Spring Break Happiness!!

I LOVE TO TRAVEL!!!!! If I am not on a trip, I am planning one. Right now I am lucky enough to be on a trip. We have just concluded Day 7 and I am in one of my favorite places in America. I am in Bluff. It is my first time back in nearly 7 years and I am so glad to be here. J and I shared a Navajo taco at the Twin Rocks Café pretty soon after the sun went down and right after checking in with our AWESOME hostess Elda. Perhaps I should give a short rundown of the trip so far.

Day 1 –(Friday March 20) – WICKED!!! This show is AMAZING! If you have an opportunity to see it – GO! I got chills and tears and I left the show wanting to be a Broadway star. J and I went to see it with some of my Vancouver peeps. It was the perfect end to a crazy finals week.



Day 2 – Cannon Beach. Ginger and I had a photo shoot. I read my book on the beach for a bit and then worked for a couple of hours. This means that I got a delicious meal prepared by my FAVORITE chef and the best father I know – MY DAD!



Day 3 – Sunday with the family. We had a pseudo-impromptu birthday party for J, since she is leaving to go to school and won’t be home for her bday in May. She received gifts such as dishwashing soap, cleaners and tp from Costco!!



Day 4 – driving, driving, Multnomah Falls, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, breakfast at the last Burgerville for 24,000ish miles, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, sighting of the Boise temple, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, SURPRISE CASEY in Rexburg!!!!!! We talked to her when we got to Idaho Falls and through some sneaky investigative conversation we discovered that she would be at home studying. We text messaged her a pic of Multnomah Falls and one of the Welcome to Idaho sign and the last was a pic of J and I standing in front of her door. Much to our sadness she had left and was not home for the surprise. We got to see her about an hour later and visited until curfew.



Day 5 – Enjoying all that Rexburg has to offer! We went to visit C at work and then her boss let her off early (thanks Ryan!). We enjoyed Bajio for lunch and went to Brother Baron’s Book of Mormon class where J got to tell everyone her favorite movie from each genre and I admitted that if I could be any Disney character I would be Ursula the Sea Witch ( I think I scared them. Really). We went to the Spori Gallery where there was a VERY COOL show about creativity where they featured senior projects from the year. I found a book I wanted at the bookstore and resisted buying BYUI paraphernalia. We met C’s roommates and friends and relaxed at the apartment until some of us went to Craigo’s for pizza buffet (Oreo pizza = yum!) then off to the cheap theater to see He’s Just Not That into You. It was pretty funny how interactive that movie became. For example, one of the characters cheats on his wife and every time he came on screen, several people were heard to say “CHEATER!” and at the mushy parts, there were audible sighs.



Day 6 – J, C and I went to JB’s for breakfast where C’s hot chocolate smelled like play dough. Erika had told me to go to the cupcake place. WOW! We got 5 different kinds of cupcakes and they have all been delicious so far. The pictures will say everything. After saying “later” to C outside her job, J and I drove to Salt Lake City. We met up with Russ and watched an episode of Wife Swap. What a weird show. Dinner was Crown Burger, which happened to be delicious but made me feel not so vivacious. Jen and I got to use Mike’s tickets to the Utah Grizzlies hockey game!!! We were on one end about 7 rows from the ice. There was some pushing and shoving, 2 broken hockey sticks and a few almost altercations, but no full on fights. A little disappointing.





Day 7 – TODAY!!! Thursday March 26th. We took it easy this morning and I got my rear end kicked at Dr. Mario. I am not as good at the game as I remember. Jen’s youngest, Ryan, really wanted me to come say hello so we stopped by on our way out of town. Then we drove and drove and drove. We had a miracle and this is what I will conclude with. We were trucking along on the mountain and there was some blowing snow, but nothing serious. I was coming up pretty fast on this semi, so I pulled into the passing lane. It was at this point that I had to turn on the wipers and wash the windshield of the road spray from the truck. I did not see that there was ice on the road, but I sure felt it. I lost traction and I was VERY afraid that we would slide into oncoming traffic. At exactly the right moment, I jerked the car into the other lane and after a slight fishtailing maneuver the tires found the blacktop and we were safe. My senses were on full alert by this point and my heart took several miles to calm down. While some may say that they are exceptional drivers and can handle anything that comes, I know that our recovery was due to a higher power than my own. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that is mindful of his children and the times when he needs to direct specific movements of theirs. I know that I was guided on the road today.

Our Day In Hollywood!

Our Day in California!
Unfortunately because we had to take…I mean, got to take a side trip to Lake Havasu, we only got one full day in the sunny California. However, that day was filled with all sorts of adventure! We woke up early, at the crack of 8am, and took our time getting ready, at about 9:30 we left the house and made our way to Porto’s Bakery, HOLY COW! Talk about a bakery! It was a truly amazing sight! And the taste was even better! We got there too late to eat breakfast, so we ordered sandwiches which were so tasty, I think J’s was the best, I forget what it was, but it was great! We also got to see Kate, she was headed up to Oregon from San Diego, so we got to visit with her for a bit.
Portos Goodies

Us...

We then took a trip to the Americana Mall, just so we could look at all of the stuff rich people like to buy. I found probably the softest leather jacket that anyone in the history of the world has ever felt…it was $750, I don’t wish I had that jacket, I just wish I could afford to buy that jacket . Anyway, we went to another mall, I forget what it’s called, but we went to buy toys (no, not because we were bored). Earlier that morning David was looking online for stuff we could do that day and he found that Knott’s Berry Farm was doing a Toys for Tots drive. If we brought a toy valued at $10 or more you get in for free! So we went to buy toys.
After we got the toys we headed to Hollywood. We didn’t explore Hollywood Blvd. as much as I wanted to, but we also didn’t have as much time as I wanted…We got to take a tour of the Kodak Theatre, it was so cool! We found out a lot of interesting stuff, like if you go out of the public eye for too long, you won’t get invited to come back to the Academy Awards, you’ll be put into a lottery…it’s sad. However we also found out that in the year 2010 the Kodak Theatre is only going to host the Academy Awards and…CIRQUE DU SOLEIL!!! Yes, that’s right, they are going to make a special show for Hollywood and play it exclusively at the Kodak Theatre, we are definitely going to see it! After the Theatre tour we headed outside to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to see the Handprints! It was fun to see all of them and the Theatre is AMAZING! I found my hand twin…Jack Oakie…I have no idea who he is…I should look that up .
In Front of the Kodak

My hand twin!



Tomoko was supposed to meet us for the Kodak tour, but she got really lost, so instead she met us at Pink’s, pink’s is the best Hot Dog stand ever! Truly amazing…and everybody thinks so! We waited in line for about and hour and a half, and it was gone in about ten minutes. It was so so tasty! And we got to see Tomo, which was a major plus!





To top off our night we headed to Knott’s Berry Farm. Knott’s Berry Farm is a theme park of sorts, I mean, of course you’ve heard of their jam, and cookies, and yummyness, but they also have rides and shops and Snoopy. We got there at about 7:30 so we only had 2.5 hours to play before they closed. The first ride we went on was the Supreme Scream, if you’ve been to Vegas it’s called the Big Shot, except this one is bigg. In fact it is the largest descending ride in the world…you sit in a chair with your feet dangling below and it takes you way up to the top and then drops you, it brings you up again, and drops you again. You must know that I have not been on a ride since I was about 8 years old, so to go on a ride like this was either the worst, or the best thing I could have possibly done…I’ll let you decide. By the end of it I was practically hyperventilating, and laughing, and almost crying. It was truly amazing, that was the only ride that J went on, but D and David and I wanted more! We went on another ride called the Boomerang and then the Park was closing, David and I ran to another ride and got in right as they closed the ride. We were the last ones they let on . That was the best one, I don’t know if it was because it was the longest, the last one, or if it was because we barely got on…maybe it was a mixture of the three . D and J didn’t make it to the ride in time, but that was okay, because J wanted to go find the gift shop anyway.
One of the coolest parts of the night was driving in David’s Mercedes convertible, it had screens in the headrest’s and we watched a U2 DVD. Wow, I didn’t know I liked U2, but I really do . We also got to watch a Dave Matthews Band DVD as well. So fun! It was a Blast!!!
After the ride

David and Grace

Day 6: London Bridge Is Falling Down!

We left early to get to Lake Havasu. D drove Uncle David’s car with Uncle David in it, and C and I drove Sid. D was in an e x t r e m e l y bad mood.

****** this is D interrupting... I am adding pics to the blogs and just read this post...and I have to say in my defense that I only got 4 hours of sleep and things had been frustrating*********

I was actually pretty grateful that I was not in the car with her. We drove through the exact same places that we had driven on Wednesday, but they were now almost completely devoid of snow and ice. It was a little strange. We passed by the fateful casino that had unintentionally caused so much trouble, and then moved on towards Arizona. The car ride was long, boring, and uneventful. That was probably a good thing, considering the events of the last one. We got Uncle David home, and he insisted on treating us to lunch. We went out after lunch and saw the London Bridge. It was pretty. We found out all sorts of info about the bridge, and C donated some coins to the huge Salvation Army donation thing that they had there. It was a pretty cool ‘donation thing’. It had a slot for every state. C donated for both Oregon and Idaho, since her heart belongs to both for various reasons. I didn’t donate to either, since my change belongs to my pocket for various other reasons. C is insisting over my shoulder that her heart does not belong to Idaho, it belongs to Rexburg. She wants that made very clear. Distinguish between the two. Idaho, no… Rexburg, yes. Sorry to all you Idahoans that are not from Rexburg. Anyway, back on track. We decided that it would be downright rude to pass through the area and not say Hi to our Grandma (Hi Grandma! (she reads this blog continually)) So we stopped in Earp (yes, named after Wyatt, who was born nearby) and had a short visit with her. We met the newest addition to our family, a little yapper-dog named Arrow. (Sorry, Grandma, I don’t know breeds, just size and sound). He was absolutely adorable, for all the noise he made. (I think I remember saying the same thing about my little brother when he was born. ;) )


When we finally made it out on the road to Cali, it was almost 5pm. We were all a little tired, but very anxious to get to LA and meet with David (Not Uncle). We were supposed to meet with David (not Uncle) late Thursday, and we were excited to see him and feeling guilty about missing almost a whole day with him. We drove FOREVER and finally made it to LA. We did a few things on Friday night, but I will leave them for C to describe, as LA is her territory. Thus ends the record of J Pappas on Vegas times.

Day 5: More than just food

Well, after the excitement of Wednesday, pretty much nothing was going to top it off. We all stayed up pretty late on Wednesday, so we woke up pretty late on Thursday. We had tickets to go to a buffet at Paris… not just any buffet, but THE buffet. For a complete list of all the delights we found there, see previous entry. After the buffet, everyone was pretty tired. We ate ourselves into a stupor, I think. We all went back to the hotel, where wee decided we would take a half hour and relax, then we would go out for our last day After her half hour, Mom decided that she needed more time, so D, C and I left her and Uncle David at the hotel and went out to see the sights. We parked at the Palazzo and walked over to the Venetian, where they pumped some sort of nasty perfume in the air so strong that we could not breathe. We walked across the bridge of sighs and sighed. We looked at the gondolas, heard the gondolier singing and I found my mind dwelling on Stephen Sondheim’s “Do I Hear a Waltz?” After walking around the Venetian, we walked EVERYWHERE else. We went down to Miracle Mile. It was starting to get dark, and the guys with their devious little pieces of paper were out in force. It was a little unnerving. We found a one hour photo place that did not actually do one hour photos. We passed by a guy who was pretending to hand out little pieces of paper like everyone else, and refused his paper before wee realized that it was a dollar bill. I am actually pretty sure that it was a $20 bill. Depressing. Anyway, we got to Miracle Mile and wandered there a lot. D had some guy try to convince her to buy a $300 dollar flat iron that was on sale for $200. If only. We found a couple of cheap souvenir places and got some pretty ridiculous stuff. We found an awesome hat place called Hattitude. Also, D discovered a place called ALDO, where she got some pretty sick rings to add to her collection. All in all, a pretty fun place, even if we did have to walk everywhere. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing; we found Teuscher chocolates, where D got some of her favorite champagne truffles. C got some chocolate, too, but I didn’t. Personally I think that if I am going to pay $75 a pound for something it had better be gold. We walked back to the car around 7. Mom’s plane was supposed to leave at 9:30 and we were going to take her to the airport, but we found out that her plane was delayed, so we went to Whole Foods again instead. We got random foods for our road trip the next day. D, C and I were to leave Vegas (only one day late) and head to LA on Friday. We finally went back to the hotel, where I crashed. I had stayed up until 2 am on Wednesday, woken up at 7 and then walked all day. I was dead tired. C and D took Mom to the airport… her plane had been delayed now 3 times… and then came back and went to sleep. A slow moving and tiring day....

"Orange Colored Sky" -Unknown

Jaeda-
GAME RULES:
1. Put your music player on shuffle (ALL MUSIC).
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK" YOU SAY:
"The Way You Look Tonight" -Michael Buble

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Humble Me" -Nora Jones

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Soulmate" -Natasha Bedinfield

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Dancing" -Chris Issak

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"The Point of No Return" -Andrew Lloyd Weber

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Panis Angelicus" -Unknown

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"This Time" -Chris Isaak

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
"Strawberry Wine" -Deana Carter

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" -Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy" -Brian Osburn

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Mouth on Fire" -Duncan Sheik

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"I'm Your Man" -Michael Buble

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Two Weeks in Hawaii" -Hellogoodbye

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"All Creatures of Our God and King" -Cathy Speer

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Stupid" -Sarah Maclachlan

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Star-Field on Red Lines" -Duncan Sheik

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Building a Mystery" -Sarah Maclachlan

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Don't Let Go" -En Vogue

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"The Mirror/Angel of Music" -Andrew Lloyd Weber

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"I Won't Say I'm in Love" -Cheryl Freeman (Hercules)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"The Winner Takes it All" -Meryl Streep

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Blasphemous Rumors" -Duncan Sheik

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"Between the Minds" -Jack Savoretti

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Swing Low Sweet Chariot" -Eric Clapton

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Walking Away" -Jonny Lang

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Start Again" -Dunca Sheik

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Orange Colored Sky" -Unknown

1985 -Bowling for Soup

Casey-
GAME RULES:
1. Put your music player on shuffle (ALL MUSIC).
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK" YOU SAY:
“Fearless Heart” -Unknown Artist

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"No One’s Aware" –Jack Savoretti

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Apologies" – Jack Savoretti

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Veronique" – Pink Martini

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Mosiah 4" -- King Benjamin

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Edelwies" –Vienna Boy’s Choir

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"1 Nephi 20" -- Nephi

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
"The Best is Yet to Come" – Michael Buble

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"What Hurts the Most" – Rascal Flatts

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Hang on Little Tomato" – Pink Martini

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Honey Honey" – Mamma Mia Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"What About" – Chris Daughtry

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Holes" – Rascal Flatts

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Journey to the Past" – Anastasia Soundtrack

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Time after Time" – Cindy Lauper

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"500 Miles" – The Proclaimers

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Kryptonite" – 3 Doors Down

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Safe" -- Travis

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Flying" – Chris Issak

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Blackout" -- Muse

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Strawberry Wine" – Deana Carter

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Ave Maria" – William Joseph

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"My Wish" – Rascal Flatts

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Pieces" – Rascal Flatts

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"I Stand all Alone” – Quest for Camelot Soundtrack

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Survivor" – Destiny’s Child

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"1985" – Bowling for Soup

IPOD Game -- D -- "A Case Of You" -- Joni Mitchell

GAME RULES:
1. Put your music player on shuffle (ALL MUSIC).
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK" YOU SAY:
"Proud Father" -- Jon McLaughlin

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Lights, Camera, Action" --NKOTB

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Humble Me" -- Norah Jones

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Black Rain" -- Jack Savoretti

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Dr. Frankenstein" -- Jack Savoretti

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Summertime" --NKOTB

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Come What May" -- Mario Frangoulis

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
"Put It On My Tab" -- NKOTB

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Apologize" -- One Republic

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Only The Lonely" -- Chris Isaak

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Bad Day" -- Daniel Powter

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"A Taste Of Honey" -- Lizz Wright

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Cry" -- Dan Wilson

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"World" -- Five For Fighting

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Put Your Records On" -- Corrine Bailey Rae

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Dirty Dancing" -- NKOTB

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Something's Always Wrong" -- Toad The Wet Sprocket

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Poison" -- Bell Biv Devoe

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Dreaming With A Broken Heart" -- John Mayer

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Nothing Special" -- Duncan Sheik

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Get Together" -- Lizz Wright

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air" -- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"Crush" -- David Archuletta

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"I've Loved Enough To Know" -- Deana Carter

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Several Thousand" -- Jim Boggia

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"I'm All Right" -- Madeleine Peyroux

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"A Case Of You" -- Joni Mitchell