First steps and a family trip

My little baby took his first steps on Monday. It was during family home evening and everyone got so excited and the kids were clapping for him, that he kept trying over and over. It was so cute! Then Tuesday he would go into the living room and stand up by the couch and start walking to the loveseat. He sat down in the middle of the room and looked around like "Where is my audience?" And then when he didn't see anyone, he started clapping for himself. He'd crawl back to the couch and do it again and again.



Then that night S and I were talking about how much fun it would be sometime to just "waste" part of our tax return instead of putting it in an IRA and being "responsible." We started talking about family vacations, (last summer we spent 10 days going to Yellowstone-- and sleeping in a tent). I said I wanted to take the kids to Disneyland sometime. S has never been to Disneyland, but told me to look into how much it would cost and see if we could do it for the amount of the extra refund they are talking about, which for us would be around $2400. We sent in our regular taxes a couple weeks ago and we'll be getting back about $5000. Yeah kids!!!! Anyway, that was all it took!

I started researching and realized that once J turns 3 the end of March, she counts as a person for everything from admissions, to limit of people in the hotel room, bumping us up to a suite instead of a regular room. About another $500. So. . . .. we're going now while she's free, but will still enjoy it a ton, and A is old enough he isn't nursing constantly and I'm not pregnant, so I can go on everything. Basically, we realized the timing is perfect and all the stars probably wouldn't line up again for several years!!!! So we're robbing the savings account until the tax return gets here, and then we're going to "waste" part of it making memories that we can enjoy when we get old.

I got some awesome deals, so if anyone wants to go to California. . . .

We are leaving Feb 9, early and driving to Fresno through Sacramento. (It's the same distance for us to go to San Diego via Fresno as via Salt Lake and S served his mission is Fresno. Then we will drive down to San Diego. and spend Mon at Sea World, Tues the zoo, Wed Sea World (using the coupon code BOEING you can get 25% off tickets and a free 2nd day). Thurs, maybe a sea lion cruise or whale watching cruise and time at the beach then Friday the Wild Animal Park then drive to LA. We got a suite at the Days Inn Seaworld/Airport through hotels.com for $56 a night. Also hotels.com has a rebate up to $100, so for our 5 days, I'll get back $30. For the Zoo and wild animal park, you can buy a membership for $129 (right now there is a $10 off promo) and it gives you a annual pass for two adults and 2 tickets to each park, which we'll use for the boys, J and A are free to everything.

Then in Anaheim, we are doing the 5 day park hopper for the price of at 3 day. The best price I've found it is http://reservations.welcometosocal.com/893_attraction-tickets_a18.html or arestravel.com $164 for adults, $134 kids for the 5 days. This way we can take our time and spread it out. We're planning to do Disneyland on Sat, then take Sunday off, and do California Adventure Monday when I expect it to be more crowded, then hit rides again Tues and Wed and Thurs. when it shouldn't be crowded.

Our hotel here is a Super 8 two blocks from the park, that I got through their website for $49 a night. Then we will drive to Vegas where we are staying at Arizona's Charlie's Boulder for $26, (hotels.com) before driving to Ogden and spending one night at my in-laws before driving home.

For food, the hotels all have breakfasts, and we will bring instant oatmeal. We'll carry snacks and apples and lunch stuff that I'll buy here before we go, then for dinners most nights in San Diego, we'll eat "traveling" meals since the suite has a microwave and fridge and most things there close at 5, so we'll be back earlier and have time to go swimming.

Traveling meals are things I can make with just boiling water or a microwave. Two of the kids favs are instant rice and black beans rolled in a tortilla with a little taco seasoning sprinkled on and Zippy Chicken Chowder which is one can each: corn, pork and beans, diced tomatoes with chilies, condensed cream of chicken soup, and condensed chicken noodle soup. Add water if needed, usually I just rinse the cans a little, microwave until hot and serve with chips and cheese if available. Sometimes I'll add a can of chicken chunks too. Easy Mac is another one they like. Add applesauce and a peanut butter sandwich and they are happy. Also, we like to take the shelf stable milk. They love the flavored "milkshake" ones and I can get them for less than 50 cents each and they don't have to stay cold.

Then for Anaheim I got gift certificates through www.restaurants.com that we'll use for dinner. You can get a $25 restaurant coupon for $10, but with the code EASY, I was able to get them for $4 each. Most restaurants require you to spend $35 to use the gift certificate, but it means we'll be able to eat for $14 plus tax and tip for the whole family. (I only picked inexpensive restaurants where most entrees were under $10.) I wish they had restaurants that took these in Boise.

All together with attractions, hotels, gas, souvenirs, and the food we will have to buy, we're planning on about $2600 for 15 days for all 6 of us, less than $30 per person per day!

I'm super excited. Only 9 more days until we leave!!!