The Poinsettia Bowl Game

So, yes, we went to San Diego on the University's dime. And even though we did get to go to Disneyland, we spent the rest of the time opening boxes and selling merchandise.

One night, we were fortunate enough to be able to head down the the Gaslamp District to watch the "Battle of the Bands."

Which was really fun. Cal's band played, our band played, and everyone had a good time. Especially when the band played the Fight Song!

We were fortunate enough to be able to go the actual Bowl Game (we had everything re-boxed up and ready to ship out).

And I know that Jen is jealous, because we got to go here for the game: The San Diego Charger's Stadium. I'm pretty sure that it's what she thinks Heaven looks like.

The game started at a low point for the Utes, as Cal scored 2 touchdowns in the first half. But we rallied and things were looking up at half-time. Especially since there were fireworks!

The last one is my favorite, because it looks like the stadium is on FIRE!

So, anyway, we rallied and won. And I hate to say it, but it was COLD! I know, I know. It was 50 degrees and I shouldn't complain about that, because it was 7 degrees and snowing in Utah at the time, but come on! California should be warmer than that! That's why people go there.

I asked Tom to take a picture and this is what he gave me: So, I was more specific and asked him to take a picture of me and Mike with the field. I call this picture "Tom Being Snarcastic to Melissa":Snarcastic = Snarky + Sarcastic = TOM.

Then he took a real one for me: So we won!
Final Score:
37-27. Go Utes! The kid that was sitting behind us kept asking his dad if they were going to rush the field when we won. Mike kept laughing, because who rushes the field at the Poinsettia Bowl?!

After the game, we went out to dinner in the Gaslamp District again and found the most amazing thing!I loved this Big Red Chair so much I had to take a picture.

What We Did in San Diego

This is what Mike and I did in San Diego:
And apparently, I suck at transactions.

The Happiest Place on Earth?

Yes, yes, Disneyland remains to this day the "Happiest Place on Earth." Except when 4 billion other people decide to make it their happiest place on earth the same day we do.

Since Mike and I had to go to California for the Poinsettia Bowl (more on that in a later post), we decided to take a day and visit a place I love and adore and am completely happy in.

Yes, Disneyland.

Tom & Stephanie were kind enough to meet us in The Magic Kingdom for fun, SUN and Churros.Having left behind single digit weather in Utah, we basked in all the sunshine that California has to offer. It's really strange to walk around Disneyland hearing Christmas music while it's 70 degrees outside. Doesn't really seem like Christmas to me.

We decided to hit Toon Town first.

And, of course, I had to take a picture with Jessica Rabbit.

One of the best things about Toone Town is that it's interactive.

A possible future for Mike?:
I have a friend who works at Disneyland (he plays Prince Philip and Bert from Mary Poppins), and we kept trying to figure out where he was in relation to us, but we could never quite figure it out. So, alas, another trip to Disneyland went by without seeing Jared. (And another trip with Mike believing that Jared is my imaginary friend, because he's never met him.)

While we were on The Haunted Mansion ride, it broke down. Sad, I know. So we entertained ourselves by taking pictures with the new camera.

My friend at work, Kari, asked me to say "Hi" to Mickey. Unfortunately, this is as close as we came to him.It's a show in California Adventure.

So, onto my favorite part. Which, since there were so many people, we thought about skipping because it was nearly impossible to even get to it with all the damn people.

At Christmas time, Disney changes "It's a Small World" into this:

Beautiful! And instead of just the song, "It's a Small World," they play a mash-up of "It's a Small World" and "Jingle Bells." And since they've redone the ride, it now has several Disney characters incorporated into it.

Including: ARIEL! My favorite! (She sings "Jingle Shells" instead of "Jingle Bells." Clever.)

All in all, it was a pretty good day. Minus the 4 billion other people there.

ChRisTMas TaG

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?
HA! Have to get past Mike's birthday (tomorrow) first.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.
My favorite is when Santa flies over on Christmas Eve and drops pajamas and a highway flare in the backyard and leaves a note telling us that he's flown over once and if we're not in bed the next time he flies over we're getting nothing for Christmas. (Santa's notes were more and more obscene the older we were.)
And I love that we open the presents one at a time.

3. When do you put up your tree?
This year it didn't happen until December. We were too busy going to Provo for the BYU/Utah game.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
I went early with my mom and my sister once. ONCE. And I was so bruised by the time I came home from being hit with shopping carts that I vowed to never do that again. Black Friday shoppers are mean.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?
We travel to West Jordan to visit Mike's family.
But this year we're actually traveling to San Diego on the 20th and coming back on the 24th, because the Utes are playing in the Poinsettia Bowl on the 23rd. (I know! How fun is that going to be? Traveling home on Christmas Eve?! I just hope we make it back in time!)

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?
When my grandparents were still alive, we used to always go to their house in Idaho for Christmas. My Grandpa would always pass out the presents, one by one. It would sometimes take hours for us to open all the presents (we were very spoiled as children; still are). I remember this one Christmas when my Grandpa was passing out the presents and he couldn't quit . . . well . . . passing gas, as he bent over pick up the presents.

My grandparents also had this really hideous fake white-flocked tree that really belonged in 1968 (which is when they probably bought it) and thinking about that tree now always makes me laugh.

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?
White Christmas. I love it. Poor Mike has to suffer watching it several times each year.

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking? What's your favorite treat?
I am this year. And I'll take anything with sugar in it.

9. Fake or real tree?
FAKE! My sister and brother-in-law used to get a real tree every year until the year their tree came with its own personal spider-sac. They had little spiders running around for weeks.
No, thank you.

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Now.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Probably this year, since we won't be home until the 24th. And this is me we're talking about, so the probability of getting everything done before we go to San Diego is really minimal.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
I love it when we go see the Lights on Temple Square. But this year I really want to go ice skating at the Gallivan Center (HINT).

13. What Christmas Craft do you like the best?
Crafts?!

14. Christmas music? Yes or no, and if yes, what is your favorite song?
Anything from Josh's Christmas CD.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
I still have to get Mike something for his birthday first. Really, December birthdays should be outlawed.

Thanks for the tag Sar:) I tag Aimee, Candee, Jill and Jen, and anyone else who would like to play along:)