Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Birthday Weekend Recap!

I know you have all been waiting on pins and needles to hear where the hubbs whisked me away to on Friday and I won't make you wait any longer!  He took me to the Happiest Place on Earth: DISNEYLAND!!  Now, I am sure some of you are thinking, Disneyland?  That's where he took her?  For her 30th?  But I assure you peeps, the man knows me well.  I am not a giant Disney freak, I don't wear Disney character clothing, I don't have Disney bumper stickers or decorate my house with Disney theamed crap, but I do really enjoy going to Disneyland.  It was something that my family did quite often when we were younger and I have a lot of fond memories there.  It had been a while since the two of us had been able to go together, too.  Actually, we hadn't been together in almost 3 years.  The sad part of that is, it was Ari's first time there.  Everyone at the time knew we were going, knew he was excited to go!  But that first morning when we went, his mother thought should would call us as we were walking into the Happiest Place on Earth and inform us his dad had just been diagnosed with brain cancer.  She knew we were excited to go.  She knew that she could probably wait until we got back a few days later, but she chose on that morning to tell us.  Well, the trip was a bust.  We couldn't get happy the entire time.  After one day in the park we came home.  She could have waited; there was nothing any of us could do at the time.  So as much as this trip was for me, I think Ari wanted a good go at Disneyland.  His dad just passed away this past July, we are healing and I think he wanted to go just as much as me.

Okay, done with the sad part, let's get on!  I got home Friday and he had everything packed except my running gear.  He did good actually.  The man knows me too well.  He still hadn't told me where we were going.  He told me once we got in the car I could start guessing.  But I knew already that we weren't going on a plane since my cosmetic bag and shoe bag were not securely packed.  Once we gassed up, I knew it.  I guessed right on the first try!  I had  feeling it was Disneyland or Vegas and once the bags were packed I was pretty sure.

I was already exhausted by the time we got in the car.  I had gotten up early Friday morning (4 am to be exact) to get my run in.  Just five miles, nice and easy.  He packed snacks and drinks and off we went.  It took us about 5 hours and it was a blast.  We got to reconnect, chat and get all excited about the weekend.  Traffic in L.A. blows if you have never been there.  But we arrived around 9 and headed off to dinner.

The next morning I got up and ran a quick 5 miles on the hotel dreadmill and we were off and in the park by 9 am!  Big mistake running right before you spend the entire day on your feet walking.  I was glad I got it done but I paid for it.  I don't think I stretched very well on Thursday after my long run since the party came as a surprise :) and then sitting in the car for five hours after being at work all day wasn't the best.  The muscle or tendon right behind my left knee is painful right now.  I am rolling and stretching and took Sunday and Monday off from running.  I am going to give it a go tonight - I need to run to burn off all the crap I ate in about 72 hours!

The park was NOT busy.  It was perfect!  No real crowds and surprisingly didn't see too many kids have the dreaded meltdown.  The weather was awesome, too.  About 60 in the morning and by mid-morning and afternoon low 70's - perfect t-shirt weather!  We rode all the rides a billion times and just generally enjoyed ourselves.  I am soooo glad he picked Disneyland.  I know it sounds cheesy, but it was relaxing and just what we needed.  He said he had contemplated Vegas but knew I am not a big fan.  The man did good, and I am sooo lucky.

Here are some pics from the weekend.  Notice we are dressed like summer in the middle of January.  We are getting a huge storm right now in California, and it didn't start raining on us in Disneyland until right before we left Sunday afternoon - perfect!

In line for the Teacups!


Ridding the Teacups!


I love the Teacups!


Hardly any crowds!


Lots of shots like this (holding the camera out ourselves)
In front of the Haunted Mansion!!





Day 2 - got soaked on this awful ride!





The Happiest Turkey on Earth - Obama pardon him this year :)


My FAV ride- the Matterhorn!  Got to ride it twice in a row because the couple in front were arguing and almost caused a crash with our bobsleds!


What can I say, I LOVE this ride!


On the Matterhorn - waiting for round 2!


It started to rain while we were leaving California Adventure and heading home.


I know I already said it, but the hubbs did good and I am sooo glad we got to spend our time together.  Between the surprise party and the surprise getaway, I am truly thankful for him.  He is a great running sherpa, too!

A couple of years ago, 2008 to be exact, my sister and I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon.  It was a blast and the medal was soooo coool!  After being down there, I think I am contemplating running it again.  It's over labor day weekend, the first weekend in September.  The only prob is that I have Lake Tahoe full later in the month.  After race fees and hotels, it might be a bit over the top.  The hubbs is saying "do it, do 'em both," but I am going to sit on this for a bit.  Anyone else wanna run Disney Half?  It was a blast the first time, great course and awesome amenities.  Plus, the Happiest Place on Earth!

Its pouring raining here, so I think I will be on the dreadmill tonight.  I can do rain, but I can't do WIND and rain!  60+ mph gusts of wind they are predicting and that just is NOT fun to run in.  Thank you again for all the birthday wishes, you guys are awesome!  I am truly in awe every time I blog or read another blog of how supportive we all are of one another.  Whether its good times or bad, I always appreciate all the support - THANK YOU!  I promise to get caught up on all of your blogs this week!

Happy Tuesday and Happy Running peeps!

19 comments:

Jen Feeny said...

That is awesome!!! He did do great! I'm glad you had a great b-day weekend!!!

As for the half & Tahoe, you could totally use the Half as a training run to see how your pace is. Lots of people actually prefer to train like this. I have been wanting to get in a Half before my full but I can't find one! :(

Heather said...

What a fun birthday weekend! I have never been to Disneyland or Disneyworld . . . someday!

Heidi said...

Sounds like a fun weekend. When we went to Disneyland the Matterhorn was closed for repairs and California Adventure wasn't quite open yet. Plus there was tons of screaming, bratty kids running around having 'the meltdown'.

Your hubby is a gem!

L.B. said...

Oh snap. We have season passes for Disneyland. We were going to go on Sunday but I had my run, but still had sorta thought about it. But once we figured out the rain, we scrapped it.

I love Disneyland. It's totally awesome! I'm glad you were able to enjoy Disneyland. It really is a fun place no matter how old you are... not saying you are old or anything... um... I mean, even if you are not a child ;)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an awesome weekend!

Sarah said...

Sounds like such a great trip and perfect way to celebrate your 30th! Glad you had a good time!!

As for the Disney half, I wish I had the money to do it. Maybe another year! :)

Tricia said...

How fun!

RunToTheFinish said...

looks like a super duper weekend!

sorry your running mojo has taken a little dive! Can you try out a new running group in your area? I find that just one night a week is enough for me to get a diferent feel for running and I've started to enjoy having people around.

Or you can move to Miami and just run with me!

Pining for Pinterest said...

That is exactly where I went for my 30th bday. It was my spring break and we wanted to take the kids. The best part was that I was free on my birthday or we got a park hopper pass.... I picked the park hopped pass because of how busy it was. Glad you had a great time!

Aron said...

YAY so glad you had a fun birthday!! I love dland too, but I havent been since grad night my senior year of high school! yikes - almost 10 years :-/

Tara said...

Awww..your pics are so cute! Looks like hubbs did a great job of taking you somewhere that you would love for your birthday!

I loved the comment that you left on my blog about the fatties and their scooters. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Got off your fat ass and walk! I loved the comment and it totally had me laughing.

I hear ya...I love to run in the rain, but definitely not the wind AND the rain. I've been on the dreadmill a lot too. UGH!

Teamarcia said...

What a fun trip and great surprise! Love all the pics. How cool it wasn't crowded!
Props to your hubs!

Anonymous said...

I am glad you two got your trip <3 He sounds like a good guy!

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

Yay! What a great birthday surprise. Sounds like you guys had a great time. Love the pictures!

Jill said...

I am smiling ear to ear for your fabulous weekend there, Chicka!! Whata blasty! I've been to Disneyland many times with my kiddos but I can't go on anything cuz I barf big time, especially on them teacups! But I love watching people have fun and that's fun for me. I saw that SoCali was getting tons of rain and mud slides galore, egads! Be careful! The two of you pictures are just as adorable as can be! You're soooo happy :). Hugs, big time, to you!!

Jenn said...

Great pics!! What an awesome hubby you have! So glad you had a great birthday weekend. OK-60mph winds might be a little extreme. You would definitely get a few looks if you were out running in that!! Hope you had a great treadmill run!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Sounds like you had a great time. I loved the recap. Your hubbs is awesome! How great that he put it all together.

You are hard core! Getting up to run before you leave and then the dreadmill in the hotel before the park! You stud!

N.D. said...

That is so cute! glad you had fun!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

SO nice to have found someone who knows you soooo well and can still surprise you. Way to fit the runs in, I hope your legs feels better.

Someday I will run Disney, not this year though..