Sunday, July 1, 2012

California 2012 Baby!!

Just about every summer we head back to San Diego to visit the family, but we just weren't sure if we would make it this year.  I am so glad that we did because it was a blast!  Such a nice getaway and it broke up the hot monotony of my usual daily life around here.  We decided to drive and make an overnight pit stop in Tempe where my friend Jenn lives.  I wasn't sure how Audrey would do this year, but she actually did much better than she did last year.  We were able to sit in the front seat and not have to sit next to her and entertain her while she was awake.  She slept just about the whole ride to Tempe and we woke her up just outside of Holbrook so she could see the dinosaurs.  I am not sure how who thought that dinosaurs eating people and each other would be fun to look at as you are driving along I-40, but they are pretty funny.  We stopped at the "Hopi Lodge" to get some food and visit with the dinos.  Audrey seemed to enjoy them!
Nothing beats sleeping in the car with blanket and 'guy'

Rawr

This looks like a nice spot to rest.




Going...

Going...

Gone.

Attempt at a family portrait.  Isn't the wind supposed to make you look better?  Um, only if you are at a photo shoot.
 A few hours later we arrived in Tempe to Jenn and Jesse's house.  Jenn just gave birth at the end of May to a handsome little guy named Chase.  We were able to hang with him, get a yummy home cooked meal and take a dip in their pool...with their 2 dogs!
Me loving on Chase.  His eyes say it all.  "Who the eff are you???"

Getting our baby fix on!

Jenn loving on Audrey

Audrey and Bolt

Chilling in the pool.  Do you think Audrey has enough flotation devices?

Dozer playing ball.

I think Chase looks like a little old man. He is so cute!



Me and my Buggy.

Jesse and Elijah hanging out.  Jenn thought they looked like little people with teeny legs. 
We headed out early the next morning and before heading over to my aunt and uncle's house we surprised my aunt at her school/work.  They were prepping for the preschool graduation.  We got to see my cousin's daughter Gia and I got to see my aunt's classroom.  After heading over to the house we went out for a bite to eat at Souplantation.
Me, Audrey, and Gia the cat.

Pissed on a log.

Mmmm water.

Do I have something on my face?
My other cousin Renee is also on summer break so she took the better part of the week to hang out with us. Our first stop was a fun filled day shopping.  We found this awesome outlet mall called Las Americas last time we came and this trip didn't disappoint.  8.5 hours later and the ladies could have done more!  I did manage to get some great clothes at great prices.  Elijah and Jeffrey sure were troopers since they were pretty much on kid duty the whole time!  I should have taken a picture of the stroller with the 900 bags attached.  If Audrey wasn't sitting in it, it would have tipped backwards.  Woops!
Kylie and Audrey...best cousins!

Audrey being a super model.

Thankfully there is a play area at the mall.  Ingenious!

Colin, Kylie, and Audrey playing in the water.

Splish splash!
On Tuesday we hit up Mission Beach.  The weather was PERFECT!!  The water, however, was a tad cold.  We spent a few hours there and let's just say that I am not the world's greatest sunscreen put-er-on-er.  All of us got sunburned.  Me, more than others.  Audrey spent a lot of time playing in the sand with Colin and hanging on to my hands as we took a dip in the water.  Sorry, this one is photo dump city.  
Audrey and her whoa face


I fully believe that next time I should buy 1 size up in my bathing suit bottoms.  Enjoy my ass cheeks people. Enjoy!

First walk to the water.

Brrrr.


I kinda like it!!

Ring around the rosie works anywhere!


Daddy and bug


Running to get her daddy!

Almost there!


Colin and Audrey playing in the sand.


Renee and I


Trying to get all 3 to pose together does not really work when 2 are toddlers.

Searching for seashells.


All that effort and we can't find any of our shells now that we're home.

Matching pink toesies.


Ready and...

Jump!!


Cheese!!
After spending the day at the beach we traveled up to Valley Center where Elijah's grandparents live.  Elijah's Uncle Mike traveled from Pasadena to eat dinner with us.  We headed over to the Pala Casino to eat their delicious buffet only to find out that it was Lobster Tuesday and there was like a 3 hour line.  Did everyone in the San Diego/Temecula area come just for the Lobster??  So we hit up an Italian restaurant called Noodles and ate there instead.
Audrey getting her drink on before we sat down.

Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Mike
On Wednesday we woke up bright and early and headed over to Sea World.  Because we got there right when they opened, we pretty much had Sesame Street Land all to ourselves.  They have 3 really cute rides, play structure, water pad, and of course 'Ehmo'. 

The Splash Pad


Riding on Abby's spinners.

Oscar's Eel

The eel did a sea dragon type thing, but spun around 360 degrees.




Renee and Kylie

Climbing through the tubes!

Playing on the bouncy mat

I love this in action running shot!


Climbing up to the very top!




Audrey was so excited to meet Elmo



We also got to see the Sesame Street characters perform.







After hitting up Sesame Street Land we went to the Pet Show.  They adopt cats and dogs from local shelters and train them.  This show is so cute and Audrey really enjoyed it.  The animals were a bit off that day, but that made it even more fun.  We also got to see a pig and kangaroos.  Right after that we headed over to see the penguins and then Turtle Reef.  The pictures from the penguins came out all grainy and dark, but the Turtle Reef was beautiful!

Puffins are so cute!



Audrey watching the 'ishes'


3 kids taking it all in.

Big beautiful turtle.





After another 8.5 hours of non stop fun we headed home for a relaxing evening.  Our last day in San Diego we went to IKEA.  Love that place.  Where else can you buy a cool rug for Audrey to drive her cars on for $14.99 and swedish meatballs?  Um, no where.  We then hit up the beach for one last afternoon.  I actually got waist deep in the water, but all I could think about was the stupid jellyfish that washed up on shore and knowing that there was another one in the water waiting to sting me.  There wasn't, but still.  Notice Audrey's same swimsuit..different color.  This time around Audrey didn't need to hold my hands and ran through the water with little abandon. I loved it!

Notice my stiff body.

Capturing my 'deep' water excursion.



It was waist deep...when a wave hit!

That night we had a nice family dinner and adult beverage.  After getting home I wanted to take a generational photo.  It's not often that you can get 4 generations of women all in one photo.  My grandma is now 85 and Audrey is almost 2.  Me and my aunt Susan are in between there somewhere.  At times like this I really wish my mom was here to take one of these photos.  She is always with me and my aunt really does feel like a mom to me.  We cried that night, knowing that it will be another year before we can see each other again.  I love her so much.
Aunt Susan and I

Audrey, lobster face, Aunt Susan, and Grandma.
Friday we headed home....all 13 hours.  Thank goodness for the tablet and endless episodes of 'mow' (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and Rio.  A couple things I could have done without this trip...the huge crack in the windshield that miraculously showed up overnight in Tempe and proceeded to get bigger the longer we were in San Diego.  It now covers have the window and I will be calling the insurance company in the morning! And...Audrey throwing up curdled milk and other yummy goodness all over herself a mere 3 minutes from our house after driving all day.  The straps still stink like vom and I'm hoping vinegar/water will help!  But...even after all that, this was a trip I will never forget!  We had such a blast and I can't wait to head back 'home' next year!!









2 comments:

  1. Wow, it looks like you guys have had a whole lot of fun ! I just love the mini frilly bikini ! Adorable

    http://myfroley.blogspot.com

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  2. I'm stopping over from Welcome Wednesday at Take It From Me. Looks like ya'll had a great time on vacation. We just got back from our beach vacation as well. Unfortunately for us, our beaches aren't as pretty as the beach you were at.

    http://louviersplace.blogspot.com/

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