Everybody loves a parade

Friday was the big halloween parade and carnival at taylors school. Holding strong to my tradition of dressing up every other year, it was time to don a costume. I decided to be drucilla, cinderellas ugly and mean stepsister, but alas, the ugly bridesmaid dress that hangs in my closet just wouldn't zip! Ironically, it was small in the chest..when did those get bigger??????
So off to the goodwill store..they should have some hideous prom/wedding dresses right? but NO...nothing to be found. Next stop walmart. No dresses for sale, but they had costumes. So I brokedown and bought a "queen" costume. It was 3 sizes to big, but that just made it comfortable. My ninja daughter was just excited to wear her costume to school. Here is tay and me at the carnival.
So it was a fun day for all. A nice half day of work for me.Friday night we went to the California High School Homecoming Football game. They did things a little different than when I was in HS. The floats did not parade across the field, but they had fireworks. It was a good game and Cal won. BUT it went very long..taylors cousin nick came home with us for a weekend sleepover. Saturday we tried out 2 of our local festivals, both free. One was down by the movie theater it was pretty small, but they had lots of those jumpy things..so they had fun. Saturday night we went with our neighbors and their 2 grandchildren to the City halloween festival. The kids had fun, but the flyer for the city was much grander than they actual event. I will say that 6 years living here and thats the first city sponsored event I went to. I guess we'll check out more of these in the future. I hear they have a great italian festival in the spring.

Happy Halloween to all.

It's time for tricks and treats

October has arrived and the buzz around our house is how many days until halloween? It's asked daily! Along with, when is my costume arriving? Well, thankfully the costume arrived yesterday and taylor has promptly tried it on and YEA it fits. She's some kind of ninja..who knew... and another friend of hers is going to be the same. They planned it this way. The nice part is just realizing that she's still young and was so very excited to put on the costume.

So here's a sneak peak.

Taylor continues to work through the requirements of 4th grade. I have joined her in becoming more organized too. Teach what you preach right...! It's hard to stay organized but I hope to have my house done by the end of the year. Then I can start my next new years resolution!

So I hope all you ghosts and goblins have a wonderful and safe halloween.

September already??!!!

So here we are a month later. School has started and we've been busy. Taylor is having a hard time keeping up with 4th grade requirements. She is now working on her organizational skills. During the last month she discovered the internet..mostly webkins and club penguin. Which is great as she is much more familiar with the computer. She has also started the braces process. She currently has a "space maintainer" which looks very similiar to a retainer but it's on the inside of the teeth and it's not removeable.
We are both happy that school has started as it gets us that much closer to our next vacation. Which I am ready for!
We'll post pics later!

Hi again

So it's been a while since my last post. Things are very quiet out here in california. It's hot so we've been staying around the house. Trying to save some cash for the may trip.
I had a beef with disney. They raised the rate of the cruise under the guise of government taxes. I don't feel that they raised it fairly, seems they'll be getting an additional 200K out of us passengers..but my TA, Dreams Unlimited, also thought it was unfair of disney and handed out an additional 200 OBC (on board credit) so thats cool. It wasn't enough of an increase to make me cancel, but it put a bad taste in my mouth.
I don't want to say never, but I think I am done with disney after this cruise and going to head back to RCCL. Their prices are less, they have more itineraries available and they also have a kids club. The only drawback is their kids club is not open on port days, but oh well...it's no biggie.
My sister and I are planning an Alaska trip for summer 2009 and I think I want to do a cruise for my 40th. Since it's right around the corner..well a year away but still.
We'll see how the finances go.
Taylor is ready to start 4th grade. She has her last week of regular summer camp this week and then we'll see what we do with her for the next 2 weeks. I will take a week off and we'll hang around. I'm hoping to get some housekeeping done. I need to paint and finish my kitchen. Otherwise, she'll probably end up at tennis camp or horse camp. Tennis is less, so I like that one better.
Hope all of you are having a fabulous summer. I'm ready for the school year to start, the faster it starts the faster our next vacation arrives.

Cya

Lazy kid free day!

So I spent my first kid free weekend...planning our next disney vacation. I have now secured our hotel for may 2008. I have also booked my sister and her family in another room, hoping that they'll bring my nephew out for a 2 day trip to WDW. It'll be his first time and taylors first time. I think it would be really cool for them to experience it together. Even thought david will only be 1 1/2 years old...still. I have asked my brother to join us, but it's too far away for him to consider. So many things can change. Although, after planning the med cruise..time seemed to fly by from planning to travelling.
Now I'm getting ready to go to a friends for a bbq and tomorrow..ugh! housework. My least favorite part of the weekend. So signing off for now.

So Sad, but true

So I am so sad! I mean a sad, pathetic planner. I have already booked our hotel for the panama cruise. I have also checked out shore excursions on castaway cay. I am waiting for the cheapee airlines to open their flights, but it looks like we'll do RT oak/lax and then fly one way from lax to orlando. We can take a flight that will get us in at 6am.. So now the question...how much school can one kid miss? I am at 10 days right now, but thinking about 12...I asked and they said ..whats 2 more...and really what is 2 more. BUT still...once you purchase the airline tix you're locked in! AND....tays never been to WDW...so I just talked myself into it...
hahahaha

Happy Summer all!

Home, home on the range

So we've been home for a week. I miss the mouse! Now I am planning our next vacation thru the panama canal on disney. I am looking forward to the many sea days we have. Finally, I'll get to relax and do nothing. Take advantage of all of the ships activities. I missed alot on the med cruise.
I was reading other trip reports and apparently there was a night buffet, the mickey dreams show, the sailaway show and more.
I also wanted to participate in more activities, like trivia etc. I didn't try any restaurants for breakfast or lunch. Ok enought complaining. I'll try it out on the next one. I think we might add some time at WDW in the beginning. I have checked again and it looks like taylor won't get into too much trouble missing another 2 days of school. Lucky for us!

Cya later....