Spring Break in San Diego

We had a really great spring break vacation for a week in San Diego. Took lots of pictures, so I figured collages were the best way to try and share them. We even filled up the memory card on day 5 and had to start deleting some. The kids were so good even though we hauled Taylor & Abby around, missed naptimes, and were off schedule. The fact the we started our vacation the day of the time change helped a little because we could just stay on Utah time. We went to SeaWorld a couple of times, the Zoo, Old Town, 2 beaches, SeaPort Village and swam a lot in the hotel pool. Here are a few highlights I wanted to remember:

Seaworld

Kason was of course, right in his element. We lucked out because they are getting rid of the forbidden reef where you get to touch the stingrays right away to make room for their big Manta coming next summer. Abby didn't love touching the stingrays or the dolphins quite as much. When Abby saw Shamu she said "HOLD HIM!" She apparently doesn't understand size yet. It was too cute. On our way out of the park, she grabbed a stuffed shamu from a vendor and gave it a big hug and said "I YUV it!" Needless to say, daddy bought it for her. Kason bought some shark necklaces and memorablia with his own money.

One other thing to remember is that I had just nursed Taylor as we were sitting in the stands waiting for the dolphin show to start. I was burping him, and he projectile spewed on the lady on front of us. She had long, dark, curly hair, and it got in her hair and down her back. I was mortified. I apologized profusely and did my best to wipe her up with my burp cloth. Naughty Taylor. Fortunately, she had a few little kids and was very gracious about it.

Mission Beach

Was a little cold and windy, but the kids were in heaven picking up small seashells. Kason showed Abby just what to do. Then we cleaned them and Kason sorted and counted them a few times at the hotel. I believe there were over 600 shells.

Old Town--Mormon Batallion

If you haven't been here, you should go. They have redone it since we were there last, and they had a great movie about it. They dressed Kason up like a soldier with the gun, hat, and gear, they took our family picture that I could e-mail to myself, there were places to search for specific people if you had relatives in the batallion, and at the end there was a bunch of kid-friendly and interactive stuff such as panning for gold, brick making, washing clothes, using a water pump and well. We also went and had Mexican dinner afterwards in Old Town.

Coronado Beach

This beach was fantastic! It had black sand and was pristine and clean. There were massive rocks near the Hotel Coronado which Tige & Kason scoured looking for sealife. They found a HUGE clam shell with the clam still inside. You'd have thought Kason found $ million. They also caught a live crab. I was holding the baby and Abby was near me in the surf, but when a big wave washed up, Abby panicked and fell down. She was soaked from head to toe in cold water. She wasn't amused. So we stripped her wet cothes off and put a long sleeved shirt on her and just let her run around in her diaper. Abby and I made sand castles, and Taylor just chilled on the blanket until he fell asleep in my arms. He doesn't do this often, so it was a rare treat.

San Diego Zoo

This was our first time at San Diego Zoo, and it was rather expensive for just a one day visit. Whew. It was Abby and Taylor's first time an any zoo and Kason hasn't been to a zoo in 3 1/2 years. The kids loved it--especially the reptile house. It was a ton of walking and we were exhausted. Must have walked around 10 miles at least when it was all said and done. Much more walking than at Seaworld.

SeaPort Village

We went to SeaPort Village for a run (we all have a 5k in a week). Running at sea level feels a little better than running at home. Or maybe it was just the beautiful scenery. We shopped a little where Kason bought a shark jaw and starfish, and I found a Christmas ornament to remember our trip. Then we all got ice cream and salt water taffy.

We stopped our our way down to see Great Grandma Taylor. This was her first time meeting Taylor, and she hasn't seen Abby since she was about 9 months old. It was great to see her and the nice assisted-living place she's living now.

The kids loved the pool at the resort, and Kason swam like a fish. I didn't get any pictures though, so that's a bummer. We wore Abby out each day and on our 2nd day there, she asked for a "nap" at 6:30 p.m. Then the following morning, she went down for a nap just an hour after breakfast. Taylor was a champ--good natured and accommodating to eat and sleep wherever we were. He even cut his 7th tooth while we were there.

Kason & Abby would knock on the elevator door each time we used it. It was funny. The hotel was by a car dealership with balloons on the cars and Abby would shout "Balloons!" every time we passed. It never gets old with her. Kason & Abby slept in twin beds in the 2nd bedroom and we enjoyed listening to them giggle and snuggle in each others beds in the mornings.

We had a St. Patty's day dinner with Tige's cousin Jennie and her family. She made a salad, chicken enchiladas, and chocolate chip cookies. Yum! It's always great to see her. She's having a baby in 3 weeks or less and looked so cute.

One other favorite thing to remember: In the car we listened to a CD that Shannon Nelson gave us in Virginia called "At the Bottom of the Sea" by Ralph Calvert. It has fun kid's songs, and my kids just loved it. They were all bopping and singing along. Even Taylor was bopping. And after every single song, Abby said "AGAIN!" We listened to it about 5 times on our way there and back.

I loved being together and am missing Tige at work at Kason at school today. Can't wait for our next trip together.