It all started with a phone call: Part 2 - State Baseball Championship

In continuation of my summer vacation...

As I stated before, my trip to Utah all started with a phone call...to go to my nephew's baseball game. After a detour through the Timp Caves, we went to the ball fields to watch America's favorite pastime...

Now, it's hot in Utah...freakishly hot! Even with evening games, I don't know how those boys played in the heat, but they were awesome! I know everyone thinks that kids playing T-ball is SOO CUTE...and it is...for about 5 minutes. Then, it gets boring...fast. However, when kids get old enough to really play, those are fun games to watch! It was so American, I felt like I waving a flag and eating apple pie (which says something as I despise baked fruit...but I digress).

My nephew Parker's game was first. They were still playing regular season games, but it was still fun to watch him play. Here are a couple pictures of him rockin' it on the 8-year-old team.

Trust me...he caught it!

By the way...they won!

Now, I'd been going to baseball games all week. My nephew Zach's 12-year-old team was unstoppable. At that age, they have the 10-run rule (if you are ahead by more than 10 runs at the 4th inning, the game is over). They were constantly winning with that rule. And they finally made it to the championship game.

Both of these teams would be going on to the regional tournament in Panguitch, UT (yes, that is a real town, look it up). It was a hard fought game...and if I remember correctly, the first game where they went the full 6 innings. But they won the state championship. It was an incredible experience for my brother (who was one of the coaches) to share with his son. Below are some pictures of the final game...

Zach hit that ball into the fence for a double.

He was SO ready to steal 2nd base :)

His ready stance...he was so close to hitting a home run with this at bat!

The winning team! Many of them look so serious...I'm so happy that my nephew has a big 'ole smile on his face...PROUD!

(By the way, the fought hard, but didn't win the regional championship. Way to go Tooele All-Star Baseball team!)

Up next...It all started with a phone call: Part 3 - So you want to go to Japan

It all started with a phone call: Part 1 - Timp Caves

In continuation of my summer update...

Fun with my nieces came to an end. However, my summer fun had just begun! It called started with a phone call...from my nephew Zach in Utah! His all-star baseball team was in the state play-offs and he wanted us to watch him play. I thought, Why not? What else do I have going on this summer?

So, thanks to standby flying (a great blessing and worst nightmare...I'll get to that later), my mother and I flew down to Utah the same day I said goodbye to my nieces. Now, I'd lived in Utah for about 7 years total. Yet, in all that time, there were many things that I didn't do or see...I always thought, I'll get to it eventually.

Well, eventually never really came and I moved back to Seattle. So here I am, back in Utah with the option of going on a hike with my sister-in-law, her sister, and their kids. They were going to hike Mt. Timpanogos to the Timp Caves. Why not, I thought...you'll notice most of my activities start with that comment :).

However, there are a couple things you have to understand. One, it was Utah in July...freakin' hot! In order for us to hike without suffering extreme heat exhaustion, we had to leave early in the morning (which meant a 3-alarm early wake up call...and during my summer break...bummer). Two, I had just flown in from Seattle, which is at sea level...Mt. Timp is 11,750 feet above sea level. Some of you may see where I'm going with this.

We began our hike and man were we bookin' it! They give you about 90 minutes to get from base to the caves before the tour starts...we made it in about 45 minutes. Normally, not a big deal, but I was just at sea level 24 hours before! So, my little body was huffin' and puffin' all the way up. Close to the top, a feeling of vertigo set in...it was either that or I was poisoned by plant life like in The Happening...highly unlikely but Hollywood tells me it's a possibility ;).

If you've never felt vertigo, it's not a fun feeling with there are steep cliffs around you. I'm just sayin'...

Here are some pictures of what I saw:

Me at the base of Mount Timp. My third national park in two weeks.

What the Mount Timp National Park looks like from the base...pretty green for Utah in July!

Finally at the entrance to the cave.

Helictites, stalactites, and stalagmites...some of the amazing sites in the cave (my science teacher would be so proud!)

Closer view of the helictites up close...

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to home we go

We had some fun our time is done

Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho

Quite the view, right? Of nature, people! Yeesh...

Coming up...It all started with a phone call: Part 2 - State Baseball Championship

Summer with the Nieces 2010

This summer, my sister and I got to spend a whole month with two of my nieces! They live in Texas and I hadn't seen them in almost two years. We decided to give them the "Best of Washington" tour, in case they don't get to make their way back to us for the summer (hey, as sports and jobs start to take over their summers, these fun adventures with them may be our last hurrah). Unfortunately, our tour involved A LOT of driving. Here is a recap of our adventures:

To the Pacific Ocean! We took a trip to Seabrook, WA (6 hour round trip drive from my home). It's north of Ocean Shores, but much less crowded...and more scenic in my opinion. The area includes beaches, hikes, bikes, and gorgeous cabins, like the one we stayed in (above).

http://www.seabrookwa.com/town.asp

This is what some of the other cabins look like...beautiful, right?

The inside of our cabin...I'd love to live there!

My niece Madi out on the Pacific Ocean beach.

Playing in the ocean...yes it was cold, but you get use to it :)

This is why I love the Pacific Northwest!

A couple days later, we went to Mt. Rainier...5 hour drive roundtrip...

My niece Paige and me.

By the way, this picture is taken in July...and we're standing in snow! Too bad I wore my Teva sandals...my toes were freezing!

All that snow means gorgeous waterfalls!

Apparently Paradise IS in Washington state!

Another day, another trip...this one to Mount St. Helens and the Ape Caves.

(And yes, another 6 hour roundtrip adventure!)

Okay, so it WAS clear and beautiful that day...until we got closer to Mt. St. Helens! So sad they didn't get to see it! :(

This is what they were supposed to see!

Following these trips, we went out to our grandmother's house on the Olympic Peninsula. We had planned to take them to the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Hoh Rainforest, but needless to say, they weren't really interested in yet another 5 hour drive. Oh well, maybe next time if they come to visit again!

Blowin' Some Hot Air...into Glass!

So, I've been too busy having fun to post my updates :). However, school has started and being sick allows for free time to reflect on all the fun. Here's the first of many updates (hopefully).

My nieces came to Seattle this summer from Texas. We took my oldest niece, Paige, to the Tacoma Glassblowing Studio, where we learned how to make hand-blown glass. Guess what? You get to keep what you make!

First, you start by choosing the style (vase, votive, clam shell, etc) and colors...

Then, (with the assistance of a professional glassblower, obviously) you start turning the VERY hot glass to cool it down.

You add the color (by rolling it on) and then heat it up again. After that, you mold it with special wooden molds. See, you actually do a lot of this on your own!

There are different design styles that you can do. I did a fan design...my niece did the spiral design by grabbing and twisting the hot glass.

Then, through a tube that tastes like Purell (thanks to lovely sterilizer wipes), you blow to expand the hot glass to the right size...

As you can see, it doesn't matter what color you choose, it all looks orange at this point...

At this point, the professional takes over the dangerous part...the blow torch! This creates the opening on the top.

See, the color is actually starting to show up!

Time to heat it up some more...seriously, very hot!

The final product is "broken" from the metal rod and a base is melted on the bottom...

Finally, the vase is "cooled down" in a 900 degree oven!

Maybe one day I'll learn to make items that look like this...

(from the Chihuly Glass Bridge)

My Disneyland Vacation...By the Numbers

Work is hard...at least, my work is hard...which is why I am always searching for ways to have fun. My absolute favorite "fun place" is Disneyland. My parents took our family there when I was 6 years old and I've never forgotten that trip. In fact, I have now taken 10 trips to a Disney theme park (not bad for a non-Californian resident) and I have loved every minute of it!

Really, I'm still a big kid at heart, especially at Disneyland...I sing all the songs...I clap and cheer during all the shows...I raise my hands and scream on every ride...I get excited when I get to take a picture with a Disney character.

Recently, I spent 3 days at Disneyland and California Adventure with my friend Erica, who hasn't been to a Disney theme park in over 20 years (so really, she's a Disneyland Resort newbie). Taking her allowed me to see the parks through the eyes of someone experiencing it for the second first time.

We went on rides I haven't done in years. We watched kids and parents experience the fun, excitement, and magic that comes from the Happiest Place on Earth. We experienced fun and magic of our own. We started planning our next trip back before our first one had even ended.

However, Disneyland can be expensive, so it's all about getting the most for your money. Here is the breakdown of our trip, in numbers. For those who "marathon" Disneyland like we did, it is a VERY cost-effective trip. Here it is...

# of days at Disneyland Resort: 3
# of hours spent in the parks: 40

# of rides we experienced: 67
# of shows we attended: 9
Our avg wait time: 30 minutes
Longest wait time: 50 minutes
Shortest wait time: 0 minutes

Total hotel costs: $125 per person
Total food costs: $100 per person
Total airfare: $130 RT
Cost of 3 day pass: $149

Total cost of the trip: $525 per person*
(*Including airfare, hotel, tickets, food, and shuttle for 4 days total in CA)

Disney cost per hour of fun: $3.75**
(**Based on cost of 3 day pass and # of hours at the park)

Now, isn't Disneyland worth $3.75 an hour???

Here are some pictures below from our trip (just to inspire your own vacation):

See, Disneyland is inviting YOU to come join them!

Ummm...doesn't the height difference seem a bit unfair? Sweep the leg! I guess the "force is strong with this one" :)

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy."

Catch that toad! (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride)

You know what, it IS tough to be a bug!

REALLY look at this picture...tell me if you can see the Haunted Mansion ghost that followed me to the castle (look at the feet on the ground and the missing body)

Riding the teacups...just in time for the new Alice in Wonderland movie!

Do I look excited? I think I look excited.

I was almost attacked by Goofy...but I got a great picture out of it! :)

The BEST surprise picture of the trip...Mickey AND Minnie...with no wait line for pictures!

Disneyland fireworks...they never do anything half-way.

"We're DYING to have you...hurry baa-ack! Hurry baa-ack!"

I wish...

A fantastic end to a fantastic vacation...now back to work...