The Giles Family: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sleeping Arrangements

1ST Night -
Camping- Froerers
Hotel #1- Klevens
Hotel#2- Mom, Sally, Randa
Truck- Jeff

2ND Night -
Camping- Kids Campout (Tay, Jane, Dallin, Emma, Eli, Holly) and Dan and/or Dana (if room for both) Eter (air mattress on concrete? Or whatever hotel Sally's in)
Hotel #1 Kate, Sadie, Mom, Sally, or Randa (I split the babies up so that they won't wake each other up in the night)
Hotel #2 Amy, Campbell, Mom, Sally, or Randa
Truck- Jeff

3RD Night -
Camping- Mom, Amy, Kate, Sally, Randa
Hotel #1- Dana, Eter, Kleven kids
Hotel #2- Dan, Jeff, Froerer kids (kids can mix up a bit between the rooms if they want)
Jeff if you could peel yourself away from your truck for that night it would make it more fun.

So...whatcha think?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Map

Sorry I keep posting but I found this map on the website and now that we know we are lot#98 we can kinda see where we are (click on it). We are on the far left side between the road and the bathroom. It's not right on the beach like I thought it was, but being close to the bathroom is nice too. Especially for those of us with little kids.

Also just talked to the guy and asked him how many tents could fit there and he said 1 medium tent. Wah-Wah. But he did say we could fit 3 cars there (1 free, $10 PER NIGHT for the other 2)and maybe put an air mattress out on the concrete he said. I'm thinking it has more concrete than dirt. But- at least we have the site! (We weren't so sure for a minute last night- scary!)

Dana called the hotel and it's 6 people per night there. Everyone will basically get 2 hotel nights and 1 camping night. Right now I'm thinking us and the Froerer's in the hotel rooms the first night, possibly a kids camp-out the 2nd night? Excluding the "babies". I'll keep working on it. I want to switch up who we're bunking with on the different nights a bit.

I can smell the firepit already...

Amy's wearing her Pac-Man shirt. Mom's doing mom stuff (helping us all get food looks like). Sally appears to be eating a Ding-Dong. Jeff's little (big)head is peeking out from behind Sal. Randa enjoying the scene from Heaven. Dad taking the picture. An idea may be forming in my mind of having a conversation through song with the sea. Mom describes on the back "July 1982, a super day at the beach."

More super days are soon to be. He he!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Non church related "Good News Minute"

Well after lots of calls not getting me anywhere, I finally wrote a letter to whomever it concerned at "Reserve America". Now within just 5 days, I have a refund for 2 campsites that laid vacant in mid-December (along with 85% of the campground).
So, I will be able to enjoy our family vacation completely untainted by my error. AND I'm getting sooooo excited for the trip! Especially with these 100+ temps we're already getting! Yea for the beach!!! Do Dana and I need to buy a tent beforehand? We want to soon anyway, so we can.
We are on our last full week of school here! Anyway, thought I'd share:)
Do we need to make any other plans?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Mother of the Year

To OUR Mom the mother of the year!

She finally gets the recognition she deserves... go check it out

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=tLF1AMj2.PIW12qRHhZP_TIxNzY2Mjg-&referred_by=16253465-sZqeL.x

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Recital

Tatum, Jane, and Holly had their recital on Saturday. It was so much fun and so cute with beautiful costumes. Amy and her girls did alot of work decorating the costumes up and they turned out so cute! All the girls had so much fun. Holly LOVED watching her big cousins dancing. Tatum and Jane were awesome! It's fun to see the older girls and how much they learn.

A lady in Amy's ward did pictures of the girls in their costumes.

Great job girls!!!

Memories of Dad

* When Dad was in the hospital, and had been for a couple weeks. Tatum had been taking a little community tap dance class. Often when we were on our way home from school or anywhere we would stop by to say hello. Tatum wanted to show Dad her dance she was learning. Mom said "oh no, not here honey its just too loud" Dad quickly answered " No I want to see" Tatum was thrilled and Dad loved it or at least pretended he did.
* Dan was reminding me the other night about a story I had forgotten. Many of you probably remember how afraid of men Tatum was. Although she LOVED Dad and Jeff even though she hardly saw them. When Robin and Nick got married Mom and Dad came up for the wedding and stayed in a hotel. We came down from Provo and met them. As we were in the Lobby wating for them to come down,the elevator "dinged" Tatum turned to see and it was "Pappa" Tatum (about 2 yrs) just stood in one spot running and waving her arms! So excited that he was finally there. Dad with his big sweet smile walked over and scooped her up.
*I remember how whenever we went to Big Bear in spite of the fact that he'd been driving two hours. Without fail and without going into the house he would disappear with the blue Yamaha motorcycle. Then he'd be gone for as a much as two hours. Of course when he came back at least two of us kids would be waiting for him so we could go on a ride. The funnest thing for me was when he finally let me go it alone. I was about 12 and he let me red an old Honda. I fell and distinctly remember him saying something like don't tell your Mom about this.
*My biggest road trip with just Dad was going up to Idaho for my first semester. After leaving Joyce’s house on the second day we were passing Kolobe Canyon (which I pass all the time now) and he just took the exit, I don’t think he even asked me if I wanted to see it. We drove up the canyon a little ways and got out and looked around for a while. I had a disposable camera and we took some pictures. It was really beautiful, but mostly I was just happy to be with him--one of those rare spontaneous moments. Too bad I lost the camera somehow when I got to school.
*When Dana comes home from work the kids get excited and run to him and say "Daddy!" Lately, he's been saying "Yay!" in reply. I love it because I remember dad used to say the same thing a lot.
*Thinking of birthday cakes today, I remembered the first (and only) birthday cake Dad made for me. We weren't even engaged yet, and he was trying to make an impression. So he decided on the extraordinary plan to make a cake that would taste like a fruit salad; I suppose he was thinking ambrosia. He used an orange cake mix ( I don't think they even make them anymore) and strawberry flavored frosting (also thankfully retired). This must have been very early in the relationship or he might have guessed chocolate would have been more effective. I think I was polite, but I'm sure that cake never was finished. You all know he wasn't much of a cook, but I loved him for trying!
*Another funny memory I have was when Jeff was driving Mom's white car and it caught on fire. (We were living there with Mom and Dad) so we were all kneeling around the bed for prayers when jeff called. Dad anwsers, Jeff and said "the car is on fire, and the fire dept had to come put it out... kinda scared to tell I think. Dad yells YAAAHOOOO! Let it Burn! He was thrilled to be done with that car finally. And off he went to pick up Jeff!
* I was at the DMV the other day registering my new van (YEA!) When I remembered once running into Dad at the DMV in CA. It was so funny b/c he was dressed as usual in his roofer garb. Old dirty jeans and t-shirt and hat but the best part was that over the hat he was wearing those headphones the big ones with the little antanae sticking up on the side. Just standing there listening to whatever station he could get reception to in there. He was so funny I had to think for a moment to I really want to walk over and say "HI DAD!" Of couse I did. I'm glad for all those memories now.
*I just remembered a time when I was about 11. It was Sunday afternoon, I was wearing my cool new jean shorts, and dad was chasing me around the house. We were in the entry when he grabbed on to me by the belt loop on the back of my shorts. I pulled away really hard, and the loop ripped right off leaving a hole in my back side. I was so mad, but dad was laughing and laughing, so I started to laugh too. I’m sure mom was in the kitchen giving her usual opinion: ‘It’s all fun and games until…” Randa
*One of my most treasured memories is from when I was very little. For some reason I just loved when dad would hide behind the cereal box and then peek out at me from different sides- and the real suprise...the TOP! I loved that he really liked it too and played that game with me frequently. Very simple but very meaningful to me at the time. Katie
*One time driving to Utah with Dad, when I was 15 or so, we kept seeing signs for Hogi Yogi in Southern Utah. First we made fun of the goofy name. Then it started to sound good. Then we decided we'd have to stop and get some at that exit when it came. The exit came and we missed it. Dad got off at the next one and drove about 20 min through a small town, backtracking to the Hogi Yogi. We laughed about it the whole time. I love that Dad would go along with stupid kid stuff with us. Sally

The Giles Family