McCormick Family

I am surprised how many places in Utah there are to Scuba dive. We have been to the Crater at the Homestead in Midway, Sand Hollow near St. George and this latest dive was at Blue Lake in Wendover.


It was an underwater pumpkin carving contest. We met up with the group, picked out a pump kin, cleaned it out and set out for the lake.



Vis was about 4 feet and very green. They said that the algae was blooming, which made it not so fun. We carved a typical jack-o-lantern face and then searched for one of the many metal formations that have be placed thru out the lake, but you could be within 3 feet of one and not see it. We gave up the quest and ended our dive.

Parker and I were diving on our way out of the neighborhood, going to the craft store, an as we were going around the round-about a helicopter was circling over head. We both commented on it and how low it was. As we reached the light at the corner we noticed the Maverick gas station had it's entrances taped off and the workers were all out side. Parker said "I bet that helicopter is going to land there". I turned the other direction and parked in front of the Maverick just as the helicopter came over head and landed between the gas pump awning and the store. How in the heck could they land there and NOT hit the buildings??? But it landed as smooth as can be. Some guy jumped out and a camera man followed.

Jill has always been a little short changed when it comes to parties for her birthday. Being at the end of August with 3 birthdays and an anniversary before her, school starting and both of the cars inspections always due, she had mostly had family parties. For her 21st we wanted to do something special. One morning, while she was asleep (with her phone, in case she gets an email from Stephen) is crawled into her room on all fours. Around the bed and over the mountains of clothes and shoes... reaching the cord where it was plugged in I pulled the phone from under the covers and into my hand. When I unplugged it, it "brinnged".

"Shhhhh".

I slid it into my shirt and crawled back around the bed and over the mountains and reached the safety of the hall. Whew! I knew if I simply copied her contacts to my phone she would see it, so I wrote down all (over 100) contacts, by hand! Now to get the phone back to Jill... crawling again around the bed and over the mountains, Calypso (the cat) followed me. Curious why I was on all fours, and just as I reached the cord, he "meow"ed.

"Shhhhh"

"meow?"

"Shhhhh"

Plugging in the phone, "brinnggg"

"Shhhhh"

and pushed it back under the edge of the sheets, back around the bed, over the mountains and out the door.... whew.

I text her friends, and some who were not (I got one back saying they would come but that Jill didn't like them anymore and they had been uninvited to come over ever again) :) to a surprise party for Jill. Parker, North and Abby decorated the club house then Parker took Jill out for her birthday to a movie and brought her back for her surprise!

A pool, cake and music. I think she was truly surprised to see us and so many friends that came! She had a great time and made some great memories!

This year I am breaking fears!! I have always been afraid of horses, things in the water and heights, and have always wanted to do new things but afraid I wouldn't be able to or to be more exact... afraid that I would try and not be able to due to my weight. So 35 pounds down we went on a horse back ride in Puerto Vallarta, thru the Mexican mountains, up and down huge hills with one side of the cliff gone to look straight down 40 feet, thru rivers and to a beautiful view of the Puerto Vallarta valley. On that same trip we went snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas in the Sea of Cortez. It was so amazing to be somewhere so beautiful and see so many amazing sea animals.

Down 20 more pounds I decided that I wanted to be able to see more of the sea animals and things of that different world, so Dave and I took SCUBA lessons!!! We took classes at Scuba Utah, and let me tell you that Jeff is the best instructor. I would recommend them to anyone who was interested in diving!! He was patient and took time out with each of us so that we felt comfortable in the water. We learned how to survive almost any scuba disaster and how to swim with the fishes.

Dave and I only missed one each on the final test.."Go Us" and took our 2 open water dives to complete the course, up at the Crater at the Homestead in Midvale. It is a beehive shaped cavern with a natural warm water spring water, about 90 degrees year round. It is about 60 feet deep, with a plastic alligator and plastic turtle, a platform, wagon wheel and several PVC squares to practice on. There is a hole in the top of the dome to let light in and an entrance dug thru the side to gain access so you don't have to jump in from the hole on the top, like you use to.


We passed with flying colors and are now officially certified SCUBA divers. Our first dive is in August at Sand Hollow Reservoir... soon to come.

A few days before the 4th of July Dave went to the "Sidewalk of Fire" that was being hosted by 101.9 The End. He met Chunga, Cort and Chelsea from the morning show, who we are going on the Cruise Loco 2 with. He had Chunga burgers (at 8 in the morning!! ewwww) and watched the sad firework show.










While he was there he met and hung with this wierd looking guy...Trevor Snarr, who played Don on Napoleon Dynamite. Dave met Trevors dad who just happens to be the Mayor of Murray, Mayor Snarr. A few days later at a ward breakfast we were talking to the Bishop, Dave telling him about meeting Trevor and Mayor Snarr, and the Bishop breaks it to us that that is his wifes Dad and brother! Talk about a SMALL world! Bishop Dombrosky said that family get-togethers are very crazy! I could imagine :)

We are so proud of Parker. He has done it!! Graduated from Seminary and from High School!! He got all A's, got his first job at Golden Corral and got a hair cut!! Time to grow up :)

We went on our last big family vacation before Parker goes on his LDS mission. We took a week in Orlando Florida to Disney!! We went with our good friend, the Thompsons. They got us an awesome condo for the week a mile from Disney World. It had a full kitchen so we cooked and at there instead of frequenting the fast food places. Our first stop in Disney was to Epcot! We went into the future on Spaceship Earth and learned what we would be doing and how we would live in the future. They take a snapshot of you at the beinging of the ride, we all made goofey faces and then at the end they put your face on cartoon bodies doing all sorts of things in the future. We all heard Jill cracking up at her future! What a great laugh!! Off to space... literally. We boarded a space ship on a mission to Mars! It was my favorite ride. You can feel up to 3 G's pushing onto you as you take off. It was a scary landing on Mars but we made it!! And no one got air sick :).

We spent the rest of the day in the front have of the park where all the technology stuff is. We rode on a "test track" for cars... Driving with me in Utah is much more intense!! Parker was awed by the backwards waterfall... water up?

Next day.. Next park... Animal Kingdom!!

Better than a zoo, the animals were close and in great habitats. On the safari ride the driver was telling us about the animals we were seeing and as we rounded a corner she said that we were coming to the lions area, they slept all day and we probably wouldnt be able to see them and then she gasped and swore as a male lion was on the ridge looking right as us! She said that rare and she was caught of garud. There are no nets or fences to protect us or to keep the lion from making us lunch. He was beautiful! I dont remember what the name of the animal in the middle picture is but he is actully related to the giraffe.

The most amazing thing there is the tree of life. I cant tell you how huge it was and that amzing detail that was carved into it, words and pictures just dont do it justice.

We enjoyed the day and this is one of our 2 favorite parks!!

Day 3 we went to the Magic Kingdom.... To get to the park you either have to take the monorail in or a ferry. The kids were offered the opportunity to ride in the front of the monorail with the driver!! How cool!

Jill was gathering pictures and autographs for Stephens little sister, Crystal, which took alot of time, but having been to Disneyland.. that was all good. We rode the new Pirates ride and got to see Captian Jack on the street, meet Princesses,Monsters and walk thru castles and saw a great firework show!

Then next park was Hollywood Studios.. One of our favorites! and with our kids it is easy to know why :)!! Being terrified of falling I was NOT going on the Tower of Terror. Everyone went but me and the minute they came out they drug me on saying that I would like it.... I was going to HATE it!! I don't do falling rides. I just know that I will crap my pants, throw up, have a heart attack and die before I ever hit the ground. Well.... thankfully none of those things happened and it was my favorite ride of the whole trip!!! Thanks for dragging me on!!

The next best ride?? Aerosmiths rollercoster of course!! Rock On!!!

Pixar was a hit for sure! Everyone took a drawing class and drew Stitch. We met the incredibles, Jill found Audrey Hepburn (her favorite actress) and Parker rode a Speeder Bike 2000 style. and and we watched a stunt show with stunt cars and pro racers that was awesome!

The Thompsons daughter, Emily, has an increadable voice and she wanted to try out for American Idol this last year but missed the 16 yr old cut off by a month. So at Hollywood Studios she auditioned for it there and made it all the way thru to the last 3!! She is amazing!!

The next day we went back to Epcot... well I mean... we went to Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kindom and Canada.

The last full day in Orlando we drove to Cocoa Beach and spent the day there, making sand castels, playing in the ocean and collecting seashells.

It was the MOTHER of all vacations!!!! Truely done McCormick style!!!