What a Wonderful World: We're Back!

Well, we've been on vacation for the last 8 days but we got back last night. What a great time we had. On Wednesday of last week we went to Disneyland with the kids and Brian's parents. Boy, was it crowded. NEVER go on spring break. We had fun anyway because the kids aren't old enough to want to go on all the rides. We went to Tom Sawyer Island, did the Canoe Ride, Dumbo, the Train, and a few other things that didn't have a long line. We decided not to go the second day (we didn't have tickets yet anyways). Of course, I was still sick and the evening we were at Disneyland I got a really bad earache. Can I just say, I love Kaiser. I went to the Family Practice Clinic in Fontana, got in to see a doctor (without an appt), got a prescription filled and was in and out in 2 hours. I'd like to see that with CHW or Sutter. I felt much better the next day but couldn't really hear out of either ear for the cruise. Still had a wonderful time without the kids.

We left for our cruise around 11:00 on Friday, the Carnival Paradise to Ensenada, Mexico. We finally decided to go high class and actually get a room with a window!! Not a port hole either, ha, ha. What a difference it makes. We had a really fun table at dinner, the food was delicious... I want to go back. We decided not to do any of the tours in Ensenada... just wanted to kick back and do whatever we felt like. We stumbled upon the coolest mexican bar. Of course, there's Papas and Beer and Mango Mango but it wasn't really our style. We actually wanted to talk to each other and be able to hear each other. The bar we found was definately a local hangout. There was a mariachi band playing when we walked in and is was open so you felt like you were outside. After a beer or 2 we started talking to the locals (in our gringo spanish) and asked what they were drinking. One of the gentleman replied "El Bull, es bueno." So we decided we would try ONE. It had a shot of Triple Sec, a shot of Tequila, a shot of Rum, a splash of fresh lime, a splash of soda and a beer on top. So yummy but wow. Brian said he felt fine until he got up to go to the bathroom. He walked at an angle. We were talking with the bartender a lot and he asked Brian if he wanted one more... (we were already sharing the 3rd one)... Brian said no "no puede caminar". (I can't walk or something like that). Brian tipped him very well as he always does. When Brian went to the bathroom he made us an extra one on the house... let me tell you, I think it had twice the alcohol. We had so much fun laughing and talking and stumbling back to the ship. Thank goodness for the 8:30 dinner. I took a 2 hour nap when we got back!!

The weather was cold on Sunday (a day at sea). It really didn't matter though, we wore sweatshirts and hung out by the pool anyways. Ate all day, gambled and went to the show and dinner in the evening. A very relaxing weekend... for sure.

When we got off the ship, we met Brian's parents and picked the kids up. I had really started missing them in the morning that day. We got the most wonderful welcome home from them. K kept hugging and kissing me, patting my back, touching my face, smiling and wrinkling her little nose up in excitement. It was so cute, she acted like we had been gone forever. M was excited too, Brian's parents had gotten him a little disposable camera to take pictures while we were gone so we could see what they had done. He took a picture of us together before we left for the cruise in front of the car and they got a cute little frame for it and he came running over to us to give it to us when we got home. He must have looked at the picture and showed us the picture at least 10 times on the way home. I looked back once and he was kissing it. He's so lovable.

K and I on Dumbo. She wasn't sure she liked it. It was bumpier than I remember. K wore her Minnie Mouse costume from Halloween. She definitely attracted a lot of attention running around Disney in it.