Category Archives: Vacations

We’re Back!!

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The trip to Reno was AWESOME! Not so much being in Reno, but driving to Reno and home. We listened to Twilight on CD and Gino was finally brutally forced to understand what I’ve been talking about all this time. He likes it too. We’re only half way through the book, so I anticipate either him reading the rest (don’t see that happening) or us listening to the CD’s in the house.

The seminar was actually a lot of fun. I learned a lot and my tenants are going to hate me, because by law there are certain things that have to be in the rental agreements that aren’t. So, they’ll all be having to resign rental agreements when they just did that 2 months ago. Sorry tenants

Gino and the kids just hung out in the room while I was in my seminar and watched movies. After I got out we went swimming in their gorgeous swimming pool. Then we ate a yummy buffet and went to see Ksee and the kids.

It was such a quick trip, but it was such a nice break to get out of here.

Today is going to be spent doing all the things I don’t want to do…. I’m going to do laundry, organize the office so it’s ready for some major work accomplishing on Monday, avoid the Harvest Festival going on outside (I know, terrible, terrible mom – but come on!), get grocery shopping done.

Goin back to Cali!

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In about 2 hours we will be in our car on our way to Cali!!!! I can’t wait to see everyone and for everyone to see the kids!

First stop is San Ramon to visit our friends Jen & David. Then Thursday (Ella’s first birthday) we’re going to San Francisco and eating great food and seeing some sites.

Haven’t decided yet if we’re staying in Frisco Thursday night or not. We might drive back that night to Sacramento, but that’s not set in stone. I think Gino’s BFF Dave wants us to stay with him.

Then Friday I think we’re going to Stockton to see Gino’s mom. Friday night is BBQ at my cousin Jenna’s house!!

Saturday is Ella’s birthday party.

Sunday we come home!

Boy that’s a lot of visiting!!

Pray we have a safe, happy and joyous trip.

24 Hour Vacation

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That was one exhausting weekend! I made a decision out of the middle of nowhere that we were going to the coast. So we packed up and had everything ready to take off as soon as Gino got home from work.

We were at the ocean at 6:00pm and it was beautiful. We brought along Mitch and Ryli so we took 2 cars. The boys were in 1 and the girls were in the other. It was probably one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever driven.

The redwoods are breathtaking and I got MANY pictures!!! We went to Ocean World, the beach twice and to the Trees of Mystery. Ella really enjoyed Ocean World ~ especially the Sea Lion. We did it all in 24 hours! I have to go through all of my pictures and resize them all and then I’ll post a couple up. It’s going to be so hard to choose from them all!

We get home and I was EXHAUSTED! To the point of almost being emotional ~ well, Ella had no diapers, so I had to leave and drive to the store to buy the diapers. I get home and finally am in bed when Jayden wakes up crying and crying and telling me that his ear is broken. Poor guy has swimmer’s ear. So this morning we went to the doctors and got him some medication.

My visit with my little cousin Ryli was wonderful. She is such a sweet girl and I was happy she was able to have such a fun time. Sometimes it can be hard when you’re the oldest of 4, and I’m happy that she got some one on one time w/my Grandma and me! She’s flying out today and I’m going to miss her so much! I need make sure that I get together with her at least once a year. She has always held a special place in my heart since she was a baby…. I lived with her when she was a baby, and helped my aunt out during a very difficult time in her life.

Stay tuned for pictures!!

Going to the holy land

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I think that we’ve made a decision after much thought and consideration. Our bishop goes to Israel 2x/year. It is supposed to be the most amazing tour of the country ever and it looks like my husband is going to join him.

Gino has shown so much interest in the church and something has been holding him back from baptism. When I casually mentioned to him that the Bishop was going to Israel later this year he looked at me and said, “I want to go.” To be honest I kinda laughed at first. I can’t picture Gino going on a trip with the Bishop, but he was dead serious.

I prayed about it and I’ve never once received one bad feeling. Something inside of me keeps telling me that this is “it”. This is going to be the maker or the breaker in Gino’s decision to join this church. From what I’ve heard the tour is supposed to be so amazing that he’ll come home begging to be baptized.

This is the website that the Bishop has set up where you can kinda go and see what’s in store for my husband. I’m so excited for him. This is an opportunity of a lifetime no matter what religion you are. The trip is for 10 days and I’m happy that I’ll be able to rely on the members of my church for help while he’s gone, because I have one of the best wards in the world!

Sincerely Fro’ Me to You – Sand Dollar Baller

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I am SUPER excited about this carnival that Kristen from “We are THAT Family” you know what, Kristen – we so are too! LOL Anways… it’s called Sincerely, Fro’ Me to You. It’s a carnival on taking a trip down memory lane.

Let me explain why this is the most perfect carnival for me. This blog is my family history. This blog is going to be printed every year and put into a hard cover book for my children and their children and their children to enjoy. I’m so happy that I will have something weekly that will force me to dig into memory lane to share with all the generations to come.

So for my first time ever participating…..

Dear Mom,

Do you remember the summer after Delphi? This particular summer you were in New Orleans. I came to visit and had the summer of a lifetime. We were walking down the French Quarters and there was a door open of some bar and I looked in and there was actually a male stripper and when I looked down there was a ton of guys stuffing money in his thong LOL. Remember the creepy guy that was following us?

There’s one moment in my life that I will never forget as long as I live. I don’t think I’d ever been more mad at you than I was at that moment. You know, the moment that you almost had me walking into a little shop on the beach to sell them the sand dollars I “found” on the beach for $300 each! You know, the sand dollars that you dropped in the sand behind me, just to lead me into thinking I was finding a gold mine and was going to be rich! I’ll never forget that. In fact, I think packed in the garage I still have those sand dollars. I’m glad that you and John had such a hysterical laugh over it. I’ll never forget how mad I was. I was only 12… you tell me anything and I’ll believe it. I had plans for that money, Mom! I was planning on buying one of those Sony Discmans… remember, the yellow ones that supposedly wouldn’t make your CDs skip.

I still wish that you really could take sand dollars in and sell them for $300 each. I’m so happy that you made things so memorable for me, even if at the time I wasn’t really all that happy with the little jokes you’d play on me. I love you, Mom!

Sincerely,

Fro’ Me to You, Mom

Need To Get Away?

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Have you ever been in a situation where there’s an family emergency and you can’t get to where you need to go, because you don’t have the cash? Or how about that unexpected bill that popped up and you need help getting it paid. Or maybe you just can’t deal with life anymore and you NEED TO GET AWAY! Trust me, sometimes I feel like that….. actually, I get that feeling at least once a day. Vacation Loans is a website that will match you with a Payday advance loan company that will guarantee you to be approved for up to a $1,000.00, just as long as you have a job, phone number & a bank account.

So, don’t forget that the next time you’re in a bind and need a little advance, Vacation Loans can even help you buy some new pants!

Planning Our Trip to Vegas

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I’m actually getting pretty serious about this trip to Las Vegas. I’ve almost got the entire trip planned. I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, and that is a MUST do on my list. They have a Pirates of the Caribbean show that Jayden would go CRAZY over.

The only downfall to the whole trip is the heat, but there’s a Wet N’ Wild right on the strip. Jayden’s never been on a water slide before…. he’s going to LOVE IT!!!

I thought about driving, but let’s face it. I don’t want to take that long of a trip with Ella – the trip coming home from Sacramento on Easter took us 2 hours longer than usual. So I think if we go through with this trip we’ll fly and rent a car. There’s so many car rental companies, but I found one that has some awesome specials! Advantage Rent A Car is a lot cheaper than the company I used (I don’t even remember what the name of the place was) when Ella had to be admitted into the hospital in Portland. They would have saved me a lot of money! If you’re planning on a trip or need a car rental, make sure you check out Advantage Rent A Car and see if they’re in your area.

It’s Almost Time for Summer Vacations!!

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Yesterday it reached 100 degrees where I live. 100 FRICKEN DEGREES in May! It’s completely baffling me and I feel like I’m switching from Winter to Summer….. where is Spring? I’m not ready for swimming pools and beaches….. or am I????

This weather has me thinking about this summer vacations, and thinking of summer vacations has me thinking about how I haven’t gone on one in FOREVER. The last time I actually got a vacation was in June 2005. See what having kids does to you? I jumped on a plane, left the husband and kid at home, and went to go and watch my aunt get married. Let me just tell you, Vegas after you’re 21 and you’re not being an active Mormon is INSANE! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that in my life.

One of my aunt’s friends was a VIP manager of an after hours club in one of the casinos and got us in. You take an elevator down and we got set up in the VIP area and had Fillet Mignon, chocolate covered strawberries, endless drinks and anything that we wanted on the house. We got there at around 2am and it wasn’t really even packed – at 4am that’s when the party in there started. They’re not kidding when they say the freaks come out at night. We actually left the club at 6am! When we came out of the elevator there was a line out the door and wrapped around the building just to get in there. I felt like crap that next day, and now when I think about how much I miss the club scene I try my hardest to think about how I felt that horrible day!

The weekend was so hectic that we didn’t get to experience any of the fun things that Vegas has to offer. You know, all the things that don’t include alcohol and slots. My mom spent the majority of her time down in the casinos playing black jack, counting cards like she was supposed to be in the movie 21 or something. So, I’m thinking that I just might have to make a family trip out of Vegas this time. Trusted Tours & Attractions has a ton of sightseeing tours on their website. CLICK HERE to go and see what Las Vegas has to offer on their site. I’ve already found so many things that Jayden would LOVE! Las Vegas isn’t the only city on their site. They have things to offer for New York, and who doesn’t love Atlanta? Things to do in Atlanta

I just signed up for their newsletter and I’m now qualified to win a $150.00 Itunes gift card…. SCORE! You can sign up too for your chance to win….. CLICK HERE to sign up and make sure you act fast, because the giveaway ends on 5/31/08.

I got you thinking about vacations, didn’t I? I’d love to hear from others on where they’re going on their vacations this year.