It's been a while ... here is a short update ...

Here is an update on our adventures. 

Annie made a comment that we were on vacation, I told her that I wanted it to end.  I am tired and so are the kids and I believe Shane is too.  We cannot believe how difficult it is to get housing.  We will look in a few other areas, but if we do not find something soon then I fear we will have failed.  I do not like to fail at anything, but I have to think of the kids.  I hope that we find something soon, the kids love it here and Marissa even said that she was having fun.


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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent in Fremont in an extended stay hotel; where we had a kitchenette.  After serving for a few photo ops that I needed (for a present I am cooking up for my mother - these photos will not be included here), we walked along a few beaches.  The night before we went to the Safeway and bought roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and gravy.  We also got dinner rolls and cranberry dressing.  Not too bad for a makeshift dinner; it was pretty tasty and we had fun when we got back from our drive.

We traveled up the cost so I could take pictures that I will not be showing until after Christmas.  Too bad Mom.  Mwahahahaha ...

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Global Winter Wonderland

So while we were driving around, looking at neighborhoods and housing, I saw a billboard that advertised a Global Winter Wonderland.  What????  So I googled it.  LOL!  Click here it see their site.  It was pretty cool.  It was a challenge to get in.  We did not have cash on us (a whole different story) and all I had was the parking fee, which would not have been an issue because we had our credit cards.  Well when we got there the systems were down.  All of the computers were dead.  LOL!  Cameron was crushed.  It was his surprise that I had been building on all day.  Ack!  I just spent $10 for parking and there was nothing that they were willing to do.  Really?

So we went over to the Hilton (next door) to see if they had tickets (they did not.  They were supposed to have tickets and were told that they would have tickets, but apparently the systems at wonderland were down for a while). So we used the business center machines in the Hilton.  They were so unbelievable slow that something had to be wrong.  I do not believe that I have any sense of entitlement or that I need a certain level of service.  I have been in the service industry, I know what it is like.  But I do want a solid and relatively fast Internet connection.  I did not have the time for this, so I went to the front desk (of a hotel I was not staying in) and told them that something was wrong that the connection was way to slow.  I was told that someone would be out to help me. 

The lovely Caitlin came over to help me out.  After a short conversation we decided to get the tickets from her computer at the front desk.  After about 30 minutes of crazy we were on our way.  Cameron was delighted and I was relieved.  Marissa and Annie were just as excited; because it was cool.  Shane (believe it) did not complain at all.  Not about the hundreds of people hustling and bustling and pushing or stopping in the middle of the way to take a picture.  Not one single complaint.  Shane was also at the mall earlier and never complained once there, well he said it was hot but that was it.  I know, it was insane.  Almost as if he was a pod person.  For those who do not know Shane, he hates crowds and avoids them at all costs.  So for him to go to these two places (on Black Friday no less) was a miracle.

Here are some of the pictures I captured on my camera that is on my phone.  (My regular Camera does not take night pictures very well.)

While still very cool, I did not know that the dinosaurs celebrated the holidays.

Besides showing how most major cultures celebrate the holidays.  There were signs that told us about each "lantern."   No, I did not take pictures of them although there were equally cool in the 4 languages they were displayed in.

Look kids, Big Ben and Parliament ...

Most of the "lanterns" changed color or rotated or did both.

It was pretty cool to see.

These two are made from cups, saucers, spoons, etc ...

This was the first year they held this in the United States, so it was really cool that we were in the right place at the right time.  We managed to go on opening night.  There were also food vendors and there was a small amusement area that we did not take part in, but I was not going to push it.

I will write more later, but this is all for now.  Still looking for a home and we have an interview for an apartment on Friday.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Love all -

Jennifer