La Jolla Cove

 Found these cute Selfies on my phone when we got back!

 We decided to visit La Jolla Cove one afternoon. It was very beautiful. We went crab and shell hunting in the tidal pools.  So some of these are out of focus, probably got something on my phone lens.
We had to hunt and drive all around to find a park. But we finally found a two-hour parking, and we were off to explore the beach.

 I stepped in this little tide pool before i realized all those little brown spots are baby crabs or small crabs or some type of crustacean with claws. :D They all just surround my foot and I was like ACK!!!

 Pale, but feeling better.

 Had to keep a close reign on Owen he was over-joyed with the adventure! Totally his kind of thing!

 Barry got pinched pretty good by a crab and he said Owen just let out this deep belly laugh. He thought it was soo funny!

 Dead Crab version. The only one Ellie could catch. ;D

 Miss Emma is NOT afraid of height. I just kept dragging her back away from the edge.

on the way back we could see a seal or a sea lion bobbing up and down in the bay.  It was a memorable day! We even made it back to our car before we got a ticket. The man meter-maid did try to run over us though. I guess he was in a hurry. ;D

See Sea World

Sea World was AWESOME. They charged us 20$ to park. That was NOT Awesome!

I really enjoyed it. I was starting to feel much better as my poor head adjusted to being at Sea Level.

 The kid's at the Entrance.
(IT didn't actually even rain on us that I remember. It was just cold in the morning and when you got wet. Brrrrrr)

 The kid's loved the rides. Barry, James, Ellie and Lauren all rode on the scariest roller coaster ever. The Manta Ray. It's not the huge one, but they all said it was much scarier and Barry said he was terrified. They did go on the brand-new huge really tall roller coaster that goes upside down, but they said that one was much less scary. I did go on one ride with the kids and I got absolutely soaked. It was a water-ride but I was doing find avoiding most of the splashes until at the end the silly ride dumped a bucket of water over my head.  The kid's thought that was pretty funny and requested Daddy go on it with them next. ;D Emma was just tall enough for most of the rides and she even went on a really tall water roller-coaster.  She accompanied me on the water raft ride (like the old Log Flume ride at Lagoon) and halfway through she was screaming bloody murder that she wanted to get-off. THAT was the last ride she went on. Crazy kid.

The Killer Whale Show was my favorite and Barry's too. They are so incredible to watch. I was afraid because I read that the trainer's were performing with them anymore that the show wouldn't be as cool as I remembered, but it was AWESOME!
(They just don't get in the water with the whales anymore)

 THEN my phone died....
and that is IT for pictures of Sea World.
Owen loved the Sea Lions. He could've cared less about the Orca's and the dolphins, but the Sea Lions he would've brought home with him if he could have. :D

California Vacation!

  Early Monday Morning we left for Vegas and drove and drove and drove.


A good friend made these kid's travel bags for our trip to the ocean. They each had a stuffed animal, a totally awesome book, a toy of some sort and snacks. She even make the bags herself. Some people are so amazing! We were beyond astonished by this kind friend's thoughtfulness.

We took our new van on it's maiden voyage. The air-conditioning, EXTRA SPACE and satellite navigation were lifesavers. I even used the seat-heater to soothe my aching legs from being cramped from driving so long. Whodathunk?! It was extremely helpful.  :D
Barry says he doesn't want to buy a truck anymore for His new car, He wants his own Honda Odyssey. hahah. ;D

We stopped in Saint George for lunch at a park.
I saw the prettiest little red bird there, haven't figure out what it was yet.
oh! just did! Vermillion Fly Catcher. I had no idea we had Red Birds in the west.

Owen was a daredevil and would climbed all over the playground at the park and went down the slides all by himself. It was a bit much for my chubby little boy(who has been sick) and he had to stop a few times to take a breather.

 We stayed at an awesome Hotel in Vegas. We had a whole condo to ourselves. It was the Desert Paradise Resort. Totally recommend it. Go when it is cheap. I was feeling sick sick sick because of sinus infection, sorry no pictures.
Back on the road. On our way to San Diego!
The Joshua Trees and cacti were pretty amazing!

 wasn't sure about THAT road.

 I had been sick for several days before we left and hadn't really packed or planned as I should have. I actually didn't even bring my camera. So all pictures are with my phone. Oh well! I have some beautiful memories of the beautiful places we visited.

When we finally got to the beach, we ran out to eat and set our towels and things down way above the water line, but after about 15 minutes a rogue way come up and soaked all our towel and stuff. All we could do was laugh at ourselves and move our soaked sandy stuff several more feet up shore.

 

 Emma found a little red and gold cup in the sand. She claimed it as her own and made lots of Sand ICe cream cones.

 Lauren was intent on cleaning up the beach. Unfortuantely there was an endless supply of seaweed washing in. ;D

 Owen really really really wanted to catch a SeaGull. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful.

 Went out to far and got pummeled by the waves.

 Owen played and played and played in the waves, he would stand out in the water with Barry and when the waves would come Barry would hoist jumping Owen up by his arms so he wouldn't get covered entirely. He loved it!

 The ocean was incredibly beautiful. I only wished that I had been feeling better. It was a perfect day!

 James collecting Sea Shells.

 

We ended the day at Wendy's. We walked from our hotel and the kid's were practically asleep on their feet.