Not too shabby for a consolation prize! A Dec 2013 TR! Update 5/3 p. 28 COMPLETED!

[rentayenta]

It's pretty close. The backyard backs up almost to the corner of Bellflower and Atherton. You have to exit via Anaheim Rd in Park Estates. It's a quick trip up Clark to Willow and over to Lakewood Blvd. I would say 15-20 min tops.

Perfect. We'll chat as it gets closer but that sounds great. You are so close. Do you visit the house everyday?



I can't believe we'll be in California is 25 days! Now just to get through Vegas for Thanksgivingukkah..​

 

[PrincessInOz]

visit your house (including my, PIO's, and Olga's wing)- is that good PIO-lol-​

I reckon we can probably get one more post of mileage out of this when you visit OUR wing.

 

[eandesmom]

I can't believe we'll be in California is 25 days! Now just to get through Vegas for Thanksgivingukkah.. [/CENTER]

I was buying a card yesterday and actually saw one that said

Happy Thanksgivingukkah

Made me think of you

 

[franandaj]

Perfect. We'll chat as it gets closer but that sounds great. You are so close. Do you visit the house everyday?​

It depends on what else is going on. We usually try to bring a load of stuff over there every day, we are bringing more and more stuff all the time, but we need to get the alarm in place. Not that anything we are bringing is really worth anything to thieves, I mean dishes and dining room sets that go for less than $200 on Craigslist really aren't a motive for B&E. The stuff we're bringing over right now only has value to us, but yeah unless we visit the park or have something else going on, we're over there at least once a day. We have to check the mail.

I can't believe we'll be in California is 25 days! Now just to get through Vegas for Thanksgivingukkah.. [/CENTER]

Hope you make it through that one....soccer tournament? Right?

 

[emmysmommy]

Caught up with the plans. I agree, that drive from Baker to OC is long and pretty much a yawn-fest. We usually stop in Barstow for some Big Boy or completely unhealthy snacks at Love's truck stop. It's the little things that make the drive better for me!

As for your Disney plans and dates ... it's a brilliant move to be in the parks the 19th and 20th since local schools don't get out for winter break until the following week.

What a great way to celebrate Chloe's birthday at Storytellers. I love the different characters that you don't see in the parks all the time.

 

[rentayenta]

I reckon we can probably get one more post of mileage out of this when you visit OUR wing.

I think you're correct. My trip report tittle may include something about OUR wing. Like the Alison's luggage wrapped roast, OUR wing will have a story of it's own.​

I was buying a card yesterday and actually saw one that said

Happy Thanksgivingukkah

Made me think of you

It's so terrible. I know I sound like a big whiny baby but I like my holidays separate and observable. We're getting totally ripped off this year on many levels. Thanksgiving in Vegas, without the girls and Michael is bad enough but couple that with Hanukkah at the same time and it's no bueno. We'll be able to light the first night of Hanukkah candles on Wed (without Michael, he'll be at the FD), then no candles for any of us nights 2 and 3. The girls and Michael will be able to light on night 4 (Saturday), and then I'll be home Sunday night with Joshua but Michael will be back at the FD. I am thinking of shifting Hanukkah altogether and celebrating when we're all home for at least 5/8 nights. Waaaaahhhhhh!​

It depends on what else is going on. We usually try to bring a load of stuff over there every day, we are bringing more and more stuff all the time, but we need to get the alarm in place. Not that anything we are bringing is really worth anything to thieves, I mean dishes and dining room sets that go for less than $200 on Craigslist really aren't a motive for B&E. The stuff we're bringing over right now only has value to us, but yeah unless we visit the park or have something else going on, we're over there at least once a day. We have to check the mail.





Hope you make it through that one....soccer tournament? Right?

I didn't think about the house being empty so you have to be careful what you move over- smart thinking. I just remember when we bought our first home, not that this is your first, but we'd drive by and sit across the street while the people still lived there and imagine and dream about what it would be like when we lived there.


Soccer, Vegas, blah.​

Caught up with the plans. I agree, that drive from Baker to OC is long and pretty much a yawn-fest. We usually stop in Barstow for some Big Boy or completely unhealthy snacks at Love's truck stop. It's the little things that make the drive better for me!

As for your Disney plans and dates ... it's a brilliant move to be in the parks the 19th and 20th since local schools don't get out for winter break until the following week.

What a great way to celebrate Chloe's birthday at Storytellers. I love the different characters that you don't see in the parks all the time.

Brenda. Thank you for being here.

There is a Big Boy? Like a Bob's Big Boy of yesteryear? Where? I loved Big Boy as a child. I agree, it's the fun snacks and music and chatter that make the drive totally doable.

I didn't realize that So Cal kids would still be in school but of course they will. That's excellent and thank you for pointing that out. That little tidbit makes me even more excited. I wonder how crowded the parks will be? The hours are really good.

Chloe loves Chip and Dale and I know we'll see them at Storyteller's. It's also a little more of a mellow character meal and I like that.​

 

[franandaj]

I didn't think about the house being empty so you have to be careful what you move over- smart thinking. I just remember when we bought our first home, not that this is your first, but we'd drive by and sit across the street while the people still lived there and imagine and dream about what it would be like when we lived there.​

Yeah, the gardener told us about neighbors who had a whole surround sound theater system installed without a security system. They came in the next day to find it gone. I don't think anyone is going to take our Mickey dishes or dining room set, but we do need to get on that alarm system. We called one place and got a quote. We need a permit from the city. PITA!

 

[rentayenta]

Yeah, the gardener told us about neighbors who had a whole surround sound theater system installed without a security system. They came in the next day to find it gone. I don't think anyone is going to take our Mickey dishes or dining room set, but we do need to get on that alarm system. We called one place and got a quote. We need a permit from the city. PITA!

You need a building permit to get a security system? Did the owner before you not have one? Good old CA making their money. Your home is in a beautiful and safe area, I'm sure you wont have issues but better safe than sorry.​

 

[rentayenta]

Our friends went to Wyoming today and for a $10 tree permit, they cut us this gorgeous and imperfect tree. Can't wait for lights Tuesday when Michael is home. I scored some super cute Disney ornaments from Hallmark at 75% off last year. I'll post those tomorrow but for now, the biggest Hanukkah bush around.

​

 

[PrincessInOz]

Beautiful tree. Look forward to seeing the version with the decorations up.

 

[jedijill]

City of Denver requires me to have an alarm permit too...$25/year for the privledge of having a home alarm.

I love the tree...its going to be gorgeous all decorated!

Jill in CO

 

[eandesmom]

It's so terrible. I know I sound like a big whiny baby but I like my holidays separate and observable. We're getting totally ripped off this year on many levels. Thanksgiving in Vegas, without the girls and Michael is bad enough but couple that with Hanukkah at the same time and it's no bueno. We'll be able to light the first night of Hanukkah candles on Wed (without Michael, he'll be at the FD), then no candles for any of us nights 2 and 3. The girls and Michael will be able to light on night 4 (Saturday), and then I'll be home Sunday night with Joshua but Michael will be back at the FD. I am thinking of shifting Hanukkah altogether and celebrating when we're all home for at least 5/8 nights. Waaaaahhhhhh!​

I don't think you sound like a whiny baby at all! I was uber crabby about thanksgiving a few years back. My parents were going to be gone on a 40 day cruise, the year before all my siblings were going through major life drama and were incredibly crabby and stressed over the holidays so I ended up hosting everything and on top of it we had house-guests who were also crabby and sick in a hypochondriac kind of way. It sucked the cheer out of me for a year! So I refused to cook that year. It would have been a small group, everything about it was just wrong. We all went to someone elses and then my brother drank too much and went on and on and ON how we should go there every year instead of my house because it was less stressful. Not that I was stressful according to him but apparently my mom stresses he and my sister out, at my house on turkey day? Ugh. Whatever. Thankfully both he and that sister are over those dramas as I think it was really all about what was going on in their life...not my mom (she was just concerned about them and they wanted to avoid it lol). Anyway...I get it not being right and you are totally entitled to be crabby about it! The holidays are great, but they also bring their own set of expectations, hopes and dreams that can be hard when it doesn't go how it usually does, or seems like it should.

Lovely bush!!!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Beautiful Hanukkah bush!

 

[rentayenta]

Beautiful tree. Look forward to seeing the version with the decorations up.

Thanks! It's very real with lots of spaces. Michael took a green twine and raised some branches to minimize the bare spots. We decorated tonight but it needs some ribbon so I'll be on the hunt tomorrow. I need really wide red or green ribbon.​

City of Denver requires me to have an alarm permit too...$25/year for the privledge of having a home alarm.

I love the tree...its going to be gorgeous all decorated!

Jill in CO

Interesting. I wonder if Utah does too?


Thanks. I'll post pics as soon as I get the ribbon up.​

I don't think you sound like a whiny baby at all! I was uber crabby about thanksgiving a few years back. My parents were going to be gone on a 40 day cruise, the year before all my siblings were going through major life drama and were incredibly crabby and stressed over the holidays so I ended up hosting everything and on top of it we had house-guests who were also crabby and sick in a hypochondriac kind of way. It sucked the cheer out of me for a year! So I refused to cook that year. It would have been a small group, everything about it was just wrong. We all went to someone elses and then my brother drank too much and went on and on and ON how we should go there every year instead of my house because it was less stressful. Not that I was stressful according to him but apparently my mom stresses he and my sister out, at my house on turkey day? Ugh. Whatever. Thankfully both he and that sister are over those dramas as I think it was really all about what was going on in their life...not my mom (she was just concerned about them and they wanted to avoid it lol). Anyway...I get it not being right and you are totally entitled to be crabby about it! The holidays are great, but they also bring their own set of expectations, hopes and dreams that can be hard when it doesn't go how it usually does, or seems like it should.

Lovely bush!!!!

It's a 10 foot bush.


I've changed my attitude a little regarding Thanksgivukkah. I've decided we're going to leave later and enjoy a Thanksgiving (early dinner) with my inlaws. My sweet father in law offered to make it early so we could eat and take leftovers. I'm a leftover junkie. We're eating at 1:00, leaving by 2:00. Should hit Vegas about 9:00. It's later than I originally planned but I like this plan better. The thought of missing Thanksgiving dinner was totally bumming me out.

I'm a baby. ​

Beautiful Hanukkah bush!

Thanks friend. Tomorrow is the first night. I'll be lighting got the candles and making my grandma's cranberry salad recipe. I can't wait. Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song is stuck in my head.

So tell your friend Veronica, it's time to celebrate Hanukkah, and smoke some marajunakkah..... ​

 

[franandaj]

Nice tree, I can't wait to see it decorated.

 

[jedijill]

Happy Hanukkah!

(Now I have the Adam Sandler song stuck in my head!)

Jill in CO

 

[Pinkocto]

What a wonderful father in law!

When does soccer start?

 

[rentayenta]

Nice tree, I can't wait to see it decorated.

We kept it very simple this year. All Disney aside from a few red balls and the kids' first ornaments. We wanted to keep it bright and simple.​

Happy Hanukkah!

(Now I have the Adam Sandler song stuck in my head!)

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill. Tonight we lit the candles and read the story. We don't do Hanukkah gifts as the kids get Christmas gifts and we want to Hanukkah's focus to be on the miracle not the gifts so other than dinner and a prayer, it's a fairly short night. The kids just left to go get ice cream. LOL!​

What a wonderful father in law!

When does soccer start?

The tournament begins tomorrow night for check in and then we have two games Friday, one Saturday, and then one Saturday evening if we make it to the championship game.

He's such a good man.

​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice tree. It will look amazing when the decorations are up.

 

[rentayenta]

Here are a few pics from tonight.


First night of Hanukkah and Joshua's new soccer menorah. Everyone has their own menorah as well as two family ones, one has a hidden Mickey.

The tree all lit up. Very simple and real. For years I did a totally matching beautiful color coordinated tree only to find out Chloe, Joshua,
Michael didn't love it. I've now gone back to my roots kicking it old school with the carbon footprint, hot to the touch, colored lights. I love them so much. The only downside is I cannot leave it plugged in when we go to sleep.

A hidden, really hidden Mickey:

[

Tow-mater:

Just a few pics as I'm sure nobody wants to see every ornament.​