Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Christmas Surprise!


We worked so long and hard to surprise my mom with a Christmas that she wouldn't forget for a long time. Here is the long story in a few short words. My dad and I had been talking about our upcoming cruise on the Voyager of the Seas. He mentioned he would still like to possibly go but just wasn't sure about it. At this point, I mentioned oh hey, why don't you surprise mom with the trip for Christmas since we knew if they just talked about it she probably would not agree to it. muhahaha... So after watching prices fall on the balcony rates for this itenrary we saw rates get low enough and probably wouldn't go any lower. So after working some magic, cruise was booked.

This began the long thought process on how to surprise her with it for Christmas. We finally worked it out to a scavenger hunt that led her to her favorite breakfast place, Cracker Barrel where all the kids would be waiting for her. We decorated a poster with the ship name, itenrary, thier room information among other things. We found some caribbean themed things for the table as well. Dad contacted the manager to talk to them about us surprisng mom at a table in the very back as well.

She woke up Monday morning to her first clue by the coffee stuff because we all know how she loves her morning java. Needless to say it sounded like she had fun on the scavenger hunt at the house.

Then we were all waiting on her to show up. It went off well. I think she even had tears in her eyes! Awww...now she gets a month to plan things and think about her wardrobe and get in the cruising state of mind. We already know we are getting pedicures on Saturday afternoon after Ian and I drive in that morning. Can't wait.

Here are a few more pictures of the event.

Friday, December 17, 2010

One more day till Party time!

Tomorrow is our yearly holiday party at work. This year they moved it to a nice hotel in downtown Austin. I have the battery for our new digital camera all charged up so I'm ready to go. I am really excited. We have a room at the hotel as well so we can head over when we are ready and packed up and then we can have a place to go when we are tired out. It's the 20th anniversary of the company too so I am looking forward to the big presentation for that. It should be a night of fun which is what our memories are made for.

I booked our cruise parking this morning as well so we are set for a parking place for the cruise. We are going to stay at my parents the night before so that will save us money on the hotel. We will probably stay the night we get back as well as it's super bowl sunday and my parently usually have a shin dig. Since we normally work on super bowl sunday we never get to go to it anymore so it will be nice.

We are geared up and ready for vacation. It feels like it has been forever since we had a day off and it's only been over a month. I think it's the overtime getting to us. Oh well. I think we have about 6 more weeks from this coming Sunday so not too much longer. We have our wedding anniversary coming up in Jan as well so another thing to celebrate. I can't believe it's been 9 years already. It feels just like yesterday I was in full bridal/wedding mode. Time certainly does fly by the older you get.

We will be putting money down with the future cruise department when we go on this cruise for the Alaska trip in 2012. I am hoping that they will have the itenraries when we go on this trip but they likely won't be out until March/April from what I have been told.

Not much else to say for now.

~Hugs