We just got back from a dreamy California adventure. 5 days at Newport beach with my side of the family and 5 days cruising around with our little family. I really didn't get my camera out much for the reunion but Mari & Katie took some good ones that I will put on once I get my clicker on them!
It was a really great reunion with my fam. We went to beaches, played at Disneyland, the boys golfed, the girls had some time to shop, we cruised through Balboa island, ate delicious home-cooked food every night on the Marriott Grounds, and even celebrated my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary!! Thanks so much mom and dad for the good times and good memories.
Above we are hanging out at the Marriott trying to soak up every minute of our last night together (sadly the first time I got my camera out). Mari brought some glow sticks that were a HUGE hit.
Brian & Sheri ~ our adorable newlyweds. We're so happy to have Sheri, Lizzy and Mark as part of our family.
"Best Cousins" August & Luke. They really loved being around each other this year and were such fun trouble makers together :) Okay, maybe Luke was the main trouble maker.
We did one day of Disneyland with everyone and two days on our own. Boy was it crowded!! And hot. But we made the most of it and actually got to do everything we wanted. Joey unbeknownst to me took Kaela on the Tower of Terror! She is as fearless about rides as she is about life. Above is a pic taken at California Adventure park, we had some lady take two pics of all of us but nothing was there when I got the camera back. Nice.
The kids met a few friends along the way.
I had to jokingly take this pic, as if my 4 month old could ride it (don't worry, it wasn't going yet). We got kicked off for safety reasons soon after this.
Luke Lightyear to the rescue!
Dad & Kaela by "It's a Small World".
We went to the parks in the morning, rested at our hotel in the afternoon and went back in the early evening until midnight each night. Needless to say we wore the kids out. I love this pic. Joey found this abandoned wheelchair by a trainstop and he loaded a tired Emm & Kaela on it. Joey had to push them like this because Emmy was screaming at the top of her lungs and fighting to get down until we got out of the park. I was laughing so hard I could barely steer my stroller with Aaron & Luke out cold. We are a never ending spectacle.
This princess fell in love with Emmy & I was shocked Emmy went to her.
Check out how upset Kaela is that Luke cared to meet the princess! Classic. As we watched Cinderella tell us a story Luke said, "Mom, mom...I wish I could be her prince". Priceless.
Mickey Mouse icecreams saved another hot and tiring day and I think Kaela made more of a mess than Emmy!
Pixie Hollow was cool at night, literally and figuratively.
Light up Buzz was a hit.
Balboa Beach
Aaron meets my favorite place, the beach.
I will attach a video of Luke boogie boarding with dad. He was laughing and screaming for joy so loudly I swear you could hear him for miles. I don't know why we didn't get a board earlier, so fun.
Kaela's tide pool.
Real tide pools with tons of hermit crabs.
Bye bye Laguna Beach. We will be back FO SHO.
We barely made it to the plane with three minutes to spare before the gates were shut on us. As I'm holding Aaron & two other bags waiting for a lady to move so I can sit with Kaela, I feel this dripping on my sandals ~ yep, Aaron going to the bathroom all over me. When I sat down, he spit up all over me. I didn't have any time to get us water before boarding and they cost $2 per bottle. The dvd battery ran out after about 1 hour so keeping the kids entertained wasn't easy (4 hour flight). Emmy was bananas on the flight and ONLY wanted dad. Good times for sure!! Joey almost didn't make it out alive ;)
