Costa Rica - Here we come!

YAY!! We made it to Costa Rica!!! We landed in Liberia a little bit after noon and got a taxi to wisp us away straight to the resort!!

The Hilton Papagayo was beautiful!! The sky was blue, the ocean was clear, the grass was green.....we were on vacation and I couldn't be happier. Our phones were on airplane mode, and not coming off....my computer was disconnected....and that....was....awesome!!

The resort was very happy that Melissa and Chris' group was there....so much that they announced it to the whole resort with the message in stones! So fun!!

After getting checked into the bungalow we headed to the pool. It was great to see the look on everyone's faces when we showed up a little before 1. They weren't expecting us until that evening. We had no way to let anyone know that we were rerouted and coming early. :)

We hung out at the pool the rest of the afternoon and that was all we did. No time schedule, no phone calls, nothing to do but relax and enjoy ourselves and our friends!

We lathered on the sunscreen so we didn't get any sun. Ha!! Last year this time I would have been out there naked to the sun's rays....but I guess I realized that I'm over the wrinkles and want to do something good for my skin from now on. Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat - completely protected from the sun. :)

It was a great afternoon just chilling out.

The evening had us meeting up with everyone else there for the wedding celebration. Melissa and Chris held a little happy hour for all of the guests of the wedding.

We retired early and took advantage of some of the technology that Brett did bring with him. He left his laptop at home (for the first time ever I think on traveling) but he did bring his iPod and all the cables, so we were able to keep up with the craziness and we watched Toy Story 2.

Mechanical Delays means Interesting Travel Plans

We got to LAX for our 915am flight and sat patiently at our gate. Sat more patiently for 3 hours past our departure time. The folks at the gate said that there would be a chance that we'd make our Houston flight. A chance. The chance got smaller as we sat on the plane at the gate....and as they were telling us that we were supposed to land around 520pm, I realized that there was no way that we were going to make it to Costa Rica tonight as originally planned. Boo. :(

I did my best to get Renae and Tricia to beg the kind folks at Continental in Houston, and despite their best efforts....the plane left without us.

When we got off the plane at IAH, they had the boarding passes printed for us for the 5pm flight the next day and were ready to put us up there that night in H-town. Well, while we were in line at the services desk, I recalled reading in the inflight magazine that if the delay was due to mechanical issues, they could reroute us.

So....long story short, we were rerouted to Miami for the night, and then put on American from there to Liberia to arrive the next day at noon instead of 8pm. The night ended in Miami at the airport hotel. LAX to IAH to MIA. A long day but ready to get ourselves to CR tomorrow!!

We debated getting out into Miami for a little bit, but ended up settling in and watching Toy Story I instead!! :) I know, we are so wild!!

Nighty night!

The only reason I love LA

Tonight we headed to LA for our flight tomorrow out of LAX. The only reason I love LA is because we get to see Dave and Dayna there!

We met up for some burritos before going back to their house for some wonderful conversations. I do love hanging with D&D because it always means that we are going to do some good talking.

The Day After....

So, the day after Disney, we headed towards Huntington Beach to check it out. I hadn't been towards that part of the OC and so it was fun to see another part of California. We ate lunch on the main street there at a place that was full of people watching football, and then took a walk to the pier.

We watched some surfers, and that was a lot of fun. There aren't as many waves in SB, so I hadn't ever seen anything like that before. It was a beautifully sunny perfect California Sunday afternoon.


Brett made it back to SB in record time....I really don't know what happened. I got in the car, put on my seatbelt and snoozed for the ride home. I have a problem staying awake when I'm the passenger in the car these days. Brett is so good too....he always says, well, put the seat back and close your eyes. I know, I'm spoiled!!

After we got back to SB, I went to meet up with a new friend, Julieann. I met her in our new homegroup and liked her from the minute we met. Funny thing....she graduated HS in Houston. Must be the little bit of Texas in her, but she's awesome. We met up on Cabrillo and took a long walk all the way down to the pier and back.

It was great getting to know a new friend and I look forward to more wonderful times with her!

3 or 33?

Today is my 33rd birthday....but I decided to celebrate like I was turning 3 instead......at DisneyLand!! I've been to all of the other Disney parks....Toyko, Orlando and even Paris...but not the one in California. Well, my Mom would argue that I have been....she was there 2 weeks before I was born in 1976...but that really doesn't count I say. But, anyways, it turns out that you get in free on your birthday, and so it seemed as good of a time as any to go visit Goofy! The person that I wanted to spend the day with at Disney was my own personal Goofy, so of course, Brett came with me!! :)

We started out with a nice and hearty (ha!) breakfast at Denny's. When we got to the park, we walked up to the ticket booth, and the person in the booth gave me a button with my name on it, he drew some Mickey balloons on it, and I was tagged as a birthday girl. I had my button and my special birthday ticket and we were in the park! I really did feel special!! :)

It was 10am and we were ready to explore the Land of Disney!!


We started out in one of the stores and decided that we'd try on as many funny hats as we could find during the day. Here is what ensued from our fun!!

We went on almost every ride in the park during the day. The longest we waited in any line was when one of the cars on the Indiana Jones ride broke down and they had to get it off the tracks. That wait was about still only about 25 minutes. So, we flew through all the rides and had a blast doing so!!

Well....we took a ton of pictures....but they are all of us just us. So, I just decided to put them all together. For those of you that have visited Disneyland, the rides might look familiar. See if you can spot Brett & Annemarie on your favorite ride! :)

I think that Space Mountain and the Buzz Lightyear ones were my favorite. I did MUCH better then 2nd time we went. I guess I didn't quite understand the concept on the first go round....and it's quite obvious with my score!! Oops!!! MUCH better on try #2. :)

One of Brett's cards joked that while I could probably pass for 25, I might feel like I'm 50 after an entire day at Disney. Well....he was right. At one point, my back was in such pain that we had to stop and stretch!! We'd been walking and standing all day and it was definitely taking its toll on my body!! Eek!!

After I'd had enough of the rides....we took a short walk over to Downtown Disney for some dinner. We decided upon the Jazz Kitchen and were placed on the balcony with a great view of the square. We stuffed ourselves on crab cakes, gumbo and jambalaya. All so good....and it just made me even more sleepy.

It was after 930 at this point, and it had been almost 12 hours in the park. We watched a bit of the fireworks on our walk back to the car before going back for the night.

It was the perfect way to spend my birthday. I had a wonderful time with the man that I love. Just Brett, me, and about another 199 people celebrating their birthday at Disneyland too! The perfect way to celebrate another year.

Celebrate, Good Times, Come On....

I went to lunch today with Karen Anne, and when I got back to my desk, it was decorated for my birthday. Sneaky Karen Anne....she totally played dumb that it was my birthday. So funny. I also got a really nice card signed by the people I work with. It was so sweet to have them wish me a Happy Birthday!


I came home from work to lots of flowers! My Mom and Dad sent me some beautiful gerbera daisies and Laura brought me home some wonderful lilies! Love the flowers all around our house!!


Brett and I headed towards LA tonight for the weekend. We have a fun day planned for my birthday and I can't wait!! We decided to stop in Santa Monica for dinner at Monsoon. This was the first place that I had ever had sushi, when Lora and I came to meet up with Brett for the first time two years ago in February, and so we thought to have it again.


It was great, and we had a wonderful time. I can't wait until tomorrow to spend my birthday with my sweet boy.

Burger, Oh Burger

So, I've been talking about the Burger Bus to anyone that will listen to me for a while now. Camille and I had plans twice to meet in Goleta for her to taste the goodness but both times had to cancel....

Today, however, we made it happen....and Brett came to join us too!! Not much else to say except it was as good as I remember. It was great to hang out with Camille and enjoy a yummy lunch sitting outside in the warm sun.


Tonight I had a friend from work over with his girlfriend for dinner. I made Danielle's Chicken Pot Pie and Peach Cobbler recipes and they were both a hit!! I didn't take any pictures...but it was a great night of food and friends!