The Happiest Thanksgiving on Earth

Day 1 -
Rope Drop
Blue Skies
Lots of rides
Meeting Mickey
Peppermint Beignets dipped in Chocolate sauce (oh my)
Cheddar Garlic Bagel Twists
Chocolate Danishes
Dole Whip
(sorry, I have to mention the food)
Lots of Magic

Day 2 -
Rope Drop again
Blue Skies again
Lots of rides again
Cars and Toys
Cones
Corndogs
Frosty Parfait
Route 66 at Dusk
More Magic

 

Day 3 -
Rope Drop again
Cloudy and Rainy ALL day
Ponchos to the rescue!
A lot of rides again
STAR WARS!!!
Ronto Wraps
Blue and Green Milk (not great, but not gross.....just indescribably weird)
Chili Mac in Sour Dough Breadbowls
Chewy and Darth Vadar
Parade
More Magic

Day 4 - aka Thanksgiving
Rope Drop again
Torrential Rains - I'm not exaggerating
Multiple times in the Animation Academy
Two walk-on's to Guardians of the Galaxy
Chocolate
Clam Chowder in Sourdough Breadbowls
Souveniers
Too wet, cold, and in pain to go any longer
Magic? We tried

There was SO much more we wanted to do that last day, but seriously you guys, torrential rains.

We were SOPPING wet withing the first 20 minutes that we were there, from our knees down. We were getting flash flood warnings on our phones. Plus it was windy. Plus it was only 50 degrees. You could see your breath. I'm surprised we lasted as long as we did. It just wasn't a good day. We decided that we might as well pack up and leave for Utah, and see how far we could get. Oh my. That didn't make anything better. Not far into the rode trip, even before we hit the mountains, it started to snow. SNOW! On palm trees, for cryin' out loud.

By the time we hit the mountains, it was bad. What should have been a 4 1/2 hours drive to Las Vegas ended up being EIGHT HOURS!!! We were actually lucky to get through the Cajun Pass on I-15, because I think it was closed at certain points after we got through. The one gas station in that area was PACKED. Cars lined up for gas all the way down the road. People lined up for the bathrooms from one end of the store to the other.

Everyone was stopping because we'd already been on that road for 2 hours, and were only half-way through the pass. Circumstances like that bring out the best and the worst in people. The worst.

Well, we finally made it home, and quickly got to work on putting up Christmas! Despite the bad ending, we really had a great trip, and we can't wait to go again. If you haven't noticed, WE LOVE DISNEY!

Drinking It In

So, Joe and I have been married for almost 20 years, come the beginning of January. We wanted to do something special, so we had the idea to go to Disneyland over New Year's, by ourselves, since that is where we spent our Honeymoon. Plans are made, and plans change, and somehow that anniversary trip for New Year's turned into a family trip for Thanksgiving. Guess what? I wouldn't change a thing.

Since Utah is roughly half-way, it was a good excuse to stop and see family (Joe's family on the way there, and mine on the way back). Driving west is such a lift to my spirits EVERY TIME. As soon as we start getting into mountains, and dry desert air, and red rock, I feel like I'm coming alive. I know this landscape isn't for everyone, but I just drink it in.

I thought it was hilarious when we stopped at this one rest stop/view area, and they had this sign there.

Yes, I thought it was funny. No, I'm not the one who scratched "Funny B----" on the sign. Maybe this lady would have been happier to be in flat, green, humid Nebraska. We can't always live where we want to live, right? :)

Anyway, we made our way to California, and had a little time that first evening to go to the pier at Huntington beach. It was a little chilly, but a gorgeous night, and I love the ocean almost as much as the mountains.

While we were here I told Cora about how I had bought a white dress for myself, years ago, just across the street from the pier, and a few years later I refashioned that dress into Cora's blessing dress. I don't think I've been back to Huntington Beach since then. Good times.

I think I'll make our Disneyland days another post, so stay tuned.

A First Place Halloween

Our ward Trunk or Treat was another hit this year. Was that because I took first place in the pie contest? Maybe.

Wast that a total fluke? Maybe. I mean, I've never actually made a pecan pie in my life, but I have this recipe book from Texas, when we lived there, and I thought to myself - self, Texans know pecan pie. Plus I have a great crust recipe from my Mother-in-law. Apparently, it was a winning combination :)

As you can see, I went as some kind of spider lady, not to be confused with Spiderman. Joe wore this shirt. He really gets into the spirit of Halloween.

Cora was rocking her own version of Cat in the Hat.

Joseph was very excited about his last minute idea to go as Jim from The Office dressed as a 3-hole punch.

Madelyn, who I didn't get a picture of at the church, was a witch. This is a picture of her and her friends on Halloween night, minus her hat.

And Alex went as a blond Harry Potter again.

I did not eat ONE single piece of candy for Halloween. I did not even tax my children for their candy.  This has never happened before. And I only had a VERY small piece of my award winning pecan pie (which was delicious!).  I'm just trying to make healthier choices for myself, and it's paying off. It doesn't mean I don't have treats - I mean, in my last post I had apple doughnuts from Valas - but I'm just being more mindful, one day at a time.....even on Halloween.