Here we come! (member the OC song?)
We just got back from our Cali trip! It was a whole bunch of new experiences and fun. New experiences because traveling with kids is completely different (who didn't warn me) but we still had a blast and made lots of fun memories. I want to go through the days because we packed a bunch of stuff in and I want to remember it.
Wednesday--
We got up early thinking we'd make good headway before Kyla even woke up. Wrong. She refused to go back to sleep but luckily was still in pretty good spirits. We made it to Cali 3 hours earlier (with gaining an hour) then expected so we met Scott and Sumi at the hotel to go to a late lunch. We went to Captain Kidds which is a seafood joint where you pick your own fish and then pick how it's cooked. It was delicious. Then we drove to Moreno Valley to see the Rodriguez family. I'm going to do a separate post just about them but they are a very special family to us. We stayed the night with them and got our much needed fill. They are such an inspirational family that we left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Love them so much.
Thursday--
We drove back into LA and the refreshed feeling quickly left me during that drive. Haha it's so sad because although that drive is super stressful but I shouldn't let stress effect me to that degree. Scott, Sumi, Jacob, and Jessica were waiting for us so we could take off for the beach. We went to Manhattan beach which was beautiful and freezing! David was so excited about the ocean that he just ran in and left me. I tried to keep up for a second but after catching my first wave in which I lost my hair bands and my swimsuit top I said "screw you ocean" and I stood on the shore with Jake and Jess and we just let our feet sink in the sand. It was fun and a whole lot less embarrassing. Kyla just sat in the beach tent that day. The ocean was too cold to put her little body in. That night we had the Real Madrid vs LA Galaxy soccer game. This was what initiated the trip to Cali in the first place and this is definitely what David and Jacob were looking forward to the most. The environment is a little different then Real Salt Lake. For instance, I swear Kyla was the only baby. People brought their kids but not babies. So no understanding when she started fussing :] It was a ton of fun and Kyla was only fussy at the very end. We also got quite the work out since we had to park like 3 miles away. Oh, and Real won. Duh.
Friday--
We went to Raging Waters San Dimas. I haven't been to a water park in forever. It was super busy but I had the best time there. Its one of the highlights of the trip for me. Lines were long but company was good so Jacob, Jess, David, and I just chatted and laughed. I only almost died on one ride so that was great too. They had a delectable treat that my mouth is watering thinking about right now. Picture this: a funnel cake with 3 scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream on top. Oh, I die. I definitely should have been eating that in a swim suit right? haha As I think back on the best moments on this little vacation I think about Kyla in the kiddie pool. David and I took her over to the kiddie area and just sat her at the edge of the pool. She splashed her head off and started turning around in a circle while sitting so she could splash in every area. As she'd be leaned over splashing David and I would splash water on her back and she would scream and laugh. What on earth made me happy before Kyla's happy screams? We went out to dinner that night at Birrieria Chalio which is a Mexican joint in Whittier. It was authentic and delicious. Oh no pictures from that day. Whats wrong with me! (Update. Scott put a couple pictures up so I'm adding them since 'Friday' looks so pathetic)
Saturday--
David and Scott were dying to go back to the beach so David struck a deal with Jacob. Jake isn't the biggest fan of the beach so on our way to Santa Monica Pier we stopped at a restaurant Jacob was dying to go to called The Oinkster. It.Was.So.Good! Probably my favorite meal. Then we made our way back to the ocean. Scott, David, and I spent over an hour body surfing and playing out in the ocean. Scott spent a lot of time trying to teach me how to really catch a good wave. All I really learned that day was that the swimsuit I was wearing was definitely not made for body surfing in the ocean. Jacob, Jessica, and I started rating the waves on how serious they were by how many hair bands and boob slips they were. For example, if the wave was a big one we'd say, "That was a 2 hairband/double boob wave", or "That was a no hairband but a left boob wave". Haha we're ridiculous. I eventually got sick of trying to wrangle my body against the ocean so I just laid out on the beach. I had been standing Kyla up on the beach all day but she didn't like the feeling of the sand on her feet so she would hold her feet straight out. Strong girl. When David finally came in we took her down to see if the wet sand would be any better. She LOVED it. She screamed the same way she did at Raging Waters when the wave would come in and hit her feet. This is my other favorite moment from this vaca. She walked her little feet off because she wanted to splash all the time. We just laughed and soaked up the amazing moment that it was. That night we went to Philippe the Original which has the best french dips in America. Too bad I don't like french dips so they had the best broccoli cheese soup in America! ;] Their cherry pie was pretty bomb too. Lots of pictures from this day! Trying to make up for Friday most likely :]
Sunday--
Goodbye day. We went to Denny's for breakfast with the group and then said our goodbyes. Luckily it was only goodbye for a couple days until Scott and Sumi were flying into Utah. Then we drove until we wanted to die. Kyla cried and fussed a little more on the drive home then the drive to California. Isn't that how it always is? You are excited to go on vacation and not to come home and you lose and hour coming home when you gain an hour going to the beautiful state. Finally made it home safe after what felt like forever. Vacation over.
Peak--Finding out my baby is a water baby through and through. I think we may need to get a pool pass or something! Watching Grandpa Scott and Grandma Sumi with the babe. They love her :]
Pit--Struggling with naps and sleeping with Kyla. Poor girls schedule was turned upside down. Naps consisted of the car rides and she slept in the bathroom in our hotel room! (don't judge us, she goes to bed a lot sooner then we do and that was the only place we could close her off from us. It was ventilated! haha)
We had such a great trip and I loved getting to spend lots of time with Scott, Sumi, Jacob, Jessica, and of course, the man I never see, David.
