california trip 2011

some dear friends of ours gave us a week with their timeshare in newport beach. they couldn't go during the week it was available. we said SURE we can!! and off we went.

beach, 3 day disney, a drive down to san diego to reattempt the zoo and home.

whew!

this was the view from our amazing room. there was a traders joe's very close so were were able to grocery shop and make most of our meals in the room. there was also a washer and dryer which made the packing much lighter.

we went right to the beach. it was so beautiful. it was freezing but that did not stop the kids.
they had fun burying each other and then discovered that baby R thought it was hilarious to be buried. so they buried him again and again and again. it was awesome until baby R started rubbing his eyes and getting sand all over his face. then the stinging from the salt water settled in. little S had rubbed her little thighs raw from the jeans she was wearing the day before... anyway when the excitement from the beach starting wearing off and the stinging started settling in.... it was a total cry fest. the big kids were upset because they didn't want to leave, little S was freezing and her legs were burning and baby R was shocked, cold and had sand in his eyes. it was amazing. we didn't go back to the beach. i think it's better when it's hot and you can commit to doing the beach all day. it's just no fun when it's cold and windy and i've never been a fan of all the sand that gets dumped all over the car.
disneyland was amazing. it was so fun this time because the kids were actually old enough and brave enough to go on all the rides with us. i had a blast. miss L was ready to go on anything. she would ride with paul and then go again with me. oh and it helped that the park was empty! we hardly had to wait in any lines, which for me, makes all the difference at disneyland. we had lots of fun riding the rides and making faces at the cameras. we would check them out, laugh and then run back and ride it again. the kids rode tower of terror 5 times i think. i hated that one. they dragged me on it and i was miserable. i like the water rides best :)

it was fun to watch baby R's face light up. he just pointed and oooh'd and ahhh'd at everything. little S was the only one who wanted to visit the princesses :( that made me a little sad. the other girls said it was kinda babyish... but they did ride the ariel ride 10 times :)
we made it thru the zoo without a hitch. which was different than the last time :0

we checked everything out and wore the kids out by walking and walking! that way they crashed out and it was a peaceful drive back to the valley.

it was a great time but now the kids cannot miss anymore school!!