So Busy

Where to start.....
Let me begin by setting the mood:

So, I just need to say it again.  Things are SO CRAZY here.
Last week I continued my search for a sitter for the Little Man (had quite an interesting interview), worked on the new house, had some showings on the house, two open houses and went to Bear Lake for a Family Reunion.  Oh, we also got and filled a pinata for the reunion.  I should say M picked out the pinata.  Robot?  Don't know why, but she loved it. 

The best part about being in charge of the pinata is stuffing it!

This week was kicked off with a trip to the zoo with M's preschool.  Fun!

2 little mokeys in front of a monkey exhibit.

Aside from finding a sitter, this week's top priority is preparing for M's Fancy Nancy 4th Birthday Party, which is this Saturday.



You may be wondering why on earth there is so much prep for a 4 year old's birthday party.  You are not alone.  I've wondered the same thing myself.  Let me just say that with everything else going on it is just that much more difficult.  Well that and the fact that we could have THIRTY kids coming!  Yes, 30!  No, I never intended to invite 30 children.  It's just the way things turned out.  M really wanted to invite her friends from preschool.  Well, just after I agreed (10 kids in her class), I realized that it was their transition time at school (where 1/2 of the kids in a class move up to the next class).  To make the story short, we ended up inviting all of the kids in the 4's class, 1/2 of the 3's class and 1/2 of the 5's class (in addition to some of her other friends). 

I sure hope that she's just young enough to not realize how big the party is and not expect it that big in years to come!  I'll have some explaning to do.



Last night I hung these "fancy" ribbons on the wall that will be just behind her cake/dessert table.

That's a big pinata in front of the fireplace.  We filled it with 10 pounds of candy and toys last night.  2 pinata fillings in 2 weeks!  Ha!

Thank goodness for 2-day shipping!  With the craziness of last week, I forgot to order the Fancy Nancy plates.  That could have been disasterous.  I'll be honest.  When I saw the fee I was going to be charged to get these things here on time, I nearly didn't order them.  I'm so glad I went through with it.  M was so excited when they arrived yesterday, she was almost shaking as she opened the package.

Working on a banner that will say "Ooh, La La!" 

I always forget that DIY really means "Will take FOREVER"! 



Hubby is so exhausted he is falling asleep every time he sits down.  Poor guy!  Next year will be Chuck E Cheese's for sure!  I'm crazy for trying to do a party at the house right now.  There was a rational reason why I decided to do it.  I just don't remember what it is now.  :)

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You're not tired of the ocean yet are you? I didn't think so.

Day 3 BIG SUR!

Motto for the day: TWILIGHT ZONE!

I told the hubby that since our family trip would pretty much be our anniversary trip we should go see Big Sur for our anniversary :). 

I have been wanting to visit Big Sur for years and it was just too close to NOT go.....so at 9:00 am we were off to Big Sur.  Good ol' Jill (GPS) told us it would be 2 hrs and 45 min. that was cake compared to the driving we had endured so far; besides that much time looking at the ocean sounded great with me.

About two hours into the trek we found our first stop.  Ragged Point

AMAZING! 

Ocean, as far as the eye could see and such a deep blue.  It was breathtaking.  

Can't see us that well with all that beautiful ocean in the background :)

 We got us some EXPENSIVE corndogs and we were off!

We had our first experience with Jill the optimist (remember Jill....the GPS...that said it would take 2 hrs 45 min :).  Four hours later we arrived at our first destination:  McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

One thing I never noticed when researching this place is that none of the photos were ever from the ground level.  It is a lookout point that you pay to go see.  It was AMAZING and worth every penny of the entry fee.......I just envisioned actually being able to walk to the waterfall.  

Had to throw another one up for you! 

And the view from the other side.

Well that wasn't the end of it.  We just HAD to make it to Pfeiffer Beach the other famous photos I have seen. 

Here is where we went deep into the Bermuda Triangle :).

While looking at the map and visitor info on Big Sur it listed the directions to Pfeiffer Beach.  It was listed as a must see with it's natural arch in the ocean and it's purple sand!  How could we miss it?

Note to self.....when a beach is NOT marked and hard to find.  There is a reason :)

We pulled up to the pay station and there was a note that said "YES IT IS A WINDY BEACH, NO THERE ARE NO REFUNDS".  We laughed as I said, "What beach isn't windy?  What kind of a person asks for a refund because the beach is windy?"  We kept chuckling until we pulled in.  

Once we hopped out a cute little English lady came over to our car to let us know we should put on some "Trousers" because the "Sand was whipping around a bit".  Once again we chuckled as we headed down the trail (in our shorts).  We got about 20 feet down the trail before Indiana started SCREAMING.  The wind was blowing SO hard that the sand was coming at us like a million little needles.  

I named this beach the Bermuda Triangle Beach.  It was like standing in a wind tunnel!  Thank goodness we didn't bring B's with us or it would have picked her up and taken her away Wizard of OZ style!  

Indiana would not stand up and SCREAMED the entire time, my sunglasses where blown off my face four times and when we got back in the car we were COVERED in sand.

My cute hubby braved the elements to get me a few pics!

After this beach experience we could not WAIT to get back to the condo.  We had seen enough ocean for the day.  Unfortunately we had four hours of Highway 1 (and plenty of it) ahead of us.  It was a LONG ride home.

Filled with sharp turns.......

 Vast Ocean Views....

Construction....Highway 1 style.

Whale Rock.....

Light House......AND........

ZEBRAS!!!!

Just when we thought the day couldn't get any more strange Indiana on the way home said......Daddy have I ever seen a Zebra before?"  Her dad answered, "No, I don't think you have, they weren't out at the zoo when we went".  

Not even ten minutes later on the opposite side of Highway 1, this is what we saw. 

Phew....what a day!  

 Big Sur, Big Sur, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Pfeiffer Beach,

Pfeiffer Beach,  Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls, McWay FallsBig Sur, Big Sur, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Pfeiffer Beach, 

 
   

Good News

I've always been a bit of a news hound/lover.  Looking at the latest headline is a bit of an addiction for me.  I do it all day long.  The first thing I do when I turn on my computer in the morning is to start my web browser and I simultaneously load CNN.com, MSN.com, Huffingtonpost.com and KSL.com (local news).  I scan each to see the latest "news".  First headlines, then world news, then national news (typically leading to politics) and wrap it up with local news.

Even though the headlines don't change much through the course of a day, I find myself looking at a news page on my Blackberry every couple of hours.  When I was pregnant I was particularly haunted by stories involving children.  Since I knew I wouldn't be able to get the story out of my mind, I would try not to read them.  But, inevitably I would find myself pulled to the story and end up with nightmares.  The hubby kept telling me not to read them and I would say "I wish there was just some GOOD news once in awhile."

Now that I am up a few times in the middle of the night (nursing), I pass that time scanning through far too much news, as well.  And, you know what I am finding?  Things seem to be getting worse.  Cannibalism is on the rise??  Seriously.  Ten years ago did any of us think that we would be hearing about cannibalistic attacks (aside from horror movie previews)?  Syria:  Heart wrenching.  Wisconsin:  Crazy.  Romney v. Obama:  Frustrating.  Porn stars:  In the news?  What is this world coming to?!

While I was nursing the little guy this morning I felt particularly frustrated by the day's headlines (Wisconsin).  So, I FINALLY typed "Good News" into Google.  This is what I found:

Huffington Post's Good News Headline:

"If You Live Without Fear....Anything Is Possible.  Buddy Media CEO Michael Lazerow Makes Unforgettable Video Following Salesforce Acquisition (VIDEO)"       

"This week, Buddy Media, a social enterprise software company, was acquired by cloud computing giant Salesforce.com for a staggering $689 million.  Shortly after he signed the deal, Buddy Media CEO Michael Lazerow made this inspiring YouTube video. Lazerow, who was born with a serious heart defect had a singular message to deliver: learn to live without fear.

Inspired by Ben Breedlove, a young man with hypertropic cardiomyopathy who shared his emotional but uplifting story in a wordless viral video, Lazerow uses an iPad to poignantly convey his powerful message.

When he was 18-months-old, Lazerow miraculously survived heart failure. Then at 19, he had to have an emergency heart valve replacement after his blood pressure fell to zero. 

He explained in the video that the near-death experience changed his life entirely, helping him realize that he needed to start living fearlessly.

Lazerow, considered a thought leader on digital media, is a self-described "serial entrepreneur." Having already started four successful companies, he was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the New York region for 2011.

“If you live without fear, anything is possible,” wrote Lazerow. “Is fear holding you back?”

The video is dedicated to Breedlove, who died shortly after publishing his video, as well as Jennifer Goodman Linn, the founder of Youfearless.com who died last year after a long battle with cancer."

Take 3 minutes to watch this video.  It's worth it; I promise.  In fact, I suggest that you watch it twice.  The first time just watch it.  The second, watch Lazerow's facial expressions.  I was particularly moved by the expressions he made when thinking about his kids and wife.

Message much needed and appreciated.  Thanks Huff Post Good News!

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The Pancake House, Seal Beach, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Morro Beach....Yes this is only Day 2

First let me start with saying Heather I LOVED your post.  We sure do have a lot going on in our lives right now....especially YOU so it will be refreshing to start talking creativity instead of deadlines for just a bit.   On deadlines, you already have many of those in the works!

It is so fun to see how big your "little guy" is getting!

Alright....on to DAY 2! Theme of the day:  A cross between AMBIANCE and AGENDA

Agenda: I seem to over plan trips :)  I told my hubby to remind me next vacation that I will need to take my agenda and cut it in half, then we can talk realistically.  For our honeymoon we spent almost our entire week DRIVING through Colorado and staying in dive hotels to see all the places I wanted to see.  Romantic right?

Ambiance: I insisted that we had to experience the dining in these little towns.  I didn't want to just eat out I wanted to eat at places with "Ambiance".  It was the experience with the food.  My hubby told me after this trip he could go without hearing that word for the rest of his life ;).

Day 2:  On the agenda for the day: Some Authentic Solvang breakfast, Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo.

SOLVANG

We stopped in at: Paula's Pancake House.

One word-Ambiance!

Such a cute and YUMMY restaurant!  If you ever make the trip to Solvang I would suggest this quaint little place for some danish pancakes. 

We got to sit right in front of the window

Breakfast of champions right there!

 Perfect photo opp!

Now off to: PISMO BEACH

Love this picture!

When we arrived at Pismo Beach it was foggy and COLD.  Indiana was not feeling too good so we didn't want her to get too wet.  Of course that means she took about five steps into the water and fell over :).  She was SOAKED.

There she is right when she went down.

The sun came out a little bit but it was still too cold to play.....so we headed for San Luis!

SAN LUIS OBISPO

Known as the Happiest Place in America.  I really wish we had more time there.  It was a fun little town with streets filled with shops and a river walk going through the town.  There were also a whole bunch of people doing Yoga in the park.  I have seen it before but not on this level it was crazy!  I am really kicking myself for not getting more photos :).

The kids found a great little toy store where the Coyster found himself a pretty nice boogie board and an awesome boomerang.  The boogie board was only 12 bucks!

We found ourselves a nice little Brewing Company right off the river walk.  Did anyone say..... AMBIANCE?  I did....a few times :)

Indiana was loving it :)

Here we met a nice couple that told us about the Elephant Seal observation point......so we were off!

On our way out of town we stopped at the best stop sign ever.  Under the STOP someone put a sicker that said: Stressing.  That became my hubby's new motto during the trip.  Stop Stressing!

VISTA POINT

And Elephant Seal's there were.....A WHOLE LOT of them!

This is only mama seals and their children.  The male seals are up in Alaska feeding.  Crazy thing is they come back to this very spot EVERY year because it was where they were born.  AMAZING!  Can you imagine navigating a body of water that covers most of the earth and making it back to the very same place you were born?  We were very happy for Jill (our GPS) just to get us to Cali.  There would be no hope for us :).

It was crazy how close we were able to get to them.  Even crazier was that Indiana was more fascinated by the squirrels on the trail than these gigantic creatures!  

 Look at that HAIR!  I love this picture.

On our way back we saw this:

 How could you not stop!

MORRO BEACH

This was a random stop but such a beautiful beach!  The sun was out and we found SO many full sand dollars!  We brought home about sixty and there were probably 10 for every 1 we picked up.  

Fun times!

That sums up day #2.  Jam packed fun at all stops.  We were able to go back to the condo, eat some steak, GIANT artichokes, drink some more wine and pass out!  

Happy Saturday everyone!           Pismo Beach, Solvang CA, Morro Beach, San Luis Obispo