The 'Romantic Getaway'

It's nearing midnight and I just don't know where all the time in my life has gone. I have so much in my head I want to write but can't seem to find the time these days. To some people, this blog thing is silly. To some it's used to document the most significant things. Some mostly for words, some mostly for pictures. Some are pure works of art. I'm struggling lately because I really love to write. I don't want to just squeeze in the necessary bullets, it feels good to me to write. Like really write. It's theraputic and really satisfying when I feel like I at least almost put into words exactly how I felt about something precious or awful... whatever, in my life..

But I also have my new love of photos and all that comes with that, which manages to take up quite a bit of time. (Check here to see the latest.) Then there's... you know... LIFE. my GIRLS. ROSS... John and Kate Plus Eight ... and lots of other very important things that fill up the minutes of every day. We're back in real life for one whole day so far and I'm already TOTALLY overwhelmed with the things on my to do list!! And my life is really good. 2 kids, not 8. No scandel. A new tan. And a hubbie who really loves me. Let me just say, everyone should get away sans those precious little kids. This was the most fun we've had together since... maybe ever. He was cuter and funnier than he's ever been. He made me feel cuter and funnier than I've ever been.

I never forgot that I liked him, or why I liked him, but as it turns out there were just bundles of new reasons to add to the collection. :) I'm feeling the urge to quote EnVogue... "what a man what a man what a man..... "... are you singing? you get it.

We suffered through a time share presentation that got so bad four hours in, ROSS got rude. you heard me right. Ross got rude. But it made for great conversation for the rest of our trip. There wasn't a day during the trip where we wouldn't remember over burgers, or in the car, or while we brushed our teeth, or watched John and Kate, one more lame thing Brian said. One more story that was clearly fabricated like the one where he unknowingly ate the peanuts that his nana had sucked all the chocolate off of (which Ross informed me was an old boy scout story), one more ridiculous extrapolation about how our marriage would fail just like the couple in his very credible three-ring-binder if we didn't buy a Lawrence Welk Time Share. I mean, he was quoting a laminated piece of paper. And I think my marriage is worth more than $3.86 a day. Does that really work on people Brian? Oh... what we'll do for a little incentive.

After that, we headed to Newport where we slept in, laid by the pool, ate a bunch of yummy food, wandered Balboa Island, rented bikes and road along the beach, ended up at the beach, laid out on Ross' extra t-shirt (it's amazing what you DON'T need to pack when you're without kids right? ... Saw Angels and Demons (pretty good... but they just never compare to the books of course.)... and lots more.. or not much more which is what made it so wonderful.... oh it was wonderful... and now it's after 12 since I've been typing like a turtle watching Bachelorette next to my sleeping husband.... and I think my muscle relaxers kicking in (I'm feeling my neck flare up today).... I may reread this in the morning and wish I hadn't hit publish... who knows... I'm going for it... enjoy our vacation in pictures.

Enjoying our Balboa Bar and frozen banana.. The banana... eh. The bar, YUM.
Yes, that's Ross looking at Newport Real Estate. We can dream right? Well then that house up top, that's mine.

Life is good.

We almost bought bikes... we're sold. It's just a matter of when now. SO fun.

I know it's been done (the phone-pic thing)... but not by me so what the heck. The mouth one of Ross had us rolling for hours. I still get that jolt in my chest when I look at it and like I said... I'm drugged....(I just reread this and peeked up at the photo again and that jolt escaped my throat again. oh it kills me... oh yeah and clearly, I found a new obsession with John and Kate plus Eight since TLC had a marathon on which is what I turned to anytime I turned the hotel tv on. They got me. The scandel got me. I'm hooked now. She really is a nightmare, but it's all so so sad.

Thanks Brooke, for letting me borrow every dress I wore while we were there. :) Who would want to wear their own clothes when they could wear yours?