Tombstone Trip

While on pause, I have decided to introduce the children to a bit of Arizona's interesting history.  Is there a better place to start than the infamously famous town of Tombstone, Arizona?  I think not.

Upon arrival we head straight to the famous Boot Hill Graveyard to see the most famous headstone of Lester More.  We are first stopped by the sign at the door.  "Unruly and unaccompanied children will will be caught and sold as slaves. Signed Wyatt Earp"  I catch a quick shot of the first three children I see.

It was after all, a three hour car ride! PHEW, I am glad it wasn't on a charted boat off the coast of Hawaii.  We might have gotten into some trouble.

After seeing all those headstones of people shot, murdered or otherwise removed from this life, we decide to get some lunch...Yes, a little morbid, but we really were hungry.

By this photo you might think it was a good ole' western Saloon, but no it really is just a restaurant and that REALLY is Sasparilla my kids are drinking.  Honest. What kind of a parent do you think I am.

After filling our tummies, we go check out some famous gun fight reenactments. One at a Gunfight show.  The other at the O.K. Corral.  Does this story ring a bell...ring-a-ling?  The Earp boys, Doc Holiday and the Clancey Brothers.

      My innocent children with guns. Alright, you can stay up late tonight and eat all the junk food you want!

    Doc Holiday, the Earp brothers and Me(The one with the smallest mustache...What? I'm 1/4 Italian!)

My kids refused to take pictures with these guys.  The other gunfight show must have been funnier...

After the photo op, we went for ice cream. (making good on my previous promise).  We saw part of the Bird Cage Theater (famous brothel/play/gambling house), The Epitaph (Newspaper still printing today) and The WORLD'S LARGEST ROSE BUSH.  Who knew it was in Tombstone.  Just had to see it, and yes it cost $5.

After teaching my children their history lesson for the day, we were spent. How much can a young mind absorb in one day? Saloons, Gambling, Bar Brawls, Gunfights, Murder, Brothels, "Cribs", Prostitution and of course the Enormous Rose Bush. It can be overwhelming to a young mind.   It was a very entertaining, educational and enjoyable day.   Maybe I will start to home school......Not Likely.

©ColleenFisher

Delayed

We had to reschedule our flight to Belgium pending a FBI background check.  The new date of departure is July 5, 2010.  Brent will be leaving for Utah today and staying at his sister's condo in Park City for the next month and I will be in AZ. with the kids at my parents.  It is going to be a long month.  It always is when you are away from the one you love.  We are planning to meet in St. George for Brent's 20th high school reunion the middle of June.  Here's hoping time flies....

©ColleenFisher

Almost There, but To Where?

A Little Background

Approximately three years ago we made some financial investments that were going to be a great source of residual income.  All went south within a matter of months.  To help against these financial troubles and to keep our home, my husband started working 2 jobs   He would work his regular 9-5 job, have dinner and some time with the kids and I, and then work his second job from 9 p.m.-2 a.m....sometimes longer.
 

We decided that he would work 2 jobs and I would do just about everything else.  Our decision was based on the fact that he could probably make more than 2x's what I could and that anything I did make would just go to pay for daycare for our preschooler, during the school year and all three of the children during the summer months. I took care of the kids and 99% of the home stuff.


We tried working with our bank and modifying our loan, but the whole process was a complete joke. In September 2009, we hired a financial coach for help.  The numbers were in.  Enough was enough. The outlook was bleak for keeping our home.   We listed our home with a realtor that specializes in  short-sale properties.  It is now the middle of May 2010, and we signed papers yesterday.  The buyers will today and then our house, which was once OUR home will be a home for someone else.


As I reminisce about the last 6+ years I have had there, I feel a roller coaster of emotions.  There were wonderful days and memories that bring a smile to my face and make me laugh out loud. Others, which honestly parts of me wishes to forget, but have made me who I am today, also are now held dear.  I am grateful for those wonderful friends that were formed and will remain with me wherever I may roam.  Let's face it.  We live for those relationships that just are so real, that keep us going and from which we learn so much from, to love deeper and more true.  They need no more explaining, they just are.  Thank you to them for being a part of my life.


A Glimpse of the Future

Upon learning our home was approved for short-sale, we were given a suggestion from one of my husbands' co-workers.  He was taking his kids to the company office in Ireland for the summer and said, "If my kids were your kids' ages, I would try and go for a year".  That got us thinking.  Why not?  Our credit will be shot, we have to rent anyway...why not show our kids a little more of the world?  So that is what we are doing.


This same company has an office in Belgium and we are working our way there.  We have applied and are currently waiting for the work visa to go through and we will be off on an adventure, to a country where we don't speak either of the languages (Dutch and French) and know little of what to expect of our new life abroad.


This blog is about my life, rising again from the ashes like a Phoenix, attempting to making MY lemonade from MY lemons.  Sit down, kick your legs up and have a nice cool glass.  I hope you enjoy.

©ColleenFisher

Ice Skating at the Olympic Oval in Kearns

©ColleenFisher

Logan's Chess Tournament

On March 20th, Logan participated in the State of Utah Elementary Chess Tournament.  He got 4.5 points, which means he won 4 games and 1 draw (tie) and lost 1 game. (Six total games played).  He tied for 4th place in 5th grade.  They break the tie by the members current chess rating and so Logan got 8th overall.  He was on cloud 9!  When he got his trophy he pumped the air.  Way to go our little Rocky!

©ColleenFisher

Dineyland Adventures

Every time we go to Disneyland we make a great memory.  The 3rd time left the others in the dust.

First Trip February 2007

On our first trip we went to Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure for lunch.  It just happened to be on Valentine's Day and if you've ever been there,the whole selling point is that the Disney Princesses make their way around this little room and visit you while your eating your plate full of processed food.  Shea of course was excited to see all her "heros", but the best were the reactions of my boys.

Brent told Logan that if he kissed one of the princesses he would pay him $20.  (At this time Logan was 8)  Logan flatly refused, but with a red-face told the next visiting princess what his Dad had said.  Cinderella put her finger next to the side of her face and said, "Well, it is Valentine's Day".  She sat down and scooted closer to her nervous prey and planted one on him.  Not everyone can claim they have been kissed by a princess and show proof.

 (Logan the "tortured" boy)

Hayden was another story.  No bribery, embarrassment, or inhibition, oh no.  He knew he wanted to see Belle and ran into her arms.  I though the princess was supposed to run into the prince's arms, but whatever.

Hayden and his princess

Shea was a little overwhelmed that the princesses where all real.  She was nervous, but was excited to meet them all.

Shea and Ariel

Fisher Family with adopted son Mickey

Disneyland Take II  (February 2009)

stay tuned...need to find the next photos

Third Times a Charm (Third trip February 2010)

All Personality

Started out with all personality.  Having a great time as you can see.  We bought the usual 3-day park hopper and then volunteered for the Give a Day, Get a Day program.  (We helped pack food for people in need-had a great time with that as well) On our 4th day is when the normal became the "Ok, that's not going to happen again."

It was Logan's birthday and my nephew Johnathan flew over to celebrate with us. We got our free ticket and a cool pin that said Honorary Volunteers with a picture of Kermit and Miss Piggy that we could where all day in the park. Nice.

Two rides broke down.  I know you're probably thinking LAME, but it was cool.

On Indiana Jones, we stopped right where Indiana Jones is hanging and the big boulder is gonna get us.  We were sitting in the dark for 5 minutes or so and then the lights turned on.  We got to see the big room and the track the boulder were on and kind of how it worked.  We were just glad we weren't in the car behind us.   They were stuck in the tunnel where the "natives" are shooting you with their arrows, also known as bursts of air.

The second ride was Splash Mountain.  We were on one of the uphill when the ride broke.  We waited for 10 minutes and then a Disneyland worker came and got us. We got to travel through the ride and into the "underbelly" of Disneyland.  It looked like a regular machine shop back there.  I told the family to turn around and took a picture.  A wonderful "Mouseketeer" came over and ripped me a new one.  Apparently, there were no photos in the Disneyland back lot.  I apologized and I said I didn't know pictures were illegal.  He told me it was at the beginning of my ride.  Again, I apologized and said I didn't know this was part of my ride.  I told him I would erase the picture and I did.  Totally regret that.  It would be nice to share.

 The CRAZIES

The CUTIES

Lastly, we were walking on Main Street and some workers asked us what we did for our volunteer service and the asked us to be in the parade. That's right.  We are celebrities now. Autographs later.  We were on the float with Kermit and Miss Piggy.  We all loved it.  Before the parade started the kids got to ask questions.  Of course it was Do you like ice cream? with bugs?  Kermit said yes to both.  The kids laughed uncontrollably.  Good times.  They wouldn't take our picture on the float, weird, so we did.  Can't see the Muppets though.

Good Times, Good Times.....Johnathan kept saying, "This is the best day of my entire life!"  My kids all agreed.

The next day our ride pulls up to take us back to the airport. Oh no. No loser taxi van for us celebrities.  We now ride in style.

Yep.  That's right.  It's a pimped out stretch Limo.  Johnathan kept saying, "We're in a limo, we're in a limo".

That's right, Whose the favorite Aunt now?!

Once again,  Good Times, Good Times.

©ColleenFisher