So I'm happy...it's Fall!

My absolute, without a doubt favorite time of the year has officially arrived! Let's say it together, "Ahhh...Fall!"

Since we only have a few more weeks to go look at the leaves in the mountains change into their beautiful colors, Scott and I decided to pack up the family and had to the mountains today and enjoy the scenery...

Cindarelleeeeeee!

And so, I join the rest of the families who can now say, "I've taken my family to Disneyworld...and survived!" About two weeks ago, we ventured out with all the other Holdaways (Nana, Grandpa, all in-laws) to the Magic Kingdom in beautiful (and hot) Orlando. If you want to find out just how tough and resistant kids are, just take them to Disneyland for a few days! We had so much fun going on rides, playing at the waterpark, sleeping in the shade, jumping on the hotel beds, etc.!

Rylee, of course, was VERY excited to meet and hug the princesses. Finally, on the last day, we found Sleeping Beauty. All was well after that! Luke was Oohing and Wowing everything he saw, as well as getting all sorts of new treats to eat. We took him on some rides, too. I don't think he quite knew what to think of that, but at the same time, enjoyed the experience. Scott was as giddy as a little kid on some of the rides - literally, while people were screaming on the roller coasters, he was laughing the whole time. Quite funny - in the years I've known Scott, we've never been to an amusement park together until this trip. Now, I haven't been to anything Disney since I was a wee little girl, so I didn't remember much about Disneyland, except that space mountain was my favorite ride, so, of course, I had to go on that ride a couple times. Ahhh, memories. Well, I could go on and on, but I'm not. Here's some pics for ya:

On the way to Orlando (Luke's 1st plane ride)

Rylee and Cousin Carson

Luke hangin' at the water park

Rylee and Carson gettin' some sun

...and tigger too!

Finally, someone got their princess dress!

Yay for the teacups!

we found the mice hiding in the back of a house!

Luke's first big ride!

That's where the princessessess live!

Finally, Sleeping Beauty...the world is good now!

Viva la Donald Duck!

When you wish upon a star...

The Peking Duck has landed (and it was delicious)

So I have just returned from a very much underestimated month long stay in China. If you end up not liking this blog, too bad, I'm sleeping as I write this.

Wow, what an experience this last month has been. From meeting incredible athletes, to having terrible chinese food, using the "squatters", meeting George Bush Sr., singing Karaoke, having my Olympic moment at the best swim match EVER, to climbing the Great Wall, I can almost say I've seen it all.

China has by far exceeded any expectation I may have had. The people are some of the nicest people around, and, smog aside, Beijing is a very beautiful city. I was able to experience the things you read about in History - Tianemen Square, Forbidden City, the Great Wall, McDonalds...

Seriously, this has been the best Olympic program I have worked on. But enough of me chatting...I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking!

In front of National Stadium (bird's nest)

View from my apartment

...and this was only day 2!

halftime entertainment

Sr. Staff trying to figure out the subway

Your typical everyday fruit in China

Has anyone seen a volunteer? Anyone?

Relay swim team just won the gold!

We heard somewhere that the fuwahs were evil and

going to overtake the world

With Aaron Piersol

The Gold, baby!

Have you seen this man?

Ni Hao all (that's chinese for "Hello")! Yep, been trying to figure out some of the crazy language they call Chinese.


Getting back to the land of the Holdaway's, thought I'd send out the update on what's been going on. Not too much out of the norm to report except, of course, the man with the 'stache (pictured). Actually, we've been working alot on 'home improvement'. Scott has been super busy building shelves in the garage, getting our side yard leveled and the never-ending task of keeping up with the lawn. We finally planted some flowers in our yard (125 to be exact) and are planning to plant a few more as well as some other plants. It's looking really great and is starting to feel like summer with the bright colors of the flowers, despite the cold weather we've been having. Someone forgot to tell mother nature that winter is over - oh, wait - I think it's that global warming thing...

Onto other things...Scott and I just celebrated our 5th year anniversary (a record these days, I hear), Luke has 2 more teeth coming in (total of 6 now) and Rylee is well on her way to becoming the most independent girl that has ever been!


As for now, we'll try to keep Luke from eating the furniture, Rylee from "fake crying" and Scott from burying himself in the landscape and me from learning too much Chinese!! Zaijian! (bye)!



Scott would like to note that he had the mustache for only one day, it was only an experiment. And to remind him what his mustache is really like he allowed one picture to be taken for posterity. thank you.

Little Lambies!

Last week, Kim and I ventured out with the kids to "This is the Place" for their season grand opening. As luck would have it, the weather was PERFECT! I say this, because it's been snowing off and on all Spring and I'm sick of it, absolutley sick of it!!!!
Now, I haven't been to deseret village since I was in elementary, and let me tell you, things have changed! So many fun things to do for the kids, and, of course, the candy shop, for us candy lovers! I would say one of my favorite things was the new petting zoo for the kids. We're not talking your everyday goat or sheep. They were all BABY ANIMALS! 2 day old lambs and 2 week old calf's for the kids to pet and squeal over. Now, if you all know Rylee, she was in animal heaven. I swear, if she doesn't become a veterinarian, I will be absolutely shocked! Kim and I had to drag her away from the animals kicking and screaming! Luke was pretty cool about the whole thing. But, he's always cool like that - just like his daddy (between you and I though, the baby calf scared the poop out of him and he cried).
What a good way to kick of Spring! Now, where's the 80 degree weather and my pina colada?

Auntie Kim with Rylee and baby lamb

Mama Jami and Luke with baby lamb


How cute is she!?!

Luke pretending that the cow really isn't there!

Rylee and Banjo the crazy horse

Training her early!

And then there was Ben...

You wouldn't know it by the picture, but I'm sitting next to one of the best "B" level artists around. I went to a pretty rad concert lastnight (yes, I said rad), and got to see some pretty fantastic bands such as Allred (local and AWESOME), Mesa Drive (I'm guessing from Mesa, AZ??), Ben Lee (the dude I'm sitting next to in the pic) and Ben Folds.

Personally, I was there to see Ben Lee - he's been a favorite for about 8 years now. If he sounds familiar, it may be because he used to date Claire Danes a few years back - that's about all I know about him besides his music - and that he's an Aussie. Anyway, good times were had by all and thank you Mike and Angela for giving Scott and I the night off!!

Spring has sprung... or it should any day now

We took the Holdaway Show on the road over the weekend. Okay, it was just a day trip to Park City on Sunday, but what a day for it! We were totally fooled into thinking spring was finally here.. then it snowed again... (boo).


Rylee was glad to get out. There were plenty of Park City residents out walking their dogs up and down Main St and Rylee could barely contain herself. Luke was more cool about it and napped some along the way. And did you know that there is a deli on Main St? Me either, so we stopped and had some lunch.



The food wasnt too bad, and all in all it was a pretty nice little trip, good to get into some semi-fresh air. Now if it would just warm up some so we can get the yard started for the year...

~scott