10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY! California Edition

18 July - 25 July, 2010

"Everybody's got a laughin' place - trouble is most folks won't take the time to go look for it.  And where it is for one, mightn't be for another."  Song of the South (repeat quote :)

My happy place is with my happy family.

Dear Mom and Dad.  Thank-you for an amazing trip to Newport Beach/California.  It was wonderful.  You were generous with your time.  And the food, hotel rooms...  We all had a great time.  Thank-you so much. 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week in chronological order.  Not in order of importance.

#1  Two hotel rooms right across the street from Disneyland.  Thank-you, Grandma and Grandpa.  (Thank-you also for hotel rooms and dinner in Vegas on the way home for Lindsay, David and Logan, And Leslie.)

#2  Disneyland food makes me happy.  Club 33 (Thank-you, David.).  Monte Cristo sandwich.  Corn dogs-ONLY from The Red Wagon. Pommes Frites.  Dole* Pineapple Whip.  Frozen Lemon-aid.  Frozen Bananas   mmmmm.   Next week I will posting recipes for some of our Disney favourites.

#3  The *NEW* "WORLD of COLOR".  Michael and Kate bought the boxed lunches for all 43 of us so we could have priority seating for "WofC".  Thank-you so much.  Our standing area was right on the dock.  The show is quite impressive.  It came with a free shower.  Emily brought glow sticks for everyone.

#4  On Tuesday Doug and I, Mark and Ashley, Lindsay and David and Leslie went to the Newport Temple.  We had a nice morning.  When I told Logan we were going to the temple he said, "I am going there someday.".  (There was a lilt to his voice :)
On Sunday Doug and I, and Leslie went to 8:oo church at my Aunt Carol and Uncle Rob's ward.  Turns out they were out of town :-( 

#5  It makes me happy that Christy stayed at our house to take care of Lightning and Annie and the house and...  Thank-you, Christy.

#6  BEACH WEATHER.  OCEAN.  BEACHES.   KITE FLYING.  I was surprised how much I loved flying kites.  (Of course, at the beach there is no work and no failure.  Only high flying kites that almost jump to get up there.)  And, oddly enough I enjoyed working on the parking situation.  We had 4 confirmed parking spots and 9 cars.  I had fun watching for spots in front of the beach house and holding them while someone got a car from our confirmed spaces.  (You know those games with numbers that you slide around to get them in the correct space?  I like those too.)

#7  Disneyland Rides.  Pirates.  Small World.  Jungle Cruise.  Star Tours (This was my last ride on it.  It closes at the end of this week for 2 years while they re-do it. :(.  Moments With Mr. Lincoln (I am glad this is back.)

California Adventure Rides.  Tower of Terror.  Soarin Over California.  "It's Tough To Be A Bug" theatre.  Toy Story Arcade.

Most of us got 1 free day at Disneyland thru Disney's "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" special promotion.  (Our immediate family spent the day making tutus and file folders for state wide Head Start programs at a Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day at Brigham Young University.  We had lots of fun) 

#8  Happy that we (Me and Doug) only had to drive 1 way to/from California.  We had a nice drive home together.  And everyone made it home.  Safe.

#9  (This quote was given to me by a fellow antique book collector.  I have adapted it.)  "For a fine "para-sailing ride", the price is never too high, if you have the money.  Once spent, the pain and money are gone and you have the "flying memory and experience"."  Oh was it worth it.  I am totally and absolutely terrified of heights.  This never felt high, and I was not frightened.  Amazing!!!

#10  Doug and I went to Trader Joe's.  We had never been there before.  I have heard many good/great things about the store.  It was different than I thought it was, but i really enjoyed it.  We ended up spending about $60.oo, and brought some fun things home.  I am trying one of their recipes and will post it this week.  If you shop at Trader Joe's, what is your favourite thing to buy there?