What a trip!

I can't believe that a month has gone by. I've just returned from my month long 'vacation' to California and I had a wonderful time. It was such a great time to be able to spend in my hometown. It was awesome to be able to catch up with friends that typically I only get to see over a weekend when we visit each other. I loved being able to grab lunch with my best friend, take our kids to the pumpkin patch. I loved that Ace got to see his Grandma every day for a month! It was just perfect. I am so blessed to have a husband willing to let me have my adventures (and join me for a couple of them as well!)

Yes, in this past month I've been to Palm Springs, San Diego, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, the beach, and Disneyland. We've been to a wedding, a pumpkin patch, Halloween, and several malls. I've been to and from the airport a zillion times it seems like, and Ace has done amazingly through it all. He sleeps anywhere (albeit far later than his typical bedtime) and takes everything in stride and takes it on as if it is an adventure. He made new friends and LOVES Abby. He loves his Auntie and his Grandma and can point to both of them in pictures. It warms my heart that my son was able to be around both his Grandma and his Auntie enough to create the relationship and for the bond to form. It's has been a great month.

We have missed dad, Loving Husband very much though. Ace on Friday when we took him to the airport to go home cried something fierce not wanting dad to leave, again! Loving Husband misses us and doesn't like being away either - and I have to say that the 'single parent' role is tough! Kudos to all you single parents. Whew! It wears me out being the only parent most of this month. It's been hard. Grandma certainly has been a tremendous help.

I certainly was sad to leave, but oh so glad to get home.

Haircut Round 3

Yes my son is not even 15 months old and he's on his 3rd haircut. I guess honestly once the first one occurred the trauma should be over - but for me it just continues to remind me of how fast time is fleeing as my little boy continues to grow up. It was the other day that I noticed he was a tad shaggy and that I should update his look. :)

So of course faced with the ever perplexing question - how do you cut a mobile squirmy boy's hair?! Well he did pretty well. I put him in his high chair with a few toys and crackers and went to work. He did very well for the most part. I don't think he consumed too much hair in his snacking ;-) and the end result was decent considering I am far from a hairdresser.

The Happiest Place on Earth!

What an exciting adventure we had in Disneyland. Ace as expected was a joy to experience Disneyland with. He ran all over the park and had a blast looking at all sorts of new things. He went on a few rides he had been on the first time, including Nemo and the Jungle Cruise - certainly his two favorite parts of his time in the park. He also got to enjoy Toontown this time and run around in Mickey's house and even got to meet him. Although he was more excited to see him from across the room than right next to him, but that's ok. The best ride he doesn't remember goes to Dumbo. He was awake literally until we got the seatbelt on him and then he passed out. Completely out like a sack of potatoes for the next 40 minutes. Which did allow for Loving Husband and I to venture onto Thunder Mountain Railroad - which is by far my favorite ride in the park! Those pictures we'll save for another day so please be sure to come back by for those!

Ace once again did great - his only fuss this time was simply him voicing his opinion on his mode of transportation. He didn't want to be in the stroller very often and he didn't like being held back from running full speed ahead at all costs. Other than that he did perfectly and was a trooper and we closed down the park! Yep we stayed until they closed. The final ride we went on was Dumbo so that he could enjoy it in a conscious state. He preferred to look at the flying Dumbos rather than be in it flying Dumbos. He wasn't scared, just wasn't a fan of the wind in his face.

Ace also got to experience Disneyland with Grammie for the first time. It was so wonderful that she was able to come to Disneyland with us. She hadn't been there since the mid-90s so it was great for her to come and experience it with her first grandson. I'm sure this is just the beginning of more fun adventures with her and her grandbabies in Disneyland.

Disneyland!

Today we're off to Disneyland. Ace gets to experience Disneyland in a whole new way this time: mobile! Yes he has been to Disneyland before, when he was 7 months old. Today though at 14+ months old and running around he gets to be adventerous and run all over Disneyland. Experience everything in a new light and this time with Grandma, his Auntie and Mom and Dad of course. :) I cannot wait for the pictures this day will yield. But please enjoy this one from his first experience!

Why Not Minot?

Yes, five years ago almost to the day I learned where Minot was. I learned that it's pretty much a sneeze away from Canada and I learned that it's one of the coldest places in our country sometimes. I learned all of this because when my brother joined the military this is where he was stationed: Minot AFB. Him and his new bride trekked to the snowy flat lands and made Minot, North Dakota their home for the last five years and this Friday my brother completes his service to our country and makes his trek back to California with his wife and new daughter.

Minot was never very fun for them. Big city folk did not transplant well into Minot. They had some extremely unfortunate weather, a few accidents, frozen pipes and whatnot occured during their lives but they survived. They are coming back to their hometown. Where two doting grandmothers (and a grandpa) await to spoil the newest addition to the families.


My brother is a great airman, just like his grandfather was. Thank you for serving our country for the last five years brother. I love you and am very proud.

Taken at my wedding just a few months after he completed his schooling.

Hidden Treasures

I've been staying at my grandmother's house this month that I've been So Cal. It's weird being here amid her things. Seeing many things just as she had left them and yet seeing piles and bare walls from things already in the process of being moved out and distributed to family members. I've sat around late at night by myself soaking up the memories that this house holds. Trying to remember all the sleep overs, swinging in the backyard, looking at me and my brother's feet prints in the front yard, knowing that this is the last time that I will be in this house as it is. It is possible that this property will remain in our family for a while. It is possible that I will be back in it. However, after this trip - when I go home - when I come back here it will no longer be 'Grandma's House.' It's bittersweet.

I've been photographing the small things that won't stick out in my memory as time fades. Things that are small and simple that were a part of 'Grandma's House' that won't be passed on in the family, but things that will go by the wayside or remain with the home. Somethings are truly the work of my grandfather, like his garage. Others are just silly. I am truly thankful that I had this time to spend soaking up the little things before I say goodbye to 'Grandma's House' forever.

Just a few of Grandma's bibles. I already have a few of them.

The 'breadbox' on the left and the working microwave on the right.

My Grandma's favorite picture of me, it's been in that frame as long as I can remember.

My feet and hand prints (although my hands have faded away)

A section of my grandfather's garage, our blocks we played with are in the box.

Eden Fantasys Bachelorette Review

Yes Ladies and Gents! It's that time again! Time to review more fabulous items from the great store: Eden Fantastys and what better occasion than a bachelorette party! Yes, as the MOH one of my privileges is to host the bachelorette party. We're pretty PG rated folks though and aren't up for body shots, nude dancers, or any 'don't ask, don't tell' moments - so don't feel you need to sensor yourself from this post. Although there are some anatomy inspired products, so might not be best for the tiny tots. There the disclaimer has been issued. Proceed at your own risk.

If you recall earlier this year I did a review of the lingerie that Eden Fantastys has. I gave it a raving review then, with the quality, price and customer service all receiving the highest marks. They were certainly the first place I went looking when it was time to acquire some things for the bride to be! I went browsing their collection and found this number to the right. You see the bride is a military gal and well I just couldn't pass it up! It's adorable. The sizing is perfect and the detail is excellent - even down to the bullets on the front - too cute! You can't go wrong with camo and the material is very soft. The bachelorette gave it 2 thumbs up. I haven't asked for a follow up on the Groom's thoughts ;-)

Now onto the party materials. Eden Fantastys has a wide variety of things to make a bachelorette party exciting and racy. In fact Eden Fantasys is a one stop shop for all your Bachelorette party needs. Yes, they have veils, sashes, games, party decorations, and the list goes on... Our party was in two phases due some invitees that were under 21 and unable to get into a club, so we started off at an Italian restaurant. I didn't want it to just be dinner and then the fun start at the club so what better to make it still bachelorette fun than some festive straws and some uniquely shaped pasta. Eden Fantasys also sells Titaroni Pasta and the straws come in flesh tones AND glow in the dark and as usual the price is great.

We spoke with the wait staff before allowing the bride to come in (and I had pre-cooked the pasta) and arranged for the drinks to come out with our festive straws and for the bride's dish to be replace with the Pecker Pasta with of course some alfrado sauce on it.



It made for an excellent good time and everyone was in agreement that it really tasted good. Sometimes with novelty items it's more the gag than actual food, but this pasta was good! The Pecker Pasta also worked well as table decor, as seen with the Bachelorette modeling her Shot Glass Wedding Ring.

Yes, the Bachelorette dawned the hot bling in style, although she never did take a shot out of it. It was a tad awkward to actually pour a shot into and she's mightily clumsy. ;-) The only negative thing I'd say for this item is that it's a really small ring, there is not expanding it so it didn't fit her finger very well. Otherwise it was good fun. The bachelorette had a great time and Eden Fantastys helped kick up the naughtiness just enough to make it good clean fun for everyone.

I have to say this, Eden Fantastys is a great place to shop whether for yourself, your friend, or your partner. There is something for everyone 18+ or older ;-) So if you're in need of a good gag gift, party favor, or lingerie then I highly recommend stopping by Eden Fantastys.

This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Eden Fantasys who supplied the products for the review.