A Little Weekend Get-a-Way

As a birthday gift for John, his parents offered to watch the kids for a weekend. Considering his birthday was two months ago, and our weekends are only getting more filled, we decided to seize the day and get out of dodge. We stayed pretty local, not wanting to waste our precious time driving; we booked a Marriott in Santa Monica right by the pier.

We were walking distance to 3rd Street, where the street performers are a'plenty.

We at at a delish restaurant called True Foods and felt energized and healthy afterwards.

We felt so energized, we were able to ride our bikes for 15 miles up and down the coast. It was beautiful. Between the pier and Venice Beach there is a giant skate park where people of all ages were showing their skills.

One of the perks of having John's Elite Marriott status is that they give you an in-room treat which could be a few different things including a pint of ice cream. Instead of just sending up one thing of ice cream, they had room service bring us a whole service, which was beautiful and fancy. Perfect for enjoying while snuggling up watching a movie.

On our way home, we stopped at a new restaurant that was recommended to me called The Counter. Holy cow, yes, that's my burger. And I wasn't even hungry!

I wish we could have these little escapes once a month, or at least once a quarter.

Or how 'bout right now?

I'll Get There

Brooke keeps asking me if I've updated my Blog. No, not yet. I need to load all the pictures from John's camera and my camera that I've taken. Christmas was wonderful. Christmas break was wonderful. 2012 is going to be a great year, but I've been busy, too busy, but I will catch up.

This month: Faith in God fireside, School board meeting, PFA board meetings, Primary board meetings, Track board meeting, Track registration (we're in charge, well John is), Madison's basketball games, Christian's TKD, Christian's birthday and planning his party (STAR WARS THEME . . . Any ideas out there?????), planning his baptism, book club, recipe club, craft club, lots of work for Xirrus (= late nights), Girl Scouts Cookie Chair, schlepping the kids around, and the worst that's taking my brain capacity is a talk in Stake Conference. Why me???? I've already spoken in Stake Conference before, therefore I should get a free pass for the rest of my life. This being the second time should give me a free pass for all eternity. I. do. not. like. public. speaking.

At about 9:00 next Saturday night, I'll feel much better. And hopefully be alive to blog again if I don't die right there on the stand.

A Night Out

John and I were invited to a formal fundraising dinner for the Boy Scouts of America at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was a fun night with a silent auction, a live auction - complete with auctioneers (one thousand give me two didigididigidi or whatever he says), live entertainment, a wonderful dinner and

scrumptious dessert. And the best part, besides being dressed to the nines and out on a date together, was being with a large group of wonderful friends and a ballroom filled with generous people who love God and Country and the BSA.

Here's a video clip of the auctioneer (and part of our table).

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to me!

I had the opportunity to fly up to San Francisco for the day to do go shopping with my good friend Tina. Since my birthday was only two days away, what better excuse?

Especially since we'd be flying up on a private jet . . .

with exceptional service and food . . . and only the four of us (me, John, Dirk, Tina).

John and Dirk had appointments in the Bay Area and Tina wanted to go shopping so invited me along. Also planned was a romantic dinner with a view . . .

Not a great picture of the plane, but it's the best I could do in the dark with my phone walking to the car (which was brought right up to the plane . . . spoiled!)
It was a very fun trip, we came home with some good buys, and thanks to both sets of parents who helped with the kids, it was a perfect day!

On my actual birthday morning, Brooke, my planner and chef, whipped up this before school:

(with choice of salt and pepper - she's so cute!)

After a fabulous lunch date with my good friend Becky, John brought home a lovely array of sushi for dinner that was succulently delish!

Here's to another wonderful 41 years!

Four Decades

To lessen the blow of turning the big four-oh!, John booked us a little birthday getaway. To my surprise, he actually took a real day off:

an. actual. vacation. day!

He only worked until 10am and then told everyone he would be out of commission. He even turned his e-mail off (his phone buzzes with emails every second, no joke).

As soon as we dropped off the kids at school (we went to the Award Assembly as Christian received the first writing award for his first grade class), then dropped off the kids' gear and my car at John's parents house and took Ashlyn to a friend's house, we were OFF!!

We planned a quick getaway to Dana Point and stayed at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott, which we highly recommend. Since we were only going to be gone one night, needed to make the most of it by leaving in the morning so we could enjoy nearly two days there. Are we ever glad we did!

The weather was FABULOUS!!!!! The best it was all summer - which of course says a lot since the sun barely ever came out all summer. The first stop was to the Dana Point Marina where we had lunch at a cute restaurant on the water.

Then, we rented a double kayak and paddled around the marina and out into the bay. It was so much fun!

On one side of the jetty that divides the marina from the sea was serene and pretty (above).

On the other side of the jetty (which we are standing on), there are gorgeous tide pools, waves crashing on rocks; stunning oceanic beauty.

This is what it looks like when you lie back in a kayak on the Pacific Ocean. The gentle rolling of the sea, soft chirping of distant seagulls, occasional sailboat, perfect gentle breezes and a warm sun - a recipe for pure relaxation.

We kayaked for about two hours, 'parked' (not what you think - there just isn't an anchor on board!) for almost a half hour, then headed back to check in to the hotel, which, by the way, is beautiful, well appointed, and luxuriously comfortable. We had an ocean-view room (thanks Elite status), and access to the spa and gym (thanks Elite status).

On Saturday we got to sleep in. Nobody woke us up at 6:30 in the morning asking for breakfast. Nobody awoke us with scary dreams in the middle of the night.

We went to the hotel's gym and had a good workout, then walked along Doheny Beach for a while. They were having a surf competition which was fun to watch.

Then we lounged at the hotel's gorgeous pool on super comfy chaises, ordered poolside lunch, had a mango smoothie, swam, read, napped . . . pure heaven.

Staying only one night was quick, we definitely could have done two, but so glad we made the most of two days. We kept saying over and over that we could not have asked for a better weekend. We really lucked out! It was a wonderful birthday present, one that had me walking on Cloud 9 for weeks,

well maybe days,

well Ok, until the whining and the messes started when we got the kids all home.

I can close my eyes and think about the wonderful weekend and be glad that I had that dreaded birthday which caused for such a treat.

Sunscreen ~ Always Use Sunscreen

This is what happens when you let the sun be the boss of you.

You get to be a bit like Frankenstein and oh is it lovely.