Day 6; Driving Home (Tues)

Driving home the next day we were determined not to let the 11 hour drive turn into 13 again. But... we were unfortunately wrong. We stopped in Vegas for gas and food and got stuck trying to find a place to eat that didn't require major parking and we could still sit down so the boys could wiggle.

 

But somehow our little stop turned into a 2 hour ordeal. So it made for us getting home in  13 hours instead of 11.

 

Once again that last hour the boys were DONE being in the car (especially Cy). I was certainly done I can't imagine how they felt.

When we finally got to the Smith's home and I loaded up things from Heidi's car into my own and I still have to drive to my house. But 20 minutes seemed little a breeze after doing 13.

 

When I pulled into my drive way I found these two just zonked out. They even stayed asleep while I was getting them out of their car seats and putting them in bed. That NEVER happens.

 

 



I unpacked the car, showered and got ready for bed. Pretty sure I was dottling because Jesse still wasn't home from school and I really wanted to see him. I was missing my man.

Day 5: Tide Pools/ Birch Aquarium (Mon)

Uncle Christian, Aunt Mel and Heidi thought it would be fun to go to the tide pools at low tide. Aunt Mel suggested Ocean's Beach. Since the rest of us didn't know enough to have an opinion we all went to Ocean's Beach.

 The boys were really into it. I wish there was more creatures to be seen, but we didn't see much. But they still had fun searching.

 We walked to the end of the pier and had lunch at the Cafe there. On the pier it was really windy so it felt really cold.

 After lunch Aunt Mel took Christian to the airport while Heidi and me (when I say me I mean the Boys and I) went to the Birch Aquarium. Aunt Mel met up with us.

 After being at Sea World only a few days before, this aquarium wasn't all to impressive. But that didn't matter to the boys. They love it all.

 Ryker kept running off with his "new friend", so Cy and I got a picture together. Ryker is most certainly my social butterfly. Anywhere we go he makes friends. No matter what the age. I think it's a great characteristic and I hope he will keep it the rest of his life. Because that will be a great tool in later years.

 The aquarium did have a really cool touching tide pool. The boys got to get their tide pool experience.

 Cy mostly like to stick his hands in. I seriously wonder if he's thinking "How wet can I get?" The whole front of his was soaked. We had to take his hoodie off and he wore my cardigan around. Oh ya. Lookin' Good. haha

Ryker loved the anemones. He thought it was cool that when you touched them they would close up.

After that we said goodbye to Aunt Mel and thanked her for everything she did for us.

Before we (Heidi, Ryker, Cy and I) got back to the hotel we grabbed a bit to eat.  When we got back to the room we packed everything up so we could be ready to leave in the morning. I think it was 7pm when we got the boys in bed and by 8ish I was asleep as well. I couldn't believe how tired I was. It was good we got to bed so early because we were getting up pretty early and had a LONG drive ahead of us.

The trip was great. Every single day was simply perfect. It was the perfect dose of trip and sunshine that I needed right now in my life. I feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

Day 4: Swap Meet/ Pool Day (Sun)

Sunday we met Aunt Mel, Sarah and Uncle Greg at the Swap Meet which was right across the street from our Hotel. So we just walked over. It's nothing too exciting, just a bunch of booths that people are trying to sale stuff. Some used and most new. It's all really cheap so that's good. I don't find the appeal in it but it gave us something to do. A little walk is nice.

 

Ryker was saying it was bright and he wanted some sunglasses. So we found a stand that had some cheap ones. While he was looking for a pair I found some for me. I've been wanting some more the aviator style.

 

Christian too got a new pair. We are sportin' our new aviator shades. 

 These boys sure do love their Grandma Heidi...

 This was right before Cy fell asleep in the stroller. The poor thing was already worn out. But it was a nice little nap while we walked through the rest of the booths.

 We headed back to the hotel just in time for Cy to wake up and hang out by the pool.

 Christian was so great to play with the boys in the pool. So it gave me the chance to sit back, relax and soak up some more sunshine.

 After playing in the pool for awhile, Cy got out to warm up. He sat and ate his lunch with me and Heidi.

Uncle Christian also needed to warm up. While he was sitting there with me I thought we should get a picture and he was making me laugh so hard because he was acting all posy. He always makes me laugh and he's so much fun to be around.

 Once the sun started to go behind the clouds we decided to call it quits at the pool. So everyone got cleaned up and we headed out to Aunt Mel's house. On our way there we stopped by the San Diego Temple to look at it. It's right off the freeway and it just stands out right when you turn the corner. Just beautiful. It looks like a Cinderella castle.

We all went to Sushi for dinner, then went over to Mel's house to play games. Once the boys started to melt down from exhaustion we called it a night and went back to the hotel.

Day 2: Sea World (Fri)

The main reason we went to San Diego was to go to Sea World. Ryker has been looking forward to it for months now. He remembers  going when he was a year and a half and has been asking me to go back. So we were so excited to get there.

 

Aunt Mel and her daughter Sarah met Heidi, Christian, the boys and I at our hotel in the morning and then we caravanned over to Sea World. And it turns out San Diego was having a rare warm day for this time of year. It was about 75 degrees that day. Which for us Utahns feels like heaven. We were thrilled to see blue skies and feel the sun on our faces.

 

Of course our first stop at Sea World was the Shark tank (Ryker's request). He went through twice.

 



Then we went to the Sea Turtle Exhibit. This is a new thing since the last time I have been to Sea World. The Manatees used to be in this one, but they have been replaced by the Sea Turtles. I thought it was so cool. There were so many of them. I loved that Cy just stood at the glass and stared at them.

Ryker got to feed the Sea Lions. He got four fish to feed them, but only two of them made it into a Sea Lions mouth. The other two were gobbled up by birds that flew in and snatched it right out of Ryker's hand.

This Sea Lion was all ready to get a fish, but a bird got it instead. Darn Birds.

We headed over to the Bat Rays. Ryker was really worried at first and wouldn't touch them. But this little girl was right by him listening to Ryker. I guess Ryker was asking if they had teeth and if they were scarry. But the little girl said to Ryker 'They wouldn't let little kids touch them if it wasn't safe."

After that Ryker was all about it. His little girlfriend gave him the confidence and they were touching ther rays over and over again. Just giggling the whole time.

Cy was the total opposite. Right off the bat he wanted to touch them. I was actually afraid he would go head first in. haha

Every time a ray would come by, Cy and I would touch it and he would laugh so hard. It gave me sos much joy to see him enjoying that. I was so proud of him for being so brave. After awhile we got him to feed them. I would help him hold the fish in his hand, because if I didn't he would just drop it in the water. He even giggled when the ray came up and sucked it out of our hands. It was totally surprising to me how brave and excited about it he was. I personally was kinda weary of them at first, but I had to be brave so Cy would be brave. Then I was totally comfortable.

After the rays we went over the the Dolphin Show. Ryker's little girlfriend followed him and sat with him at the show. They sat in the row in front of the rest of us. The little girl was sharing her treats with Ryker. I'm telling ya... He's a lady's man.

During the show Cy wanted to go sit with Ryker. And before we know it Cyrus was getting friendly with his neighbor...

He put his hand so gently on this older man next to him and was looking up at him. The older man just looked down at Cy and just smiled at him. The adults were just cracking up. It was sooo funny. And just so darn cute.

Here is a shot of one of the very few dolphin jumps in the 25 minute show. The dolphin show was kinda lame this year. It was mostly people dressed up as birds flying around over the water. It was super cheesy and over the top. I kept thinking I am at Sea World and I am watching humans flipping around dressed as birds? Don't we go to Sea World to see the Marine animals?

Heidi told Ryker that he could pick something as a souvineer from Sea World. And of course he picked a shark.

When we first were parking in Sea World we noticed that the Shamu Show was canceled. And we were really sad. But just to clarify why we asked the  guy we paid for parking why the shamu show was canceled. And he said it was because a baby killer whale was born the day before. Awe, ok. That's a good excuse. I could live with that.

There were two chances where you could go see the baby for 10 minutes. So we went to see it. And it was the cutest thing I have ever seen. How often do you get to see a killer whale that is only a day old?

It stayed right by it's mama the whole time. Swimming in a circle around the tank. Then the trainers came out and talked to us. They told us that the mom was pregnant for 18 months. Can you believe that? 18 MONTHS? That's incredible.

Also I guess the baby can't stop swimming for about a week or else it'll die. So that means mama has to keep moving that long as well. Can you imagine being pregnant for 18 months and then not being able to even sleep for a week straight? That's just amazing.

So as mama and baby were swimming around, mama would stop by the trainers, quickly open her mouth and the trainers would through a big handful of fish. But she had to keep going to make sure baby wouldn't stop. It was so cool to watch. I was completely amazed by the whole thing.

It took me SEVERAL times to get a good picture of mama and baby together. And I finally got this one. Look how cute and little the baby is. hehe

The Sea Lion show was really cute and very funny.

Ryker was totally into it. Laughing the whole time and just fascinated by the whole thing (Take note of his soaking wet shirt. We had gone back to the rays again and he was got totally drenched from leaning over into the water).

Our last stop before the park was closed, was the penguins.

The funniest thing ever was Cyrus. He didn't care about the penguins AT ALL. He was was more interested in the moving floor he was standing on.... haha

My cute little pengun boys. Love them.

When we left Sea World, Aunt Mel and Sarah went home. Heidi, Christian and the boys and I went to dinner. Then once we got back to the hotel the boys crashed. We had worn them out. They slept so good that night.

Day 3: Coronado Beach (Sat)

We originally were going to go to the beach on Sunday, but with the lucky streak of warm weather we were having Friday and Saturday we decided to go on Saturday. It was about 80 degrees. AHHH... Heaven!! 

The water was quite chillly, but that didn't stop Cy from wanting to test it out.

He was even happy to get more than just his feet wet.

The rest of the day was spent playing in the sand. Which the boys just LOVED! They had sand in ever possible crease of their bodies...even in their ears. But they didn't care one bit. The dirtier the better right?

He was one happy boy.

Ryker was busy building sand castles and holes. Loving life. Just like the rest of us.

At one point the boys were trying to do the splits or something. But they kept falling over. It was making all of us laugh.

Then Cy came right up by me and made this pose. I was giggling so hard at him with his speedo, sucker and glasses on. My little European boy... hehe. Years ago Heidi bought this speedo when she was in Europe. Ryker wore it at Cy's age, now Cy is wearing it.

This was the most perect day. We didn't expect to have such great warm weather. And I loved every minute of it. I was enoying that Vitamin D that we are so deprived of in Utah. Can't wait for the summer. Heidi and I were wondering why we don't live in California. It would be nice to go to the beach that it minutes away and have the winter only be in the 50's.