Walther Familia ~ A STORM IS COMING: December 2008

This Christmas we went to California.

We took the kids to Magic Mountain and Universal Studios. We left Christmas morning and drove all day. It was a nice rainy day and we saw a ton of rainbows along the way! We listened to a book on tape called Wormwood by G.P. Taylor. It wasn't that good but it kept me and Jeff occupied. The kids were busy with their IPOD's. We stayed at the Residence Inn in Santa Clarita. We got a two bedroom suite with a living room that had a fireplace and a full kitchen. The girls had their own room, the boys had the living room and Jeff and I had our own room. It also had two bathrooms which was very nice!

After we checked into the hotel, we went out to dinner at Yamamoto Japanese Restaurant. They cooked our dinner right in front of us. Our chef was not very happy with us because none of us (except Jeff and Cassie) wanted any vegetables.

After dinner we headed over to the mall and tried to catch the 7 o'clock showing of Benjamin Button. But it was sold out :(

So, we went home and I made hot cocoa and we watched a movie that Zack brought - Burn after Reading. It was perfectly horrible. It was one of those movies that you kept watching and hoping it got better - but it never did.

Then we went to bed.

That's my blanket on the couch :)

The next morning we went to Magic Mountain. It was cold and windy. Some of the rides were closed because of the wind.

The Batman ride.

Cassie and I didn't go on this ride - too scary.

The boys and paintball.

The family pic.

I was so cold.

I had a long sleeve shirt, a t-shirt, a sweater, a hoodie and the red jacket on with gloves and I was still cold!

Wonderwoman & Superman

Actually, it's Cassie & Conor. :)

Cassie and I said NO WAY to this ride!

We sat and waited for them.

And found a nice place inside to eat.

It was so much warmer inside with no wind!

Bugs!

The ring toss.

We saw these HUGE stuffed animals and had to try this game!

Still trying to get a ring on one of those bottles!

When we all went off to play various games...Zack stayed at the ring toss. He was determined to win Addie one of those BIG stuffed animals! Kendal stayed with him and cheered him on. Zack asked the guy running the game if he ever saw anyone win. He said he's only seen a couple of people. Then Zack threw his ring and got it! Zack said he will never forget the look of surprise on the guy's face!

He won the BIG DOG!

Everyone tried the dumb quarter game where

you had to land the quarter on the plate.

Which was pretty much impossible.

Kendal tried too.

Cassie and Connor also tried.

Of course Dad likes the shooting games. He had to shoot the ball off.

It was constantly spinning and moving. He shot it one time but it didn't fall off.

But he got it the next time!

He got to pick his prize.

A Tweety!

Cassie and Connor went off and played the water shooting game.

Cassie won a really soft pink bear.

We couldn't pass this game up!

You had to throw baseballs at these plates and try and break them. Go Kendal!

This is the 1st plate she broke..

And this is the 2nd one she broke.

And this is her prize!

Connor and Cassie pounded some small animals. Connor won.

And this is his prize.

Cassie wanted to go on the Log Ride so we saved it for last. Good thing because we got completely soaked. It was soo cold outside! You could even see your breath! It was also windy and we were dripping wet! BRRRR! We couldn't run back to car fast enough!

Zack couldn't go on the log ride because he had to babysit his HUGE dog!

The next day, Saturday, we headed out for Universal Studios.

But Connor's shoes were completely soaked from the Log Ride the day before.

So, he had to wear Zack's shoes!

We didn't make him suffer too long in those duck shoes. Just up the street from our hotel was a Famous Footwear. Connor got himself a new pair of Vans!

When we got to Universal Studios, the first show we went to was Shrek 3D. Then we made the mistake of waiting in line for the Simpson's ride. I don't recommend it at all! I think the only show we didn't see was Back Draft. We rode Jurassic Park at the end, Just in case we got soaked (like the log ride). We were smart and sat in the back and didn't get wet at all!

We rode the Mummy roller coaster.

I actually really liked it!

Shaggy and Scooby Doo - oh Cassie and Connor too :)

After we were done with all the rides, we played some games. Zack played against Dad, Connor, Cassie and some random people and won this game.

After we left Universal Studios we went out to dinner at Red Lobster. Connor ordered crab legs for the first time. Of course he said, "They taste like nothing."

Loading up the suburban was no easy chore with this BIG dog. Connor and Cassie drove the whole way back with this thing in the way! What good troopers!

On Sunday when we were getting ready to leave California, we decided to go and find my Dad's grave. We haven't been back to see him since he died (which was 15 1/2 years ago).

I remembered it was in the very back of the cemetary. Jeff remembered it was on a hill and Zack remembered big boulders. So together we found the grave stone.