Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I've been boycotting...


OK, so it's been awhile since I've even sat down at my computer because I just needed a break from it all! After our family got home from a glorious 10 days in sunny Southern California, we spent a week at home having a "Staycation". Rich took the whole week off and we had plenty of time by the pool, doing puzzles at the kitchen table and sleeping in! It was actually kind of nice to get relax time at home. Although I did have 12 loads of sandy laundry to get through, it's all done now, ironed and put away and it feels so good to be back!

I have pictures from vacation that I haven't posted so I'll do my best to highlight. After a fabulous 4th with my sister's family at the beach, we took a couple days to just do NOTHING! We went to the hotel pool, went out for pizza, went to the beach and slept in LATE! It was nothing short of wonderful! Then it was off to the happiest place on earth for 2 days with Mickey and his friends! Tuesday we went to Disneyland and the crowds were down. The big kids were able to do every ride and Rich and I spent the day taking Hailey everywhere her heart desired. She met so many characters and rode so many rides, she was plum tuckered by the time it was time to say goodnight.
Wednesday was our little princesses 4th birthday. We had reservations to have lunch with all the Disney Princesses at Ariel's Grotto that afternoon. We were not disappointed - 5 princesses at once! Hailey hit the princess jackpot! She was in 7th Heaven! So we left the grotto with a MUCH lighter wallet and many happy birthday memories and set out to ride the rides of California Adventures. It was another great day with minimal crowds and once again the big kids rode every ride while Rich and I took Hailey to see all there was to see. They were 2 very long, tiring days, but they were great days!

We had a few more days of lounging on the beach and dinner with family and before we knew it it was time to pack up the 'Burban and head back to the heat!

So there's my fastest summary of Summer Vacation 2009! Before we know it, we'll be back to school! (Yeah! for me!)
I do have so many more pictures of Hailey's birthday, so they will wait for another entry! TTYL!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A day to celebrate...

DAY TWO...
OK, today was a much better day. After a quick sleep (we finally got the kids to stop giggling and talking at about 2am!!!), we headed up the road to my big sisters house in Laguna Niguel...it was a perfectly gorgeous southern California day. We BBQ'd and swam in their amazing back yard before heading to the beach house for some fun and sand between our toes. My brother-in-laws family is always so gracious to let us crash their 4th of July beach house get-togethers and we feel like we're part of the family now! =)
The beach house and the beautiful view!
There was time for football, baseball, board/card games, more BBQ, S'mores, sitting around the fire pit and finally it was time for the fireworks! From the San Clemente beach we had a perfect view of 2 different fireworks shows, San Clemente Pier to the south and Dana Point to the north.
Sisters....SOMETIMES they're BFF's!
My big sister Kim with her first grandbaby - my little great nephew - Dallen!

It was a truly great day and I had plenty of time to reflect on the reason for all the celebration...we are so blessed to live in this amazing country and to enjoy the liberty's that so many sacrificed to provide for us.




They sleep again! Busy kids turn into exhausted kids!

Tomorrow....whatever we feel like!!!! =)

Summer Vacation 2009


DAY ONE.....

Well, Day One got off to a slow start as we couldn't leave town until Rich got off work on Friday =(... so we got the car loaded and hit the road by 6pm. We got to our paradise by the sea at just before midnight. Our arrival at the beach was somewhat anticlimactic....oh well...tomorrow - THE BEACH!!!!