Something our family has learned over the years is to go with the flow. That even when things don't work out the way you wanted or planned to go with it and make the best of it. We got to Arizona(Taylor and Candra's) on Monday night of springbreak. After settling down Candra, Eve and I headed to Wal-mart oh and McKayla. We left the boys to do what else XBOX! That night they were up late playing that. We realized the next morning the day we were to go to California that our Disneyland tickets didn't come in the email the way they were suppose to. After calling they said there was a gliche or something. So plan B. I just figured we would do sightseeing while Taylor, Candra and Mckayla still went. We packed up the cars and headed to CALIFORNIA~
I don't know for sure but I almost think I was more excited then they were to be going to California and see everything. Let's see if I remember right Alex rode up with Taylor and Candra to California. It was a fun trip. We had walkie talkie's so they had one and we had the other. We would talk between cars, jokes, riddles, sing. Oh and did we have to listen to Taylor sing... The button on their walkie talkie got stuck and so we heard conversations and his wonderful...cough cough.. singing.;..
We arrived in Anaheim and checked into our hotel. We had made the reservations for a hotel close to disneyland. So when we walked in to see all the mickey stuff. My heart sank. I really wanted to just cry that I wasn't going to be able to give that experience to them. The kids for the most part did pretty well with it. Except Sebastian he was devastated so it broke my heart. But I was determined we were going to have fun anyways.
The first day after we checked into the hotel we went to Huntington Beach. Wow! The beach was great. The water was insanely cold. The waves were huge. I MEAN HUGE! There were surfers out so you knew it was insane waves. I enjoyed just watching the waves and the kids. Candra and I stayed out of the water. I put my toes in to get pictures and collect some shells but there was no way I was getting in that water. Some as you can tell didn't handle the cold water either.
That night we finished up at the beach and ate at Denny's. Yes every vacation you have to eat there at least once, right? We were able to see fireworks from the our hotel as well that night. They had cool fireworks.
That night before we turned in my brother Taylor told me they weren't going to go to Disneyland instead would go sightseeing with us. How sweet they were to do this. I know they were looking forward to taking McKayla on her first visit as much as I was my kids.
The second day we headed to Santa Monica with of course a stop at Target before we went. We had to grab snacks and Taylor Sunglasses and try and buy a boogie board.
We went had detours along the way to see the tourist things like Hollywood hills, the hollywood stars.. you know the ones on the sidewalk. But some how we parked to far to one direction so the kids were real happy about seeing old dead people..I had stopped at one that said Micheal Jackson thinking ok I take a picture and a old white man says to me now you know that is not him right? I look at him try to ignore him as he continues to tell me he is around the corner. That this star is his. He was nicely dressed grey hair white man. I said oh ok thanks and walked on. You know who knows who is crazy, right? So on our way back done the other side of the street we see him there with a camera crew. Hmm so who is the white Micheal Jackson? Had I met him? This last week at work we googled and finally found him. He was and is a broadcaster. He now has a AM talk radio show. TOO funny!
The kids got bored and we headed to the beach in Santa Monica. The pier was pretty cool looking the beach was busier than Huntington the water much more cold. How I don't know. Taylor rented a boogie board and they played or tried to. I think Sebastian was the only one that got it to truly work. At one point I saw Cole standing on it with Taylor and Malcolm holding the side..hahaha. I actually got a picture of it and Cole told me he didn't want me posting that anywhere it would make him look weak... Yeah whatever! Candra and I got braver and ventured closer to the water her with Mckayla and the camera and me with the camera. At one point she walked away and I was holding Mckayla's hand and up comes a crazy wave and hits me all the way to my knees. What it was only going to my ankles two seconds ago. Eventually your feet get numb from the coldness of the water and it's not so bad.
Candra, myself, Cole, Mckayla, Alex were sitting up on the beach and McKayla was eating her cookies, Cole was hiding a sandwich trying to eat it. Trying to avoid the Seaguls from seeing him. I look up and one is on the sand in front of McKayla a cookie that is and there is a seagul standing about 3 feet behind Cole just eyeing him. I Tell him to finish quick the bird was watching and tell Candra to move the cookie. That wasn't going to happen So Cole is convinced to move the cookie since the bird was calling his friends over.. He throws it maybe 3 feet from where we were. Come on with all that muscles you couldn't get it farther away. And down comes the bird to get it. Scared the pants off of us... Have you seen them fight for food before. Don't advice it.
McKayla had no fear at one point went chasing after them. We ended the night watching the sunset on the pier. Taylor and Candra took McKayla on the ferris wheel. How wonderful that had to be.. We met up with Nelson (the kids uncle on dad's side) and his fiance and special surprise the kids Great Aunt on their dad's side Aunt Marjorie. I was so glad to see her there. Yes amazingly his brother and I get along. So he brought her out to see the kids. She hadn't met most of them. Taylor and Candra stayed at the pier and we went to dinner with them at an amazing Mexican restruant. It was fun to see them interact with their family. Aunt Marge is an fun lady. The kids listed this as one of the best parts of the trip is meeting her. I am glad they were able to meet her and experience that part of the family they don't know much about.
The last day we slept in a bit and the guys went swimming in the hotel pool. We headed out of California back to Arizona. Oh I have to say McKayla rode with us while in California it was so much fun to listen to her talk. Sebastian and her became fast friends and she would tell him now lets play the car game. See would say Sleep... He would pretend. She would say wake up and would be but it's only 12 oclock. She would say ok sleep and this would continue. Finally it would go ok now be silly and they would shake and act silly. He would make such a good big brother but will have to stick with being a big cousin and eventually Uncle.
The drive to Arizona went fairly quick not much to look at. Hit some traffic going back nothing to bad.
That night Everyone went to decorate Candra's parents house for her brother's birthday. Balloons, sidewalk chalk posters... and then went banging to wake them up.
The next day they took us to go shot gun shooting. Wow, never realized how loud that is. Earplugs for everyone. The kids had so much fun. I can't hit a target for my life good thing they can. They were shooting clay pigeons I was quite impressed. They all hit one. Even Candra. The girls left and the boys stayed and played. That night we were able to go to the park. It was so much fun. That night Candra's sister showed up and they realized it was my car they used. We ended the night playing cards and Cole left with them to go toilet paper one of their friends house. It was good to have the time to relax and enjoy the company.
As we prepared to go home Saturday or should say to New Mexico the weather wasn't good going into the mountains. Aunt Jolene called to let us know the roads were closing in the mountains to get to her house. Hmmm so another route planned.
We ended up driving through El paso home. The kids did get to see mexico over the bridge. Yippee! I drove 15 hours that day. Call me crazy.. I don't know how but something kicked in and we drove to Odessa and stayed there.
We ended the trip at home Sunday. I was glad to out of the car but missed the idea of being on vacation. I could have stayed on the beach or at Taylor's house for longer time. Except till Arizona went into the summer temps. Then not so much.
Even though vacation didn't turn out exactly as planned it was a great adventure as a family. Lots of new experiences and memories. Believe it or not they all loved the roadtrip. We all agreed we needed to stay at locations longer to make it more enjoyeable. I am so glad we were able to make it to see Taylor and his family. I have to say they have the cutest kids. Oh my and my little nephew Carter he is the cutest little thing. Not exactly a little thing but oh so cute. I hate we live so far away. We will have to make it back sooner than later to see them.
Enjoy the pictures of the rest of our trip. I have so many I would like to put on here just no time right now.
Ok next trip I need to remember to get some pictures of my brother out of a bathing suit. I promised him I wouldn't post any with him in it. Which makes it hard since alot of the beach pictures of my kids have him in it... oh well. Thank you Taylor and Candra for making it such a great trip.
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