We are back from our trip to California. We actually came home yesterday, but today was spent running errands and unpacking. I had to go grocery shopping because I had tried to use up everything we had before we left so we were out of everything. I couldn't sleep so I thought it would be a great time to come downstairs and journal about our vacation. Actually, I just finished reading Breaking Dawn and while I love how the book ended, I am alittle sad that it is over. Plus I think I am still on California time, so instead of being midnight, it could be 9 o'clock.

We had a wonderful time on our vacation. Disneyland was wonderful, I liked it better than Disney World because it is so much smaller. It only has 2 parks, Disneyland and California Adventure Park and they are right beside each other so you can easily go back and forth . I had planned out what all we wanted to do before we left and we were able to ride every ride and see all the sights that the kids and I had planned. With the exception of having dinner with the princess's. I have always known how expensive Disney can be, but when you live here and only go for a day at a time, I guess I was blind to just how EXPENSIVE Disney can be. Our first morning there, we had a character breakfast at our hotel with Lilo and Stitch. When you sit down, they tell you to help yourself to the buffet, they offer no menus, so Rick and I both assumed that there was no other option than the buffet. We weren't thrilled with that because our kids usually only eat one or two things so paying for a buffet is a waste of money, but then Lilo & Stitch came to the table, the kids were excited and we just went with it. Well we both were floored when they brought the bill for $100. That really changed our thinking for the rest of the trip. Rick went to the grocery store that same day and the kids had pop tarts and donuts for breakfast the rest of the time at Disney. Rick's show at the Food & Wine Festival went great. It was exciting watching him cook and watching how he interacted with the crowd....I am hoping that there was some famous food network producer in the audience and Rick will become the next Emerill....BAM!! We were able to meet the chef from the show Dinner Impossible (I've never watched it, but he was a cutie :) After Disney we went to San Diego and did some sight seeing there. It was so beautiful. LA was nice but it wasn't like they make it look on TV, it was kinda dirty. But I was determined to get one of those map of the stars houses, so I made Rick drive around until we found someone selling them on the corner. It was right in front of Michael Jackson's house, but of course you couldn't see anything other than the gate, but we drove around hoping to see someone famous.....

I was proud of myself, because I am a MAJOR germ a phobic, so the whole "swine" flu thing going on while we were out in one of the first states to have confirmed cases really put me on edge. But I was able to overcome my fears and worries and along with ALOT of hand sanitizer and ALOT of yelling at the kids to don't touch ANYTHING and don't put your hands near your mouth...I think we could be safe. But Rick thinks that I gave the kids a buzz from all the alcohol I kept pouring on them. But at least I didn't make them bath in it. The ride home on the airplane was the hardest part for me, every time someone coughed I found myself wishing I had bought face masks :) on the plus side I was so worried about germs that I completely forgot my fear of earthquakes...yeah!!! that was until Rick told me about a couple in northern California the first day we were there and then the one in Mexico when we were in San Diego...at least he waited until the trip was almost over to tell me...I think he just loves to get me in a panic.

So now it is back to the real world and back to school on Monday. We have not done any real school in 2 weeks now, so I know it could be a challenge to get back into our routine. It seems like we had just figured out our routine, so wish me luck. Well, I guess I should try and go to sleep or else I will pay for it in the morning.

Check out the $100 breakfast :)

This is the family in a barrel of hand sanitizer

I would like to take this time to thank the "sponsors" of our trip :)

my personal "celebrity" chef in action...kickin it up a notch

This is the dish that they prepared..it is cod with a mango salsa...all I could think of was FREE MEAL..whhoooaaaa

the "Dinner Impossible" Chef

This is my favorite pictures because she wasn't posing (for a change) she was watching the Pixar

parade...this is the face of pure joy!!!!! and that is what the whole trip was for

Okay, So I am starting my blog with the Simple Women's Daybook. Hopefully I am following all the rules :)

FOR TODAY Monday April 13, 2009...

Outside my window...It is a beautiful warm and sunny day.

I am thinking...that I should be doing school work instead, but the kids are playing so quietly

I am thankful for...a wonderful weekend with Rick and the kids. We had such a great Easter.

From the learning rooms...back to school...I wasn't very structured last week, we did a lot of Easter activities so I did not follow the daily schedule like I should have. So I hope this week to be able to get all of the planned school work done each day and not leave work unfinished. I also want to continue to look at different curriculum's. I received a catalog from Sonlight on Saturday and really seemed to like what they have to offer. I just have to keep strong and not get discouraged with the curriculum we are using now. I feel like Breanna is not being challenged at all and that she would benefit with more reading. John gets overwhelmed with working from a textbook so I have to adjust each days work so he is not so overwhelmed and doesn't get upset.

From the kitchen...I have nothing planned yet. I hope to have a chance to sit down today and plan out my menu for the week. Tonight will probably be take out.

I am wearing...my normal school attire....t-shirt and sweats :) I love this life

I am creating...not a thing at the moment..hhhmmm I better get to work

I am going...to get started on the housework that never ends

I am reading...The 3rd book in the Twilight series

I am hoping...for a peaceful night

I am hearing...the kids screaming at our dog Miley (yes she was named after Hannah Montana)

Around the house...is a mess as usual. I was doing good until the Easter weekend. Now there is candy, Easter grass and toys everywhere.

One of my favorite things...ice cream. I could eat a big bowl every night, but I really have to stick to some sort of diet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: starting packing for our trip next week to Disneyland. I always wait until the last minute and then get so stressed that I end up driving everyone around me crazy on the days before we leave. So my goal is to do alittle something each day. I am not to excited about the 5 1/2 plane trip, so I want to make sure that I have enough to keep everyone busy. I wonder how they would feel about do some school work on the plane....I can hear the screams now....

Here is picture thought I am sharing... okay the picture is at the top. still trying to figure out what I am doing here. But this was a picture from Saturday. Breanna and I were making an Easter bunny cake. I used an old cake pan that I inherited from my grandmother. It is one of those stand up cake pans. Well she made it look so easy...but it didn't quite turn out the way I had planned. The bunny's head fell off. Oh well, all that matters was that it tasted good and we had a good time baking.

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