california vacation: aquarium edition

We loved the Long Beach Aquarium last time we went to California, so it was a must-do on this trip as well.  It was a great place to take our group, because it appealed to big kids, little kids and adults.

Even Miss Boots loved it!

I took this picture right before Krew touched a shark!  He wasn't hardly scared at all.  His arm was kinda short, so we had to help dunk it in far enough to reach one of the sharks, but he did it, and loved it!

Again, what's with all the funny faces?

Oh yeah, Kade wanted to pretend they were underwater holding their breath.  Doesn't it look like they are actually in the water? No?

The aquarium is located right near the shore, naturally, so after we saw all the underwater creatures, we headed outside to walk along this gorgeous path and look out at the ocean.  It was so pretty outside, even if it was a bit chilly.

california vacation: chillin' edition

Not everyone has the same style of vacationing.  When I am on vacation, I like to go, go, go.  If I am going to spend that much money for (5!!!) plane tickets, plus hotels, and everything else, I am going to make the most of every minute.  I want to see as much as I can, and do as much as I can, and discover as much as I can, and try new foods, and new activities, and only stop to sleep when I have to.  Some people like to take it slow and easy on vacation.  I wouldn't pay that much, or go to all that hassle of packing and planning to sit around.  I can sit on my own couch and relax and do nothing at my own house for free!  

That being said, we were on vacation with seven little kids (age nine and under), and my husband doesn't quite share my vacationing philosophy, so some down time was to be expected on this trip.  This leisurely trip to the park was just perfect.  For our kids, it was such a treat, because it hadn't been warm enough to go to a park at home for months (and months).

 Everly had her first ride in a real swing, and she absolutely loved it!  What else could I have possibly expected from the happiest baby girl ever?  She smiled the whole time (of course), and kicked her tiny, little feet.

 Even Krew acted like he had never been to a park before, and loved the freedom to run around that comes with warmer weather.

 One day we purposely didn't have much planned to allow the kids the chance to take a real nap.  When Krew woke up, he and Lynndon and I went for a walk around the apartment complex we were staying at.  We looked for all the different kinds of flowers we could find, and then they made sure I took a picture of each one.

Also, those slower days on vacation allow for some sweet snuggle time with these two.  That's definitely worth slowing down for!

california vacation: trampoline edition

One day of our vacation, after a picnic lunch at the park, we decided to all go to an indoor trampoline park.  It was so much fun!  

 Krew loved jumping into the foam pit, but not so much the getting back out.  Is it bad that I enjoyed watching him try to climb out?  It was just so funny!

 The twins spent most of their time playing dodgeball.  They were fun to watch.

Towards the end of our time there, I finally got up the nerve to try a front flip.  I used to do them all the time on the trampoline, but it has been years since I had even attempted to do it.  I'm so glad I tried, because after a bad landing on the first one, I was a flipping pro!  I seriously couldn't stop! I must have done 30 flips during those 10 minutes and I would have done more if our time wasn't over.  It was so much fun.  So yes, even after 4 kids, I've still got it.

california vacation: pool time edition

No California vacation is complete without some swimming.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite warm enough to use the pool near our condo very much, but the twins did get in once for a few minutes (before they complained that it was too cold), and we swam at our hotel a few times too.

 I cannot wait until it's warm enough here to dress her in cute sun dresses and sandals like this every day.  

 And a baby in a swim suit?  Adorable!

She loved it!

california vacation: rollercoaster edition

 Bart's brother Bret, the twins and I were the only ones in our group who like thrill rides.  We tried not to leave Bart and Charise with all the little kids too often, but it's just so much fun to take my kids on these kinds of rides!  When we went on California Screamin' I took the GoPro with me.  I got some fun pictures of us on the rollercoaster!  

 Ready, Set, Go!

 I love Kade's face in these pictures.  It may not look like it, but he loved it!  I just wish I got some better pictures of Ky.  He just wasn't tall enough to been seen over the front seat.

california vacation: princess edition

I wasn't sure how it was going to be to take a five month old baby to Disneyland.  It certainly didn't sound ideal, but I wasn't going to let having a little baby stop us from taking our family on a fun vacation.  However, it ended up being no big deal.  It helps that she is such an easy-going, happy baby, but it was more fun having here there than it was work.  In fact, she was easier than some of the other kids!

Plus, we got some cute pictures with her!

 Her favorite ride was It's a Small World.  She smiled and kicked and looked around the entire time.  But, even rides that weren't so cutsie and tame, she just went along with.  She didn't get scared hardly at all, and barely made a peep on any ride.  It was nice that so many of the rides that I could take her on, I could also feed her on if she was hungry.  That made the days go so smoothly.

 While I took the big boys on the bigger rides, Everly got to spend a lot of time with her Daddy and Krew.

 And isn't this the cutest Minnie Mouse baby you have ever seen!!?

 She was even happy and smiley while we were waiting in line.  (Which is more than I can say about the rest of us...)

 I adore this picture that Bart took of her in front of the castle and the pink blossoms .  I could look at this one all day!

And even little babies should get to taste the pineapple sorbet when they are at Disneyland, right?  She loved it and got mad when it was gone.  

She is my favorite Disney princess!