reminded me of floating the Salt River, only a kid-friendly version!  I kicked back on my tube and let the current push me around…

Okay, so I was really good about keeping my kiddos covered with sunscreen- but somehow I forgot myself.  I am crispy today.  My lips are swollen and fried, my back has a beautiful white X on it from my suit and I you can see the exact shape of my sunglasses outlined on my face.  Even Jacob noticed…”Mom, you are REALLY red- well, except for this part of your face….” Yes, today will be spent hunkered inside the dark, air-conditioned house….

Today we went to the “Happiest Place on Earth”!   The kids had a blast- proven by the fact that both Makenna and Caitlyn didn’t even make it home before falling asleep and snoring in the car!

Jacob’s favorite part of the day?  Of course, it was Star Tours- his favorite ride.  He and I got front row seats-and he loved every minute of it.  He didn’t care for Space Mountain so much.  He liked it up until it “got real fast”…thankfully it was over quickly.  It was my first time on it since they changed it a few years back- and I actually liked it a lot!

Caitlyn and Makenna agreed that their favorite part of the day was eating lunch at Ariel’s Grotto.  All of the princesses come by and chat with you while you are eating.  Of course, they sign your autograph book and take pictures with the kiddos.  We asked the girls which princess was their favorite- and of course they loved all of them! 

My favorite part of the day was playing in the water at California Adventure- it was such a warm So. Cal. day!I even got in on the fun- running around the water spouts.  I took Madison out for a little cooling off and she loved it- even when she got squirted in the face!  She’s a tough cookie! 

Well, we are all tuckered out here…I’ll leave with a few pictures of our fun filled day!  I’m still trying to figure out how to rotate my pictures…so until I figure it out- twist your head!! 

So, we are currently on vacation in Southern California…Wayne drove out with us last Thursday and we spent Thursday night in Lake Havasu.  The kiddos were in heaven because we stayed with Aunt Kay and Uncle Nick- which meant yummy food and a swimming pool.  Which was good, because it was 110 degrees at 5 in the evening.  We had fun visiting with cousins for the night, but then got up and headed out to So. Cal.

Since we got here, we visited with Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob (Addicks) who had Katie, Brady and Emma (Jeff’s kiddos) out to visit.  We’ve also headed out to an Angel game, played at Laguna Beach, went to Wrightwood and Victorville…..  Yep- and that was the first 5 days we’ve been here!  Yesterday we dropped Wayne off at the airport and just rested- I even got a nap in! 

The best part of being here has been seeing my family- especially Makenna and Madison (Julie’s kiddos).  They are getting so big- and it is so neat to watch them playing with my own children.  Makenna and Caitlyn are like two peas in a pod…

So, somebody special (Yes, you, Aunt Karen) suggested I do this to keep everybody up to date on us- so here it is!  I am super-uber new at blogging, so be patient!!!