So Close!!

After a nice month long break I headed back to school this week. Last semester was a particularly hard semester for me so I am glad to be starting a fresh semester and I have promised myself that I will not procrastinate this time…hopefully I can stick to that.

Although I really do love school I always hate the first week. It is pretty much the same thing in every class…going over the syllabus with no actual learning involved, so I am happy to have this first week down and ready to move into the actual learning portion.

For those of you that don’t know I am a Communications, Public Relations major (CSUF)…and yes I know I should have gotten my bachelors degree along time ago but I guess life just happens. The thing that I am most excited about this semester is that THE END IS IN SIGHT. I was planning on being able to graduate this summer but with the course catalog that is going to be available that doesn’t look possible. However I will be done by the Fall 2008 semester at which time I will be a COLLEGE GRADUATE!! I can’t tell you how exciting that is for me. When I decided to go back to school, and actually take it seriously, I set myself the goal of graduating before I turned 30. If everything stays on track I will graduate 2 weeks before my 30th birthday!! Cutting it close, I know, but a major goal accomplished none the less.

This semester I am taking 3 random courses so it should be an interesting semester. As part of the Communications major you have to take 4 collateral courses and I have been putting them off till the very end. Since I don’t have many classes left the 3 collateral courses fit into my limited schedule of night classes at the Irvine Campus. So I am taking Social Interaction, Organizational Behavior and Principles of Marketing. So far I can’t tell if I will like these classes as we just barely completed week 1 and we have 15 weeks to go…but I will keep you updated. I am sure that the required group projects will provide much drama in my life as they always tend to do.

After this semester I will have 3 remaining classes and an internship. I really thought I would never graduate but I am getting so excited that in less than a year I will actually have a college degree!! What will I do with all my free time once I am done…?

Welcome Baby Kiya!!

My friend Melissa had her second baby on Monday January 14th. Her name is Kiya Raven, she was 7lbs 3 ounces and oh so cute!!

It was a tough day for Melissa as she had to be induced (as a result of low fluids) which involved the administering of some drug the increases the intensity of contractions. She was very nervous because my wacky friend does all natural child birth, meaning NO pain medication. I don’t’ know how she does it but more power to her!!

I got to visit Melissa at the hospital on Monday (before Kiya arrived), Tuesday and Wednesday but I must admit I had to steal pictures of her for my blog because each time I visited I forgot to take pictures.


What is my role in Kiya’s life you ask? I will be the sole provider of PINK for her! Hehehe. You see, both of her parents don’t care for the color pink, and I firmly believe that no little girl should live a life with out lots of pink!!

My favorite picture of Kiya…notice the pink outfit!!

Welcome to the world Miss Kiya Raven Bonney!!

Good Bye 2007 and Hello 2008!!

Good Bye 2007 and Hello 2008!!

I can definitely say that 2007 as been a long hard year. So many things happened…I got laid off my job, I took a new job, lasted 3 days there and then I took another job. I was with that company for about 6 months and I was lucky enough to go back to my company of 5 years that had laid me off earlier in the year. This was also the first year that I took 3 classes at school instead of 2 and I can definitely say that was a challenge but well worth it as I am SO close to graduating. My Dad had surgery on his leg but he is healing nicely and hopefully he won’t have any pain soon!! And of course for those of you that know me (and I assume you do if you are reading this blog)…there is always the spa. I am so proud of everything that Danny has done with the spa and know that it will continue to become more successful with each day, but I would me leaving a huge part out if I didn’t say it was stressful. If you don’t believe me you try working with 20 or so “creative” females…hehehe.

If you don’t have the struggles in life you can’t appreciate the good things. So with this in mind I say good-bye to 2007 with fond memories and hello to 2008…I can’t wait to see what this year will bring.

We decided to make the move from 2007 to 2008 by hanging out with our crazy neighbors. If you have ever met them you know there is never a dull moment to be had. We are lucky to have such great neighbors, not only does Royal (that is our neighbor…Royal and his wife Karen) like to walk our dogs but they always can be counted on for entertainment.

We decided to just have a low key night and head to a local restaurant, Hanna’s, which is just down the street from our house. I know sounds like a CRAZY night…I guess Danny and I are just not huge New Year’s Eve people. It is always over crowded and over priced.

We met our neighbors at Hanna’s around 9:00pm…we were supposed to meet at their house but in true Royal fashion they left with out us to get there at 8:00pm. When we got there it was Royal, Karen, Terri Ann (a former neighbor), Suzie (Terri Ann’s sister) and Bill (her husband)…at the bar of course. Here is a picture of all of us at the bar, waiting for our table:


As you can imagine it was crowded being that is was New Years Eve and all so we had to wait a little while for our table, even though we had reservations. We entertained ourselves by taking pictures. Here is one of just the girls:

And one of me and Danny:


We finally got our table, ordered a couple appetizers and dinner. To be honest I thought the food was just ok. Here is a picture of me waiting to be fed:


Another picture of just the girls…you can see how excited Karen is to be wearing the hat:


The strangest part of the evening came at around 10:30pm when Karen leaned over and told me that Royal had too much to drink and that he wanted to go home…go home at 10:30pm on New Years Eve…is that even allowed? I guess I do have to give him credit because he was drinking enough to put me down (actually that isn’t saying much…sorry Royal)! He had at least 2 beers at the bar, 2 beers at the table, some other drink and 2 shots! The funny part is that Bill didn’t think he had drank that much…remember he had all those drinks I just listed AND he drank at Bill's house right before they came to Hanna’s. Bill said, “he only had 5 beers at my house”…isn’t 5 beers a lot? I guess I am just a wuss…hehehe. Anyways Danny had to drive Royal home really quick…he was literally back in under 10 minutes we live that close.

After that it was pretty uneventful, we had dessert, listened to a band and then rang in the New Year with pretty hats, silly noise makers and bad champagne (before tonight I never met a glass of champagne I didn’t get along with famously…at least till the next morning). Danny and I left shortly after midnight…the previously mentioned band was very loud (if you have ever been to Hanna’s you know it isn’t the largest of restaurants) and everyone had the added fun/annoyance of the noise makers…although it was pretty hard to leave my front row seat in watching the skilled dancers of the “Hanna’s dance floor)! All in all it was a good night…I am lucky to be celebrating another year with Danny.

One last thing…Happy New Year to everyone and I hope you have as GREAT a year as I am planning on having!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!!! (My last good year...hehehehe)

Since I just started my blog I decided I would post a bunch of random things that have gone on lately…in no particular order.

My birthday was on December 29th and as my below entry states we decided to head to Disneyland for the annual birthday trip. We got there around 10:30am and decided to go to California Adventure first so that I could get my birthday button…after all that is pretty much the reason I like to go. Also I am a Disneyland fanatic and once when forced to go to Knott’s Berry Farm for a work event I wore a Mickey shirt in protest!!

We first headed over to Taste Pilots Grill, because Danny knows that is one of my favorite spots to eat, but they weren’t open till 11:00am. What does a girl have to do to get a hamburger for breakfast? To kill time we got a Fast Pass for Soarin Over California (a great ride even though it makes me nauseous) and then went to Hollywood Pictures Backlot. At his point is where the mini drama occurred….first as we headed into the Animation Building I scared the crap out of Danny because I started jumping up and down, squealing and clapping like a 2-year-old all because they made some changes in the Animation Building (they added this really cool section on Snow White…the film that started it all). Then Danny and I wanted to head over to the Animation Academy to try and draw the character of choice (it is this really cool, all to often missed, section where “Cast Members” teach you to try a Disney character). Bonnie insisted that she wasn’t going; she would just go to watch Turtle Talk with Crush alone because as she put it, “I don’t draw”. After a little bickering between her and Danny she finally relented (I think it was more so she wouldn’t have to listen to Danny) and went with us draw. It as perfect, we got to draw Mickey! After exiting the Animation Building through the gift shop we rescued a sad lost girl from Disney Cast Members (too long of a story but it really was sad how they handle the situation).

We decided to leave Hollywood Backlot and head back to Taste Pilots Grill where I had the yummiest birthday lunch ever…a hamburger, chili, cheese and sour cream fries!! YUMMY!!

After our nutritional lunch we went to use our Soarin Over California Fast Passes. While waiting in line we decided to snap a few shots. Danny took this picture of me and Bonnie:


And then he wanted Bonnie to take a picture of us so she took this picture:

Do you notice anything different about the two pictures? Well if you have ever taken a picture for Danny you know he demands that they be PERFECT. Take another look at the 2 pictures…see how the one with Bonnie and Me only has red wall and the one with Danny in it has multiple colors? That is the imperfection. I must admit the fact that Danny always strives for perfection, no matter how big or small the task, is one of the many reasons I love him!

After lunch and Soarin we decided to brave the crowds at Disneyland. WOW…not the brightest idea, it was PACKED. We took a quick visit to Santa’s Reindeer Round Up so that I could make my yummy birthday cookie:


Danny and Bonnie had a little fun too:

And OH YEAH, I almost forgot…we got to take our picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus!!

We couldn't handle the crowds so we decided to leave the park and go to Down Town Disney for an afternoon movie. Since it was my birthday I got to pick the movie…we saw Enchanted and it was a GREAT movie. After the movies we decided to ditch Disneyland and go to Red Robin for my birthday burger…food was yummy but the waitress wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed…she forgot my birthday sundae. Oh well, all in all it was a great birthday!!

Can you just take a normal picture?

Per the request of my friend I will add the picture that started it all. Don’t ask me how this started, it just did and apparently it has become a tradition (at least for Melissa).

Back in 2004 we went to Disneyland to celebrate my birthday… I am a HUGE Disney fan and always seem to end up there for my birthday. I am not sure if it is because my birthday falls right after Christmas and we are broke so heading to Disneyland with free entrance (season passes) fits in the budget or if it is because they give me a “birthday button” and everyone says “Happy Birthday” all day long. Ok it is because the button…we all know how much I love attention! Anyways for my 2004 birthday celebration we stopped by the Blue Ribbon Bakery, after all what is a trip to Disneyland with out an $8.00 Cinnamon Roll, large enough to feed a family of 4, with enough daily calories for a family of 4 and no I don't share.

Of course while I was in line for my Cinnamon Roll, because you have to wait in line for everything during the holidays at Disneyland, I spotted something else I wanted. A BIRTHDAY CUP!! I was so excited; it was pink with Disney Princesses and ribbons and inside there was a brush, a comb, a mirror, stickers and a birthday cake!! I immediately declared I was getting one. Of course Danny’s response was, “No way…those are for 5 year old”, always the practical one. But of course I had my secret weapon, Bonnie, who said, “It is her birthday and if you don’t let her have it, I will”. As you can guess the birthday cup was purchased.

I was so happy with my birthday cup. I carried it around all day, careful not to rattle it too much because it had my PERFECT little birthday cake inside. I was so excited for the cake I even took a picture of it:



I saved the cake all day…remember it was bought with breakfast, but I didn’t dig in till after dinner. Sadly enough I took one bite and realized that there was a fruit filling…tragedy. For those of you that don’t know I have an aversion to fruit being consumed in any other way than God intended…crisp and cold. In the end my birthday cake ended up in the trash.

Back to the picture that started my weird birthday pics. In line for the Haunted Mansion I wanted to show how excited I was about my birthday cup…so we took this picture:



I made the mistake of showing it to Melissa recently who thought it was the funniest picture ever, so when we were at Disneyland this year for my birthday I decided to take another one (the green cookie one) and send it to Melissa. She says it is now my birthday tradition and I have to take one every year. I guess we will have to wait and see how that works out.

All of us from my birthday celebration day at Disneyland (Bonnie, Aaron, Keri, Danny and Me).

On a side note I went to Melissa’s baby shower last week and took this picture:

I showed it to Danny and his response, “Can you ever just take a normal picture?”

My attempt at blogging

Ok…so I swore that I would never do this, it is just not a strength of mine, but I have started a blog. Melissa, my friend from work, has been telling me since she started hers back in 2006 that I needed one too. Although I enjoy reading hers, often times she calls me a stalker, I am just not as creative as her when it comes to "blogging". None the less here is my attempt at starting a blog. However, as you can tell it is under duress so don’t expect to much from me and if you come back in a couple months and find this post as the lone post or the blog gone all together DON’T BE SURPRISED!!

And in a tribute to my creative friend Melissa, as my first picture posting, here is her favorite picture!




P.S.

If you want to see lots of my pictures you can go to my SmugMug page:

http://hmwilson8.smugmug.com/