Thursday, August 13, 2015

Omaha Trip So Far

We left Vernal last Tuesday to take Liz, Owen and Oliver to Omaha. On the way we stopped at a park in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to let the kids get out and run around for a bit. It was a pretty nice park.

Oliver found some things to investigate.



We made it as far as Laramie, Wyoming, that day. We stayed at what can best be described as a 2 star motel - America's Best Value Inn. Here's a couple of selfies of LaRue and I on the morning of our 38th wedding anniversary the next day.




Then it was get back in the car and head east again. Here's Liz, Owen and LaRue:



Before leaving Laramie we stopped at a McDonalds. Oliver gobbled down a hamburger.


Dead flies in the window next to where we were sitting.


We had to take a couple of breaks at Rest Areas. Here's LaRue by a big rock.


Technically, she's not standing on the grass. But she did walk on it. Anarchist!


In North Platte, Nebraska, there's a neat park and some rides. Here's everybody but me on the merry-go-round.


Here we are on Friday night at the Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City for the Deep Purple concert. I have waited 42 years to finally see Deep Purple.


We had really good seats just a few rows back from the stage.


The opening band was Black Oak Arkansas. They have not aged well and were not very good. Fortunately, they only played for about 30 minutes. 


Getting the stage ready for Deep Purple.



Deep Purple makes their entrance.


They really put on a good show. A mix of older and newer tunes. These guys still have it.


One evening we went to the Old Market in Omaha. It's a area that features a lot of antique/vintage stores. There was this store - Hollywood Candy - which had lots of goodies and some cool vintage items for sale.




Some of the older buildings in the area.




Owen had to go check out the horses at the carriage ride.




Yesterday we took Owen to see his first movie in a theater. He saw Inside Out and really liked it.




The boys playing in the little playhouse in the backyard.





Here we are getting hot dogs and churros at Costco.



At the Hy-Vee grocery store they have these orchids in glass and hanging from the ceiling.


It's been a fun trip so far. Not sure what else we will do before heading home.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Ant-Man

LaRue and I went to the matinee showing of Ant-Man today. Even watching the trailers online I was not that excited to see it. 
Boy am I glad we went. It was a tremendously fun, exciting movie. 

I'm not going to really say much about it except stay to the complete end. There is an extra scene about midway through the credits and another at the very end. 

Here's the first trailer (there are others online):

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Inside Out 4th of July

LaRue and I decided at the last minute to drive out to Roy for the 4th of July weekend.

One of the things that prompted the trip was fixing the brakes on the car. I knew they were wearing out and took the car to one of the mechanics. They said the rear brakes were pretty much gone and the front brakes had about half their pads left. They quoted me a price of around $225 to replace the rear brakes.

I happened to call Robin and he said he could pick up some new pads for a lot less and he would be happy to replace them himself. He actually ended up buying new pads for all four brakes for less money than I was quoted.

So Friday we headed to Roy.

Saturday morning we got up to find Master French Toast Maker Emily cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

Then Robin proceeded to fix the brakes while I supervised. I was doing the hard part of raising and lowering the jack. I also listened to some of the radio communications of the trains that run near his house.

Here's K.D. on her bicycle.

Brighton on the computer.

Josh was climbing the walls. I have a picture of Robin doing the same thing in the hallway of the Mission Training Center.

Quinley spent a lot of time zooming up and down the sidewalk on her bike.


Once the brakes were finished we all went to see the movie Inside Out. It was really fun. I will definitely be purchasing this one when it comes out.


Here's the trailer.



Following the movie we had a nice BBQ. Robin and Emily had invited one of their friends and her kids to join us.


Some of the kids cooled off in the pool.

Here's Quinley, Grandma and Emily waiting for the evening fireworks festivities.

Even though K.D. was on her bike earlier, I think she rode her roller skates almost non-stop. There wasn't much time the whole weekend when she wasn't skating.

LaRue and I camped out in Robin's trailer.

Getting the chairs all set for the fireworks. Robin and a couple of his neighbors pooled their money and they bought some really fantastic fireworks.

Robin playing with his potato gun. The plan was to shoot glo-sticks into the air for the kids to catch.

K.D. watching the fireworks.

It was a really good weekend. LaRue and I stayed until Monday and drove home so I could get the car inspected and licensed.