THANKSgiving

As is tradition this time of year, I love to highlight some of the things I am grateful for in my life.  I am so blessed.  I have a beautiful daughter and three other great kids.  I live for my grandchildren.  I have a posh work schedule that allows me to take 25 vacations a year.  Here are some other things I am thankful for:

These only come out once a year and are very difficult to find!

Even if you don't ask me, I'll still tell you.

Luscious.

The happiest place on earth!

 Love reading 3-4 books at a time.

My trusty Subaru- almost 15 years strong!

Say what you will, these are some great songs.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and 'amember what you are grateful for!

Guatever

Looking like a tourist makes you a magnet for agressive sellers.

Near our hotel in Antigua.  All of Antigua is very colorful.

The view of the Santa Clara cathedral from our hotel room.

Hanging out at the Cathedral in the main plaza.

I must check off everything there is to see in every city, no matter how far away or insignificant it is.  Here I am looking for the Concepcion cathedral, which we never found, and I know I'm going to regret it for years.

"No, gracias, it's very pretty, though."

One of the many ruins in Antigua.

Tanque de la Union- very famous arches in Antigua.  People do their laundry in the fountain.

Notice the volcano in the background?

El Arco de Santa Catalina- the most photographed site in Antigua and I could NOT miss it.

"No gracias.  So pretty, though."

The plaza at dusk with the volcano in the background.

We loved Guatemala!  So glad I got to go!  Another checkmark on my list!

Disneyland!!! Sept. 15-19, 2010

Matt reserved us a posh hotel just a few short blocks away from Disneyland. Here is a shot of the pool.


Sami woke up on D-Day (Disney day) with a swollen cheek from a tooth infection. I was fit-to-be-tied to say the least! Don't worry though, good old Dr. B called us in a prescription and we were on Peter Pan before we knew it.


Zach was a trooper.


Maddi and Sami in front of "It's a Small World". Maddi and Jack laughed uncontrollably on this ride.


At first glance, you might think this is my 1980s wallpaper from my house in Kearns. It is actually a wall on the "It's a Small World" ride.


My little angels: Jack, Evy, Sami, Maddi, Kate and Zach


The kids didn't want to get up and dance at the parade. Well I wasn't having that. No way. Not on D Day. I also really put my foot down when Casey stated he didn't want to watch "Fantasmic". He quickly learned that D Day is also called E day (Elena's day) and we enjoyed the show.


The next day, we hit Newport Beach. You may think this is David Hasselhoff, but it's actually my son Matthew. I brought along my trusty travel capris and sun visor for the trip.


Nelson and my "Seesee" Evy


Kate


Maddi


Jackboy


Samantha


We all buried Maddi. I was worried I was going to get TOO dark here. Can't wait to go again! I have already started saving money in my Planter's peanuts jar.

The Trip I'm Glad I Didn't Take

Steve decided to go to Denmark for a few days. I had to work and was disappointed I couldn't go...until he came back just two days later with quite the tale to tell. Here are a few suggestions how NOT to have a similar trip:

1. When traveling overseas, even standby, and you know you're definitely on the flight, maybe book a hotel otherwise you might end up sleeping on a bench.

2. Also, don't assume rental cars and hotels will be available in August, the month many Europeans have holiday and come to Denmark (including the Danes) to vacation.

3. Check ferry, train, bus schedules before. Just because you took the ferry to Bornholm (an island in Denmark) many times before, the economy is changing things and that ferry may no longer go.

4. Don't assume there will be hotels in a neighboring country or town. Taking the train to Ysted, Sweden does not necessarily open the gate for hotels. Hello, Internet? Guess when you get there you can sleep on a bench in a poncho as a last resort.

5. When all is said and done, you can just fly home after a day and a half. And when you do fly home, going from NY to Cleveland without any plan doesn't always work either. Maybe check if you can fly out of Cleveland first otherwise you will have to fly back to NY and miss your free hotel breakfast.

So I am glad I missed this one! But would it have gone better with me? We may never know.

(Good thing Mac doesn't read blogs! Love him anyway!)

Wizarding World and Senior Discounts

Just got back from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (pics to come) and my thoughts on the experience? It was dizzingly fun! In fact it was so dizzyingly fun it made me nauseous! Loved the butter beer (but don't tell my bishop that) but it was too crowded.

Also, please feel free to wish me a happy birthday this week! Send all presents (I like chocolate) to my house. Happy birthday to me!

Cell Phone Saga

My techno, no clue what is going on, saga continues.
Almost 2 years ago I bought my purple cell phone which I loved. But after dropping it way too many times I had to get a new one. Of course they don't make the kind I had anymore so I hunted for a new one that isn't too complicated, of course. The one I really wanted was temporarily out so I moved up the ladder a bit and got the one you see above. It was expensive and I decided to not sign a contract so I forked over the cash. I really liked this phone for 2 weeks cause that is how long it lasted. It met its demise in my washing machine. A long time ago a cat met its demise in my dryer so I was having flashbacks and freaked out. I do need to not operate big appliances. My new phone cost a lot and I hated partin with that money. But back to T-mobile store I go. And you know the t-mobile people do not care one bit that I washed my phone. They just want to sign you up with more contracts and more phones. So we ended up signing a contract, I got the phone you see below and Steve ordered a phone too but of course it was out of stock and who knows when it will come in. I asked the clerk who in t-mobile sits around and makes up all these stupid contracts and deals and makes sure half of the supplies are out of stock. I really haven't had that much trouble with t-mobile but I can't stand all the rig-a-marole you have to go through to get a cell phone. I am trying to get use to this phone but I liked my purple one the best. I am old fashioned with these things.

Technicalology

For Mother's Day Mac surprised me with an iPad. An iPad! I don't even know how to forward an email or even do my blog! I am technicalogically impaired and the worst part about it is I refuse to learn. My kids are all jealous that I got this little honey but it's gonna take a MIRACLE for me to learn how to use it! Thanks a lot, Steve Jobs!