Spring Break in California

I drove the boys all by myself to California for spring break.  The drive, both down and up, went amazingly well.  We only stopped once - yes once(!) both ways.  Ok, we did make one or two quick 'pull off the road to go pee and stretch our legs' additional stops, but only one big stop for gas and lunch.  I brought lunch both ways, and we just ate at a park so the boys were able to get their wiggles out for 30 minutes before driving again.   We had TONS of fun in California.  I think it was one of the best trips to California that we have had.  Normally I am ok leaving to go back home to Utah (I know I will see my family again in a few months), but this time was much harder.  We just had such an amazing time I didn't want to leave. We went to the beach, Knotts Berry Farm. lots of restaurants,  and visited with family.  Wesley still had two broken bones, but that kid didn't let anything stop him.  We put on a soft splint for the beach, and he walked around fine in his hard splint the rest of the trip.   Knotts was also so much fun.  There is nothing that makes me happier than watching my boys have fun and make lasting memories.  Both the beach and Knotts were not very crowded.  The water at the beach was clean and clear (unusual for southern California),  and there was a  tidepool the boys enjoyed playing in.  As hard as it is being away from my family, I love going back to see them and making memories that we probably wouldn't make if I was living down there.  The distance makes me appreciate family so, so much more.



My best friend just had her first baby, so I took tons of baby stuff down for her.  Jason is the tetris packing master.  In our mini van, we managed to pack an entire crib with changing table, two large luggage bags,  a double stroller, two boxes of gifts (for birthdays) and baby items for Nessa, a big bag of diapers, plus tons of food items for the boys, a painting for my parents, a crib mobile, AND four humans.

Blake with his cousin Oliver 

Eating at our traditional frozen yogurt place in the mall.  This is something we used to do all the time when we lived in Cali, so we continue this tradition when we come down.  

Another favorite restaurant is Vinces Spaghetti.  This place has been around for YEARS.  My dad used to go here when he was little, and I also have many wonderful memories coming here as a kid with with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I love being able to take my boys there now.  

We went to my Grandma's cute little house and she gave us a tour of her garden.  

My parents have lemons that grow in the backyard (from the neighbors house), and Wesley really wanted to make lemonade.  I helped him make the BEST strawberry lemonade.  It was amazing.    

We went to a new beach this year, and I'm so glad we did.  It was perfect.  It was such a fun day.  Wesley is my little beach bum.   He is in his element at the beach - even with broken bones!  :-)

This little "pool" was PERFECT for the boys.  Blake and Chase LOVED splashing and watching the water go in and out of it.

We decided to go to Knotts because it is WAY cheeper than Disneyland, less crowded, and to a kid, it is just as fun.  The boys kept telling me how much fun they had and how much they want to go back.

This was the first time Blake has been old enough to enjoy rides at an amusement park.  He has been to a few amusement parks, but has always been too little to go on the rides.  I loved watching him get so excited to see all the fun airplane, car, and train rides.

Wesley didn't want to go on many of these "baby" rides, so I got to join the little ones and have some fun ;-)

Wesley favorite ride (even more than the mine ride), was the roaring rapids ride.  He got soaked, but had so much fun he went twice - once with my parents, and once with me.  Sadly, Chase was too small to go on it.

Wesley cracks me up.  While waiting for the Mystery Lodge to start, a school group came in and sat down.  Wesley went to the front, and started dancing and being silly.  I don't know if he even realized he was putting on a performance for the whole theatre, but it was entertaining.  I think the school group really thought HE was the performance, ha ha ha!