Family Traditions

January 2, 2015

1/2/2015

Setting Those Resolutions

Hello!! Hands down - this is one of my absolute favorite quotes!!!

Have you done your New Year's resolutions yet? I know a lot of people put a list together and then they never follow it. I prefer not to make resolutions, but instead, set some very achievable and important goals for the year.
It just works out better.

And if I write them down and read them regularly, even better, since they are always top of mind!

So, let's talk Travel and Entertainment goals...

The 2015 Travel Calendar is pretty well complete. In fact most of the planned trips thus far are booked and completed in terms of airfare and accommodations. Actual travel itineraries for sightseeing, tours and restaurant reservations still need to be arranged.

Here's what travel is looking like so far:

February: Florida Road Trip (includes Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Disney World, Universal Studios and LegoLand)

March: Las Vegas - Girls' Weekend

April: Jackson Hole and Yellowstone

June-July: Eastern Europe (Elisa & Tanya) (includes Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna)

July: Niagara Falls and Toronto Road Trip

So, as you can see, I still have some holes to fill. I'd like to plan something for Fall 2015. That is always a great time of year to travel! Tanya and I have been discussing a Pacific Northwest Cousins' Road Trip for October - perhaps Seattle and into Canada. We'll keep you posted on this one and the timing.

My overall goal for 2015 when it comes to travel is to do more weekend excursions. A short weekend away by car is a fantastic way to get out of the regular environment, without spending a fortune or incurring the stress that comes with air travel.

I will be working on this as well over the coming weeks - filling in the holes throughout the year on my calendar.

Here's to a great weekend - the first of 2015!!!!
-E

A Fun Day Ahead!

Wow, I can't believe that it's only Friday! Feels like Sunday to me.
We are just scoring with these 4 day weekends!!

The kids and I are leaving for our first trip of 2015 in 4 days and I haven't ever really started packing yet! Yikes!
I'm not gonna worry about it and I'm just gonna focus on today!

And today we are heading to Pasadena to go see the Tournament of Rose Parade Floats up close and personal!

POST PARADE: A SHOWCASE OF FLOATS
Remaining dates/times:
Friday, Jan 2, 2015 - Saturday, Jan 3, 2015
9:00am - 5:00pm
Location:
E. Sierra Madre Blvd &
E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107

This'll be my 3rd time visiting over the course of 15 years!
It'll just be Dave B, Dominic, and myself; As Cosette decided that she didn't really care for the excursion last time around (in 2011), so she's gonna be staying home with Mom-Mom today.

These kiddos got soooo big!

Checking out the Rose Parade Floats circa 2015

But first we're gonna...
Do a Friday Brunch, then we'll stroll the 2.5 miles amongst the floats, further appreciate the design and workmanship that goes into their creation.
Not to worry, because I'll be taking lots of pictures for you to check them out right here on Travelin' Cousins tomorrow!

Next we'll hit Orean's vegan drive thru and then Donut Friend on our way back home.
After the past week in the kitchen, I plan on taking the night off from cooking and I'm looking forward to a very fun day overall!

I luv Elisa's review of her 2015 Travel Calendar!!
<<<-------- You should definitely check it out!
I'll be posting a review of my 2015 Travel Calendar within the next day or so...
I can't wait until you check it out - there is sooooo much fun to be had this year!!!

And to start the year off...
One of our family traditions has always been family photos, and our "Christmas Photos" have now become New Year's Photos! (Christmas is just such a long magical day, that no one is too eager to do the photo shoot after or between all of the grand amounts of fun).
So last night all 14 of us participated in a 3 hour photo shoot!

Here is a sampling: