We're going to Wales!!

Kerey and I are going to a water adventure camp next week Monday in Wales. We will be staying at the blue peris mountain center (www.blueperis.com).
The boys turned in Essays to the youth center who every got picked would be going on this trip, it did help that I volunteered to go as a Chaperon. Both boys got picked to go except when they found out that Sean was only 11, they had put him in the same camp as Kerey and so he was told he couldn't go because the other slots had already filled up for his age group.
We will be staying in dorms at the center and all activities are based on or near lakes or the sea. Okay for all who know me you can stop laughing now. I will be required to swim a minimum of 25 meters. Thanks to Tashawn and Debbi I think I can do that. Some of the main activities include Coastal erring, gorge scrambling, sea kayaking and water rafting. Yes, I guess this is the year to challenge myself to do all things.
Besides the fact that I will get to go with Kerey to see a new country and do some fun outdoors activities it is an all expense paid trip. Definitely a blessing and a once in a life time opportunity for us. I'm just sad Sean isn't going now.
Hopefully I will have pictures on the blog from our trip next week. We get back on the 8Th. Pray for me, I will be in the water and I heard its really cold!!!!

WE'RE MAKING MEMORIES!

SO LAST FRIDAY NIGHT I TOLD KIMO WE SHOULD GO OUT TO EAT. I THOUGHT SOMETHING ETHNIC WOULD BE GOOD. USUALLY WE GO TO NANDO'S FOR PERI-PERI CHICKEN. WE HAVE NEVER DRIVEN OURSELVES SO I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUR WAY AROUND SINCE I NEED TO START EXPLORING BIGGER TOWNS. ANYWHO WE GOT ON THE ROAD AROUND 7:30 PM AND LONG STORY SHORT WE ENDED UP DOWN BY NANDOS 2 HOURS LATER. WE DROVE AROUND IN CIRCLES TRYING EVERY POSSIBLE STREET AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE WEREN'T VERY HAPPY WITH EACH OTHER OR THE RING ROAD IN CAMBRIDGE.
SO I TOLD HIM LETS DO MEXICAN.............MISTAKE #1. WE ARE IN ENGLAND, YOU DON'T DO MEXICAN. #2 . NEVER EAT AT A NEW RESTAURANT WHEN STARVING AND UPSET. #3. SHOULD OF LEFT WHEN THE WAITER WAS PORTUGUESE IN A MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND ENGLISH WAS HIS 2ND LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE MEAN BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ASIAN TO SERVE ASIAN FOOD BUT IT WOULD OF BEEN NICE IF THE WAITER UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN YOU SAY 8OZ STEAK FAJITA, IT SHOULD NOT BE ONE BIG PIECE OF MEAT WITH A CORN ON THE COB ON THE SIDE. #4. NOT BEING SPECIFIC WHEN ORDERING AT ETHNIC RESTAURANT. 8OZ STEAK DINER UNDER THE FAJITA SECTION DOES NOT MEAN STEAK FAJITA, EVEN THOUGH I DID MENTION FAJITA AT TH END OF STEAK. IT JUST ANS 8 OZ STEAK. #5 EXPECTING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF MEXICAN FOOD LIKE BACK IN POST FALLS. #6 GOING OUT WITHOUT A GPS OR STREET MAP IN CAMBRIDGE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ONLY LESS THEN A 1/2 TANK OF GAS. YOU SEE WE PAY CLOSE TO $5.00 ON BASE AND CLOSE TO $10.00 OFF BASE WITH THE $ CONVERSION, SOOOO THAT ADDED TO THE STRESS OF FINDING THE PLACE.
$55.00 LATER WE DECIDED WE SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN WHATS GOOD AND WHATS NOT ON THIS ADVENTURE AND REMINDED OURSELVES THAT WE ARE IN ENGLAND SO WE SHOULD JUST BE HAPPY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
"WE'RE MAKING MEMORIES" LOL

New Cell phone!

I added to my blog list my mobile. I can use blogger for free on my cell so I tested it out in the front yard with a picture of the large butterfly bush! and me in my room playing with the camera. Seemed to work fine except when it comes to texting the message on the cell. If you know me and texting then you know that they built the pyramids in Egypt faster then I can text!

New Cell phone!

regarding did you know

Number 1, 2, 6, 7 need to be switched!

DID YOU KNOW????

ENGLISH U.K. TO ENGLISH U.S.!

1. LADY = BIRD


2. MAN= BLOKE
3. FIT=GOODLOOKING
4. CHEEKY = SMARTY PANTS, LIPPY
5. CHEERS= GOODBYE OR THANK YOU
6. GARBAGE =RUBBISH
7. GAS=PETROL
8. YOU ALRIGHT=HOW ARE YOU
9. LIFT=ELEVATOR
10. LORRY= LARGE TRUCK OR SEMI
11. DUAL CARRIAGE WAY=FREEWAY
12. CHEMIST=PHARMACY
13. SURGERY= DOCTORS OFFICE
14. BANGER=SAUSAGE
15. CRISP=CHIPS AS IN POTATO CHIPS
16. CHIPS=FRENCH FRY
17. ICE LOLLY = POPSICLE
18. RASHER SLICE OF BACON
19. JAM=JELLY OR JAM
20. JELLY=JELLO

DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT ENGLAND

1. A FRENCH FRY IS CALLED CHIPS WHICH IS SERVED WITH EVERYTHING. FOR EXAMPLE : KFC DOESN'T SERVE MASH POTATOES AND GRAVY BUT CHICKEN W/ CHIPS, PIZZA HUT SERVES PIZZA WITH GARLIC CHIPS, THE FISH AND CHIPS SPEAK FOR ITSELF, DINNER AT A PUB USUALLY COMES WITH THE MAIN DISH A SIDE OF CHIPS AND GREEN PEAS, YUCK! GREEN PEAS ARE ALSO QUITE COMMON BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

2. PEOPLE DRIVE ON THE LEFT HERE BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE MALL AND PARK IN THE PARK ADE AS YOU GO UP AND AROUND YOU THINK THEY WOULD STICK TO THE STAY ON THE LEFT RULE BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GO UP OR DOWN THE PARK ADE ON THE RIGHT SIDE! UNLESS THAT WAS ANOTHER AMERICAN COMING DOWN WHEN WE WERE GOING UP ON THE LEFT! WHO KNOWS:)

3. SAUSAGE, THEY LOVE THEIR SAUSAGE AND IS PART OF A FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST. IT'S NOT EVEN THE KIND OF SAUSAGE YOUR THINKING ABOUT, BUT IF IT'S NOT GOOD YOU'LL KNOW IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST FULL OF MUSH. THE GOOD ONES HAVE MORE TEXTURE AND FLAVOR AND THESE ARE CALLED "PROPER SAUSAGE." IT'S STILL THE SAME SAUSAGE BUT NOW IT IS DESERVED TO BE CALLED PROPER! OR PROPA. THIS APPLIES TO EVERYTHING ELSE TOO, SO WHEN IN ENGLAND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A "PROPER ENGLISH BREAKFAST"!

OKAY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME! I DON'T WANT TO OVERWHELM YOU!

Altons Garden

The sky ride high above the Park over looking the garden and a huge chinese Pagoda fountain below on the castle grounds.

Nottingham wasn't too far from here so I can imagine this lush forest was a part of Robin Hoods hood!. GET IT HOOD. I wonder if he was related to little red riding "HOOD"! or Boys in the "HOOD" I crack myself up:)I could go on but I'll spare you!

JUST CHILLIN IN THEIR MAMA'S RIDE!

LIKE USUAL WAITING IN THE CAR FOR ME, LIKE THAT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ME GETTING OUT THE DOOR!

ANTIQUE SHOPPING IN ELY NEAR THE RIVER

COLEAN KARNES ON THE BRIDGE IN ELY, NAMED BY ANGLO- SAXONS IT MEANS ISLE OF EELS! WE WENT ANTIQUE SHOPPING BUT WE WEREN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL.

OINK OINK

SEAN WAS MAKING US LAUGH WITH HIS PIGGY NOSE FACE!

OLD SCHOOL APPLES PIES

I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU BUT OH HOW GOOD IT TASTE. REMEMBER THE DEEP FRIED APPLE PIES WHEN WE WERE KIDS? THATS THE ONLY WAY THEY SERVE IT HERE! KIMO WAS IN APPLE PIE HEAVEN SO MUCH SO THAT THIS IS A PICTURE OF KIMO WHEN WE WENT BACK THE SAME WEEK WHILE THE BOYS WERE AT THE MOVIES ON BASE. NAUGHTY THEY DON'T KNOW WE WENT! SHH DON'T TELL!

PIZZA HUT!

THIS WAS OUR FIRST PIZZA HUT EXPERIENCE. WE ORDERED THE FEAST! 4 PERSONAL PAN PIZZAS WITH 4 GARLIC CHIPS (FRENCH FRIES), AND 4 PEPSI'S . YES I COULD FEEL THE FAT BUILDING UP AROUND MY WAIST AS I WAS EATTING IT. IT WAS CHEAPER THEN I THOUGHT I ONLY PAID AROUND $32.00

UNTIL NEXT MONTH!

GOODBYE ALTON TOWERS! THE BOYS WILL BE BACK AGAIN BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS IN SEPTEMBER! HEADED BACK TO GET ON THE MONORAIL TO THE CAR PARK. I THINK IT TOOK OVER 2 HOURS TO GET HOME. I DROVE THERE AND BACK SO I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BATHROOM DREW A BATH, DROPPED A BATH FIZZY IN THE WATER AND WENT TO MY 30 MINUTE PEACE PLACE WHILE KIMO AND THE BOYS UNLOADED THE CAR. JUST CALL ME PRINCESS!

YOU KNOW YOUR GETTING OLD WHEN.......

YOU KNOW YOUR GETTING OLD WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WENT CAMPING FOR A WEEK AND YOUR BODY FEELS LIKE YOU RAN A MARATHON AND YOU CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE THE AMUSEMENT PARK TO GO HOME AND DO NOTHING! YIPPY THIS WAS TAKEN WHILE SEAN WAS ABOUT TO GO ON HIS LAST RIDE!

IT'S OKAY YOU CAN LAUGH AT ME

ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE NOW AS TO HOW MUCH FUN WE WERE HAVING! MR. SEAN WAS ON THE RIDE BUT HAD TO FIND A SEAT SOMEWHERE WHICH DIDN'T MATTER SINCE HE DIDN'T WANT TO RIDE WITH ME OR KEREY MOST OF THE TIME! MY THROAT HURT BY THE 3RD RIDE

SCARY!

ONCE AGAIN I LOOK LIKE A LITTLE OLD ASIAN LADY AND KEREY LOOKS LIKE HE JUST HAD SOME CIGAWEED!

ROLLER COASTER! THAT'S US ON IT!

IF I COULD HAVE BACKGROUND MUSIC IT WOULD BE PLAYING "ROLLER COASTER" BY THE OHIO PLAYERS!

SOO FUN EXCEPT FOR OUR FIRST ROLLER COASTER RIDE CALLED "AIR" AS WE GOT ON WHICH SEATED 4 PEOPLE IN A ROW KIMO, SEAN, KEREY AND I ALL GOT ON WITH EXCITEMENT UNTIL KIMO PULLED THE HARNESS DOWN AND IT WOULDN'T LOCK SO THE KID WORKING THERE SAID,"YOU PULL MATE AND I'LL PUSH" AFTER 15 SECONDS OR SO OF THAT HE THEN SAYS, " SORRY MATE." SO THAT EXPLAINS WHY WE HAVE GREAT PICTURES AND VIDEO OF THE TRIP!

MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS " WE'RE IN ENGLAND" I DON'T THINK ANYONE BIGGER THEN THESE LITTLE EUROPEANS ARE SUPPOSE TO VISIT THIS REMOTE AMUSEMENT PARK BECAUSE WHEN WE ATE AT PIZZA HUT AT THE PARK I COULDN'T USE MY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CHIP CARD. IT'S REALLY STUPID BUT EVEN WHEN WE GO TO THE STORE THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS CREDIT CARD? ACTUALLY IT'S MORE LIKE WE'RE NOT IN THE US ANYMORE! FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE ABROAD.

FUNKY PINE TREE

THIS PINE TREE WAS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE PARK I BELIEVE COLEAN KARNES LIKES TO REFER TO THIS TREE AS THE AFRICAN PINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT REMINDS HER OF TREES IN AFRICA. I DON'T RECALL SEEING PINES GROWING OUT THERE! WE DON'T HAVE THESE IN IDAHO EITHER!

THE GARDENS AND THE HUGE GLASS CONSERVATORY

KIMO TOOK THIS PICTURE FROM THE SKY RAIL SO YOU CAN SEE THE FILM FROM THE GLASS. THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL SITE TOWARDS THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE YEW HEDGES WHICH LINES THE PATHWAY TO THE GLASS CONSERVATORY. THIS PICTURE DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE EITHER SO YOU JUST NEED TO COME OUT AND I'LL TAKE YOU THERE.

GLASS WINDOW

THIS WINDOW HAD A PICTURE OF FISH IN THE OCEAN AND THE SKY AND THE SUN ABOVE. IT'S ONE OF THOSE YOU HAD TO BE THERE PICTURES.

YES, WELCOME TO MY NEW HOME!

CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING IN THIS CASTLE? JUST IMAGINE THE SLEEPOVERS YOU COULD HAVE!

Cool landscaping

Right outside the caslte, I wish my hedges looked like these!

Inside the Amusment Park

Let the fun begin! Okay so this Park is built around this castle on 500 acres. Sooo cool. The Earls of Shrewsbury occupied the castle from 1412 to the 1920's. The 15th Earl Charles Talbot tamed the landscape around the castle in the 1700's. It is so beautiful take a look!

DAY TRIP OUT!

ALTON TOWERS!

WE DROVE OFF TO ALTON TOWERS , 1/2 A TANK LATER OF GAS WE ARRIVED WITH THE DROVES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME GREAT IDEA AS WE DID, IMAGINE THAT!

BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY GOT MOVING IN THE PARK IT WAS PROBABLY 10:30AM OR SO. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN ENGLAND AND DESPITE ALL THE PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THE PARK BY 5:30PM AND EVERYONE WAS READY TO GO HOME.

HIYA !

Hiya (British greeting),

Sorry I haven't been to the blog but I've been busy just doing errands and running the kids back and forth to the base.

We spoke to Corey and he's doing fine. He had an accident at work which involved him and the driver of the golf cart tipped over and his ankle dragging under the cart. He's okay but not making money and his ankle is still swollen with blood blisters. Yummy!

Kimo finally has 3 days off and we are planning to take the kids to Alton Towers tomorrow to the amusement park. It is the only thing I think they will be doing this summer. If there Essays they turned into the Youth Centers get picked they will be able to go to Wales on a 4 day camping trip to water raft, rock climb and do other outdoor events for free. I of course volunteered to be a Chaperon but I'm wondering now if that was a smart thing seeing that it requires all this physical stuff.

I have been hitting the antique store and boot sales and just having a little bit of shopping fun collecting English things for a few quid (bucks) here and there.

I will post pictures this week of the Alton Towers trip. Should be fun lots of roller coasters! Until then, CHEERS!

Love to all,

Candice