Kazapalooza 2011

This weekend we took a family vacation to sunny St. Pete's Beach, FL to attend Kazapalooza. Our itinerary went a little like this:

Day 1: Meet new Kazakh friends at check-in, unpack bags, dinner, play on beach, sleep.

Day 2: Wake-up, talk non-stop about new friends also born in Kazakhstan, go to beach, meet new friends, go to pool, meet new friends, lunch, nap, mini-golf, meet new friends, have dinner with new friends, go to pool, meet new friends, sleep.

Day 3: Wake-up, pictures on the beach, meet new friends, bid on raffle items from Kazakhstan, lunch with new friends, nap, pool, meet new friends (and some that are now becoming old friends), dinner, pirate show, play on the beach with new/old friends, sleep.

Day 4: Wake-up, pool, meet new friends, lunch, check-out, meet new friends in the lobby, leave for the airport.

There were 130 families with kids from Kazakhstan in attendance and we were still meeting new people when we were leaving. Miranda had a ball and likes the sand, is weary of the ocean due to waves, and LOVES to "swim" in the pool. Good thing swim lessons start later this week. Here are some of the best pictures of our trip.

Miranda was always on the look-out for the resident swans.

Walking on the beach with her new treasure, a drink umbrella.

Swimming with Mommy.

A little put-put?

Hangin' out

Climbing Monkey

Swimming with Daddy

We got some professional photos on the beach in this dress, but here's a preview from our balcony.

Collecting sand and water with one of our new friends.

Rinsing all the sand off their feet after a fun night on the beach.

Next year's event will be somewhere in Ohio, which sounds somewhat less appealing than a beach in Florida, Miranda had so much fun with all her new friends we will likely go again next year.

Feeling Minnesota

Last month we went to Minnesota to visit Ben's parents. We all enjoyed the cooler weather and had a relaxing visit. Miranda learned several new words and phrases on vacation like "Dora", ""Boots", and "Play-doh time". And, of course, she was as photogenic as ever.

Other images from the coast

I saw a story on CCN back in March where someone made a coffee book of photos of the one random shoe found in varios places. I found this little addition on the beach at Port Aransas.



Also, I tried to make the guady seahorses look artistic, you be the judge.

Beach Blanket Bingo

Nothing says vacation like your condo catching on fire. Lucky for us the condos in question were just in the same unit as ours and not physically attached to where we were residing.



But at least the beach was pleasant, and mostly clean.

Red Rocks

I finally got the rest of my Sedona pictures from the camera to the computer. Of course the day we went to take pictures of the major rock formations it was cloudy and the sun was not cooperating.

Snoopy Rock

Bell Rock

Courthouse Rock
(this actually looks very similar to the Bexar Co Courthouse)

Howard the Duck
(not the official name, but that's what I think when I see this guy)

Girls Weekend

This weekend I'm in Sedona, AZ on a girls weekend with Crystal and Naomi. Yesterday we went to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park which was pretty cool. They rescue animals that have been mistreated and don't do any "training" although they do work with the animals on the animal's terms.

baby tiger

Boom Boom the rhino

And of course, I love giraffes