Fond memories of Monterey

So as we sat this evening at our dear friends Bill and Gloria's home after enjoying yet another wonderful meal and watching the sun go down over the hills and ocean, I reflected on what I will miss most about Monterey. I always thought it would be the view I was experiencing at that moment,however i hear the views in Valencia of the Mediterranean are spectacular. I decided it was the people who I have shared it with. Fourth of July on the beach with the Kunz family, witnessing the mud run with the Caruther's family,running around the park with Yari as the sun goes down,enjoying meal after meal with great friends and fellow patriots in one of the culinary capitols. So i asked the rest of the family what are their fond memories of Monterey and this is what they had to say:

Dan= The accomplishment and scenery as well as the camaraderie of running multiple marathons (Big Sur Marathon)

Logan= ISM (International School of Monterey) Where she learned to surf and study and made great friends.

Tori= The Beach & the dune (she was the only one who could stand the cold water )

Seth= CUB SCOUTS (friends and leaders)

Paige= Beach board walk in Santa Cruz (rides, and beach, funnel cake and garlic fries,not to mention acrobats!)

Summer Stuff '09

LOgans Chinese Birthday Party

Train Ride Through the Redwoods (Hero & Tori)

VBS @ OMC Chapel (Paige & Hazel)

Cousins Bowling in Salt Lake (Logan, Paige & Hero)

MMMM! 4th of July Bar-B-Q in Lehi! (Danny Boy!)

The delay

So we are leaving the states & before we actually start the "TRIP" it has already been a bit of a trip! Clearing quarters and moving out of a house we lived in for 4 1/2 years was weird, but saying good bye to our friends and leaving work was also hard. Then we got delayed on our flight due to passport issues. So we have been in a hotel now for 8 days and counting. I am not sure if repeating "SHHH!" over and over "We are going to get kicked out of this hotel if you guys don't stop running around" is better or worse than 16 hours of travel with 4 kids and a dog. (which by the way we are smuggling in and out of the hotel so no one knows we have a dog in our room)
One thing I am sure of is, it is great to have Dan back and to be doing this all as a family again!

So I am not a fan of blogs and this is why:

I think they are kind of a lazy way of keeping in contact with your friends. I think it is impersonal and self centered. I also think it is wierd how people follow other peoples blogs who they do not even know yet do not know whats going on in the lives of those closest to them. Dan is not a fan of me having a blog because I am not a good speller.

Having said all of that up front, I will now explain why I have broken down and started a blog. I am a fan of scrapbooking and record keeping and this seems like a great electronic way of doing that. It also seems like a great time as we embark on a new adventure to keep a log. Also, I feel a little concerned I wont have much to do with my time and I think going back and getting caught up on our family history would be a good thing to do. Current technology helps with the spelling issue as does the fact that no one that knows me is confused with my spelling ability. Lastly I am tiered of Logan telling me I am so "OLD SCHOOL"

So here goes....The Strode Family Blog!