Monday, August 25, 2008

Passed

I PASSED the CPA EXAM on the first go around!! Couldn't be happier. That's it for now

Monday, August 11, 2008

Time for Travel

I have now officially started the month of travel! It started at the end of July with a wonderful trip to Puerto Vallarta with my mom. It was a wonderful week spent reading and relaxing. Mom and I both needed time away and for us, Puerto Vallarta is paradise. We generally spent the mornings on the beach, then the late afternoons in the pool. We ate at our favorite places and never felt rushed around. I was able to read 3 books: Something Borrowed, The Red Tent, and Consent to Kill. I highly recommend all of them! At the resort, there is a little zoo with pumas, tigers, parrots, and monkeys. The puma's just had a little cub. He was so cute. We caught him one day stalking his momma's tail.

Now Rich and I are in Estes Park for a week. We'll do some hiking, reading, and some planning for the future. We're hoping to figure out where we want to get married and then set a date!! YAY! We're staying at the Worldmark up here, and we have both found it leaves something to be desired. Our "unit" is incredibly small and the "kitchen" is almost non-existent. It'll work and we'll still be cooking in the unit instead of always eating out.

We'll be off to San Diego next week for my cousin's wedding. So excited for them. I'm sure I'll blog more about the trip later with the fam. After that I have a week to move and get things set up at my mom's house before starting work. Wow, what a month. I think I need a nap and a glass of wine now.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Honeymoon!

Was fabulous!

Richard and I made a deal about a year ago, that whenever we got married, I would plan the wedding and he would plan the honeymoon.... and that the honeymoon would be a surprise. So on June 11, we were married and it was everything that I've always wanted. I felt gorgeous, Richard was extremely good looking in the tux (I wasn't sure about the black shirt with white tie ... but it was awesome) and we had a blast. We got to see friends (went to fast) and got to swing dance ( I didn't keep my frame well but we had fun), really it was perfect. From the feedback we've received everyone also had a great time ... but people always tell you that. Then that night we got hooked up at a local hotel, the Omni... with Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.

The next morning, we did what any new married couple would do.... went home and mowed the lawn! I know romantic, right? But it needed to be done before we left and we always do it together. It also gave us (read Richard) time to finish packing and prepping for the honeymoon.



SAT AM - we go to the airport and I find out we're going to Tampa, FL. I'm thinking, really Tampa? Why Tampa of all the places for a surprise honeymoon. But I keep my thoughts to myself cuz who knows what Richard has planned...

We arrive in Tampa, get on a shuttle bus and head downtown to our hotel. During the shuttle ride the driver is asking all kinds of questions and I learn that no, we're not in town to go on a cruise, while we are here for the beaches we're staying just about as far away from them as we could get and we didn't rent a car ... interesting honey!

So we go to a nice dinner that night since it is our honeymoon and all... there Richard breaks down and tells me that we are in deed GOING ON A CRUISE!!!! And not just any cruise, but a Western Caribbean 7 day Cruise to Grand Cayman, Belize, and Isla Roatan, Honduras! Couldn't have been a better place for our honeymoon.




We just got on the boat and thy handed us drinks!



Cruising around on the boat, checking things out

We spent much time sitting in these chairs, reading, napping and laughing

Dancing in the club :)

Port #1 - Grand Cayman Island


We went snorkeling here ... look how clear it is.

Port #2 - Belize


Sharing a Coke over lunch

Mayan Ruins of Belize


Port #3 - Roatan Island - Honduras
Our favorite!

Swimming with Dolphins

Kisses

More Dolphin kisses



The best beach EVER!

Last day on the boat

Every night at dinner our steward would make a towel animal, but on the last night we got a heart. He must have figured out we were honeymooning.
My favorite animal of the trip was the monkey - he was awesome!

Florida Aquarium - We spent our last day here until we had to go to the airport. It was an amazing honeymoon! Way to go Rich!