Sunny Cali - Part I

We got back from a super fun vacation in California a couple weeks ago. It's taken me this long to adjust to being back and to get our house sufficiently cluttered to the point that it's feeling unlivable again.

We've been planning our trip to California ever since we knew Doug and Isabel would be moving there. It's so fun to have them back in the states where we can see them more often...not sure if they're happy about that or not. But hey, we're family! And they were super gracious when we told them about all the family traditions we're planning to incorporate into our lives that revolve around California now that they live there.

The first thing I have to say about California is that it is beautiful. I say that about California every time I go there. Driving around the surface streets we were surrounded by tall, luscious trees and beautiful landscaping on all sides. The neighborhoods themselves are set back in a bit from the streets and I felt constantly tempted to go exploring. I just wanted a peak inside the windows and into the lives of all the people who get to live in this place.

Luckily, Doug and Isabel let us right inside their home and right into their lives. They are the best hosts - to the point that it almost scares me that I could lose my children to them someday. Leah said she would love to live with them and she didn't even feel bad about hurting my feelings!

So for our vacation we decided to hit some of the theme parks for sure. We started at Legoland and we were so glad Doug and Isabel consented to let Anna ditch school. We were among a small crowd that day and the weather was California-perfect. We didn't have to wait for any rides and the girls got to spend time and pose with Lego statues to their hearts desires.

My favorite ride was this crazy robotic-looking arm that twisted and turned us in all kinds of crazy positions.

Leah was wondering what my problem was because I never let go of her. If I'm never an embarrassment to my kids anywhere else (yeah, right), I definitely make up for it when we go to amusement parks.

Even on the little kid rides I scream. I don't think Meg is embarrassed by me yet, but that guy in front of me looks like he might be slightly annoyed.

My favorite part of course is the excitement the kids feel, the hand holding, the sister & cousin bonding...all the mushy mom stuff.

Most impressive of all was the guy in red...

Even though he was still quite tender in the nether regions (which he beautifully described in the previous post), he spent the week traipsing around California as if there was no swelling at all.