Family Trip ... LEGOLAND

Slowly I'm getting all my post up on this surprise vacation my husband planned for the kids. Our 2 adventure was to LEGOLAND, having boys and over abundance of of lego's in the house. As I love to call them DAMN torture things I step on in the middle of the night heading to the restroom. 

I must say LEGOLAND was pretty amazing with over 200 million lego bricks building things like people, animals and buildings. It really was breath taking, my favorite was the small works where they had iconic buildings and cities built from Lego's. 

The boys of course loved the Lego's but the rides where what they loved the most! NOW those who know me know I'm NOT a fan of rides or water. YES you guessed it that is what they had. I tried to be a good sport but let's say when a bystander with a water cannon thinks your the amazing target of the day you become a little less happy .. lol

The engineers at Lego are pretty amazing with all the character's they create also! I was in photo haven, as you can see my youngest is in most pictures. My oldest is at that faze where mom and a camera is like the plague ... lol. We even had a chance to take pictures with the characters that walked around. One was a cop and it was her first time in the suit her manager asked if Rick was a joker and would be up for a photo op. She really picked Rick as the right person, So Rick got arrested by a lego cop! CAN you say Christmas Card!!!

AMAZING Place I suggest going to visit it at least once!

Surprise Vacation ... San Diego

My husband planned and set up a surprise trip all on his own (it even landed on our 12 year anniversary). He even called my boss and arranged my time off. When it got closer he did tell me since he knows I'm a little OCD and would have to plan things for work. We manged to kept it a complete secret from the boys. So two Sunday's ago we woke the kids up at 4am and told them my dad was taking us to breakfast!  They were in a sleep grumble and hopped into the car, they didn't even notice the suitcases in the back of the truck. The night before I stayed up and made a treasure map with 4 clues on where we were going. Of course I couldn't find tape to save my life so out came the glue gun lol. Yes I totally hot glued paper down.

We opened the first clue at Denny's while having breakfast clue #1: Lego Man picture "Oh the things we'll build but not with wood!". As we were heading out we opened clue #2: Zoo Animal picture "This is no ordinary place with animals". When we were close to the airport they opened clue #3: Whale picture "A famous whale lives here". When we were about to pull up to airport I had them open Clue #4: The San Diego State Logo. The video was the best of them figuring it out.

When we landed of course our room wasn't available for several hours so we picked up our rental car (the boys dream car a Camaro). I was so excited I was going to meet up with a blogger friend I have not met in real life yet but has been one of my besties for over 6 years. While we waited for my dinner date we walked around the mall. I of course had no place to change so I had to go to a bathroom to put on a dress. My hair was a mess from traveling so I took advantage of one of the kiosk in the mall with a flat iron. And my make-up was looking a little messy so I hit up Clinque. YUP I sure I was their favorite non paying person of the day ... lol.  I did great tips and when I got home went on Amazon and bought a new flat iron and a microdermabrasion brush that was used on me ... lol.

Then the time came to meet up with my friend Debby from Just Breathe. I can't tell you how excited I was! We have been friends for around 6 years along with another blogger Amy. We have all emailed and even talked on the phone a couple times. But nothing beats meeting in real life! We sat and talked for like 2 1/2 hours, I could have stayed for another few hours but Rick was blowing up my text to pick me up. I have not laughed so hard and had a bond with a friend in a long time. It was not like meeting someone for the first time it was like meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in a while and catch up on life. I so hope to meet up again if we head to California or maybe a girls get away where Amy can join us also!

What a way to start my vacation! I was riding on cloud 9 and walked on it our whole trip!

I need a vacation ...

LOL I so need a vacation, some where nice and warm maybe ... hehe.  Some of you follow me on FB and saw me post about Rick going on a business trip.  See when he was out of work 8 months from his full time job he was working a his part time job being security for sporting events, concerts etc.  They offered him an opportunity to go to California to work a WEEK at a festival they are having.  Well when you don't have a full time job you say yes.  Well now he has started the new job in Januaray as a On Call position that means he gets 40 hours just is alternating between hospitals kind of like a floater.   So if you're not available a week you just say so (which seems to be cool, but for me it sounds like not a good idea to do to a job).  

So 2 weeks ago we are having dinner and he tells me that this job is NOT for one week, it's THREE weeks!  Yup the steam coming out of my head couldn't hardly explain it!  So soon he will be leaving me and the kids for 3 weeks to work yes but still he gets a little break from everything.   I'll be home with the kids pulling double duty ... yup run for the hills now!!

I think I may need to run away myself.  A few months back my boss offered a girls trip but I was taking care of dad from the accident.  It would have been perfect timing with Rick not working but to be honest I also wasn't close to my goal weight and a sunny beach and me not comfortable in my body wouldn't have been a lot of fun.  Now I'm close to goal weight I think I need some sun ... lol.  Ok I'm not going to be parading around in a bath suit.  So here is to dreaming for a break for myself ... lol

I found this and it's so true!!!

Maybe I could avoid the kids on the vacation? hehe

I’m Back ….

Just a quick hi, we’re back!  Isn’t it always when you return from vacation you’re feeling under water with more work then you returned?  I’m so exhausted, we had so much fun and I’m happy to be home.

While we were gone my grandmother took a turn for the worse.  I hope she goes home to be with God and our family looking above us soon with no more pain.  I hate to see her in pain.

We do have some good news Rick starts a new job today!!  I’m so excited for him no more loss prevention with the crazy people who pull guns and knifes to steal things.  He is very excited and a little nervous I’m sure but this will be a great thing!  We also will get Medical Insurance for ALL of us at a GREAT price!!  The starting wage is not as high as he was but it’s a great stepping stone and many great things to come!

Leaving on a Jet Plane ….

You know how long I have waited to use that line .. hehe!  Oh yes I grew up with a hippy Dad, I pull from that genre of music.  Today is the day we head to Disney!!  It hasn’t felt real until this morning when I got up and saw the bags at the front door.  Check list done:

1. Bags Packed
2. All itinerary is printed
3. House Sitter is set up
4. Neighbors have the key and will watch house also

And the best part of this day is we are getting picked up in one of these:

Oh yes we have ROCK STAR level today.  MY amazing bosses who NOT ONLY paid for the airfare, hotel, CAR and Disney passes, have rented us to be picked up in this bad boy (ok not this one but you know what I mean).  The last time I had a limo for me was my prom night!  Let me just recap that for you, my LOSER date got drunk the weekend before wrecked his car so we had to hang a ride with a co-worker of mine to ride with her.  My date THEN left his wallet at home!! Oh yes you read that correct, so I paid for my part of the limo, DINNER and pictures!  Thank you McDonald’s for my paycheck that paid for all that.  We won’t go into the having to ride with this girl who didn’t want to go to stay late and my night ended watching Free Willy!

LOL Ok fast forward to present!!  This time is going to be so much better, you know how could it not be after that .. lol. 

I’m so super excited and will be riding in style!  PLUS to make our trip the best my bosses gave us spending money, yup we are so having a rock star vacation!

Hope you all have a wonderful week, I’ll try to post some pictures.  I’m sorry I won’t be around much, I promise to catch up next week.

Challenge for Best Question Money Testimony

A few weeks back I posted a couple post about a serious on “The Best question asked” that our pastor gave us along with a challenge.  I’ve taken the challenge on taking my health into top priority (thank you kettlebell work outs and Green Smoothies for breakfast).  The following week I posted about his challenge on money. I posted this on facebook and wanted to share my testimony with all my friends here. 

I'm a big believer in testimony and today I'm on my knee's thanking God! I accepting the challenge at church to move giving the top of my list instead of the bottom. I re-prioritized & set my % to higher and changed the way I view money etc. I was then blessed with a bonus that paid for both boys registration into school. I gave back more with the bonus (even though inside I thought no I should keep this). THEN TODAY I get an email from my bosses that they are SENDING MY WHOLE FAMILY TO DISNEY! I am overwhelmed with love and faith. What a gift I have been given and the reward will be something to last a life time! Thank you God!

Yes you read that correct my amazing bosses are sending my family to Disney.  My bosses are located on the East Coast and they will be taking the office to Disney in Florida.  Being the amazing people they are they knew how hard it would be for me to fly there and find arrangements for the kids and Rick.  So instead of just saying oh well they sent me a surprise email to let me know they are sending my whole family to CA.  NOT only do we get to take the kids to Disney (which I didn’t think I would ever be able to do) but they get to MEET their grandmother.  Rick’s mom lives there and they have NEVER meet her, with health conditions she hasn’t been able to come here.  This is a blessing beyond blessings.  As I’ve said that I have the most giving bosses and I can’t ever thank them enough for all they do for us!

We leave in just a few short weeks, so we’re in planning mode.  My bosses have taken care of the hotel, the flight and even the passes!  Rick has been in overdrive finding us a way to get to the hotel, our hotel doesn’t offer a shuttle.  We’ve been weighing a taxi vs renting a shuttle vs a car.  I’m thinking we may rent a car just for that night then we can go grocery shopping and then return it in the morning (just find a way back from the car place about 1 1/2 miles away).  Then we may rent it again on Saturday so we can drive to visit Rick’s mom.  I’ll leave the freak out to Rick on that part! LOL