Vacation Day 4 and 5

We ran out of camera space for these days so I don't have any pictures.

We went to Huntington beach again on Friday. We also found meter parking so we didn't have to pay $15 again. We spent about 3 hours at the beach just relaxing. We also saw dolphins this time. We ate lunch on the beach and bought some onion rings and nachos from a food stand on the beach. YUM!

Back at the hotel I swam with the kids while Matt and Lacey napped. We ordered pizza and wings for dinner. Shea and I watched a new ICarly episode. We had a nice relaxing night.

On Saturday Matt's sister Amanda was taking out her endowments at the Newport Temple. We packed most everything up the night before so Matt could join his family. I took him down to the temple which was 10 min. away. The kids and I swam at the hotel, packed up and had to check out. I took the kids to a park across the street for the temple and they played for a while.

We meet everyone outside the temple and took some pictures. I am glad he was able to spend that time with his sister and share this great milestone in her life. When they were little Matt would always play with the "twins". I know he has fond memories of taking care of them...maybe not the changing of diapers part!! haha It is bitter sweet when we all grow up and start our own lives and I am glad we happened to be in town for this. We are excited attend her upcoming wedding!

After the temple we went out to lunch with Amanda her fiance Robby, his parents and Matt's parents. We had a huge lunch!!! I tried calamari for the first time. It was so good. Probably because it was fried! We had two types of salad, pasta, bread, dessert. We were so stuffed. We left about 3pm from Newport and drove home. The kids were in a food coma slept a lot.

We had a really fun relaxing trip! AND I did get in the ocean with Carson. Well, just to my knees! AND did I mention I am so jealous of all the people exercising outside. The weather is so nice there. Everywhere you go there were Road Bikes and runners.

Crystal Cove Day 3 (Thursday)

Thursday we went to Crystal Cove state beach. It was in between Newport and Laguna Beach. We paid $15 again. This was my favorite beach. We had to hike down to the beach and no one was around. There were a few locals out running and walking but that is it. The kids were able to explore a little. We learned that seagulls will get into your bag, pull out your grocery bag, and eat a whole bag of Cheetos while you explore caves. CRAZY! We stayed at this beach for about 2 hours then headed out. We got lunch then headed back to the hotel. Lacey and Matt took a nap while I took the kids to the pool. We had dinner at the hotel that night. And then headed out to get Yogurtland again. It is a good thing they don't have something like this in Surprise. Or I would be in trouble.



















A baby bird stuck in the cave.


The bag of Cheetos that the birds got into while we were away exploring. They ate every last cheeto in there. Shea was not happy!

Lacey trying to catch the squirrel.
This squirrel is warming up to us saying, "I am nice I will not take your food like the dumb birds.
The snack the squirrels grabbed. Matt went after it and was able to get the bag back. The squirrel wasn't very fast trying to carry a bag of yogurt bits away!
Shea could build sand castles all day.

View of Crystal Cove
Lacey, stop knocking down Shea's sand castle
This is how we found Lulu all the time. Just laying on the sand!



Eating at Jack in the Box in Laguna beach. Matt and I got Wahoo fish tacos

Shea and Lacey Dancing at the hotel

DAY 2 BEACH VACATION

Day 2 we woke up about 7:30 thanks to Shea. We went down to the lobby to grab breakfast. Lacey loved the eggs, Shea loved the waffles and Carson loved the Fruit Loops and blueberry muffins. I packed some PB&Js and other snacks and we were off to the beach.
First beach stop was Huntington Beach. We got there around 9:00. We paid $15 to park. There was hardly anyone at the beach. It was a little cold there. The kids didn't mind and Shea ran to the water. Carson grabbed our big shovel and started digging a hole. Lacey was so funny on the beach. She would crawl backwards down the little hill onto the wet sand. She would just lay on the sand feeling it. She didn't like the water at first but got used to it. She also loved to knock over Shea's sand castles. Shea and Matt were the brave ones who headed into the freezing shark infested ocean. (ok no sharks but I have a fear of them) He helped her catch the waves! She had so much fun! We only last about 1 1/2 this day at the beach. It was cold, Lacey had sand in her mouth and Carson was wanting to go back to the hotel. We took our beach gear back to the car and found a nice grassy area to eat the lunch I packed.

We headed back to the hotel. Matt took Shea and Carson swimming while Lacey and I took a nap in the room. That night we headed to downtown Disney. It was crowded and Lacey did not want to stay in her stroller. She wanted to look at everything. I am so glad we decided not to go to Disneyland this year. She would have been impossible to deal with.

For dinner that night we got take out Olive Garden. That is my kids favorite. We took it back to the hotel ate in the lobby and had a great time. Shea and I went back down to the hot tub after Lacey and Carson fell asleep. A great relaxing Day!

Highlights so far.....
- Lacey always having to get down and smell the flowers outside the hotel.
- Coming up with the rule that Shea pushes the elevator buttons on the way down and Carson on the way up!
- Everytime the elevator started moving the kids dancing crazy and running around like crazy in it.
- Making sandcastles with Shea.
- The California air!
- Carson calling the seaweed...."LOBSTER POOP"