Honk!

We went to feed the geese at Sunset Park. Sonnet loves it and begs to go almost every day (we drive right by the park on our way to her school). I usually talk her out of it because a) I think that park is nasty and b) the geese are mean! and aggressive! and scary! But today, we bought a couple loaves of cheap bread and braved the elements. Sonnet thought it was all fun and games until a goose got all up in her face and she screamed like the little girl she is and tore off in the other direction. See, told ya. Stetson just wanted to chase pigeons and had to be restrained from diving into the water several times. Also, he did not want to feed his bread to the geese. He chose to eat it himself and then fix the honking things with his Stink Eye when they got too close. Good man. All in all, it was a rousing success. I mean, I got some seriously good laughs. :)

Bubbles.

Stetson looooooves bubbles! It sounds more like "bob-ulls" when he says it, but either way, it's cute!

Station Tour.

Every summer the women from my church put together a summer activities calendar for the kids. We take turns hosting play dates and swimming parties or arranging field trips. There's usually something fun going on every single day. I always schedule a tour at the fire station down the street. Nate comes with us and shows everyone around the station, answers questions, lets the kids climb on the trucks, shows them his turnout gear and equipment, and then they plug in a fire hose and let the kids take turns squirting it. And because it's usually over 100 degrees here, we always let the kids play in the water at the end.

The Beach.

I like the ocean. A lot. So, for our family vacation, we decided to go to the closest ocean we could find... which from Vegas, is Newport Beach. (After spending 4 days there, I realized I don't like that place much, but we did have a good time.)

 

We drove straight to the ocean and got out to sniff the air. We weren't planning to get in the water, but before we knew it, both kids were soaked, clothes and all. We literally could not keep Stetson out of the water. He was shivering, but he loved it!

 

The next day, we got up and went to Balboa Island. We rode the little ferry and took a ride on the Ferris wheel! Stetson wasn't sure about it at first, but when he started yelling "wow!" over and over, we figured he was cool. Then we walked on the pier and ate ice cream...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we hit the beach. We took our pop-up-shade and our folding chairs and lots of snacks and spent the afternoon being bums. Sonnet loved swimming and making sand castles. Stetson just wanted to chase all the birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tried not to spend much time in our hotel because a) you don't go to the beach to spend time watching TV and b) our hotel was NASTY! (Seriously, I almost died. Do not trust the reviews on hotels.com). Of course, the kids didn't care...

 

The next day, we went back to Balboa and rented this sweet bike thingie. The kids rode in the front while Nate and I (ok, just Nate) pedaled. We cruised all over looking at cute houses and watching people and I totally want one to drive around my neighborhood. Hello, it has shade!

 

 

 

 

 

And then we ate lunch at Ruby's on the pier. That's one thing about Southern California that I do enjoy. Good burgers, good malts, and an ocean view!

 

 

 

 

 

And then it was back to the beach. I tell you, it's exhausting covering 4 people with sunscreen multiple times a day. But as you can tell from my whiteness, I do not do sun. I am perfectly happy to resemble Casper. Stetson loved the water and he wore me out running up and down the beach. (Every time we go to the beach, Sonnet tells me she wants to be a surfer when she grows up and this time was no exception!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaaaaand then we were all freezing. The wind picked up and we bundled up, but it was time to bail...

 

 

As soon as we got in the car, this happened... (BEST way to travel!)

Our last morning, I dragged the family to the Laguna Art Museum. Every summer they do a huge outdoor art exhibit featuring 100 local artists and most of them are on-site to talk to you about their art as you walk from display to display. (If I didn't have the kids, I would have dragged Nate to the Pageant of the Masters, too, but maybe some other time). I'm not into funky, gruesome, shocking, or strange art (I find it pretentious, actually), but I can seriously appreciate a beautiful landscape or portrait or sculpture and there were several artists I fell in love with. My favorite had to be this guy named Eric Gerdau. He mostly does oceanscapes. They are so simple, but so amazing in person. It looks like the canvas is rippled with waves and you could swear you were staring out into the vast ocean rather than into a wall. They were quite moving, actually. If I were of the upper Laguna Beach ilk, (no thank you), I would have dropped a few grand on an original to hang across from my bed.

Stetson slept most of the way home, and then spent the last hour flirting with me, trying to get me to take him out of his car seat. Considering our last road trip where he screamed for 3 hours straight, this ride was heavenly.

All in all it was a fun trip. But I think next year I shall fork out the dough for a nicer hotel someone farther north...somewhere I can wear a coat and actually smell salty sea air rather than car exhaust. But I love my little family and I'm thankful we had the chance to get away. :) The end.