It was overdue....LONG overdue --- Stephanie & Tim were in desperate need of a getaway! (Not a long one, mind you, just a couple of days away from kids, pets, stress, etc!). We decided a short trip to Sin City was in order! Deb & Ramon graciously offered their services at "Camp Godoy" for the kids and we were off!
On our way to the Forum shops @ Caesar's Palace, we stopped to watch the beautiful fountain light/music show at the Bellagio. It always amazes us how perfectly the water dances in time with the music.
I love the decor of the Forum. It feels as though you are walking thru an Italian city, complete with beautiful fountains and gorgeous archetecture.
Dinner @ Cheesecake Factory!I was checkin' out my friend Karen's blog and she (inadvertantly) challenged me to a Tag! Because I do love to read other people's tags, I must fill in my own answers and post them. So! I am asking each member of our family (minus Nathan, obviously) the questions on her tag and posting the answers on our blog....happy reading!!!
Stephanie's answers...:o)
I am: a blessed person
I know: that I am a blessed person!
I want: to have my house projects finished.
I have: a lot of things that I am thankful for.
I wish: that chocolate chip cookies made you skinny.
I hate: rude people & animal cruelty.
I miss: my Grandma & Grandpa.
I fear: something bad happening to someone in my family.
I feel: safe & loved.
I hear: the pitter-patter of the rain outside.
I smell: my vanilla cupcake candle downstairs.
I crave: chocolate chip cookies (not just right now, but on a daily basis).
I wonder: how much longer til the end of the world.
I regret: stupid past mistakes.
I am not: as forgiving as I'd like to be.
I believe: that we will one day be reunited with friends/family who have moved on.....
I dance: when I hear a good beat.
I sing: to my Abba songs.
I don’t always: keep my temper in check.
I fight: the urge to tell people what I really think of them.
I write: on my blog cuz it's fun.
I lose: when I play scramble against Laura.
I win: when I do what's right.
I never: get all the stuff done I need to in one day.
I listen: to the "still small voice."
I am scared: of elevators & spiders.
I need: to cherish each moment & not sweat the small stuff.
I am happy about: fall is coming..one of my favorite times of year.
I tag: all of you who love to read tags about others.
Tim's answers...............:o)
I am: who I am!
I know: that I can do better.
I want: to live long and die with a feeling of satisfaction.
I have: the best family in the world
I wish: I could spend more time with my family in England
I hate: I don't hate, its not worth the effort.
I miss: my family in England.
I fear: something bad happening to someone in my family.
I feel: stretched.
I hear: Bon Jovi's - These Days
I smell: Roast Chicken
I crave: Mint chocolate chip ice cream
I wonder: when humans will realize we are destroying this miracle we live on.
I regret: not keeping in touch with people as much as I could.
I am not: as patient as I used to be
I believe: in what I choose to believe in.
I dance: rarely, it usually takes a LOT of liquid courage.
I sing: too much.
I fight: for the right, to PAAAARRTY
I write: rarely.
I lose: my patience to quickly these days.
I win: more often than not....
I never: get all the stuff done I want to in one day
I listen: I just don't always hear.
I am scared: of one of my children dying before me.
I need: to be a better person.
I am happy about: my Aunt and Grandma visiting from England next month.
I tag: therefore I am.
Samantha's answers.........:o)
I am: Samantha.
I know: that I'm a special child.
I want: my parents to know they are good parents.
I have: wonderful friends.
I wish: that there were no bad people in the world.
I hate: spiders.
I miss: my cousin Zach in Yakima.
I fear: being alone.
I feel: happy.
I hear: the clock chiming.
I crave: chocolate chip cookies
I wonder: how God made the Earth.
I regret: accidentally shutting Nathan's fingers in the door.
I am not: a bad person.
I believe: that Santa and Jesus are real.
I dance: the tango with Gavin.
I sing: When Jesus Christ was baptized.
I fight: with Gavin.
I write: about my family.
I lose: at Who Knew?
I win: @ Uno.
I never: have been to Hawaii.
I listen: to my family.
I am scared: of spiders.
I need: a lot of love.
I am happy about: starting school.
Gavin's answers...............:o)
I am: a person.
I know: better.
I want: to be with my mom.
I have: toys.
I wish: I had a new toy.
I hate: when Samantha be's mean.
I miss: Zach.
I fear: the fan in mom's room looks like a monster at night.
I feel: hungry.
I hear: the music.
I smell: farts.
I crave: food.
I wonder: where my laptop is.
I regret: doing mean things.
I am not: a bad boy.
I believe: that Jesus is real.
I dance: the tango with Samantha.
I sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
I don’t always: behave myself.
I fight: with Samantha.
I write: tomato man's.
I lose: my toys.
I win: everything.
I never: be bad.
I listen: to my mom & dad.
I am scared: of the dark.
I need: GIMME A JOB STUPID!!!
I am happy about: Halloween coming.
I tag: Samantha.
Posted
The 1st evening we arrived in good old Orange County was spent visiting my neighbors from my childhood - The Giardina's...They lived right down the street from me in Huntington Beach & have known me since I was about 6 yrs. old! They were so kind to invite us over for a wonderful BBQ! Here are the kids bowling on the Wii against Ed Giardina. They had such a blast; now I guess we'll have to get one!!! :o)
Jenny, Ed & Cathy Giardina - the greatest neighbors of all time --- we miss u guys!
Okay, this photo was snapped as we trying (desperately) to get the kids up for Disneyland...it was super early and the kids were exhausted from our 4 a.m. wake up the previous morning. Gavin was not responding to my begging, so I pulled off his covers - hoping it would rouse him out of his deep slumber. No such luck!!! lol.....As you can see, Nathan just HAD to get close to the action (as he casually observes from the sidelines brushing his teeth)!
Here we are @ the Disneyland parking lot - about to embark on an adventure of ...(say it with me guys!!!) 16 HOURS OF PURE FUN!!!!!!!!!! That's right! From 8 a.m. til midnight - the Gregg & Godoy family experienced an adrenaline fueled day at the Happiest Place on Earth....
Deb & the kids..... Now we are off to the Haunted Mansion - where I had to ride by myself because of my claustrophobia. Boo - hoo! I can't take the elevator, so I had a couple of employees escort me through a back entrance. I was a little bummed that I didn't get to see the kids' face as they experienced it for the first time, but I know they loved it!
While in line for the Haunted Mansion, Zach & Gavin tried to pass the time by tickling each other with a leaf. It was a crack up! 
Ramon & Dane - this was his first time on the ride too (Dane, not Ramon - just to clarify). I'm sure Ramon has been on this ride hundreds of times!
Nathan & Daddy
As we waited for Tiffeny & her kids to arrive, we rode the Winnie the Pooh ride. I am taking the picture in the backseat, trying to get Zach to turn around and look at the camera. This was the best I could do....lol.
Zippity -Do- Dah! Photo op with Brer Bear! Right after this was taken, we went to lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant behind him. That was always a childhood favorite of me & Debbie's. :o)
Zach, Nathan & Gavie checkin' out the ducks at the waterfront near Pirate's Island.
Here is Tim trying to pull Excalibur from the stone - there are actually a few times a day when it actually comes out! No such luck for Tim - even being English didn't help him!
The kids are just atout to ride Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (which is probably a calmer experience than when mom is driving). Deb & I were watching from the carousel with the babies. It was scorching hot & we just wanted to rest in the shade & let the dads have a turn with the kids.
I Scream, You Scream, We all scream for Ice Cream!
At Deb's suggestion, we headed off to Gibson Girl's Ice Cream Parlour. She swore it was the best ice cream in the world, so how could we resist? (And I have to say she was right!) It was pure bliss as we ate our delicious ice cream inside the air conditioned parlour! What better way to cool off than a waffle cone of Toll-House chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream??? Exactly!!!!!
Nicole's mom tells me that Gavin was her first crush...(awwww, how sweet).
Gavin, Elliana & Jack
Gavin loved to go inside the treehouse when they had playtime in the backyard. Here he is, on his way one last time!!!
Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
The children put on a mini program - singing a couple of songs they learned. One of them was "Oh, what do you do in the summertime?" which we remembered from Sunday School!
Miss Carolyn has always been fabulous - she has been an amazing teacher, mentor & friend.
We cannot say enough good things about her - we will truly miss her this summer.
During the last hour of class, the kids collected "autographs" in their booklets...
Girl Power!!! Samantha with her best friends: Ashley & Elizabeth.
Singing time on the mat - going over all the songs they learned over the year.
One of the favorites was Wishy Washy - it's a cute, catchy song & involves lots of dancing around & changing partners!! Fun!!!
Mrs. L was a great teacher - thanks for the memories!!! Bye Bye 1st grade........
It was a beautiful day outside as we celebrated Father's Day @ Grandma & Grandpa's on Sunday afternoon. Grandpa was hard at work on the back patio grillin' burgers n franks. He was so funny about it; he did not want the kids to be blowing bubbles near the BBQ in case the bubbles popped over the food...LOL. Cousin Zach kept us entertained at dinnertime, carefully explaining details of the "Twade Fedewation" & the "Cwone Wars." I have never known a 3 1/2 year old to know so much about STAR WARS! When he was finished eating, he excused himself, only to come back brandishing his Indiana Jones whip, which he used to torture those of us still eating...lol He proceeded to chase the kids around, as his whip sang, "dum da dum da...dum da daaaa." We then went out to the "yard" (which is just under an acre, really) to play croquet & frisbee. Grandpa opened presents once we were all tuckered out from the horsing around outside. The day ended perfectly with a yummy chocolate cake made by Grandma. 
Nathan was captivated by the clay rabbit behind him.
Gavin & Coolio (aka Zach)
Don't mess with Grandpa when the grill is hot!!!
You can't tell by the photo, but Samantha is getting "whipped" by Indy (I mean Zach)
Bubbles.....he likes Bubbles
I love this photo of Nathan - I love the little chubby profile that he has here....I hope he doesn't lose it for a long, long time....(sigh....)
