Birthday celebration

I realized last week that 8 1/2 years ago I married the best husband for me. He's not the President of the United States and he hasn't found the answer for world peace, he occasionally needs a reminder to put his dish away or put the toilet seat down, but I didn't realize just how AWESOME he was until last night. He pretty much knocked it out of the park. Let me fill you in on the details. Last Monday was my birthday. Jeff surprised me and planned for me to go on a cruise w/ Jeff's cousin (aka one of my besties, partner in crime, sista from another mista, you get the idea) that Thursday. On Thursday I left to fly to cali. I left the house a mess, but I did manage to do laundry, prepare some meals for them to ensure they would eat at least one healthy, balanced meal a day, and wrote a list of things they could do everyday. This was Jeff's first time watching the kids (all 3) by himself for 4 nights/5 days. They picked me up from the airport last night and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the kids were fed and bathed, the house was clean, dishes clean, he did 4 loads of laundry that day, and cleaned out the fridge. Wow! Did I mention he's a stud. I think I might leave him with the kids more often, he did such a great job! Sydney said he made a great mommy and was proud of him. I couldn't agree more. Oh and I need to say that Jeff started planning this even before Christmas.

Now I'll fill you on my trip. To say I was excited not to change diapers, make dinners, clean, make a bed, take 3 kids on an airplane, break up fights, deal with meltdowns, lounge by a pool, read a book, sleep in, have girl talk all day long, do what I want when I want, is the understatement of a lifetime. As much as I LOVE my kids it was such a luxury to travel without them in tow. All you moms know what I'm sayin'. As I flew into Orange County I saw the fireworks at Disneyland. Grandma Marianne and Luisa picked me up. It was my first time in 15 months to see Jeff's family, be on a 4 lane freeway, shop at Marshalls, breathe smog, and be in the lower 48. It was my first time in 6-7 months to see green grass, feel an ocean breeze, fly on an airplane, and leave Alaska. Thursday night I stayed up till 2am seeing all the things Luisa has done to her house and mostly catch up and talk. Friday morning we ate breakfast with Jeff's dad, Tyler, grandparents, Tim, Shannon, Luke, Matt, and Aunt Trina. Then we headed to Long Beach to get on the ship. It was breezy, but that didn't stop us to lay by the pool and the warmth of the hidden sun still managed to soak thru our clothes and make us feel warm. We watched everyone around us buy buckets of beer and drink the alcohol like there was a contest who could drink it the quickest. We read and talked. That night we went to dinner, sang karaoke, and danced. Next day, Saturday, we were in Ensenada. We got off the boat for about 10 minutes and got back on. We were afraid it was going to rain on Sunday so we wanted to take advantage of the warm sun and get back to laying poolside to read and talk and take a nap. Plus it seems like the only tourist attraction in Ensenada is Papas and Beer. Well at least that's what everyone was saying and by the looks of all the hats and shirts people were wearing from that store the following day, I would probably agree. I just don't drink as you all know, so I was more than happy to soak up the sun, leisurely read, enjoy good company, and take a much needed nap with the late nights we had so far. I did however participate in a 2nd polar plunge, which I wasn't planning on. You see the waterslide and pool use ocean water so the water was salty and of course colder than what I had anticipated. I guess that explains why only kids were going down the slide. Saturday night we had a formal dinner, went to a show, saw 2 different comedian acts, and danced more. Lots of laughs and fun that night. Sunday was cold and did rain. We read more, talked more, watched a movie, had fun making goofy poses with all the photographers, dinner, show, another comedy show, and lots more dancing, this time with a live band that wasn't playing hip hop music so we actually could sing along to every song making it that much more fun. Luisa makes a great dancing buddy, but I already knew that. The next morning we had to pack and leave. It wasn't so sad to leave knowing I was going home to lots of love and cutie pies. So the best birthday surprise EVER. Now I might just be expecting something along those lines every year. So Jeff if you're reading this I also want to learn Italian and go to Italy, travel to Costa Rica, Bahamas, Niagra Falls, and if you could figure out an African Safari vacation that would be so cool too. I'm just sayin'.
Unfortunately this is what happens when a little nephew doesn't see you often enough....he backs away, scared...of me. So sad. Every time I moved closer, he moved further away. But he's so dang cute.
His older brother, Luke, was so cool, and didn't hesitate to sit on my lap. Love him! And how did I not get a picture of me with my other nephew Jake? Another handsome lil' guy full of life. Just how I like 'em. He cuddled with me while I read him a truck book. Yes; Cuddle him. I'll take a cuddler 2yr. old any day.
So happy to be on the ship.
If this isn't art, I don't know what is. There were these two models posing as we walked a little ways in Ensenada.
Poolside chatting it up and indulging in mindless, gossip magazines.

Formal night. Those white things protruding from my dress is NOT part of the white railing....they are my arms. Can you believe how white they are? I hate to point that out, but I think I came out of the womb with darker skin.
Waiting for a show.
Oh, and I did a little bit of a comedic act myself on stage. I was so nervous, but the response was outstanding. A standing O. Yeah...not so much. I wasn't really born with a funny bone. And if you're wondering, we did encounter more drunk guys than I ever wanted. Lots of beer was spilt on us, mostly Luisa. Some guy literally missed his chair and fell on Luisa (the pregnant one of course) spilling beer all over her jeans. Mixing drunk people on a rocky boat is a tell tail sign that many people will become face to face with the floor and make a fool of themselves. i.e. dancing on the lido deck in the middle of the day and taking off his trunks. I was traumatized so I can't imagine the 8 year old girl just a few feet from me.