Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The 12 Days of California...

Just know that this will be the longest post in history...but it's my journal. I've got to document!
June 30th-Day 1: We left after work and cruised to Mesquite. Bill and I finally came up with a name for the baby, but I will leave you in suspense until another post. Nice to have 5 uninterrupted minutes so that we could discuss it. Got to Mesquite late, and I forgot to request a port-o-crib. Kids sleep sideways, but it works.

July 1-Day 2: Drive rest of way to Coronado, making a stop at the Outlets in Primm and In-n-Out in Barstow. I grow weary of stuffed animal dance parties. Happy to be in our condo at the beach!

July 2-Day 3: Go to Sea World! First time for the kids...and Bill and I haven't been since high school. No photos of Shamu (but it was our favorite). We were too busy getting soaked. Loved it...but I couldn't ride anything, even the stupid kiddie rides. We get home just in time for a surprise firework show at the Del that we could see from our condo deck. 
July 3-Day4: Ahhhh, the beach. My favorite place on earth. I feel like I grew up on this beach. Quinn takes to the sand like a champ. Kids love dribbly castles, Emi excels at boogie boarding, and Parker loves to jump waves and then lie flat on the warm sand.  That night, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Newman babysitting, we go to our favorite restaurant. It's the Sheerwater and the view is unreal. 


July 4-Day 5: Happy 4th of July! We enjoy the local hometown parade. My 2 favorite parts are the "Geriatric Surf Club" who march in formation and of course, all the military. It is a naval base island, so 4th of July is fun in Coronado. Bill, Parker, and my dad head off to see the Dodger/Padres game and me, my mom, Emi, and Quinn head to beach. That night, amazing fireworks that over the bay! 
July 5th- Day 6: Took break from beach and headed to Seaport Village. Love to bum around there, watch pigeons, and eat fudge. Headed to San Diego Temple (it was sunday).
We then drove up to Pointe Loma to check out old lighthouse. Tight fit for the pregnant lady. Learn of a sprinkler flooding Emi's room at home. Thanks Anne and the Lewis's for cleaning up. You are SAINTS!
(I got yelled at by the park ranger who took this pic for being off the trail.)

July 6-Day 7:  COUSINS! Mark's family came from New York and are finally at the beach. Our kids LOVE their kids. 
Grandpa Newman made countless roads for Quinn.
July 7- Day 8: Another great beach day. Parker discovers he loves to boogie board, too.  I attempt photo shoot of kids that night.



July 8- Day 9: Last day on beach...I ALWAYS cry on the last day. Hate to leave my second home.
July 9-Day 10:  Drive up to Bakersfield/Tehachapi area to visit Bill's family. Emi throws up in Irvine (she does this a lot). Thank heaven for beach buckets. Stop at Lori's new house to see all her renovations. So cute! Have a great time swimming at their house. Then we head to Tehachapi to see Grandma and Grandpa S.'s new digs. 

July 10-Day 11: Visit a wind farm. Tehachapi is in the mountains and windy. The have hundred of windmills all over the mountain. Took a fun tour of them, but I will not do anymore off-roading during this pregnancy.
We then head to Leslie's for the pool party of the year, equipped with a blow-up slide and snow-cone machine. Sorry, no pics....we were having too much fun. Plus I didn't dare pull my camera out during the water fight. 
(Parker and cousin Caleb)
July 11-Day 12: Toured around Tehachapi, saw where Bill was born and such. Ate a great lunch at this historic Apple Shed, and then Bill took Parker and cousins rock climbing while Emi and Grandma painted birdhouses and walked dogs. Sadly, we packed the car that night.
July 12- Day 13: Well..there really was a 13th day, but I don't consider it vacation. The long drive home. We did stop in Vegas to see Bellagio Fountains, but things went way downhill right as we left Vegas. Emi got a case of the stomach flu (it's o.k. Emi, a lot of people throw up in Vegas). So needless to say, our drive home sucked. She was a trooper. 
So, there you go. Home again to enjoy the rest of the summer. Thanks for reading my LONNNNNNNNG travelogue. You should get a prize!

12 comments:

Cindy said...

Welcome back! I love to hear about vacations....I think that I live vicariously through entries like that! Did you happen to see the tide pools at the bottom of the Point Loma lighthouse? It was one of our favorite little discoveries when Jay and I took Brin and Tan when Tan was only 3....there were all sorts of awesome little sea creatures that we were able to see up close in the wild! Love the pics! Love Coronado!.....I want to go back!!!!!

Monika said...

Sounds like a fantastic time. I love Parker's face in his "photo shoot" portrait. I do have to confess, we are glad you are back!

pan x 8 said...

What a great 12 days!! Love those pictures and you are totally making me homesick for the beach! That is one thing from my childhood that I miss so much!!

Welcome back! sorry about that drive back - sucks... and I hope you feel refreshed!

kjirsten said...

Sounds like the perfect summer vacation . . . you can't beat the beach! Enjoyed all the pics. -- I'm jealous!

Karen said...

I'm trying not to be insanely jealous. not succeeding btw...

Sounds like a wonderful trip, and we're so glad you're home!

Lee Camblin said...

love coronado! bekah and I stayed there a few years back,awesome place!!

Jessica Knowles said...

man oh man... I want to vacation right now. Welcome back! Looks like you had a great time!

Marrdy said...

What a fun trip! Someday I would like to take a vacation to the Beach. Mu Aunt lives right off Huntington Beach. Don't know whether that's good or bad but at least it's a beach! Sorry about Emi being sick. Poor thing. And the sprinkler floor, bummer! Still glad you had a good time!

youreprettytoo said...

What a fun trip- minus the flooding and throwing up of course!

Tate Family said...

Looks like so much fun! I love Coronado. Thanks for leaving nice comments on my post and always commiserating with me. It helps...really! Let's get together as couples, we could use a date night.

Rebekah said...

What a fun vacation! Did you stay at otel Del Coronado? Lee and I stayed there once and loved it! I LOve San Diego! So glad you had such a great time with your family. Glad to have you back!

brooke said...

What a blast. I love Coronado and I'm really jealous. The photo shoot on the beach looked like a success! You got some cute photos.

Sorry to hear about the flood to Emi's room. Always fun to come home to! Your dad seems really cute with the kids.

I'm excited to see Mark and his family and of course all of you!