San Fransisco

We had so much fun in San Francisco this past weekend. Me and Karson flew out of the Ontario airport to Oakland Thursday night at 8:50pm. We arrived at the Oakland airport around 10pm. This was my very first flight ever. I know I am lame. It was fun. It did not last long but at least I got to experience it. We packed light so we each carried on a small suitcase so we did not need to check any baggage. Toby and Grase picked us up from the airport and we headed to San Francisco to our hotel. We shared a hotel room. There was a lot of snoring but I think the beds were really comfy so I did not mind (yah I was one of the ones snoring, i think Grase was the only one who doesn't snore!)It gave us a taste of what every night is like for Toby and Grase. Sofia woke up one night in the middle of the night and she would not go back to sleep. I tried to help but she wanted mommy. I don't know how Grase does it!!! The first day, Friday, we had already bought tickets for Alcatraz for the 1:45pm tour. We headed out to find parking down by the pier we were leaving from. We did some driving before we found the cheapest parking (15.00) Then we headed to the pier. We go there just in time to line up and we were pretty close to the front so we got good seats in the ferry that took us over to Alcatraz. The ride was like 5 minutes! Alcatraz is not that far from San Fran. On the boat we ate some snacks. They had the best cheese stuffed pretzels!! We arrived at Alcatraz and listened to the welcome from the Ranger. Then we headed up the steep hills to the top of Alcatraz, since that is where the main prison is located. We took some great pictures on the way up there. We got to the top and we started our audio tour. Sofia did pretty good considering we were all busy listening to our audio tour. The tour was really good. We took some pictures outside with the view of San Francisco behind us. It is amazing to hear the history of the prison. We finished up the tour and spent some time in the store before heading down the hill to ride the ferry back to land. After Alcatraz we walked over to Fisherman's Wharf which was really close. We stopped at a few stores before getting to the end of the wharf and eating at a nice restaurant that overlooked the ocean and Alcatraz. We had a nice dinner there. Very good seafood!! Toby ate oysters!! I had salmon!! Karson had a variety of seafood! Grase had...salad. :) After we ate we sent the boys to get the car while me and Grase stopped at a few more stores. It was freezing! We watched some sea lions for a bit but it was so cold!!! We moved on to more stores. We were watching in amazment as a guy made a bannana, nutella crepe when Toby called and said they were there to pick us up. The crepe looked so good!! Well we were back in the car, at this point I would like to tell you that Karson drove the whole time we were in San Fran and Grase navigated for him. So Toby has had very bad allergies and Grase had found out, through her connections, that Allegra D would really help him so we had to find a pharmacy to get it. Well by then, 9pm, most pharmacies were closed. Grase found a 24 hour pharmacy and we headed to it. It was located right in the center of rainbow town, if you know what I mean. So poor Toby got dropped off at a corner full of guys and went in the Walgreens by himself. We picked him up about 10 min later. He got in the car and was traumatized....:) It was an experience!! Finally we got back to the hotel. Toby took his medicine and he slept better and felt better!! The next day we got up and headed out and our first stop was to see the Golden Gate Bridge. So we stopped and took pictures. Then we all piled back in the car and headed to Chinatown. What a drive!! Up and down, up and down. The view was great but it sure was a different kind of city. Toby really did not like the up and down streets and we finally got to chinatown. We again had to find parking and it took awhile but we finally found some. We ate in Chinatown at this nice chinese restaurant, very good food. We then walked and went in many stores. We finally left when it was getting too cold! We then headed to the Rouge brewery/restaurant. Of course we again had to try and find the best priced parking. We finally found some. Rogue was located right in Little Italy. We had some good cheese and crackers with different beers. My favorite was a pomegranate cider, it was sooo good. We then walked a little in Little Italy. We found a great little pastry place and got some dessert. It was soooo good. We then headed back to the car. I have to mention that the whole point of this trip was so that Toby and Grase could go out to dinner by themselves (Sat was their actual anniversary) and we would watch Sofia. Well they ended up spending it with us and they were happy we were there. I really enjoyed it! We went back to the hotel and went to bed for our last night in San Fran. We woke up and got ready and left the hotel around 11am. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and took some pictures. Then we got on the road to head home. We got a little taste of what Toby and Grase had experienced over the past 7 days before we met up with them. We stopped every 2 hours to stretch and change Sofia. We stopped for lunch too. Sofia had about enough during our 7th hour driving. She finally fell asleep. We got to our house around 8:30pm. Toby and Grase left around 9:30pm from our house. We finally went to bed around 11pm.
The trip was so much fun!! I really liked vacationing with Toby, Grase and Sofia. Sofia made it a challenge but with more hands it was easier. Wait until they have newbie!! Vacationing with two little ones will be even more challenging!!!
Well I hope you enjoy some of the pictures below. Thanks for reading!
Dez

Update

So I have not updated the Blog for awhile. So here what has been going on. We had an anniverary dinner for Tobi and Grase on June 5th, it was Wizard of Oz themed. It went really well. We had the yearly Turner/King family reunion yesterday. Next weekend we are going to San Fransisco next week. We are leaving late Thursday night. We are meeting Tobi and Grase up there and then we are driving back with them on Sunday. The next weekend we have our District assembly. In August Karson is doing the Beer trip with my brothers and friends. We are going camping in September. So busy.
So the County has decided to do 4/10's for most of the County offices. I have been on modified duty of only 8 hour days but that ends at the end of June. I thought the County would go back to be opened 5 days but I was wrong. So now I put paperwork through to get my chronic pain as a disablility so they can accomadate me because I CAN NOT work 10 hours. It is very painful and and exhausting for me. Yah it would be a dream schedule if I did not have pain. At least I still get Fridays off.
We recently had our Circuit Assembly. It was so encouraging! I am so excited to go to the District for some more spiritual food.
I has started to get hot but not up to 100 yet. Oh it will come! Summer is the worst thing about living in Riverside County. It is hot!!!!!
Well that is about all that has been going on. We continue to be busy and when we get a rest it is nice. We are looking foward to our well needed vacation to San Fran coming up this week! Here are some pictures from the anniversary dinner we gave Tobi and Grase.
Desirae

Busy Busy Busy

We have been so busy this month!! We have had busy weekends for like two months straight! This last weekend Tobi and Grase came to visit for a Lost marathon! They needed to catch up on season 6 so we tried to get them caught up. Of course they didn't finish but came close! Just 5 episodes to go, oh wait 6 now that one aired on Tuesday. Can't believe Lost is going to end on Sunday!!! We have a wedding on Sunday but should be home in time for the last Lost episode!!
In other news my pain seems to be getting worse and I have no idea why. It seems it is always changing. One pain goes away and another one appears! It is so exhausting. On top of that I have a new boss, my old one got a promotion, and I have to start all over with the new one. Also the county might be having everyone do a 4/10 (10 hour days M-Th) for the new fiscal year (July 2010) I can't do 10 hour days!!! I am on a modified schedule (8 hours M-Th) but it ends June 30th. If they keep the 10 hour days I don't know what I am going to do. Sure anyone else would love this schedule but i just can't do it with my chronic pain. I miss more days, come in late or leave early when I am on the 10 hour days. Since my FMLA (family medical leave act) probably will run out in a couple of months there is no way I can get away with missing so many days and hours without getting in trouble, or even losing my job. What can I do? Pray, I just have to pray they don't do the 4/10 schedule.
Karson has been working M-Friday so that is good. At least we have one of us working full time! I am so excited to be getting another niece or a nephew!! I am trying to spend as much time with Sofia and I will definitly be spending the first few days with them after the new baby comes. I did this with Sofia and I think that is why Sofia and i have a special bond. She gets so excited when she sees me, I love it!!! I want a nephew eventually but another niece will be fine for me!! I did not have sisters growing up so it would be nice for Sofia to have a little sister!
We have Tobi and Grace's anniversary dinner on June 5th and we find out the sex of the new baby on that day. I can't wait!!!!!
Well that is all for now!!!
Dez

Yes I am getting another niece or nephew!!! So happy!!!

Pirate day at Disneyland!!

ARRRRGHHHH! Sofia doesn't know what we are doing in this picture! By the way I am convinced that my big brother, to the right of me, is a real pirate.

Dland with Quinton and Amy

Update

So we have just been trying to get our house set up this past month. We have so much stuff to still move in from the garage but we got the most important items in the house.
In other news I have lost a total of 12.2 lbs so far on my new diet. I had a bad week about two weeks ago but I got back on track. I also got on FMLA, Family Medical Leave Act, which protects my job due to absences. My doctor requested for me to work 8 hour days instead of 10 for a month to see if it helps my pain. I started my 8-4:30pm schedule on Monday 3/22/10. I already feel better!! It is a good thing the law protects my job because I have missed alot of work due to my chronic pain over the past two years. No doubt I would have been fired if I didn't work in the County.
Me and Karson are still off on Fridays and we are taking advantage of it by getting stuff done around the house and doing errands.
Well that is all for now. Not much going on. Our friend Stephanie is getting married in May so hopefully I will have lost 20lbs by then so I can fit into some of my nicer dresses for her wedding.
Dez