December 7, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT GETAWAY DEPARTS IN: 5 DAYS

A San Diego photobook recap

Hello everyone and welcome to a new week!

Only a few more weeks and then a whole new year for us to take on and tackle...yup 365 days of new fun to be had and much to look forward to!

I try to make each and everyday count and I am certainly not gonna let December go by without a bang of festive delights!!

So, as you probably (or at least should) know...we spent the weekend in San Diego.

Waking up in the Torrey Pines section of beautiful La Jolla is where we started our St Nicholas Day.

We were hoping that some of the fam were gonna show up and at least spend Sunday with us, and I was hoping for a slightly earlier start.
But due to unforeseen circumstances none of the fam was gonna make it out...we'd still catch up with them back at home later in the night for our annual St Nicholas Day secret santa ornament exchange.

And as for why our day started late, really all had to do with Cosette. She had a stuffy nose on Saturday night and I found out that she was still awake at 5am Sunday morning because of it!!!
So I really wanted to let her rest and didn't feel any necessary pressure that would've forced us to leave on schedule. 

So obviously we were off of schedule, and instead of heading out for breakfast, we went for brunch! 

But first things first...I wanted to take some pictures!

Then after a very tasty lunch at my very favorite SoCal Mexican restaurant: Ranchos Cocino in Northpark, it was time to go to the famed Coronado and the Historic Landmark Hotel Del Coronado.

Hotel del Coronado has been celebrating the holidays in grand tradition since 1888.
They had the hotel decorated beautifully, skating by-the-sea...an ice rink that was practically on the beach, a fabulous sand castle display (independently displayed), the resort’s beautiful lobby Christmas tree that is decorated to match this year’s theme, “Making Seasides Bright”, and shopping to boot - offering everything from fine jewelry, fun toys, apparel and accessories for all ages to home décor, bath and body, sweets and treats, and holiday keepsakes!

Once I was finished looking around and Dave had reached his people quota (the crowds were stressing him), it was time to leave and to head on over to the Seaport Village for some more shopping and yet ANOTHER Christmas Tree - this one is built of Poinsettia blooms! 

More success was had, and then it was time to finally start heading north. 

But little did I realize that Mika had been visiting and that she was waiting for us to arrive, so that we could do the exchange. However by the time we got home Mika had already fallen asleep for the night.
This made me feel very bad.

The night did go on and we all had exchanged our ornaments - now we just need to get a tree to place them upon!

Before I go, I want to be sure to acknowledge that today is Pearl Harbor Day and I suggest that you turn your attention over to Elisa's column to read more about this day in history. 
I was hoping to post a photo from one of my own visits to Pearl Harbor, but like I had mentioned to Elisa, although I have had Pearl Harbor on my to do list for a while - with all of our visits to Hawaii, I still have yet to visit. Elisa's response brought a smile to my face "that's something we can do together!"
Right on cuz! I like your way of thinking!

And as for the day ahead of me, I'll be taking the kids out shopping (again), and they have another Christmas Performance later on this evening. Updates in tomorrows Daily SCOOP!

I'll bid you farewell now,
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 11 DAYS

In Memory of Pearl Harbor

HAPPY MONDAY!
Well, although I'm glad to begin a new week, my morning was not the greatest.  Gianna was sick yesterday and got progressively worse as the day went on and, not to my surprise (unfortunately) woke up even worse with congestion, swollen glands, headache -  your basic full-blown cold. UGH!

Kelsey, woke up at midnight feeling nauseous. (Lovely) and did get sick once.  Thank goodness, that was it - whew!  But, I'm not out of the woods because this morning she said her throat was hurting - possibly strep? And we are lucky enough that it is going around school (sarcasm).

Today is about rest. I'll worry about doctor visits tomorrow if they are not well yet. Good Times!
​
So, Mommy has a day of nursing ahead.  Poor babies.  

Moving on...
Today happens to be an important day in our history - it is the 74th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

On this day in 1941, "A day that will live in infamy," 360 Japanese warplanes descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

Hawaii today is a place most people travel to relax and kick back.  But, also found in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, is a great deal of history from this day in our nation's history.

The five Pearl Harbor Historic Sites honor these events with amazing memorials and living museums.

Pearl Harbor derived its name from the word Pu'uloa, meaning "long hill," or Wai Momi, literally, "water of pearl," by early Hawaiians.

The name also appropriately fits because of the abundance of pearls once found within its protected waters.

Pearl Harbor is the largest natural harbor in the State of Hawaii and is today, the number one visitor destination on Oahu.

It remains an active military base, Headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, and a National Historic Landmark that is home to FOUR unique attractions tell the story of the War in the Pacific.

From the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that started it all, to the surrender of the Japanese on the deck of the mighty Battleship Missouri.

These attractions include:

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (credit: Pearl Harbor Historic Sites)

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
The USS Arizona Memorial is the number one visitor destination in Hawaii drawing more than 1.8 million visitors each year from all over the world.

Visitors are free to explore the grounds of the newly renovated $56 million Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Our new Visitor Center was recently been expanded from the original 3 to 17 acres and is operated by the National Park Service.

USS Missouri Battleship Memorial (credit: PearlHarborOahu.org)

Battleship Missouri Memorial
The "Mighty Mo" was the last American battleship ever built and the last to be decommissioned.

A formidable battleship, the Missouri weighs over 58,000 tons and measures just under 900 feet from bow to stern, with a 50-year career that spanned three wars.

Taking it's place in history with the surrender of the Japanese on the deck of the Missouri, brought an end to World War II. 
 

USS Bowfin (credit: tripadvisor)

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
​Launched one year to the day after the events of December 7, 1941, the submarine USS Bowfin, dubbed the "Pearl Harbor Avenger," completed nine successful patrols before eventually arriving at her final, peacetime berth in the waters of Pearl Harbor.

A formidable adversary at sea, sinking 44 enemy ships during the war, today, the Bowfin is a National Historic Landmark and museum ship allowing visitors to experience what it was like to live and work aboard a World War II-era sub.

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
Opening in December of 2006, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has continually grown, adding aircraft and exhibits, and today, occupies two WWII hangars.

In 2010, TripAdvisor ranked it among the top 10 aviation-related attractions in the country.   

The experience begins on Ford Island, Ford Island, a former Naval Air Station and National Historic Landmark located in the middle of Pearl Harbor.  

A 12-minute film details the events of December 7th for museum visitors, followed by entrance into the main exhibit area of Hangar 37 where it is possible to stroll among authentic World War II-era planes, including an actual Japanese Zero and a Stearman N2S-3 once piloted by former American President George H. W. Bush.

(credit: tripadvisor)

The guided Aviator's Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Hangar 79, the Restoration Hangar, the newest addition to the Museum and home to a working, WWII-era restoration shop.

Also housed in Hangar 79 are the most recent additions to the Museum's growing collection of vintage aircraft, including a Cobra attack helicopter, a Soviet-designed MiG-15 and "MiG Alley Exhibit," an F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, P-40 Warhawk, "Flying Tigers" Exhibit, and more.

For more information for your next visit to Hawaii, visit PearlHarborHistoricSites.org.

Today, I have to get to the library to pick up some books for the girls' book report projects. If they are going to be in bed, they can at least read lol.

Gianna decided to do her biography on Ronnie Turcotte, the horse racing jockey, best known for riding Secretariat to Triple Crown Victory in 1973. 

Ronnie Turcotte riding Secretariat to Triple Crown Victory on June 9, 1973

Kelsey's project has to be about a Folktale, so she decided on The Tortoise and The Hare.

I think Mommy is more excited about these books than the students!!

Well, my peeps, I must get my day going. 

A special thanks to all of those great Americans who's lives were forever changed on this day in 1941 and who served in the Pacific!

-E
xoxo