Vacation!

I have taken this week off from work for vacation.  We don't have any travel plans, but we're just doing fun stuff around here.  It's always nice to take trips when I have time off from work, but it's also nice to not feel like we have to go anywhere either.  So here's a little snapshot of what's been going on and what's lined up.

Last Friday, I won the battle of the smog test with my car.  It failed the first time and wasn't ready yet the second time we took it in to have it re-tested.  Finally, when we took it in Thursday, it passed and now I await the sticker for my car.  It was due Friday, so I barely got it done on time.  If only we had money for a new car...

Saturday was fun.  It started off with a half-birthday party since the baby's birthday is Christmas and throwing a party around Christmas is, well let's say, nightmarish.  I like the concept of a half-birthday party if you're not going to throw a traditional birthday party.  The girls had some fun waterplay with a some of their friends at the party.

After that we rested for a while and then went to my buddy's house for his housemate's birthday.  I don't get over to his place in Long Beach very often, so it was nice to get down there and visit with him and his fiance.  I'm really looking forward to their wedding, whenever they set the date, and assuming I'm invited.

Sunday was a lot of fun too.  Church in the morning where the girls actually sat through the service, although half of it was in the foyer.  Then after a little rest at home, we were off to out 4th of July party at my brother-in-law's mother-in-law's house.  I actually spend a couple of hours in the pool which was fun.  It was fun when Courtney and my niece and nephew decided it was time to climb on me.  Normally, I'm not big on that kind of play, but they were being fun and not too rough, so it was good.  We got a really cute picture of it too!  Finally, after the pool time and very yummy BBQ, it was time for fireworks...in a city where they are actually still legal (stupid Whittier).  The kids always love them, and even though Skyler was scared at first, she was loving them by the end.

Yesterday, we implemented a new reward system for the girls and they are eating it up!  It the whole marbles in a pail thing where for certain actions, they earn marbles to put in their pail and for certain actions, they have some marbles taken out.  The seem to really enjoy this and we had to remove the first marbles from Courtney's pail today (not a big surprise).  She was extremely upset when this happened, and I may have made it a little harder, when I had her remove the marbles from her own pail.  She was in tears.  However, we encouraged her to earn them back by doing some of the things on the list, and sure enough she did.

Also yesterday, even though I'm on vacation, the girls started VBS.  However, since our church is not doing it this year due to extremely tight finances and major construction underway, our friend told us of a church (Green Hills Baptist Church) near them in La Mirada that is doing it this week for free.  So far, they love it.  Also, I have to admit I am very impressed with how this church has run it so far from what little I've seen.  It is nice having a little time together with Traci though.

Tomorrow we all go see Toy Story 3!  I think all four of us are excited to see it.  We'll go after VBS and lunch.  It should be good.  And in the evening I'll be hanging out with the guys since one of my friends is in town for a few days.  It's always good to see him.

Thursday will be very exciting for me as I start my All Star Week Volunteer duties, which will have me on the field at Angels Stadium!  I'm not sure what my exact duties are, but I'll find out when I show up.  I know I work a few hours Thursday and Friday afternoons and I get two tickets to All Star Fan Fest as a result.  It's very exciting since there were 5,000 applications for 2,000 volunteer positions, and not only did I get chosen, but I will be a big league field for the first time ever!  Did I say I'm excited?

Finally on Sunday, Traci will be running the All Star Charity 5K (and Fun Run) at Angels Stadium.  I'll take the girls to document it.  It would be awesome if I could get a picture of Traci with Jillian Michaels since she will be there.  We'll see how that goes.

Then it's back to work on Monday.  However, it won't quite be work as normal.  Last week at work, I applied for three internal jobs at work (in a part of the company that is not affected by the downsizing!) and the postings all close next week at various times.  So I could hear next week about whether or not I get to interview for any of those positions.  I'm hoping I can at least interview for the positions, but I don't want to set the expectations that I will, which I'm afraid I already have.  So if I don't get contacted, I will probably be disappointed, but I will also know it is part of God's plan.  And then it's back to the anxiety of reapplying for positions the first week of August