Sacramento

Throughout this post there are numbers in ().  This means there is a whole story that goes with it.  The stories will appear at the end of the post in chronological order.

Early Thursday morning I started getting ready for Sacramento, California.  We were really excited.  I had loaded all the kids bikes on the back of the van (1) the night before and just needed to pack food and life jackets.  Wake the kids up, make sure they got dressed, feed them breakfast, and brush their teeth and hair.

I got everyone up and dressed when Makinley comes to me in the kitchen and says that Ford is throwing up in the toilet.  'Oh no', I thought.  He had a low fever the night before but I chalked it up to not enough water on Tuesday.  When I came in my room he was laying on the floor and looking very pale.  I asked him how he felt and he shrugged his shoulders.  I called Paula and asked, 'Am I a bad mom if I make him come?'  She said, 'No.'  I decided to see how he felt as the morning went on.  I loaded all the kids in the car and by this time he was feeling much better.  And he continued feeling better and the morning went on and he drank some water and ate a little bit.

With fevers and throwing up behind us, the Heussers and Creswells headed for Sacramento.  Paula told me it took 2 hours to get to the temple and so we left at 7am to get there by 9am. Little did we know about the 50 Horse Wagon Train (2).  And some construction.  We reached the Sacramento Temple at about 10am.  Paula and I spent 1/2 hour in the temple, took pictures of the kids outside the temple,

changed our clothes, and headed off for our bike ride.  I forgot my helmet and my shoes.  Luckily, I travel with  friends who are always prepared.  Paula had an extra pair of shoes I was able to borrow.  Thanks!

The bike trail we went on was a total of 32 miles, no we did not ride the entire distance... though if we had time I think we may have tried.  It was a nice ride.  There were little inclines or hills, as Ford calls them.  Jaynie and Ford did awesome!  I was so proud of these little kids.  Everytime Ford saw a hill...I would say, 'Pedal! Pedal! Pedal!' (3).

After our bike ride and lunch...we headed for the Folsom Aquatic Center.  WOW is all I can say.  Here is a picture of the lap pool.  

Ginormous Wipe Out Courses and a Rock Wall.

Here is the 3 Story Slide.

And here is the Kiddie Pool.

Paula said that leaving Dayton can be dangerous to the point that you may never come back. And she isn't kidding.  The kids had so much fun playing in the cold water.  Poor Jaynie!  Everytime she came out the of the water, her teeth would chatter and she'd run back in to keep warm.  The kids finally found a bigger pool that was warmer...probably from pee.  That's what I always think.

  

We spent a good 2 hours there and it wasn't long enough.  But we had to get back for Makinley's baseball end of season party.  And whenever dinner is prepared by someone else I don't say no.  We went to the Pizza Factory.  The kids had fun, ate pizza, and Makinley got a trophy and a picture with her coaches, Zach and Josh.  She just loves them.

1.  Let me just say that if you are looking to purchase a bike rack...make sure the rack is kid and woman bike friendly.  I don't even know if these kinds of racks are made.  I had a terribly frustrating time getting all our bikes loaded up.  The 2 little ones fit in the truck.  Then I had to figure out how I was going to get Kennidy's and Adam's bikes on the rack.  After scratching paint of each bike, including mine, I was able to get them all on.  Then I had to figure out how to attach the safety strap so no one could steal our bike rack.  I watched an installation video online and still couldn't figure it out.  I texted Brandon, he was in Colorado, to see if he could give me any tips but he couldn't.  So I called Paula.  She came over with the Bishop, her husband, and it took us watching the video again and another 20 min. before we figured it out.  HOLY COW!  It was suppose to be so easy!  I'll know better next time.

2.  So we come to a stop in the middle of no where.  And we notice a bunch of wagons, buggies, cowboys and cowgirls on horseback.  Then this man starts handing out magazines to all the drives in each car.  And that explains it.  The 50 Horse Wagon Train from Zephr Cove to Placerville, California.  The participants were all decked out in pioneer and indian clothing.  It was pretty cool.  We had to drive behind them for a time but were able to pass and see those beautiful animals.

3.  We were on our way back to our cars.  The trail was a little windy and downhill at times.  I told Ford not to be afraid to brake when going downhill.  So we're approaching a downhill slope that made a sharp turn left.  He was flying!  I could see his tire on the edge of the trail where it meets the gravel and told him to 'BRAKE!'  He kept going!  At full speed...around the corner...down the hill...around another corner...AAUUUHHH!  'BRAKE! BRAKE!'  But he didn't.  And he didn't fall!  I saw his life flash before my eyes but he didn't fall!  I was so scared and breathing so hard as I tried to stay close behind him.  When we leveled out I asked him why he didn't brake.  He said, 'You told me not to.'