We just returned from San Diego for 2 week vacation at my parents time share right on the ocean! We had a wonderful time and already miss the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach below.
We visited family and friends; took the kids for their first visits to Sea World and Disneyland twice each; played on the beach and swam in the pool; got a few date nights (Emily's nurse Beth and her daughter Kaya joined us for the 2 weeks); oh and got some much needed sun on our very pale white faces. (=
For those of you who don't know the story, Evan proposed to me at Sea World at the Dolphin Interaction Program, so it was rather sentimental to return with our kids. And we got Tucker's name from the dolphin trainer who worked with us (we found out he is still working there but is now a Shamu trainer - too bad we couldn't get a pic with him and our Tucker!)
Here we are enjoying the Shamu show. Tucker enjoyed it much more then we thought he would, clapping along with the crowd and mimicing Shamu splashing everyone. Since we have been home, whenever he sees a picture of one of the animals he saw for the first time there, he says, "Oh, Sea World!" It is very cute.
Who knew I had a water boy. This was his first time in the pool since last summer and he took right to it - jumping in, kicking on his own, and even going under water! (It probably helped that the pool was so warm and our community pools here are always freezing.) Emily joined all of us in the pool too (and LOVED it!) but we discovered it is not possible to take pictures of yourself with your kids when one kid is in each adults arms - so no Em pics in the pool.
It was very surreal taking our own kids to Disneyland. We had very little expectations since we had no idea how the kids would do on the rides and if they would last the 12 hr day. We just were excited to be there with them and watch them discover and enjoy things. Since Tucker just started watching Winnie the Pooh, we headed for that ride first. He did better then I expected in the dark but made it clear that we would be doing no more "dark" rides on this visit. (oh, but we did take him on Nemo's submarine later much to his dismay) We visited Disneyland twice, a week apart, and went on all the boat and train rides there are. Oh, and can't forget Dumbo, which Emily loved and the petting zoo with the goats and cow - though I think Tucker's favorite part of that was washing his hands over and over in the sink just his size. He later found a drinking fountain also his size and was quite content while everyone took bathroom breaks. California Adventure didn't have much to offer for timid 2 year old so Evan and I took turns riding California soaring (his FAVORITE ride), we enjoyed foot long corn dogs, and the classic light parade. We also saw fireworks both nights which initially scared Tucker (they didn't phase Emily), but he has talked about them several times since them with much delight.
Emily enjoying her view of the ocean - she hung out there often, probably partly because of the warm sun and also the view.
a peaceful sunset from our living room window
mister cool!
(Sorry about the sideways photo - I still can't figure out how to turn it.)
As an early 30th birthday present, Evan took meto Maine to see the fall colors! It was unforgettable in in many ways. Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos we took.
