Trip to "the west"

If anyone read Michael's Blog, you will know that we just returned from a trip out west to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Nat'l Park and Vegas. It was an amazing trip and I am in awe of nature when I go there, we forget on the East Coast how vast that part of the country is and how we should respect and fear nature and it's elements. The scenery there left me, as we say in the UK, "gobsmacked" !!! My mouth hung open at the sight of Bryce Canyon, don't miss it if you get chance to go to that part of the country. Mike, Jess and her friend Jenna were less than thrilled at the "strenous" (as the guide book said) hike at Bryce but i loved it and wanted more! We really tried to balance out the trip though by going to Vegas at the end and doing absolutely nothing. I lay by the pool and ate, that was about it. Oh, Mike took us to Hoover Dam while we were there which none of us was really interested in but once we got there, wow that is amazing too. Again, - gobsmacked (just wanted to use that word again, isn't it great!?) Jenna learned on that trip to Vegas that those statues that stand with money in front of them are actually real people -she learned that the hard way after "it" moved, I thought I would pee my pants. Jess learned that the strenuous hike is not the most fun, and Mike learned that he's out of shape (his words, not mine). Oh , what did I learn - um, I hate being away from Alex for that long (she stayed with Grandma and Grandad in the UK). I learned that traveling with my Jess is hysterical and that she's mature beyond her years ( i kind of already knew these things but was reminded again) - I learned that we treated the Native Americans like crap (oh knew that too, but was reminded again), and that Vegas is it's own bizarre Disneyworld for grown-ups. Not really my scene (too many sad hookers), but loved Cirque du soleil and the water show at the Bellagio! Oh and about Alex........she LOVED her time over the pond, she was spoiled beyond belief and my parents loved being with her, it's very special to see their relationship develop and it makes me cry every time I think of how lucky Alex is to bond with my Mum the same way I did growing up. Enjoy these few videos and pics from our trip....xx

beaches and kisses

beaches and kisses

Alex is kissing all over the place now and sometimes uses her tongue! Hope she grows out of that one!........it's cute that she is interacting in return now and babbling non-stop, this girl can talk from the moment her eyes open in the morning! Her word of the week is "NO" - every child's favorite. Yesterday we spent the day at the beach with Sue,Tom, kids and Grandma who were all visiting from Virginia (when are you moving back to NJ??????). Christi and her kids were there too-I miss them so we had a great day together. Alex loves the beach and the ocean, she started out nervous and by the end of the day I couldn't keep up with her running all over. It was a perfect, breezy beach day. We just got back from a week with my family in England. Alex has a great time there and gets lots of attention from Grandma and Grandad, I love seeing them all together and Alex has spent enough time there that she is so comfortable with them and wants nothing to do with me when she's there!

Say Aghhhhh

This was on the boat with Jason & Sarah - Alex was exercising her lungs. She wasn't crazy about the life jacket and she hated not being able to jump overboard at her leisure so hopefully as she gets older she'll find her sea legs.

Watching TV

Here is a video of Alex watching TV in her new chair. It's the first time that she is really sitting still and focusing on something for longer than a few seconds - usually she's in constant motion. The way she's draped over the chair is hysterical, I don't know where she got the idea from to do that. Looks pretty comfy though.