Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[MaryAz]

Congrats on being happy and busy! Yay for WP and DQ!! Sounds fun!

 

[glennbo123]

Talk to me about ticket merging....I know you have experience in this area!

I'm not sure what you mean exactly....what are you thinking of doing?

 

[eandesmom]

A California Adventure.
Day one. The eagle has landed!

But fist, a thought on the little things.

The California trip, in many ways, was a precursor to the big Agust trip. Part of that was testing what I’d brought and firming up the list of what I still need for August. One of those things was new pj’s.
Which seems a bit odd I guess, it’s not park shoes or bags but bear in mind we usually stay “condo”. Meaning we have our own room. Meaning I don’t walk around the house, or the condo, in my pj’s. It doesn’t much matter what I wear. That won’t be the case in FL, not to mention it will be HOT and I don’t really have any summer pj’s. Or at least any that I’d feel comfortable standing on my balcony at the YC in!

I am picky about my jams. Crazy picky. Like Goldilocks. Pants have to be long enough (they never are) and shorts not too short (they always are) and capri’s actually a capri, not looking like a flood. I found a really great site and ordered some yesterday. Need to test drive them before the trip (I just need/want them now period obviously) They look just right! Great deal, got 2 pairs and a short robe. I think the YC has robes but the HRH does not and I hate feeling like I’m stuck in the bathroom to change right away after my shower. Anyway. I had a promo code. It took at entry but didn’t show up at checkout. I emailed them after the fact. They refunded me the 15% immediately. I responded with a thank you. My signature has this in it.

Listen to the Mustnt's, child
Listen to the Don'ts
Listen to the Shouldn'ts
The Impossibles, the Wont's
Listen to the Never Haves
Then listen close to me
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be
-Shel Silverstein
​

The customer service lady emailed me back to say my Shel Silverstein quote had inspired her today.

It’s the littlest things. She made my day.

On the flip side of that, CRO did not make my day yesterday but that’s another post for another day.

Let’s go back to California!

When I left off, we’d had a blast on the plane, a puzzling reveal and we walked through all of the pictures on the puzzles and what we’d be doing. Well most of it anyways, I did still have a few surprises up my sleeve. They wanted, begged I believe, to head straight to the hotel and the pool. But we reminded then that 1) we couldn’t check in yet and 2) Schooner or Later, we had to eat!

After many a chuckle about Long Beach, NY (which apparently really does exist, thanks Jennifer, I need to let Evan know!) crazed puzzle assembly, increasingly perking up children we landed.

At one of the cutest little small airports I’ve been in a long time.

Perhaps it’s age. Perhaps it’s the lack of business travel over the last couple of years. It’s not like I haven’t been to a ton of tiny airports, I have. But there was something just so cute about this one! And something so very very fun about walking out on the tarmac and then to the baggage claim. The E’s haven’t flown a ton and when they have it’s been big city airports. The small plane, the little airport, it was all new, foreign and very exciting/exotic to them. I went off to get the car while they got the bags.

Of course, the car was in Jeff’s name, I needed his ID. I went to find him, they’d already come to the rental place and were around the corner. I didn’t see them so went the other way. It was a comedy of errors given how small the place was. What did we do before cell phones? The whole thing took WAY longer than it should have but the upside was a larger car (Corolla) that held ALL of our bags.

We loaded up the car and Evan (of course) wanted to change. Jeff told him I’d get him his clothes, and Eric’s. Evan REALLY wanted to see what was in his suitcase. Of course we didn’t want him to as there were wrapped goodies in each of them. So finally, clothes swapped out, boys changing in the car, we headed off to breakfast/lunch/brunch. We were hungry! Jeff and I had been up since about 5:30, after going to bed around midnight. The kids since 6:15 and all we’d had was some clementines and leftover soda bread that I’d brought on the plane. And lots of coffee lol! enough to take the edge off but that’s about it. It was about 11:30 when we left the airport.

We were headed to Schooner or Later, a place Jeff had raved about for years. On the way though, Jeff gave us a little driving tour of Long Beach. He lived there for several years, Taylor was born there and it really was neat to see all of that. After about 45 minutes we pulled up to the marina, which is where the restaurant was. I will be honest. I was expecting a dive.
And well, I guess in some ways, it kind of was. But it was huge. And hopping! I mean seriously hopping. In the waiting area they had a walk up bar and a walk up espresso bar. All around you saw people waiting…with bottles of champagne next to them! I have never seen so many bottles of champagne out at once. We checked in and were looking at about a 40 minute wait. I went to get drinks in the very long line. A mimosa for Jeff and Bloody Mary for me. I love Bloody Mary’s. I don’t think I’ve had one in…gosh….I don’t even know when. It used to be a thing. A pre-kid, ‘nother lifetime, thing. Sunday brunch with other couples, bloody Mary’s and sports. Good times. They make me nostalgic. And sleepy. Which is why they are reserved for vacation. Having one on an almost empty stomach (we were now approaching 1) was not really the best idea but….I was on vacation.

Jeff’s mimosa was the tiniest thing you’d ever seen. I should have ordered two for him as I knew he wouldn’t be happy but…too much to carry.

He wasn’t happy. I, on the other hand, loved my drink. YUM!

He went back.

And came back with…

A bottle.



Apparently the single (rip off) mimosa had been $7, a bottle with oj on the side was $18. They didn’t offer, I didn’t ask…lesson learned.

Heck. We were on vacation. I wasn’t sure mixing a mimosa with a bloody mary was really the best idea but…

We were on vacation.

We’d requested to eat outside and after the party of 40 in front of us went in, were seated immediately. If waiting until 1:15 is immediate to get seated. Honestly, we didn’t care. It was lovely out albeit a bit breezy, we were on the water and we were on vacation.

The food was good. Really good! I had huevos ranchero’s and Jeff had the galley mess, which he had been waxing about for years. Eric had chocolate chip pancakes off of the kids menu and Evan argued for a club sandwich off of the “big” menu. Evan has an obsession with club sandwiches and BLT’s. And huge burgers. If they are off the “big” menu.

Evan is at that stage. Eric too, but a bit less so. The stage where the kids menu is boring and too small, the adult menu too big. It’s not just food, its clothes, its bikes, it’s almost everything. It’s a total pain in the patootie if you ask me. It was the first day of vacation. I was going to say no. Jeff was going to say yes. Usually it’s the other way around. So we let him. He couldn’t eat it all.

Sigh.

We hate wasted food.

Wasted if you didn’t choose it and someone else over served you is one thing. Wasted if your eyes are bigger than your stomach…another.

Sigh.

Good thing we bought that bottle.

Eric was in heaven over his meal. Partially due to the pancakes but equally do to the tri color triangle shaped crayon. He thought that was pretty darn cool.

After brunch we decided to stroll back, take a drive around and see some more of Jeff’s history, hit the beach and then head to the hotel.
On the way to the car it started.

“Mom, what if Spot gets lonely?”
“Honey, he’s with Snowy and Scout and everyone else, plus the cats”
“He’s going to wonder where I am”
“Well Grandpa can check on him when he feeds the cats, would that make you feel better?”
“I guess”
“I wish I brought him“
“Honey I told you we were spending the night, you said you were ok”
“You didn’t say it was for FOUR nights”
“Honey, I asked you four times”
“I know, but I thought it was just for one night”
“Spot’s never been to California”
“Well maybe you can get him a souvenir”
“Maybe”​

Sigh.

We drove around for about 30 minutes and it was pretty interesting looking at the oil digger things. I can’t recall what they are called as we kept saying they looked like dinosaurs so they were the oil dinosaur things.

Finally, with Long Beach “done” (at least from the Jeff narrated car tour perspective) it was time to head to the BEACH! One of the big reasons for this trip.

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

We headed to Seal Beach to get some real “beach” feel. The kids had suits and towels ready but sadly it just wasn’t quite that warm and there was some wind.

They kind of wanted to go in the sand, but not really. We should have. We both thought we’d have time later in the trip and there might be less wind/be warmer but it never happened. A walk on the beach would have been good and is the one thing we didn’t end up doing. A reason to go back.

Still, it was a blast to walk out on the pier, see some surfing and some real low riders!

We putzed around in total for about 2 hours. Other than the pier and cars I didn’t take any pictures of Seal Beach which seems odd, it’s a very cute little (ok not so little, total touristy and SCal beachy) shopping and dining area on the other side from the pier. I may have had photo burnout after the puzzles, not sure. Or been in an afternoon post mimosa coma.

Which was rectified with a stop for ice cream at Coldstone. Mnnn….Banana with Heath Bars. Nothing better. I'd made 2 reservations for dinner although really, we could have walked up anywhere throughout the trip and been fine. One for 5:30 at HOB in DTD and one for 7:30 at a local brew pub. With the late brunch we decided 7:30 was a much better fit.

All too soon, but not soon enough for the boys, we were off to the hotel. We meant to stop by the grocery store to get some bottled water but never made it there, instead heading straight to the hotel.

We were booked at the Crowne Plaza. Chosen as it was a really great deal and looked fine. It was close, but not walking distance, to Disney. Which was fine. Checking in was rather painless. Getting to our room, less so. The Crowne Plaza (as with many of the “good neighbor” hotels as they are called) is a big convention hotel. I don’t know what the convention was. Jeff kept calling it the 1000 year reunion. All I do know was that it was a very large convention of senior citizens.

In wheelchairs and walkers.

Who all needed the elevator.

There were four elevators. You would think it could handle the crowds but we seemed to hit the elevators every time a session let out or people were heading to dinner or something.

And it’s not like you are going to cut off the senior citizens so you can get on the elevator and get to your room! And, bless their hearts, those wheelchairs and walkers take up extra space so less room for more bodies.

Getting to our room became a bit of an exercise in patience. It was kind of funny.

Finally…at about 5:30, the E’s hit the pool. And were in heaven.

Pretty lame pics, it was your basic pool and as a result the pics aren't terribly interesting! Kodak moments aside, a good solid 90 minutes of pool and hot tub time made for 2 happy boys. Jeff and I just sat by the pool with our books (or phones lol) and read, surfed, had a bottle of water and I soaked my foot in the hot tub for a bit hanging with the boys. Eric was unbelievably chatty with strangers at the pool, telling them everything but his SS #. I mean I love that my kids are so social and outgoing but literally, we could talk till we are blue in the face about the dangers of strangers (not that they looked dangerous actually, the dad actually kind of looked like Great Biscuit and the whole family was as nice as they could be) but still….you don’t tell people everything!

At 7 we headed up for a quick change and headed to dinner. Since we were driving, I went for heels with my jeans, and layers for the wind. I have no dinner pictures. I’m not sure why. We went to a brewpub called JD Schmids which is right by Disney and near where the Ducks play. It was a very cool, hip, huge place. With darn good beer. I ordered fish and chips, as did Eric. Jeff got meatloaf I think and Evan argued for a burger off of the big menu.

The portions were HUGE! Mine had 3 pieces of tempura beer battered fish. The kids portion had 2. Eric and I could have split one adult portion. It was ridiculous. Evan’s burger…looked as big as his head. Which was bigger than his stomach. NO one (except for Jeff lol) could finish their food. And given Evan’s antics with the sandwich in the am, we were not thrilled and deemed him cut off from the big menu for the remainder of the trip. The fries were outstanding and the fish…ok. It was my fault. I am really not a tempura fish person, I like my fish in panko if it’s going to be fried and so it just wasn’t quite right. Not an issue with the fish itself, it’s a texture thing, I like the crunch panko gives it versus the tempura. And I wasn’t crazy about the sauce. I prefer a real tartar, this was more of a remoulade. Which was tasty, but seemed odd with the fish (to me).

Done with dinner, even though it was almost 9, we decided it’s never too late to go to…

DOWNTOWN DISNEY!

Up next.

Heels and Downtown Disney…how did I fare?
Did Spot get a souvenir?
Did we buy anything?
Would Eric be able to go to sleep without Spot?
Would there be tears and drama?
And…some pixie dust!
​

 

[eandesmom]

Congrats on being happy and busy! Yay for WP and DQ!! Sounds fun!

well less happy and more busy today but I'll snap out of it

I'm not sure what you mean exactly....what are you thinking of doing?

shooting myself

 

[glennbo123]

And something so very very fun about walking out on the tarmac and then to the baggage claim. The E’s haven’t flown a ton and when they have it’s been big city airports. The small plane, the little airport, it was all new, foreign and very exciting/exotic to them. I went off to get the car while they got the bags.

This sounds like my experience when I flew into Bloomington IL a couple of weeks ago. Going down the stairs of the plane, rather than a jetway, I felt like the Beatles landing in NYC.

Jeff’s mimosa was the tiniest thing you’d ever seen. I should have ordered two for him as I knew he wouldn’t be happy but…too much to carry.

He wasn’t happy. I, on the other hand, loved my drink. YUM!

He went back.

And came back with…

A bottle.



Apparently the single (rip off) mimosa had been $7, a bottle with oj on the side was $18. They didn’t offer, I didn’t ask…lesson learned.

Now you know why you saw all of those champagne bottles!

Eric had chocolate chip pancakes off of the kids menu and Evan argued for a club sandwich off of the “big” menu. Evan has an obsession with club sandwiches and BLT’s. And huge burgers. If they are off the “big” menu.

I'm with Evan. BLT's and turkey club's are always a go-to, can't miss, item on any menu when you can't decide. You can't go wrong with one.

Evan is at that stage. Eric too, but a bit less so. The stage where the kids menu is boring and too small, the adult menu too big. It’s not just food, its clothes, its bikes, it’s almost everything. It’s a total pain in the patootie if you ask me. It was the first day of vacation. I was going to say no. Jeff was going to say yes. Usually it’s the other way around. So we let him. He couldn’t eat it all.

We sometimes try to get our 3 kids to split a meal or two meals so that we don't waste food, but then you run into the issue of trying to get them to agree on what to order. Ay carumba!

shooting myself

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I'm experiencing the life gets in the way lately too. It happens to all of us. I was out your way last weekend. I visited some friends in Vancouver but flew into Seattle as flying in the states is less money that flying through Canada.

I was trying to make out what the t-shirt said on the back of the guy behind Jeff at the schooner place.

I've only walked off the plane to the tarmac in Hawaii before. Even most small airports have the covered hallways nowadays.

Shame you didn't get to play in the Ocean. But like you said it's another reason to go back.

 

[All7OfUs]

Good Lord! That's like going to take me 4 hours to read and digest. OK, back in a while. A long while. I'm going to go savor some of my old stomping grounds now for a while- vicariously through your efforts and experiences!!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh my goodness... heels and Downtown Disney! I wonder if there's a picture of them on someone's DL Trip Report!!

Poor Eric! Doesn't he look almost possessive with his arms around that club sandwich?

I know what you mean about drinking in the afternoon... I just can't do that anymore! Add in the pool/hot tub and I'd be snoozin' big time!

Great mini-report so far... it's as if this is "an appetizer" to August's trip!


Kathy

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, since you are my Lightning Thief buddy, I had to come over and tell you about the new series by Rick Riordan. The first one is called The Red Pyramid, and it is about Egyptian gods being released into the modern world. How cool is that??? I will be placing an order with Amazon soon.

I just ordered it!!!!!!!

And the 2nd Kingdom Keepers and Midnight for Charlie Bone. A nice birthday book trifecta for Evan I think.



Now I have to wait for him to read it, then Eric and THEN I'll get my hands on it. Looks like they have a pre-order for the new post Percy Camp Half Blood series, the Lost Hero. It doesn't come out till Oct though.

 

[eandesmom]

This sounds like my experience when I flew into Bloomington IL a couple of weeks ago. Going down the stairs of the plane, rather than a jetway, I felt like the Beatles landing in NYC.

Exactly!

Now you know why you saw all of those champagne bottles!

Yeah, I should have bought a clue huh.

I'm with Evan. BLT's and turkey club's are always a go-to, can't miss, item on any menu when you can't decide. You can't go wrong with one.

We sometimes try to get our 3 kids to split a meal or two meals so that we don't waste food, but then you run into the issue of trying to get them to agree on what to order. Ay carumba!

We will do the same quite often if we reach menu impasses, but it was vacation and they didn't want to share and Jeff was being generous. There will be some sharing in August, like it or not.

Evan LOVES his BLT's and Turkey Club's.

I'm experiencing the life gets in the way lately too. It happens to all of us. I was out your way last weekend. I visited some friends in Vancouver but flew into Seattle as flying in the states is less money that flying through Canada.

I was trying to make out what the t-shirt said on the back of the guy behind Jeff at the schooner place.

I've only walked off the plane to the tarmac in Hawaii before. Even most small airports have the covered hallways nowadays.

Shame you didn't get to play in the Ocean. But like you said it's another reason to go back.

Hmmn, no idea, I'll have try and peek at the shirt! Did you wave from SeaTac?

It's been a very very long time since I walked off the tarmac. It was fun.

Good Lord! That's like going to take me 4 hours to read and digest. OK, back in a while. A long while. I'm going to go savor some of my old stomping grounds now for a while- vicariously through your efforts and experiences!!!

Well if I don't do a few monster ones this trip could run into the next one if I'm not careful. Heck we aren't even through day 1 yet!

But I think you exaggerate.

Just a bit.

Oh my goodness... heels and Downtown Disney! I wonder if there's a picture of them on someone's DL Trip Report!!

Poor Eric! Doesn't he look almost possessive with his arms around that club sandwich?

I know what you mean about drinking in the afternoon... I just can't do that anymore! Add in the pool/hot tub and I'd be snoozin' big time!

Great mini-report so far... it's as if this is "an appetizer" to August's trip!


Kathy

Now now...(on the heels) I doubt they'd pop up in a picture or really that they were even noticeable. Though you never know! I saw plenty of people in heels. It is LA! And the DLR DTD is a lot smaller than in FL. I've lots of practice in heels, however they were perhaps not the "right" heels to have chosen though. And hey, nothing is as bad as the 5 hour Christmas Shopping trip in Manhattan in 4 inch stiletto boots I did once...after a full day at a trade show.



I've learned my lesson.

Some.

I've been known to do worse damage with flip flops!

Don't get between Evan and a club sandwich. Add in fresh strawberries instead of fries and he'd take you down before he let you near it.

 

[All7OfUs]

Well, I told you 4 hours, but here we are no less than 5 hours later. With all of this morning's drama and my getting wrapped up in going through cupboards, it slipped away from me.

Ah well, I"m here now. Let' see. PJ's. Yes, important indeed! Summer I tend to just wear a T, but that positively WON'T do for balcony hang out at the YC, will it!?! So glad you found something that'll work!

CRO didn't do me well the other day either. A potentially colossal poop up was averted by asking/ double checking if they have my ME info. right. So glad I did, but was not happy that agent #1 didn't do her job the first time.
Hope yours works out!

HA! Before cellphones. I guess we spent more time doing everything. Must have been comical to watch you two passing each other up going opposite directions several times.

WHOA on the brunch views! Zowie, I'd have been in heaven with the slips down below, the mimosas, a good BLT sitting in front of me (good pick Evan!) and a soft seabreeze in my face! I miss So.Cal. Sigh....

The boys got their little piece of heaven too. I can take or leave actually getting in the pool, but I do love the sun, and the lounge chairs.

I really do hate it when you get a portion twice the size you need. I always try to take a glance of the plates/portions others are eating when I walk in and gauge what/ how much to get by that. You'd think if they were consistently throwing over half the food away, they could cut down on expenses by giving sane portions.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Okay, I'm a little behind, but before I read the latest update - I wanted to say congrats on the new bed! That is fantastic! And, I am VERY jealous. We are talking about doing it with next year's bonus - but something else always seems to come up.

 

[Charleston Princess]

You will have to let me know how you like The Kingdom Keepers (be forewarned, it is not the best literature, but being set in Disney World makes it very enjoyable to me) and The Red Pyramid -- I think I will order that one for Connor's vacation reading.

Where did you order pajamas from? I need some new summer ones for our trip.

Great update about your day in California! I was laughing about your comedy of errors at the rental car counter! Gotta love those moments!

We have the same problem with the kids' menus and our kids. They don't want to order off the kids' menu, but can't quite consume all the food in an adult meal. The other night we ate at a local Italian place for my BIL's birthday, and Chelsea and Connor were able to convince me to let them order off the adult menu because those entrees came with a salad (it would have been about the same price to make them order a kid's entree with a salad on the side). Needless to say, they brought home about half their meals.

Thank goodness for those mimosas!

We knew that Spot conversation was bound to happen, didn't we? Hopefully, the souvenir does the trick -- fingers crossed anyway. Also, I have to say that I loved how you color-coded the dialogue -- I may be stealing that!

I never really thought about there being oil drills off the coast of California. When I think of off-shore drilling, I always think of the Gulf of Mexico. I learned something new today!

Alright, I am ready for the next part of your trip!

 

[eandesmom]

Well, I told you 4 hours, but here we are no less than 5 hours later. With all of this morning's drama and my getting wrapped up in going through cupboards, it slipped away from me.

Ah well, I"m here now. Let' see. PJ's. Yes, important indeed! Summer I tend to just wear a T, but that positively WON'T do for balcony hang out at the YC, will it!?! So glad you found something that'll work!

CRO didn't do me well the other day either. A potentially colossal poop up was averted by asking/ double checking if they have my ME info. right. So glad I did, but was not happy that agent #1 didn't do her job the first time.
Hope yours works out!

HA! Before cellphones. I guess we spent more time doing everything. Must have been comical to watch you two passing each other up going opposite directions several times.

WHOA on the brunch views! Zowie, I'd have been in heaven with the slips down below, the mimosas, a good BLT sitting in front of me (good pick Evan!) and a soft seabreeze in my face! I miss So.Cal. Sigh....

The boys got their little piece of heaven too. I can take or leave actually getting in the pool, but I do love the sun, and the lounge chairs.

I really do hate it when you get a portion twice the size you need. I always try to take a glance of the plates/portions others are eating when I walk in and gauge what/ how much to get by that. You'd think if they were consistently throwing over half the food away, they could cut down on expenses by giving sane portions.

uh oh, drama? I'll have to go check it out.

Portion size is always a problem. Our general rule with Evan is if it's $1 more than the kids menu, he can upgrade.



We did take the rest of the sandwich with us (as well as the rest of the burger) but there really wasn't an opportunity to eat it so it did get wast.

Okay, I'm a little behind, but before I read the latest update - I wanted to say congrats on the new bed! That is fantastic! And, I am VERY jealous. We are talking about doing it with next year's bonus - but something else always seems to come up.

Well we wouldn't have done it but
1. We were getting desperate
2. They had zero percent financing and a sale. We'll pay it off long before the financing period ends but that made it an easy choice to just do!

I am getting impatient though, they are supposed to call within 45 business days to schedule the delivery (within another 5) and no phone call yet.

Of course I guess it's only been 3 days...technically.

You will have to let me know how you like The Kingdom Keepers (be forewarned, it is not the best literature, but being set in Disney World makes it very enjoyable to me) and The Red Pyramid -- I think I will order that one for Connor's vacation reading.

Where did you order pajamas from? I need some new summer ones for our trip.

Great update about your day in California! I was laughing about your comedy of errors at the rental car counter! Gotta love those moments!

We have the same problem with the kids' menus and our kids. They don't want to order off the kids' menu, but can't quite consume all the food in an adult meal. The other night we ate at a local Italian place for my BIL's birthday, and Chelsea and Connor were able to convince me to let them order off the adult menu because those entrees came with a salad (it would have been about the same price to make them order a kid's entree with a salad on the side). Needless to say, they brought home about half their meals.

Thank goodness for those mimosas!

We knew that Spot conversation was bound to happen, didn't we? Hopefully, the souvenir does the trick -- fingers crossed anyway. Also, I have to say that I loved how you color-coded the dialogue -- I may be stealing that!

I never really thought about there being oil drills off the coast of California. When I think of off-shore drilling, I always think of the Gulf of Mexico. I learned something new today!

Alright, I am ready for the next part of your trip!

Hopefully they will work, I admit there was a pair of Lilly Pulitzers that I really liked but I didn't want to spend that much. I've never tried this brand before, PJ Salvage is my default brand of choice but their summer options are either nightgowns (which I feel weird in ) or short sorts and things that are a bit too sheer.

I ordered from here

http://www.sleepyheads.com

and got a couple pairs like this that were on sale and then a short waffle weave robe. I think they YC has robes but know POP doesn't and am not sure about HRH so would rather bring my own. This should be perfect.

I hope!

I know that argument all too well...the salad on the side one. A bit easier at home to take leftovers back.

I didn't think about the offshore drilling either, it was a surprise and educational to me and I'm a west coaster!

Poor Spot, all alone in Seattle...

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

beach looks like fun, kinda busy that day but im sure it gets even more crowded.


if you like bloody marys, try a mix called zing zang mix, they dont sell it everywhere, but it is really good.

a little more pricey than some around us, but good.

 

[Angies1274]

Sounds like a great start to your vacation!

Nick is the same way! He loves ordering off of the "big menu" He's at that age where he wants to eat adult portions but you know he's never going to finish it. So I definitely understand what you mean about wanting everything to be bigger and better. Nick feels the same way.

Oh no about remembering Spot! I know how my boys would feel if they left one of their favorite stuffed animals behind. Hopefully, Eric can sleep without him.

Love all the pictures on the beach! That's too bad that it was too windy and cold to go swimming. At least it gives you an excuse to go back though.

Can't wait for more!

 

[eandesmom]

beach looks like fun, kinda busy that day but im sure it gets even more crowded.


if you like bloody marys, try a mix called zing zang mix, they dont sell it everywhere, but it is really good.

a little more pricey than some around us, but good.

I love them but never make them myself so it's definitely a treat. It was very busy considering it really was pretty windy. The pier was quite crowded and the shopping area even more so. There was a surf competition so that may have had something to do with it.

Sounds like a great start to your vacation!

Nick is the same way! He loves ordering off of the "big menu" He's at that age where he wants to eat adult portions but you know he's never going to finish it. So I definitely understand what you mean about wanting everything to be bigger and better. Nick feels the same way.

Oh no about remembering Spot! I know how my boys would feel if they left one of their favorite stuffed animals behind. Hopefully, Eric can sleep without him.

Love all the pictures on the beach! That's too bad that it was too windy and cold to go swimming. At least it gives you an excuse to go back though.

Can't wait for more!

It was too cold, but it was more the wind. We could have walked in the sand but the kids were also anxious to get to the pool. More beach next time for sure!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

All caught up now! I love the big puzzle reveal! So cool you were able to pull it off!

The beach looked great - we usually go to Huntington, but Seal Beach looks great too! DHs uncle has told us about growing up in the 70s and hanging out at Seal Beach with the bonfires and surfing and guitars - the whole So Cal classic experience. Fun to see your pics!

I am so jealous of that wonderful sunshine! I've been trying to convince DH we needed a trip to DL this year, but he has a bet we won't do it It was still snowing here yesterday. Not sticking, but come ON it's MAY!

Looking forward to more adventures, and a little worried that Spot was left at home.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Let me know how soft your new jammies are! For me they have to be super soft. I hate the sheets on vacation, they are so scratchy - I'm like the princess and the pea story.