Oh My [Vacation Day 2]

I don't know why I agree to some of the husband's shenanigans. Especially when he speaks geek.

But this helped:

And so did this:

(don't you love it?! it's from the HobLob! 50% off!!)

And now this is the new (not permanent, I hope) view of my TV niche in the family room:

Lucky gal, aren't I?

The husband's been mumbling about stupid spec home, and not enough lines, and the ever so understandable (not!) we need more CAT5.  He's making holes, running lines and spending dough like it's well, ...dough. But he promises that when all is said and done, we will have the speaker system (indoor and out) and flood lights (outside only, thankgosh!) all installed.

Secretly, I am crushin' on him. I love that he knows his trade so well. And, on a scale of 1to 10, his hotness goes up to a 12 when he steps onto a ladder. I'm just sayin'.  I am so glad that, besides the technical side of things, he also knows how to drywall. lol... He's going to be using that skill for sure during this vacation!

On the docket for the rest of the week?!?! Pick the paint color for the master (and actually PAINT!). I may need your help with that. The picking - of course you'd back out of the actual painting part. I know that! 

We have drapes and artwork coming this week! Yay, more hanging.

We have a garage to THROW OUT. We found another scorpion... so I told the man to get rid of everything. No more pack-ratting.

And finally, I've done a little make-over on desk that I am going to be moving into my office. The office is going to finally get the finishing touches it's been waiting for.  

So - our staycation is going to be jammed packed, but really - we wouldn't have it any other way! I'm lying of course, I'd much rather be on a beach in Mexico, San Diego, or elsewhere with palm trees. Oh well, there's always next year!

Change of Plans

We've decided on MAUI! [Why does Hawaii have to have so many islands??]
And... we've decided on JUNE!
Based on everyone's schedules... we will be leaving on June 22 and will be staying 6 or 7 nights in beautiful Maui. Now, that the decisions have been made, we just need to go in a book everything!

So very excited.

A moment like this

Keeping our fingers crossed, good things are coming our way.

The husband & I were supposed to get away in December for our anniversary. Due to timing - it never happened. Instead, we've been chatting about where we could possible go this summer.

North Carolina.
Georgia.
Oregon.
California.
Florida.

We called out different states. I immediately took California off of the list... we've been there so many times. I wanted this trip to be special. We never went on a Honeymoon, and this will be our first REAL trip away without the kids (I have guilt already!).

The husband said...What about Hawaii?

Hawaii?? Obviously. It's been a dream of mine for... FOREVER.
I've always thought of going to Hawaii as a big production - you know, a 20 year anniversary trip? - but maybe it doesn't have to be?!

All of a sudden, Kelly Clarkson started singing in my head - this song:

Could we pull this off?!
Costco Travel and other sites like Expedia say that we can.

So for all intensive purposes, it looks like my love bird and I are going to Hawaii! Of course, all of this will feel more real in two weeks when we book it, Dano! (hehe, I love CBS' Hawaii 5-0). And even more real when we are actually on the plane (6 hour flight?!).

So, today being February 1st... We have about 165 days until our trip (give or take a day)! 

I have so much planning to do! We need to open a savings account to start putting away spending money. I need to work on the bikini tankini body. I need to figure out where the kids are going or who's coming to stay with them (hello, mama!).

Have any of you ever been to Hawaii?! Anything you feel like we need to know or go see while we are over there? Do tell!

San Diego [ Day 4: Shakin' like a Salt Shaker ]

I am posting this later than I originally intended to, but life got in the way, as usual.

I honestly think a mandatory second vacation, directly following the first,
should be implemented.

It takes time to recover.

The husband started the morning, our 4th in San Diego, with a trip to Einstein's Bros. Bagels. He got our usual.  After breakfast we suited up and then loaded up the van. The husband loaded the cooler with sandwiches, drinks, and snacks. We would not go without.

The weather was a cool 68 degrees... the sky was once again overcast. We decided as a family that we were going to go to the beach and we were going to enjoy ourselves. Even if that meant we would be freezing our little (ahem) tushies off.

We arrived at Coronado Island and beach around 1:00pm.

Come to find out, once you are on the sand and moving around a bit, you tend to do alright. It also helped that, every once in a while, the sun would try to peak out through the clouds.

 Isabel did not hesitate; she jumped right into the water.

Nic was ready in his shark t-shirt and his Nemo swim trunks. A classic beach get-up, if I do say so myself.

He ventured out.

The waves knocked Nic over. He was NOT happy. He got up and ran back to us with tears streaming down his cheeks. I think the wave took him by surprise, is all.

He loved the sand.

Here, the husband is burying him.
Mr. Merman.

He had a blast trying to get out!

This was one of those moments the sun was trying to come out (for my benefit alone, of course!). I had a hard time locating the bright circle in my view finder - but in the end, I got a couple of cool shots. It's not everyday you get to see the sun like this.

After about 4 hours of playing in the water and in the sand, Nic was TIRED. He actually fell asleep in one of our beach chairs. Because it was breezy out, we covered him up so he could stay warm. He stayed like that for almost an hour.

Around 4:50, the two older kids were in the ocean and Nic was asleep (see above). The husband and I were sitting next to each other when we started to shake.
SHAKE!
Back and forth. Forth and back.
YES! That kind of shaking!
It only lasted for 30-45 seconds...

We looked around. The lifeguard came out of his box.
Other people were chattering.
I Facebook'ed my thoughts.
My thoughts were confirmed.
Earthquake.
Crazy.

To make matters worse (I say that only because I know that no one was hurt during the quake), I was absolutely betrayed by the gray mask of clouds. Who knew you could still get a sunburn on an overcast day? I sure as heck didn't. Which is why I sure as heck got a sun burn. It's not fair that my husband and kids NEVER burn. Of course, I am sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am the sunscreen putter-on-er for them.
Who's my sunscreen putter on-er? Maybe I need a cabana boy?

Nahhh! I got a man who takes great care of me.

In fact, he was the one who remembered to pack two bottles of Aloe Vera soothing gel.

He knows me and my skin-type so well.

Once we were done with the beach, we headed back to the condo.

After a round of showers, we settled down for some television and packing.

We wanted to be ready to go so that we could leave bright and early Thursday morning.

 Despite the fact that there are no pictures of Alex and the husband
frolicking on the beach, they were there.

Trust.

San Diego [ Day 3: Food, Friends, and Fun ]

Day three started off like any other day on vacation.

We woke up, got dressed, and headed towards the van.

Off to find out if we could actually eat breakfast at our favorite place: the Broken Yolk.

WE GOT IN!

It helped that it was no longer a holiday (peeps were back at their J.O.B.) and that we opted to visit the more suburban location (instead of downtown San Diego).

All my kids did what they do best.

Alex and Nic are posers.

hehe.

Isabel is drawing.

And Buzz was drinking his favorite cocktail of Chocolate Milk.

One of the husband and I.

Anxiously awaiting THIS:

After stuffing ourselves full, we decided to make ANOTHER attempt at visiting the Museum of Natural History.

Isn't this a pretty tree?

We didn't get to visit the museum as it was RESIDENTS FREE TUESDAY.

Every resident of San Diego must have been there.

I swear.

There was no way we would have gotten in there or enjoyed any of it, with that many people.

So, we gave up on that idea.

Nic and I hung out, while we waited for his stroller to be brought back by the Valet (aka Alex and Isabel).

He loves me!

Even though we didn't get in to the museum, we did get to check out the Prado buildings.

And look at this bathroom...

Is it weird that I took this picture of the bathroom?

From insidet he handicap stall?

No... not from the toilet.

Another cool tree.

And three very cool kids.

Next up? La Jolla Cove.

It was so much fun... and very pretty.

Meet our new friends.

Cute, huh?

The kids had a great time scoping out snails, fishies, and other sea life stuff.

And of course, getting wet as the waves washed up against the rocks.

After La Jolla, we drove down the coast back towards Chula Vista... the houses were AMAZING.

We ended our day out with dinner at Fuddrucker's and then back to the condo.

We watched a DVD and the kids did more drawing and craft stuff.

We ended up going to bed around 10:30pm.

We were TIRED.

Today is BEACH day.

We are praying for sunshine.

San Diego [ Day 2: Change of Plans ]

What a day... that did not go as planned, at all!

But, we had fun, regardless.

We were trying to go to our favorite breakfast place, the Broken Yolk, but so was everyone else in San Diego. It was BUSY. It was downtown. It wasn't going to happen.

So we tried a second location. On the way, we saw this:

We tried the second location to no avail. The line was even longer. By that time, it was almost noon. So we went to Chevy's for lunch. I love Chevy's. They have the best chips and salsa. And let me tell you - they also had the BEST meat. 3/5 of us got Fajitas - I got steak, Alex got Carnitas, and the husband got a mixed platter. I have NEVER tasted better fajitas in MY LIFE. The meat (in all cases) was perfection. I complemented the cooker people. Good stuff.

After driving around for a few hours and finally eating, we got tired and decided to head "home" and hang around for a bit.

And slay dragons.

While the kids did that, we (the husband and I) took a nap.

After a while, we got back in the car to do some more driving around.

I tried to get a picture of Nic, but he wasn't having my mamarazzi moment.

Durn him.

Cute pic, anyway!

 

We ended up going to Coronado Island and hitting the beach.

Yes, it was COLD.

And DARK.

And COLD.

Oops, said that already.

But, what the heck?!

We are brave peeps. We can handle a little wind, sand, chill, teeth chattering, and all that.

Here is a pic of the husband and I.

I took it.

Can you tell?

Why am I so white, you ask?

Well, first, I am NOT to be confused with the ghost of Hotel del Coronado.

Not at all.

It's just that the husband is so dark.

Ok. That's not it.

I don't know why I am glowing.

Wait, it's not what you think.

I am NOT pregnant!

Moving on!

Some great pics of the kids!

Wait. Did I say "great?" 

Maybe this next one?

After the cold beach, what could be better than Baskin Robbins?

In truth, someone promised it to Nic earlier in the day.

Nic doesn't forget anything.

Which is why, at 9:30pm, we were slurping down 7 or 8 of the 31 flavors.

  

My kids are SERIOUS about their ice cream! 

After that tasty treat, we headed to a very nice Wal-Mart (enjoying the scenic route on the way) and purchased some groceries. Eating out is EXPENSIVE so we thought we'd make use of the kitchen we have here at Casa Bonita.

We really, sincerely, tried to make it the Natural History Museum today, but so was everyone and their Aunt Sally.  There was NO parking. We think we will have better luck tomorrow. Everyone will be back to work, right?

It's just after midnight; we are having a snack of Ham and Cheese sandwiches (we skipped dinner on account of the late and and large lunch)... The kids are coloring and doing art stuff.

We have Transformers in the DVD player.

Life in San Diego is good.

=)

San Diego [ Day 1: Legoland ]

We arrived in California at 10:30am... a short and uneventful six hour drive from Tempe. Before we headed out to Legoland, we made a quick stop at Subway. We were famished. So we ate.

Here is a VERY sneak peek of some of the fun we had while at Legoland. It was cool (very low 70s), so we never did make it to the water park. We decided to spend 7 hours walking the park instead. We found out Nic LOVES! roller coasters. Loves them. In fact, we all do! There was one ride that we went on 3 times. And waited in line for 30 minutes, each time.

Crazy, huh?

There was one ride that was very disappointing - and the 75 minutes we wasted in line was so not worth it.

When I get home to my picture editing software, I will be sure to add more pictures, but these will do for now!

I thought this mirror in the Women's restroom was cool. It was a lego frame!

And this is how we ended the night.

With fireworks.

It was the 4th of July, after all!

They were LOUD and FUN!

Day one was a SUCCESS! We had a blast! And yes, Nic, Legoland DOES exist (and it isn't Golfland on Country Club and the 60 as you've questioned so many times).

We are up and getting ready to go for Day 2. It's still expected to be gloomy and cooler today, so I think we are going to put off the beach. Instead... Did you know that there is a Natural History Museum in San Diego? We didn't. We do now, though. Guess where we are going today?  Yep!

But first, breakfast.  We love the Broken Yolk - and that's what's on the menu!