CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

I simply canNOT believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since returning from our CA Vacation! What a couple of weeks it has been! WHEW!!!

Before I move on to any other topics, I simply must journal our family trip. Yes, there are a ZILLION pics to look at...but, believe me, this is NOTHIN' compared to my online album of 630!

This is our sweet little family of five the morning of our departure. Yes, we are missing a most precious boy...but, his time will come.

(We did the same thing two years ago with Ella. We decided as parents that it is a most wise thing to leave nappers and potty trainers behind. :) )

The Dudes
The Dudettes

Even though it is July and hot as a firecracker outside, my girls chose HOT CHOCOLATE as their beverage. I have to say, it was pretty tasty!

Due to this being Ella's 1st flight, she was allowed to pay a visit to the cockpit.

Abby snuck in for a viewing as well. :)

Word of advice: travel lightly. We all about broke our backs trying to carry the 15 pieces of luggage that we drug along with us!

Stopped in OLD TOWN for some authentic Mexican food on our way to our hotel.

Funny enough, the restaurant's name was FRED'S.

OLE!

I hadn't been to San Diego since I was 9. I forgotten how absolutley GORGEOUS it is there! I was in awe every time we stepped outside or drove anywhere. You've got mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other. HEAVEN.

We arrive at our hotel...THE WEST INN SUITES in Carlsbad.

Time to haul our 15 pieces up to our room.

We immediately get into suits and head for the closest BEACH!

All the hard work to pull off this trip was immediately worth it when I saw my kids experience the OCEAN for their first time.

They were AMAZED & EXHILERATED!!

PURE BLISS ...and lots of SQUEALS!

Will could NOT stop running back and forth into the waves...

Abby joined him

Time to build a Sand Castle

Momma chillin'

And because I was chillin' I missed some great shots of a FAMILY of DOLPHINS who swam right up near us. I only got one pic of one...darn!

Every night from 8-9:00 p.m. our hotel brought out warm CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES & cold MILK. We were regulars of course. :)

Day Two: LEGOLAND

Fun Roller Coaster: Test Track

Ella wouldn't go near it.

Volvo Driving School

MINILAND U.S.A.

Had to get a shot of the kids at the Lego Las Vegas...we made a stop in Vegas on our way to San Diego. You know, they think they've "been there" now. :)

Greggor with his favorite beverage.

Sky Cruise

May the Force be with You

(keep in mind...everything you are seeing is seriously made out of LEGO'S!)

The Lego Man

PIRATE SHORES

This was BY FAR my favorite part of the day...watching my kids wait for the giant bucket of water to reach capacity and then DUMP water on them!

It was AWESOME!

Look at the GLEE on those kids' faces...

Fabulous FUN

Nearing the end of our day, we decided to relax at one of the shows. All three kids got asked to volunteer to play a part. Ella was an EGYPTIAN DANCER.

Will & Abby were ARTISTS.

And ROCK STARS

A Volvo made out of lego's. Unbelievable!

One of our favorite rides...we hit this twice.

Day Three: THE SAN DIEGO ZOO

Where to go...what to do

According to all my research (yes, I read three books and had 4 pages of notes), we were to ride the double decker BUS TOUR first.

So that we did.

Giraffes

Precious Koala

We made Ella take a pic on the TORTOISE since she was the ultimate slow poke.

One thing Ella did love was the SKYFARI...as did I.

It was like the Tulsa Fair Sky Ride...only a MILLION times better!

The Zoo's landscaping and foliage was simply BEAUTIFUL.

Our favorite animals to watch were THE GORILLA'S

BIG DADDY

Momma & Babe

What in the world...

are these?!!!

Foot Massagers for our tired, weary feet...

Speaking of tired...my girls were ZONKED out by the time we pulled out of the parking lot!

Headed to SEAPORT VILLAGE for a nice, relaxing dinner.

Beautiful boats everywhere

We ate at The Fish Market...never seen so much fresh fish in my life!!

Kids begged to head back to the Beach...even though it was almost sunset.

I could watch them play at the beach for hours...

PRAISE THE LORD!

Will the WILD WAVE MAN!

Day Four: DISNEYLAND

We arrive around 8:15 a.m. - 15 minutes behind Military Momma's schedule

Waiting in line for our 1st ride, the Nemo Submarine Ride

- Matterhorn Bobsleds in background

Abby's FAVORITE ride - had to go twice

A little visit with JESSE from TOY STORY

Mary Poppins' Carousel

Time for the long awaited, *BIPPIDI BOPPIDI BOUTIQUE!

Abby chose to be Belle...Ella went for her namesake ~ CinderELLA

The girls with their "FAIRY GODMOTHERS IN TRAINING"

Time for Ella's Magical Makeover

Oh, there's the gown Jaq & Gus made for Cinderelly!

The FAIRY DUST is sprinkled and the magic words are spoken...

What a Beauty!

The day Miss Ella has waiting two looong years for...

Her great REVEAL (check out Will in background...even he was so excited to see her)

My Two Princesses

The Blessed Queen with her Girls

Floating on air...

Time for a ROYAL pic

Will and I head over to CA Adventure Park for one SCREAMIN' Roller Coaster Ride!!

Meanwhile, the girls hit Mickey & Minnie's houses and meet the Main Man.

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Jasmine greets CinderELLA on her way to the Parade

Will and I head back over to CA Adventure Park for the Grizzly River Run...we got soaked!

Time for our 2 hour wait to meet THE Princesses

It really was "HAPPILY EVER AFTER" - worth the wait!


Aurora, a.k.a. SLEEPING BEAUTY

And...at long last

CINDERELLA

She taught the girls some "Princess" moves

The SQUIRE

The clock is about to strike 11:00, and CinderELLA turns into Sleeping Beauty

Day Five: DEL MAR BEACH

Sand Sistas

Will meets a friend and she joins in on the fun

My handsome boys

The Fam

(couldn't do the whole white outfit thing since we were missing our baby boy)

Daddy heads in with his little lady

GIRLS...they WANNA HAVE FU-UN!

Should I be concerned?! :)

Is this what Olivia & John meant by "Summer Lovin'"?

Ella played in the sun for almost five hours...

Will finds a surf board to borrow

and heads off to show his skills :)

Love that face

Time to say goodbye to our MOST FAVORITE beach...it was the BEST DAY EVER!

Day Six: Visit Hotel Del Coronado

Mission Beach...resembled Florida

The Nino's are sad to say farewell to "GOLDIE" our rented mini-van.

I'm so not kidding...I think they will remember her forever.

I wouldn't say this was a very relaxing trip, but it really was OH SO FUN! Hoping it was a blessing to my husband and my kids. As far as the weather goes, I could move there tomorrow. However, I can still say with the utmost confidence....THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.