It’s been a whirlwind month and finding time to post all 2 million pictures we took on vacation has been difficult and well, a little overwhelming. We’ve been trying to have a more kickback week this week, so here I am finally!
California was definately an adventure; one I’m sure we won’t forget. It was mostly highs, with just a few lows. I’ll try to summarize, but if you’re reading this blog you know me well enough to know, I’m not usual very brief! 😉
We arrived to the airport a little less than two hours ahead of our flight, thinking we had plenty of time. That was until we got to security and discovered that the agent didn’t print out my boarding pass and I had to go all the way back to the ticket counter again. The rest of the family went on through security without me and headed to the gate. After getting my pass, I found I had a 25 min wait to get through security, but luckily I found another secuirty check-point. Just as I was making a last min. trip to the bathroom, Ammon called to tell me our flight was boarding and well, I hadn’t even bought dinner yet or made it to the gate. I grabbed the first food I could, ran to the gate and got on the plane. The lady who was sitting with the family was kind enough to switch seats with me so I could sit with Ammon and the kids.
The kids were feeling pretty special that they had the chance to go into the cockpit and meet the Captain and sit in the “driver’s seat”. Here are the kids flying our plane:
The flight was surprisingly uneventful and the kids did way better than expected. Annika was a little fussy from being so tired and cooped up so long, but other than that, it was good.
Here’s Daddy and the kids upon our arrival in San Diego:
Aren’t they cute? I think so!
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The girls waiting for our bags
Kevin being…Kevin
The next morning for breakfast, we went to a donut shop we found online called “Rose’s Donuts”. It was pretty close to Grandma B’s, which is why we picked it, but we found the food was AMAZING!!!! All the pastry’s, donuts, etc were made from scratch and it was soooooo good.
After breakfast, we went to visit Grandma B (Ammon’s maternal Grandmother) for a while. I was in awe of how limber and energetic she was, despite having hurt her back about a year ago. She was tickling the kids and chasing them around and teasing them. The kids gave her a big hug hello and seemed completely comfortable with her. It was so wonderful to see her and have her meet the kids.
Pretty spiffy for 95!
Kevin got sass right back from Grandma!
We hit Old Town San Diego after that and it was kind of a bust. The kids didn’t seem very fascinated with it and both Ammon and I had spinning heads and we were all exhausted. The Mormon Battalion Museum, which we were excited to see was also closed. We saw a few things, got some saltwater taffy and some pictures and left. The kids did make their own candles though and that was a cool experience.
Kevin eating his strawberry honey stick
Just posin
Mommy and kids hanging out in Old Town
Daddy helping Tasha dip her doggie candle
Almost done
Kevin’s turn (an elephant)
Cool!
She really got into this little photoshoot
Nah Nah
You could actually get inside this wagon and play, which we did a little bit.
After a rest at the hotel, the kids and Daddy went to Belmont Park and indulged in some sweet treats and then chased the birds at the beach. No pics for that-darn!
On Day 2, we had planned to go to this cool park with an old train and carousel that the kids could ride, but apparently there are still seasons in California and it wasn’t “summer season” yet! Who knew? 😉 We ended up just playing at a playground nearby, but the kids couldn’t have been happier!
This was the coolest little contraption. You sit in it and kind of throw your legs around and the whole cup thing spins. Tasha got going so fast that she couldn’t walk straight when she got out!
Holding on for dear life, he kept shouting, “Look at me, Dad, look at me!!!!”
Riding the purple dinosaur
Apparently the dinosaur behind Tasha wasn’t very loved. She kept giving him hugs. =)
We thought, what a great place for a perfect kid picture to frame….didn’t turn out as “sweet” as we had hoped, but still a good one.
After playing at the park and having “In and Out Burgers” with Grandma B, we headed to Newport Beach where we would stay a week with my Dad and Linda.
Good Morning, Papa!!!
Day 3 was kind of a boring day. The weather wasn’t cooperating and we just kinda hung around. We did hit the pool though and the kids had a blast, despite their shivering.
Day 4 was Sunday and let’s just say that taking super-tired kids to an unfamiliar church wasn’t the funnest thing ever. Kevin ended up sleeping in the van out in the parking lot and I walked the halls with Annika trying unsuccessfully to get her to sleep. At least Tasha went to class and got spiritually fed for the day! We ended up taking a walk and going to play in the toy room of the activities center after church.
Giving bear some love.
New toys!
Day 4 was probably the best day of all. Our first day at Disneyland!!!!!! It really was magical as soon as you walked through the gates. The music, the smells, everything you could see was happy and pretty and fun. I could’ve not gone on any rides and just looked and listened for hours. But, of course we DID go on rides! The first was “Alice in Wonderland”. It was just Tasha and I b/c Kevin was feeling cranky and ran out of line at the last second. It was so fun to see Tasha’s little face as she experienced her first real ride. She wasn’t excited at all….See?
We did a ton of rides our first day. We arrived right after it opened and stayed for 7 hours straight. I don’t think we waited more than 30 min for any one right and practically walked on to a few. “It’s a Small World” was my favorite of all because we could all go on the ride and all of the kids were awestruck by all the moving dolls, etc. It was so happy! Even Annika was staring at everything with her mouth gaping open. Tasha kept saying, “Kevin, look at that! Look at that one!”
Tasha on “It’s a Small World”
Daddy and Annika waiting for Nemo
I thought Nemo was a little scary at times and was worried about Annika, but she loved it! She was fascinated by the bubbles that kept billowing by the submarine window. She kept trying to grab them!
See?
Some of the underwater view from “Nemo”
Next to Nemo was Autotopia, a kind of go-kart for kids. Tasha and Kevin both said this was their favorite ride. They were thrilled to bits that they got to drive!
Kevin’s turn to drive
Tasha’s a crazy driver! Scary =)
So fun!
A Choo choo train!
Monkeys playin in the trees
Sugar-shock! Mmmmm Cotton Candy =)
I asked Ammon for a big piece….I got more than I bargained for
Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Climbing on the dead guys
If you push this wheel fast enough, it lifts treasure out of the water. Kevin got going so fast, his feet came off the ground.
Swinging bridge
Jumping for joy
Kevin making friends with the ducks
On the other side of this there is a dark cave with pirates voices talking and treasure and stuff and Tasha loved it! Kevin was scared, but Tasha wanted to walk through it over and over and over.
Near the end of our first day. We had to get a picture of us in front of the castle
Pluto and Goofy were hanging around near the exit and we thought we’d try and get a picture, but they weren’t very cooperative and wouldn’t hold still long enough to get a good shot. What’s up Pluto?
