What we did instead of Disneyland

So the first week and a half of March was supposed to be spent together as a family in sunny California. We have been planning this vacation for over a year. We had estimated the amount the trip would cost, and planned for Disneyland, Seaworld, Universal Studios, and San Diego Zoo. We were all so excited. We've never been to Disneyland as a family.

Here's what happened during the couple of months preceeding our trip. First our carpet cleaning equipment broke down. We own a carpet cleaning company, and this is our livelyhood. We had a major repair and multiple minor repairs that resulted in a couple thousand dollars price tag.

We still thought we could swing the trip. Then our family car got sick. Another several hundred dollars in repairs.

The best part was the Sunday afternoon that we came home from church to find that both our company vans had been broken into. We had one of our portable cleaning machines stolen, as well as some other small equipment, my husband's stereo, and damage to both vehicles from the break-ins. Our insurance company for our business told us that it would be 3 separate claims, one each for the damage on the vans, and a separate one for the machine. We would need to meet the $500 deductable 3 times! How lame is that? Seriously, if your house gets broken into, or burns down, you don't have to do a separate claim for every item that needs replaced!!!

Anyway, needless the say the bank account was pretty slim. Even if we pulled together the money to make the trip - we would be in trouble down the road. Most of our work is commercial, so we bill our customers and get paid within the next 30 days. Because of the time my husband was unable to work when his equipment was down, and then when he was without one of his machines - we knew that the income for the next couple of months would not be what it had been for the previous months.

Sooooo, with what was left of our Disneyland fund, we decided to go out and do some fun things around the community each day the kids were out of school. We went...

To Nicklecade

bowling

To a local pizza place that has all sorts of kids rides - they loved it!

Even though it wasn't Disneyland (It actually SNOWED!) We had such a good time together and made some great memories. We also played laser tag, went to some great restaurants for dinner and breakfast, and did some shopping and crafting together. We're still trying to make it to Disneyland before the end of the year!