Aug. 2012: Campfires and Fair

  Got to love August it is such a fun month to do things. First, Joel and I go to enjoy the relaxation of camping by a campfire with his godparents at Lake Viking. We left on a Friday evening and not return until Sunday evening. We wished that the weekend did not go so fast. All four of us enjoyed the quietness and the splendor of the woods. Saturday we went into Red Oak where Joel's godparents use to live. They showed us all around. When we got back we made a quick lunch then it was off to the Lake for some fun at the beach and in the water. Joel enjoyed the water with his godparents and me. We worked on his swimming techniques. Then Joel's godmother and I had fun watching Joel and his godfather made sand castles. Those two boys are hillarious any way.
  That night we made supper on the campfire as well as dessert. Oh was all the food awesome to the taste buds, but the dessert was the bomb. Wished it wasn't so late when we started it. Because it got dark fast, and ended up raining on us. Despite the rain Saturday night into early Sunday morning it was relaxing. The rain actually got us all to got to sleep. 

  We decided to go to church Sunday morning in Red Oak where Joel's godparents use to preach at. It is a nice fun loving church just like our own. Joel did very well there, and even went down to children's church without one of the three of us adults. We were so proud of him. Thank you to Red Oak Church of the Nazarene for their warm welcome to Joel and I. Someday we hope to go back and visit again. After church we went back and had lunch. The boys when on a hike while us girls cleaned up. Then we packed up, and headed back to Winterset. Can't wait to go back next year.

 Next we went to the Iowa State Fair. Which is  family tradition since I was a child, and I chose to keep it going with Joel and I. We go every year even if it is just a few hours. My parents took Joel and I this year. It was a blast to watch Joel see the different animals. Our favorite thing is too at least eat one or two things from the fair. So, hot and corn dogs it was. Cheapest things really out there. It is a big place to walk around so there was many breaks to sit and rest. It is fun watching my son enjoy seeing different animals and doing new things as a family. I don't care if it costs me a little to do things like going to fair, because the memories we are making are priceless. 

California Trip July 2012: Part 5 Sightseeing and Goodbyes

Fort Point and Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco, California

     Our last full day in California was spent sightseeing more of the beautiful land of San Francisco. Everyone that went sightseeing the day before went sightseeing the next day. We decided to go to Fort Point, the old fort that was once used in battles turned into a museum. It was directly under the famous Golden Gate Bridge. It was a little chilly. The fog was still covering the bay area so it was hard at first to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Joel and I really didn't care because it was a chance of probably a lifetime. Joel was loving the waves, and watching the different boats that were there.

 We decided to go inside Fort Point to check out the museum. It was fairly big. You could go into so many rooms. Joel loved seeing the cannon balls and the cannons. If we wanted to we could of went clear to the top, but we didn't. I got Joel a new hat and jacket while we were there. Everyone was not really dressed for the cold air that day. It was fun though just being together, and hanging out sightseeing.

   My brothers and my mom decided to back to where we were staying. My dad, Joel, Angel, and I decided to go over to Sausalito, California which is just across the Golden Gate Bridge. Just to look around, and check things out. It is a really nice place. I really enjoyed it there. I could of stayed there longer even than what we did. The only thing that I did not like was there was a weird dude with a snake on his shoulders walking around. The people in California are strange, but dude a snake. We walked and even watch a guy make sculptors out of the rocks. It was neat how he got them to balance even big rocks on their sides. We had a snack at this little hole in the wall place there. It was a very good Italian place. 
  It was hard to think it was our last day and night there. The week went so fast for us. My mom and my brothers made supper of Chicken Noodles and Mashed Potatoes. Then Angel and his dad took Joel to see Spiderman Movie. It was hard to let Joel go, but he wanted to see the movie so bad. I paced the whole time they were gone too. Joel did very well, and loved the movie. The next morning we got up very early to head back to Iowa. It was so hard to say good bye. Maybe some day we will get to go back out.

California Trip July 2012: Part 4- Sightseeing

Angel and Joel

  The day after the wedding My mom, my dad, my brother-in-law, my brother, and my boyfriend (at that time I didn't even know he liked me), Joel, and I decided to go sightseeing for the day. Really wished everyone would of got around a little sooner so we had more daylight, but it was okay. We were all wiped out from the wedding the day before. 

Pier 39 Fisherman's Wharf

   We decided to spend the first day sightseeing at Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf. Oh my goodness it was busy and crowded. We had to take two vehicles, because there were so many of us going. There were so many things to see at Pier 39. I really wished I had more money to spend there as well. 

Sea Lion at Pier 39

Alcatraz

   Yes, they still have a few sea lions there. Not as many as they use to, but it was fun watching them. Joel's eyes got so big, because he had never seen one before. It was funny listen to him ask so many questions of why they are called sea lions, to what are they doing. From a distance we got to see Alcatraz (you can actually see if from anywhere on the bay line. Joel was like what is that castle doing on that small island. So, we had to explain to him that it was not a castle that it use to be a prison for really bad people. He said, "They  bad people deserves to be on an island to themselves."

Rainforest Cafe at Pier 39

Rainforest Cafe at Pier 39

 My brothers decided to take us out for lunch. We decided to go to the Rainforest Cafe at Pier 39. It is a real neat place to go to. Joel was in awe of the neat water tank, and the animals in there that would come to life at times. Only part he did not care for was when it would do thunder and lightening sounds. It freaked him out a little. We had to tell him it was pretend. He was worried it was a real storm, because he associates those sounds with tornadoes. The food was very expensive and hard to choose from. It was good even if the service stunk a little because they got my order all wrong 3 times, and then they forgot about my son's meal. Then they gave my son a piece of chicken with tiny bones in it. Don't worry I wrote a long letter and complained about it.

Steep Streets in San Francisco

Cable Car in San Francisco

   After we got done at the Pier my dad, Joel, Angel, and I decided to go sightseeing a little more. So, Angel the only one that sort of knew the way around San Francisco did the driving, and I sat up front. Yes, I forced my dad into the back seat with Joel. Angel took us on the famous steep streets and hills of San Francisco. While I was trying to keep it together, my son was in the back seat saying this is a fun rollercoaster, and saying WEEEEEE. As we drove around we saw some of the famous Cable Cars of San Francisco. I wished I would of had more time I would of took Joel on a ride, because he really wanted too.

China Town in SF

Lombard Street

 Angel took us to the famous Lombard Street. It is the street that is the most windy street. It may of been a short thing to do, but Joel had a good time seeing it, and it is a memory that will always last for us that we had a neat adventure. 
 Angel asked me if there was any where else I wanted to see, or do before we headed back home. We chose drive through China Town in San Francisco. It is really busy, and neat to see. Hopefully the next time we go out there I can go shopping and have a Chinese dish while I am there. I really can not wait until we can go back to see these different places again, and get to do a little more. 
  It was so wonderful to have a special adventure with my son that he will always have the memories of these places with his mommy.




  

California Trip July 2012: Part 3- The Wedding

  July 20, 2012 My brother got married to not only to his best friend, but the love of his life. Yes, my brother is gay, and yes I attended his wedding. I love my brother very much, and I wanted to be there for his big day to show it. I love my brother no matter what lifestyle he may live. 
   It was such a beautiful, long, busy day. My brother and my brother-in-law asked if my son would be the ring bearer, and when we got to California they asked if I would wedding coordinator. They day began around 6am California time. My mom, my brother-in-law's mom, and me drove to Oakland to get our hair and make-up done. We look awesome if I would say so. Then it was time to hurry back to get changed, and also get my son changed into his outfit.

  Joel was so proud to be the ring bearer, and to look like his Uncle Matthew. He is actually my brother's mini me. All my brother's friends say that when they see pictures of Joel. Getting 11 people in one house ready was a mad house. Everyone was scrambling.  
  Goal was to be in the car be at the wedding site by noon so I could set up chairs. The grooms got married in San Francisco at the San Francisco Park in the Shakespear Gardens. It was so beautiful place to get married at. The wedding was suppose to start at 3pm. They had such a wonderful turn out. Joel did okay, but didn't want to stand up there for the who ceremony so he came and sat with his grandparents, and me. I was so proud of my son because it was hot there, and he knew that there was a playground not too far away. He didn't care much for walking with the three flower girls. He basically did his own thing.  

  The reception was at a condo in Oakland, California. So, we had to rush to tare down everything, make sure the wedding site was very clean, and get in the vehicle. By this time it was almost 5pm. My little guy was getting hungry, and tired. He slept all the way to the reception. When we got to the reception he was having fun playing with the other children there. When the music began he became the life of the party. He tried getting everyone on their feet dancing. My favorite thing was when he was in the dance room inside he had full attention of everyone watching him dance. It was cute. He tried to do the Egyptian, but it looked more like him dancing like a monkey.