Angel's Camp, Cali!

Old Hotel that has been restored!




A one room school house that is open to the public to view! Reminds me of Little House on the Praire!




The one room school house after being restored!


Ryan and I got a "free" trip, so we decided to use it! We had a choice between about 5 or 6 different places and for some reason, we decided on Angel's Camp, California. It is about 2 hours south of Sacramento along some twisty roads. We looked all the places up on line, and decided that an old miners town would be interesting to see-NOT!


We had to attend a 90 minute presentation at a timeshare resort in exchange for a 3 night 4 day "free" trip. We went with the intention of going to have fun looking at the old caverns, antique shops (I love to look at antiques), and just hang out!


Well ... that didn't happen. After our long drive, we checked into our "nasty" hotel and went to the neighboring town, Murphy. Main street was about the size of Sheridan's Main Street and most of the shops were closed. It was really hot, 104, and we were hungry. We went to an old restored hotel for lunch and then went back to our hotel.


Did I mention our room was gross, nasty and just plane filthy! In the bathroom, the door was smeared with poo, and the towels were stained with God knows what. Ryan didn't even sleep under the cover, for fear of something eating him alive.


On Friday, we had to be at the presentation at noon, so we went for a late breakfast and then to the VERY nice resort! I was very angry they put us in a dive when they had a very nice resort with tons of empty units! We had talked about it before attending the presentation and decided that we would not purchase the timeshare. We use Mom and Dad's so we didn't need our own!

Well.....

They laid out all of the options and terms and we are now proud owners of timeshare! We just couldn't pass it up. We go to Florida at least every other year and now we won't have to pay for hotels, and even rental cars, or park hopper tickets! We decided it would force us to take vacations, even if it is just to the Oregon coast! I can tell you one thing... we will never go back to Angel's Camp, CA!

Trying my patience-to say the least!

The last couple of days have been very trying around the Jackman house! The little boys have pushed every button that I have. I am not sure why, but they have gotten very physical with each other lately. We have been working on using our words and really they have done a great job-until Monday! I decided to take them to the fair and all the rules went out the window, apparently! The "problem" is they are too much like "brothers".



The two little boys have been together every weekday since they have been born; all but 3 months worth. When I went back to work, Steph stayed at home with the boys. She did a great job with Mason. She treated him just like he was her own; spoiling him rotten! She decided to go back to work, so Mason was without his "Bran....dine" for about 3 months. It was really hard to trust another babysitter because Steph did such a great job; but "we" adjusted fine. When I decided to quit my job, I was very excited to have Brandon and Alyssa here!



I think this is just a phase they are going through, and this too shall pass; I hope! Poor Mason has a fat lip, a black eye, and a few scratches to show for this "phase"! I know he next "phase", Brandon will get the brunt of the blows-I just hope they wait a month or two!

Oregon State Fair, here we come!

There is only a couple of days left before school starts, so I decided that I wanted to smash a whole summer full of trips into one week, crazy I know! Yesterday was $1.00 ride day at the Fair so I packed a lunch for the kids and off we went. I knew better than to go on a Monday, but we were going to try it anyway!

Brandon was grumpy and tired, so he slept all the way to Salem, while Jacob and Mason watched a movie in the van; thank God for the DVD player built in! When we got there, it was overcast and dark! We were bundled up, sitting in the stroller and off we went to find us some "aminals" as Mason says!

Last week the two littles did well in the stroller, so I didn't think it was going to be an issue-WRONG! Brandon didn't want Mason anywhere near him, and used his head to head-butt Mason in the mouth. Mason now had a fat lip! After walking around and playing referee all morning, we made our way over to the rides! They each got to go on about 5 rides. The little boys got to pick their rides, and they of course they had to sit in the same seat as each other. I tried to split them up, but they insisted!

When the ride tickets were gone, we headed to the horse arena to sit, eat lunch and get ready to go home!

It was a really long day, and I was excited to get back and have my trusty "Time-out" spot. Next time I decide to do an "outing" on Monday, I will remember our day at the Oregon State Fair!

Night at the races!

Last night, Mason and I decided to go to Sunset Speedway to cheer my Dad on! He has been racing there for about 6 years now, and we have gone to almost all of the races! Since he has started, he has gone through 3 different cars, but he is doing well with "Jezebel" as he calls her!

Some how, we managed to time Mason's birth just before the start of the race season! He has been going to the track since he was 6 weeks old! Most people thought we were crazy, but he loved it. He would sleep right through the races and nothing has really changed. About Thursday or Friday, Mason starts to ask about "Pop's race"! He loves it. He cheers and yells with the best of them! This is pictures from last nights racing! The top pictures are of dad during the trophy dash! The bottom one is Dad's number on the score board (he was 2nd in time!) The last one is Mason sleeping on the hood of Dad's car! He was wore out after the races!

Jacob started out liking to go to the track, but now he is starting to get bored with it. Most Saturday nights, he stays at home with Nana and the dogs!

There are just a couple of races left this season and Dad is doing so, so in the points standings! He is fifth, but last night he blew his motor, so we will see how it goes!

The Oregon Zoo!

I decided that I would try to take the kids to the zoo! Alyssa was at her grandpa's in California, so I only had three kids! I had purchased a double stroller, so now was as good as time as any!

When we got there, it seemed as though everyone else had the same idea! We drove around for about an hour, and finally decided to go park in the shuttle lot, up the freeway a ways!

It was a great day to go, it wasn't too hot, the animals were out, and the kids were great! We got to see a lot of animals, all but the momma elephant that was in labor! The dinosaur exhibit was a little much for the little boys, but they enjoyed it, I think! The highlight of the day was when a dinosaur spit water at us, and Brandon told him, he should sit in time out- "spitting is gross!"

Registration for 3rd grade!

So today, Jacob and I went to school and registered him for the 3rd grade! I can't believe that he is that old already! It really hit home that my little boy is growing up. We looked at the bus schedule and found out that the bus stops about a block away from our house; he is excited to walk by himself, with me walking behind, of course!

We have done all the school supply shopping and have managed to buy two pair of jeans! Jacob is worse than any girl I know. He has to do the "sit down" test, turning in the mirror, and the "bend over" test! It is the worst. I just have to laugh sometimes; not in front of him though!

I can't believe that summer is almost over. We have not done anything this summer, or so it seems! I had big plans to take the kids to the zoo, the children's museum, enchanted forest, and maybe the beach a couple of times! I guess we will have to do all of them in the next couple of days!