Do you guys remember last year when we went on vacation? And our van decided to hemorrhage oil on our way up the mountains as we headed to California? GREAT  start to vacation.

Well, tonight Chance stopped at the grocery store on the way home...and the Yaris wouldn't start. Chance said, "Thank goodness it was not when I was downtown."

My thought was, "Thank goodness it didn't happen when we were half-way to Odessa, TX!" Which is where we will be driving the Yaris in 5 weeks...guess we should get the Yaris serviced before then.

Water World

Who doesn't love to spend a day riding all the rides at Water World? My girls love spending a day cooling off in the water and I love seeing the excitement on their faces as they exit the rides. Are you looking to beat the heat at Water World? Then make sure you take THIS coupon for $6 off admission price.

Winter Park

Is your family ready to escape the heat, breathe fresh Rocky Mountain air and save money on a summer getaway? Then your plans should include Winter Park, Colorado! With Winter Park Play Free, when you book 2 nights of lodging with participating merchants, you’ll get $50 on a Winter Park Key Card to spend on activities, shopping and dining… your choice of play throughout Winter Park & The Fraser Valley. Click herehttp://www.usfamilyguide.com/THISSITElinktrack.php?bid=10738&type=additionallink&listingid=97 to learn more about Winter Park Play Free.  Winter Park is 67 miles from Denver, has 200+ sizzling summer events, 600 miles of trails and Colorado's longest alpine slide.

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Aztec Soup

I apologize for the LONG delay in posts. I am a little busy with my new endeavor, Macaroni Kid Broomfield. Don't live near Broomfield but think the newsletter is really cool? No problem! Check out Macaroni Kid to find a newsletter near you!

Ok, enough of the plug :) and on to Aztec Soup.

Each of my kids (and my husband) have a night that they cook dinner. Last week when it was my night to cook, I made Chicken Noodle Soup. Semi-homemade. None of that icky canned stuff. Kaylee mentioned that one night she should make Aztec Soup. Sounded intriguing, so I asked, "What's in it?"

Kaylee: "It's just like Chicken Noodle Soup....without the chicken and the noodles."

Uhhuh...Yeah.

My eldest daughter

Kaylee woke up Friday morning to go to school. It was cold and snowy on Thursday, so she had to sweep the snow off and scrape the windows of her car. She comes back in to inform me that she bent her car key and it wouldn't start her car. I told her to take my key (for her car). I look and she has taken ALL my keys. Go outside to tell her she needs to leave me the rest of my keys. She just needs to take the one for her car. Turns out, she has locked my keys in her car. Go and get Chance's keys. Open the car. Ask her why she didn't start the car while she was doing the windows. She says she did. No, you just turned on the radio.

Saturday, Kaylee has State for Ulitmate Frisbee. She gets up and heads to the school by 8am. Then, she calls. She has locked her (or MY) key in the car. Drive to the school, give her the key, she unlocks the door to her RUNNING car. I think the child needs a key implanted in her forehead.

Christmas cards brought to you by Shutterfly!

Have you seen the new Shutterfly cards for this Christmas? I have used Shutterfly in the past to make photo books of our vacations. Digital pictures are great, but there is nothing better than having a custom, hard-back book with all of those vacation memories. And, when I saw the new Christmas card styles, I was sooo excited!!!

I love writing a little update on what our family has been doing for the past year in our Christmas cards. Shutterfly’s  Christmas cards makes this soo easy!

 I have several friends who list the top ten highlights of the year on their Christmas cards. Shutterfly has a card for that:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/top-ten-moments-christmas-card-5x7-flat

Have a new baby and want to show of all their exciting milestones for the year? Shutterfly has a card for that:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/year-in-pictures-new-years-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93478

Can’t decide on that ONE perfect picture for your holiday cards? Not a problem with Shutterfly! You can pick a layout that allows you to highlight multiple pictures:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holidaycards?DCL=true&lfoType=&omn=8a&fa=8&foType=a

I am so excited to get started on my holiday cards with all the great options from Shutterfly!

disclosure: I was given 50 free holiday cards for my opinions on shutterfly. If you are a blogger, find out how you can get 50 free cards too! http://bit.ly/sfly2010