Day 1 of Kendrick Summer Vacation - Aquarium

We took Brett on a 3 day mini vacation just before he left for Florida. We went to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Whale Watching and to the Queen Mary. It was a great time.



Here is some of the fun we had Day 1 - Aquarium of the Pacific




We took a behind the scenes tour. It was really cool. Because we went on a sunday the classroom touch pools were not in use so we got to see them. These pools were great beacuse the animals in this pool were very interactive. The animals in the pools for the public were so touched that they barely responded to anything.

In the class room touch pool we saw sea anenomes


Sea urchins


And...an anenome eating an urchin. Yes, I said eating. The staff was a little upset about this, they just received the urchins and now they were short one. It was very national geographic.

We got to go above one of the exhibits and feed the fish, that was really cool.

these are hours old baby sea horses.

Shark eggs...At the aquarium they have figured out how to safely cut a shark egg and re seal it so that we can see what is going on inside the egg.

Watch out boy...the octuppuss wants to eat you!

Brett adopted a ray. He loved the rays.

Say cheese! Look the fish wants in the picture too!

Me, Brett and a sea lion.

Reef Sharks....

Brett petting the reef sharks.

The ray that Brett adopted...

I'm hungry!

Brett liked this shark

We fed the lorakeets.....

The bird likes the treat...good bird

The bird finished his treat and decided to go for a walk.

At the end of his walk he found my earring...


We had an awesome time at the aquarium. I was nervous that Brett would be bored and not enjoy himself. He looked at each exhibit and read about each animal. We all enjoyed the day, the behind the scene tour was the best part. Feeding the fish and seeing the anenome eating the urchin was awesome, that is stuff that you only get to see on tv.

So the aquarium was a big hit, lets see how the next day goes....Whale watching

Father's Day 2009

We went to Las Consuelo's Nuevas in Rancho Mirage for Father's Day Brunch, Champange brunch.... We went with my Dad and Mom, Jason's Dad and our family friend Dee (she has know Jason and Bill since Jason was 7)

Dee and Bill havin' a great time...

Jason and Bill.

Me and my honey.

My Daddy and Mom. Poor Mama, she only had 2 hours sleep (or something silly like like)

They had Mariachi's playing. I love the music, a little loud but very nice.

Brett's Groove

So, 12 days in Flordia and Brett has become a party animal....

What do they have in the water down there????

Men, here is your proof

I just ran across this video. I will have to admit, we (women) are born with the gift of gab.....

Brett in Florida

As most of you know Brett is in Florida with his mom. Yesterday she took him to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. The zoo has a new attraction ZOOm Air Adventures. It is an aerial adventure course that will allow you to explore the tree tops from an animal’s perspective. Explore one or all of the three tree top courses available!

Brett and Ed did all three of the courses.

This is a video that his mom took of him on the zip line.



Once he made it through this part he was fine (he was a little scared when it started). He had to walk over suspened rope bridges, couple more zip lines. He even managed to get his glove stuck in his harness and just as the zoo staff was coming to his aid he ripped his glove loose.

Amazing Jazz Band

This fun YouTube video features a 1980s pop classic. The rock band Toto scored their biggest hit with Africa in 1982. The song is instantly recognizable. But it has been reinvented.

Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia. It’s hard to think of something further from an ‘80s rock band. But their version of Africa may best the original. The group has amazing voices.

But the beginning of this video is really striking. Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands. It’s really something to see and hear.

Pulling Weeds for WWE Monday Night Raw

We bought Brett and his friend Sergio tickets to WWE Monday Night Raw. It was on short notice, if you watched sporting news at all you may know that WWE was forced to move from Denver CO to Los Angeles because of the NBA playoffs...anyways...

We got the boys these tickets but decided that they needed to help "pay" for them. Our front yard needed the weeds pulled they wanted to go to RAW so I thought win win situation!



Brett is not a fan of manual labor. He even tried to pull "I don't know what a weed is" That I know to not be true.. He told us once of having to pull weeds at his mom's when she lived here ins CA. He also said that he was given the option one time to help pull weeds or don't go to Disneyland with everyone else, he chose to skip Disney. I told him that he could skip weeds and stay with Grandpa T. and I would go with Dad and Sergio. He quickly changed his mind and got out there and pulled him some weeds.




Sergio lives in an apartment so has never had the opportunity to pull weeds in the past. He really wasn't fond of it but he did do his best. He REALLY wanted to go to RAW. He has never been to something like that. His dad is a gardener and is always telling Sergio "Do good in school so you can get a good job" After today Sergio said I need to study more! He told his dad that he appreciates what he does for a living more now. Sergio is a really good kid.




They had to smoosh all of the weeds in the trash can - yes there was a lot of weeds, we had them pull som plants that had died as well. It was quite funny watching those two yahoos get in that trash can. How it didn't fall over I will never know.

They did a really good job, I can't wait 'til Brett gets back from FL the back yard really needs some help and well, I have some concert tickets that says he will gladly pull weeds 'till he is blue in the face.....

Adoption

We received word today that we have been approved for adoption. As most of you know we have been waiting for a while now for approval from the state of CA to adopt.

We are now ready to be matched with a couple of youngsters. We are looking for a sibling set - boy and girl. We would like them to be between the ages of 0 (yes, infant) and 11years old. (Brett would like a brother that is close to his age) We would like to have a new son and daughter but will accept 2 daughters (sorry Brett, you may have to live with a bunch of girls - just like your cousing Wylie)

Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishings to help this process along!!!!

Love-

Heather and Jason

Brett went to Florida today

We woke at 3:30am this morning to take Brett to the airport to go to Florida to see his mom, brother, sisters and milk-n-cookies (his step dad Ed). He will be there for 6 weeks. (As you can see from my count down clock - yes Christy I stole your idea). He was very excited to see his mom. He really likes flying - he says it feels like he is alone and grown up - even though he has a chaperone with him at all times.




He made it to the end of our street (1/2 block) before he fell asleep.

The last time we took him to the airport (in December) there was ice on the cars, ground and our noses. It was flippin' clold. Today - shorts and flip flops Gottat love summer!!!!

"Gmom - I am tired when can I get on the plane and go back to sleep?"





Bye Brett - This was the last time I got to see him. Only one of us can go upstairs to the gate. It stinks, but if that is what will keep our country safe (mom's not being able to watch their children leave in an airplane) then that is a sacrifice that I am willing to make for my country!






Up the esclator to the magicical "Ticketed Passengers Only" area....




Hang on boy! It is time to FLY!!!







We live 45 mins from the airport. He made it to New Mexico before we made it home. Look at him go!

It was bitter sweet for me an Jason to send him on his way this morning. We will miss him terribly but he misses his mom and siblings so we were happy to see him go....

I am sure he will have a blast, they have plans to go to Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center and spend some time in the Florida Keys...

5th Grade Promotion

Thursday was Brett's last day of 5th grade. The school had a promotion ceremony with a hawaiian theme.

Brett had as AWESOME report card. He earned 10 A's and 4 B's, I am not sure how 6 classes gets 14 grades but I'll take all the A's we can get.

He also was part of the Advanced Reading class. They read books and then had to take tests and do reports on the books. First place read 450,000 words (I'm not sure about you but that sounds like A LOT of reading). Second place read 269,371 - I know the exact number because that is the award that Brett received. He did not know about this award and was very excited, as were we, that he earned this $10 walmart gift card.




Mr. Earl presents Brett his promotion certificate. I really should have doctored up this picture and removed the red eye... He was laughing at Jason because he was prenting to blow a trumpet at his seat. (something to do with Santino - WWE wrestler)



Brett and Sergio - Sergio also had perfect attendance for the school year! Way to go Sergio!!!

Brett and Mr. Earl. Mr. Earl took Brett's shades. He is a really neat teacher. Glad Brett had him this year.

Quote of the Day

Whatever you give a woman, she will make better.

If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby.

If you give her a house, she will give you a home.

If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal.

If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart.

She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.

So, if you give her crap, be ready to receive a ton of sh*t!