Home Again

Finally home again after a nice long week in California. It's good to be back, but I think I would rather have stayed. I learned something about myself while I was away. I love Cali! I am seriously trying to talk Shawn into moving there, and I am arranging a 2 year plan to get us out to California as residents.

The weather was fantastic almost all week, and there were so many fun things to do. We weren't trapped inside by the rain or the snow. Like any Northwesterner, I love to be outside. The only issue is that the weather so often is the reason that I am stuck indoors. The landscape in Sacramento is very similar to Southern Oregon, so that satisfies my love for the Pacific NW, but the weather is warm and sunny, so that enables me to be outside.

I have already started working out the plan to move to California. Operation Califis... or something like that. Let me know if any of you come up with something more catchy. I am stuck at work today, and don't have time to blog anymore. Later tonight, I will post my all time favorite picture from my vacation.

Califis

We are in California. We got here a few hours ago, but it took us a while to settle in. Caleb is still wound up from the plane ride excitement and hasn't fallen asleep yet. Tomorrow is going to be very interesting.

Earth Day & Jet Fuel

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than fly in a jet plane? That's right folks, today is Earth Day. I have been celebrating since the beginning of this week by asking customers, "Would you like a bag for that? Earth Day is this week, you know." I think I have probably saved about 3 plastic bags, and possibly the life of a sea turtle.

Today is also the day that we leave for Sacramento, CA for my cousin's wedding. Caleb is really excited to fly in a plane. He thought that we were going yesterday and kept talking about flying in an airplane. I left for work this morning before he woke up, but I am sure "fly in a plane" will be his first words this morning.

I didn't want to bring up the plane ride too early because he doesn't have the most mature sense of time. He understands the concept of tomorrow, but once you get to the day after tomorrow, it starts to get hazy. We have been talking about the airplane ride for about 2 days now. I started just by explaining to him how airplanes work. Just saying that they are like school buses that fly in the sky, lots of people can sit on them and use them to get some where quickly. He seems to get it, but I don't think he totally knows what to expect.

I thought about showing him a movie with a scene on an airplane, but the only one we own is Superman, and that gets a little terrifying at one point. I decided it was okay to leave a little element of surprise rather than completely damage him. I'm excited to see the look on his face!

Mom Quote 4 - For the Planet!

This occurred last weekend, but I saved it for Earth Day.

Here is a quote from my mom when I talked her into getting paper plates instead of Styrofoam. It took a bit of nudging since the paper plates were $2.00 more.

This two dollars is for the planet!"

Cindy's Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday, so I would like to start this post off by saying Happy Birthday to Cindy!

Last weekend we went to Battle Ground Lake to go camping to celebrate. It was cold, but a lot of fun. We had one short burst of rain, but it was nice and sunny after that. I took Caleb with me, and it was a big adventure.

I wanted to prepare him for camping so I set up our small tent in the back yard and we put a fire in the fire pit. We stayed out in the tent until it got dark and then he went inside to go to bed.

The day before we left, Word World aired a camping episode. As we were watching it, I talked to Caleb about the camping trip that we were going on the next day. In the morning I started packing up everything we were taking with us. Every time I pulled something out of the garage, Caleb would ask, "What are you doing, Mama? What's that, Mama?"

I answered him about each thing individually, telling him what it was, what it did, and why we would need it. He asked where we were going. I told him we were going to the park to sleep in the tent. It was really exciting to him. When Shawn woke up Caleb said, "Dada! We are going to Nana's house to sleep in the tent!" I reminded him that we were going to the park and he got excited all over again exclaiming, "oh yeah!"

I noticed this weekend that Caleb is talking a lot more. He is more clear as well, and so I don't have to translate for him as much anymore. He's just growing up way too fast. Next year, camping will be even more fun!

Not Pregnant

I would like to preface this blog by first saying that I have peed on a very expensive stick, and that stick read, "not pregnant".

I'm 4 days late, I'm exhausted, my hips hurt, I'm naseaus, but I'm not pregnant. I have no idea what all of this means. Am I stressed out? Yes, but not more than I have been and it's never stopped me before.

I don't want to get too personal, but I have never been very regular, but I've also never had such a delay. I'd like nature to just hurry up and take it's course already so I can get on with my life.

I Need a Vacation

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know what it is lately, but I am exhausted. I could really use a vacation. Yes, I am going to Sacramento, CA next week for a wedding, but it's not the same. I need the kind of vacation where you just relax and don't do anything. I need the kind of vacation that is a true get away.

I've always imagined that my dream vacation would be on a white, sandy, tropical Florida beach. The kind of beach that is close enough to everything to enjoy local attractions, but far enough away from everything to be a peaceful Oasis. Some place like St. Augustine, Ponte Verda and the Beaches, Florida.

I spent the day looking up vacations in St. Augustine. I think I would like to stay at the St. George Inn. The prices are fair, the view is terrific, and the surrounding attractions look so fun! There are palm trees everywhere, the ocean water is clear blue, and the sand is pure white. Everywhere you turn, it looks like you are standing in a post card!

The website I have been checking out is http://www.romanceliveshere.com/. It's a fitting name if you ask me. What about this picture doesn't look romantic? There is something for everyone at this site. Check it out and you'll see.

Here in Portland, we have the Shanghai Tunnel tours, and they have something similar in St. Augustine. You can take a ghost tour that walks, rides, or even sails on a 72' sail boat. I would love to take the sailing tour. To be out on the water at night, listening to spooky stories and watching out for ghost ships sounds like a cheeky little adventure that is just my style. I'm a huge skeptic, and I love to try to be convinced. Here is a picture taken by one of the guests of the ghost tour. This ghost looks like it has 80's hair.

There is a Museum of weapons and early American history that I think Shawn would like. When we went to Medieval Times, we wanted to go to their Medieval weapons exhibit, but we ran out of time. I wonder if early American weapons are as... errr... creative as Medieval weapons? No better way to find out than to visit the museum, I suppose!

The rest of the time I want to hang in a hammock and have people deliver drinks served in coconut shells. Maybe a little bit of shopping. Breakfast by the pool, lunch by the ocean, and dinner at a fine dining restaurant... if I want. This is the kind of place where I would just wing it every day. No itinerary for me, just leisure; pure and simple.

What more could you expect from a romantic vacation in Florida?