California, Here we Come!

This past week, we packed up all of our gear and headed to San Diego and Orange County for some vacation time and family time with Paul's grandparents, aunt, and uncle. Our itinerary included flying in to San Diego and staying there for three days, then driving an hour or so up the coast to Orange County for the remaining eight days to visit with Paul's family. Traveling with two 16 month olds is a little daunting, but we all survived and made it there (and back) in one piece! We took two car seats, two pack and plays, two carry on bags, two umbrella strollers, one large suitcase, and one very large duffel bag. Here is all of our stuff as we waited for Daddy to get the rental car:

Driving to the hotel, already tired from so much traveling!

Arriving at the hotel, the girls loved the full-sized windows and the view of the bay in San Diego:

Claire modeling her new sun hat!

We tried to go swimming the next morning in the slightly heated pool, but that didnt' last long because it was 58 degrees outside!

Later that day, we tried visiting the beach, but it was still only around 60 and VERY windy, so poor Claire cried just about the whole time!

Caroline was a little more sedate, but notice her little red nose! So chilly!

Taking a warm bath back at the hotel - we love the deep soaking tub!

Heading to San Diego Zoo the next day...only the BEST zoo in the country - and their first zoo visit ever! Now we'll all be spoiled! Daddy and Claire are ready to go!

We discovered Claire's favorite animal was the goats - she attempted to climb on them several times. (That's one cute Daddy!)

Our last day in San Diego - making a morning out of visiting the park! There was this beautiful purple tree that kept dropping its flowers and the girls loved trying to catch them. It was like a purple carpet on the grass!

Caroline and Daddy...

Later that day, we popped in on Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma in Orange County! Claire loved riding on Grandpa's special reclining chair!

The next day, Daddy surprised us all with a visit to Disneyland! Just as we were about to take our picture with Mickey Mouse, they switched him out and we got Donald Duck...but, that worked out even better because Caroline has been absolutely obsessed with anything "duck" for the last few weeks...she was thrilled out of her mind to see a life-size duck standing before her!

Visiting the Magic Kingdom!

Caroline's first carousel ride - at Disneyland!

Posing in the Mad Hatter's tea cup!

Claire takes in all the sights at "It's a Small World After All."

Caroline listens to Grandpa tell a good story...

Claire gets a special kiss from Grandpa!

Mommy reads to her little angels...their favorite book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"

Daddy tries body surfing and Uncle Glenn helps Claire and Daddy try out the chilly water!

This beach day went much better and the girls loved playing in the sand and in the water...no fear here!

Grandma gets on the floor to play with the girls...

Our last night in Orange County...the whole gang!

Just the two of us...it's funny how our other vacations are full of pictures of the two of us, but now that we have the girls, this is only one of two pictures we took of just the two of us!

As always, whenever I leave California, I always want to move there because it's just so gorgeous and the weather is absolutely perfect, but we were glad to get home and see our dogs and sleep in our own beds! Hopefully we'll be back soon - see you next time, California!