Stoner Family Talent Show

We had our family reunion over the summer. But like everything in my life... I am months behind.

The Stoner clan gathered in Park City for a few days. We stayed up in Deer Valley and played games and did relay races, stayed up late talking with a lot of laughing, ate way too much good food, did the Park City Mountain Resort and slid and rode to our hearts content (wish I had a picture of the zip line but my flip was dead), played charades reverse style where one person guesses while the group acts out the item...girls against boys...we wrote up the items ourselves which was a BIG mistake! So when we didn't have a theme like "something you do in the summer" the boys reverted to cheating...the girls pulled out slips of papers with things like quantum mechanics, square pyramidal, theory of constraints.
Ya... the boys are pretty lame!

We worked on humanitarian projects to help lift the lives of those in need.

Got some pictures of the family all together (minus a family darn it).

We had our talent show where these two did a violin duet...

McCall did a solo number.

Then these three munchkins did a fabulous routine to Dancing Queen.

They twirled,

wiggled,

pranced,

and made a good showing for the Peterson Clan.

Erik would not wear a tutu,

so it really was all on the girls shoulders to represent the family.

I know everyone says this, and it's right and as it should be that we all feel this way... 
but I have the best, most fun family EVER.

C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A (Part III)

TUESDAY 8th

 First day since arriving to go to Disneyland! The girls were super duper excited while waiting to purchase tickets.

Finally inside and ready to ride!

 Look at cute Stella trying to stand just right!

 I don't think we could have gone so long or done it without the help from Grandma and Grandpa.

 I love this picture!

Pretty typical of 2yr old Stella. I love the pose from Elizabeth, she is such a doll - as are all the girls. I hated watching how grown up McCall is. Our last trip here she was still a "little girl". I miss those little hands but the helping hands she offers now are definitely just as loved and appreciated.

It was so awesome to see everything decorated and lit up for the holiday's. I'm so glad we were there to experience it like this! 

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At this point I am not even an hour into our visit to Disneyland and wondering if I will ever get to upload the photo's I want to represent our trip, so I just threw them together in a slideshow which you can view below.

It is put to music so you'll want to mute the music player on the top right to avoid a headache!


 It will not have my commentary to journal our days so I'll just add...

Elizabeth had no fear and went back for a second go on the Tower of Terror, the Rocky Mtn. Railroad Rollercoaster, Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn and Space Mountain. She loved the rest of the rides and was so pleasant the whole time it was just fun!

McCall was also super adventurous and went back for thirds and fourths on Tower of Terror, Rocky Mtn. Railroad, Splash and Space Mountains, California Screaming (I think she totaled 5 times on that one). I don't think that girl has any fear.

Claire was a good sport and went on the all the rides she was tall enough for, like tower of terror but we couldn't get her back on it even though she kept SAYING it was fun. She did go back for seconds on Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, Rocky Mtn. Railroad and such. She must have rode the carrosels with Stella like 10 times.

Stella was just fun and was a pretty darn good sport if I can say. She put up with four 8-12 hour days at the park. She got cranky around nap time and didn't like waking up to people everywhere but she really was awesome!

Oh...and I feel bad that we really didn't chase down the princess for the girls to meet them and get a picture with (even though it's lame I know) but we had intended on doing the breakfast with the Princess but just ran out of time to do it.

Slide show of Tuesday - Friday

In case you run into problems with the embedded video go HERE.

You can see it bigger by linking to the actual youtube site but enlarging it to full screen makes the pics super grainy.

C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A (Part II)

Sunday 6th
I had to add to Sunday that it doesn't matter that we drive hundreds of miles, stay in a fabulous place with so much to see and do, the girls are still content to just sit around playing ipad's!

I think McCall was the only one interested in looking out on the new world before her and experiencing it! Typical McCall, she loves adventure!


Monday 7th

Today we headed out to Sea World down in San Diego. McCall was super excited to feed the dolphins and Elizabeth said she was not going to do it. I then bribed them all to be brave by telling them if they wanted to get something their they would need to touch the dolphin.

 McCall, Claire, Elizabeth with Mr. Penguin

Stella wouldn't go near him.

Dolphin Habitat

They really wanted to feed the dolphins but they don't let you just buy a tray of fish like they used too. Now it's only at a specific time and it was during a show we wanted to see.

Cute little Lizzie

 Stella was so excited to see them! 

 McCall and Claire trying to get a feel of the dolphins. Last time we had plenty of "feeling time" but they were always just inches beyond reach. 

 The three girls trying to get the dolphin's to swim to them by patting the water.

 Claire made friends with this one. It kept swimming back to get a view of Claire from the window. They are so smart and so darn cool!

RIDES

I think we did this ride only once...

I lost count of this one...

The Dolphin Show

 It is so amazing how high they can jump!

 These whales are so cool looking.

And gave a pretty good splash. 

 Maybe I should add surfing on a whale to my bucket list!

Man I love that guy! He's such a good dad.

SEALS
I'd like to introduce you to someone...

This is a seal.

He was only the LOUDEST, most annoying creature I've ever met.

He would scream and wail sitting a top that rock until someone threw him a fish.

Part of me didn't want to give him any of our fish. I do not like squeaky wheels. I have a certain level of disrespect and disdain for people (or animals) who are always pushing themselves forward, who are loud about what they want or need.

This was just such an animal.

Here is proof!

I could just gobble that cute little thing up! 

But you know, I guess you know what they say about squeaky wheels, they get oiled. And that obnoxious seal certainly had more fish than any of them! And the girls always threw fish to him, despite my desire that some of the more reserved seals got some, because he was more entertaining, he knew well how to attract attention.

Shark Attack!

Look at those teeth!

Killer Whales

 McCall's favorite, they played some rockin' music and the trainner and the orca both were strutting to the music. It was so cool.

Below you can see the girls in the upper section of the stands. I am a mean mom and didn't want me to get wet or any of my little ones to get wet. No fun I know - but we still had an evening meeting my brother & his family in old town for dinner and I didn't want the girls all cold and wet.

I guess Cotton Candy made the sitting in the upper section a little less traumatic.

I don't know why this one makes me smile so much!

ARCTIC ANIMALS

I love belugas. For some reason they are my favorite.

 They are just so beautiful I think.

 This beluga started showing off by circling around the enclosure as fast as he/she could. I couldn't believe how fast it could speed past the window.

 I just hope my fat doesn't ripple like this ones when I swim by!

It was a great day and ended in San Diego's 'old town' touring shops and enjoying some yummy Mexican food with some great company. It's always fun to visit my brother Darin when in San Diego with his amazing wife and lovely daughter. Wish I would have thought to get my camera out! Darin will have to send my copies of his pictures!

Now I only have to catch up posting Tue/Wed/Thur/Friday at Disneyland.