Sportsmans Warehouse

Sportsmans Warehouse had a Family Fun day so we went to check it out. They had lots of activities, starting with the fire truck,

Officer Don's helicopter

Facepainting

Spinning pole casting (where Rachael once again overshot the target),

And horseback rides.

She also petted a snake and got lots of fun prizes, like pencils and coloring books.  We also got to watch the helicopter take off.  A fun day!

Pennsylvania Recap

I feel like I'm always in catch-up mode on this blog.  But as it's pretty much my journal, here are the highlights from our last trip...


Sunday
- we left at about 2 pm for the 9 hour drive, because we are crazy like that.
- somehow Ryan and I both missed the exit for I-81; perhaps because it was 10 pm when we went by it.
- luckily we hit Highway 15 before we drove all the way in to Frederick. Or Baltimore.

Monday
- Kira took a dozen pictures and changed a handful of settings in two minutes on my point and shoot camera.  It was worth it.
- The kids played dress-up; Kaelyn decided Uncle Ryan needed a pirate hat.  Then she gave him pirate-speak lessons: Say Arrgh! This continued every day we were there, sometimes even without the hat.
- Free 7.11 ounce slurpees on 7-11 day!
- The kids played on the inflatable waterslide.  Kaelyn knows how to relax and kick back.


Tuesday
- We went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
- We saw a blue-tongued skink.  We learned about skinks in Maryland.  We promptly forgot everything we learned because none of us live in Maryland.
- Rounded out the day with a stop at McD's for dinner and time at the playplace.  We are the greatest parents ever.
- I made Harry Potter style wands before we wend out and handed them out to everyone.  They were a hit.


Wednesday
- Girls Day!  With me, Rachael, Lesley and Anika.  Yay! Lunch at Fridays and shopping at the outlet mall.
- Rachael tripped and skinned both knees.  Turns out a frozen banana makes everything feel better.
- Rachael and Anika got their ears pierced.  (More on this in another post).
- Ryan went fishing at one of his 50 Places to Fly Fish Before You Die. Two down, 48 to go.  I guess he will have to live until he's 120.


Thursday
- We left Rachael with Lesley and Chad and headed to Philly. 
- We saw Indepdence Hall (from the outside, we forgot to preorder tickets and of course they were all gone).
- We saw the Liberty Bell. And shopped for souvenirs.
- We walked 12 blocks for authentic Philly cheesesteaks.  We were not disappointed.
- Our main purpose that day: the U2 Concert! (More on this in another separate post).  It was great.
- We spent the night in a hotel so we wouldn't have to drive 2.5 hours back to Egglestons at midnight.
- Good thing, because it took us 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

Friday

- We drove back to Lesley's house. Through Lancaster.

- I made lemon cake with lemon filling.  Kaelyn demanded a candle and singing before she would eat any.

- Lesley and I took a fast shopping trip together.  I think we only made it to Lane Bryant.  It was worth it.

Saturday

- Home again, home again.

- Rachael was tired in the car so I suggested a nap.  So she took one.  I just thought that should be documented because she hasn't done that in years.  

We had a fantastic trip - thanks Egglestons! - and we are looking forward to going back for Anika's baptism in September!

Chasing Fireflies

Rachael has been dying to stay up late enough to catch fireflies this summer.  Finally, we were at the lake fishing one evening and stayed late enough to see the fireflies come out.

I know this picture is blurry, but it shows how well the fireflies light up at night.  Magical!

Family Trip

I have been trying to write this blog post for almost a week and add the pictures and everything.  Time is running out - we leave again on Sunday! - so I'm writing the Cliff Notes version.  If you follow me on Facebook you can see most of my pictures.

Tuesday:
- Ryan flew on Delta and Rachael and I flew on American.  It was cheaper that way - and had the makings of a great Jensen trip.
- Longest flight delay was less than an hour.  (A triumph these days for air travel).
- We ate at In N Out for dinner.
- Utah (and Idaho) are incredibly green and pretty.
- The iPod battery lasted the whole day.

Wednesday:
- Nana, Ryan, Rachael and I went to Logan for lunch and shopping.
- Costa Vida is still awesome.
- Sweetly Divine is still epic.  Rachael's face while browsing the pastries was sublime.
- On a whim we visited the Logan Tabernacle.  Which turned out to be really neat.
- I bought horseradish cheese from Gossner's.
- Rachael got a berry blue ice cream cone.
- Rachael got to run through the sprinkler at Nana's house; something she was really looking forward to!

Thursday:
- We sent Grandpa and Ryan golfing.  They had fun. 
- The girls went shopping in Logan, to get a craft project.  But we ended up spending all our time shopping.  A happy accident.
- We went to Maddox for dinner.  I took zero pictures. But it was delicious.
- And we got Ryan a cool souvenir hat from Maddox.

Friday:
- Grandma picked up Rachael and Ryan and they went to Idaho together.
- Nana and I spent the entire day shopping and eating.  The. Entire. Day.
- We had lunch at the fabulous Les Madelines.  We ate Kouing Aman.  It was the highlight of the day.  Thank you Lynn Phillips.
- We had dinner at Warrens in Ogden.  Which was a close second.  The reuben sandwich was lovely.

Saturday:
- Ryan came to pick me up in Tremonton. We had lunch at Arctic Circle.
- Nana and Grandpa J only have about six months left of their temple assignment.
- Rachael got to have a girls day with Aunt Lynn and Aunt Lorie.  Girls days with mom are never going to measure up, I fear.  They had a great time.
- We watched six of seven nephews play on the waterslide.  (The baby napped.)
- We had pizza for dinner.  I made marshmallow brownies for dessert.
- We worked out recipes for the next version of the family cookbook.
- The nephews put on a pretty good fireworks show.

Sunday:
- Family pictures.  The entire family was happy and cooperative.  So happy we documented it!
- Leg of lamb for dinner.  Everyone that tried it liked it.  Rachael ate more than I did.
- Family dinner with all 15 members of the Ricks family.  I took a picture and completely left Declan out of it.  (Love you Declan!)
- Rachael made a big girl decision to keep the sabbath day holy by not swimming with the boys.  It was hard.  She did a great job.  Everyone helped entertain her in other ways so she didn't feel left out.
- Daddy installed Angry Birds on the iPod.  Rachael is hooked. [She spent over an hour playing it on the flight home.]

Monday:
- I made two pans of cinnamon rolls on Sunday night for breakfast Monday morning.  Win.
- Aunt Lynne and her four boys left for SLC.
- We took the kids to see Cars 2.  (Rachael saw Tangled with the girl cousins, so it is only fitting she should see Cars 2 with the boys).
- Daddy stayed at the house to visit with Grandpa.

Tuesday:
- Left for home.  Flights were in the middle of the day, so we didn't have to leave in the middle of the night from Idaho.
- Met Nana on the way to the airport to get my precious horseradish cheese.
- She also gave us cheesecake, which Rachael and I ate for lunch.
- Rachael and I found a kids play place in the Dallas airport.
- I had Fried Green Beans at TGI Fridays for dinner. Yum.
- We brought home a 65 pound cooler full of beef. 
- We made it home safe and sound.  And parking was only $63.


Whew!  Off we go on Sunday for another adventure.