Our Trip to Sunny San Diego

Last week our family traveled to San Diego to visit my grandparents. My parents, and Daniel and Bertha also came with us. We had such a great time; we are all going through vacation withdrawals! Lillian asked me today when we were going back to San Diego.

The weather was absolutely perfect, all the flowers were in bloom, and it was so beautiful. If it wasn't so expensive to live there, and if I didn't love where I live so much, I think I would seriously consider moving!

We flew down on my birthday actually; what a fun birthday present right? I think we should make this an annual thing. I was worried about the airplane ride with the girls but they did really well, I was really proud of them. When we left it was rainy and cold and when we landed it was warm and beautiful. My uncle Don was nice enough to come and pick us up from the airport and then we headed straight to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for lunch, El Indio. It was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (the show on the food network). It is so good, my mouth if watering just thinking about it! If you are ever down there you'll have to try it out.

My grandparents threw me a little birthday party down there complete with fabulous food and great company. That's a key lime cheesecake in case you were wondering - yum, yum. The next day was Sunday and after church we left my parents and grandparents at home and took the car to do some exploring. Kevin wanted to see Torrey Pines Golf Course so we went and looked around. It is right on the ocean up on some cliffs, it was gorgeous. Tiger Woods won the US Open there last year; pretty cool. After some driving we found a great beach called Solana Beach. It was so beautiful and it wasn't crowded, which was even better.
Lillian loved the beach; even though we didn't have her swimsuit she jumped right in. Isabelle was a little anxious about the water and the sand at first but she soon got over it.

Daniel and Bertha were awesome! Kevin and I love to drive and explore when we go on vacation and Daniel and Bertha were up for anything.
Bertha saw this jellyfish right on the beach.

The next day we went to Sea Port Village. It is a quaint little group of shops right on the harbor. They have a carousel, good music, restaurants, and a great atmosphere. We stayed and had fish and chips right on the water.
Here we are with my grandparents. They were wonderful hosts; we had such a great time with them. They are currently serving a mission at the Bishop's Storehouse in San Diego. They do such a very important work there and help so many people. They were able to join us at Sea Port village on their day off.
After Sea Port Village we went to the tide pools. Unfortunately the tide was in. However, it was still beautiful and it was fun to watch the waves.
Isabelle and Lillian were glued to my Dad, they just couldn't get enough of him! He was so great to carry one of them and then the other one almost constantly.

The next day we headed to Sea World. We told Lillian all about Shamu and she couldn't wait to see him. She informed me that Killer Whales are also called Orcas. Thank you Go Diego Go for the wealth of animal information you teach my kids...I barely remembered they were called Orcas.
Here we are waiting for the Dolphin show to begin. We sat just barely in the soak zone and came away dry! The dolphins were a big hit with the girls and with me too, I have to admit they are really amazing.
Lillian was very apprehensive about the shark exhibit. We had to reassure her that the shark tank was locked and they couldn't get out.

The girls loved watching the Beluga whales in the Arctic exhibit; they weren't as exciting as Shamu but they're white, which made up for the lack of jumping and splashing.

At Sea World they have a new part (at least new to us) with kiddie rides and a playground. It was really fun for the kids, at for us. Who doesn't like kiddie rides? Well plenty of people I am sure, but we like them.The starfish were a huge hit with our family. Again, no splashing, jumping, or even swimming for that matter but you get to touch and feel them; which scores big points with the kids.

Isabelle got a little too friendly with the starfish. I am pretty sure she held one a little too tightly. But, hey it was all in the name of fun and learning so it's okay right? Right. Right.
Finally the grand finale, what Lillian had been waiting for, Shamu. I thought it was really neat, at the beginning of the show they had all the previous and current servicemen and women stand up and be recognized. I thought that was very neat and I was glad they celebrated their service.

Shamu's "Believe" show did not disappoint. Corney at times, yes, but still very cool. It was so fun to see the girls see a killer whale for the first time. They are really amazing animals and what the trainers do with them is also amazing.
The next day was a day at the beach. Remind me why I don't live in San Diego again?

First we went to 'seal beach' in La Jolla. The seals have claimed it as their own and I don't blame them it is gorgeous, but a little smelly thanks to the seals. Seriously, why don't I live there? Seriously? After the seals we headed to swim at La Jolla beach. They were totally undeterred by the cold water. They were ready to jump right in!The girls loved the beach. We had such a blast. We can't wait to go back. Lillian keeps asking me when we are going to the beach again. Soon I hope. Maybe Bear Lake can make up for the Ocean? It is the Caribbean of the Rockies... Yeah, it won't be same. Isabelle loved the beach too. She somehow got about an inch of sand in her hair. I just had to take a deep breath and let her cake herself with sand and remind myself it was going to wash out. You are only a kid once, you might as well cake yourself with sand.
On the last day of our trip, we didn't have to be at the airport until 5:00 so we headed back to Sea World. Our tickets were for two days so we went to squeeze out some more fun. We saw Shamu again, you can't get enough Shamu when you are a kid can you? Except this time we got soaked!

We also had to visit the Manatees. They were another of the girls favorites. Isabelle kept saying, Whoaa! Wow! Whoaa!

We missed the Manta Rays on the first day so it was on our list of things to do. Lillian had to be reassured their stingers were out but she still wouldn't touch them. That's okay, they are kind of creepy if you ask me.

We had such a fabulous time in San Diego- we really can't wait to go back and visit again!

Why is his name Barack Obama?

I graduated in history and political science, so I think it is important my children know something about our country and its leaders. I know they are really young but you have to start sometime right? So, Lillian knows what Barack Obama looks like and who he is. She watched a lot of coverage on inauguration day with me and so she knows that he is the new President of the United States. Whenever she sees a picture of him she says, "That's our new President," and I thought, oh my little girl is so smart! But I forgot to actually tell her that his name was Barack Obama.

So we were watching the news one night and she saw President Obama and said, "Hey, that's our new president!" and I thought oh she is so smart! Then I realized she didn't know his name and so I said, "Lillian, do you know his name?" "No" she said. I said his name was Barack Obama. She said, "Why is that his name?" I told her it was what his parents wanted to name him.
Then she said, " I think they should have named him, Warrior of the Gospel...or maybe Cassie."
Good names right? I really couldn't stop laughing. I love how her brain works!