California 2010

This is our fourth year going to sunny California for vacation. The first year Grace was young, Isaac was a baby and we camped in Oceanside. We liked it well enough that when Jake was working in Santa Monica the next year we made the effort to squeeze in some family time there and in San Diego. Last year we planned the trip with Jared,Trisa and family and we stayed back in Oceanside in a condo. This year we journeyed down to Oceanside with the whole Ellis clan. It was fun to have all the cousins around.

We started our trip on a Friday evening and drove to Barstow where we crashed for the night. The next morning at the complimentary breakfast Jake noticed there were a lot of gray haired men there. We found out we were lucky enough to have arrived for a model train show at the train depot. Trains passing by, exploring old train cars, free bucket train rides for the kids, working model trains, and a train museum, we might have found the oasis in the desert. It was a great start for our trip.

Jake lets the kids help "clean" the windows at the gas station. It is a chance for the kids to stretch their legs... and their arms.

The condo we stayed in was walking distance to the harbor and a small stretch of beach in Oceanside. The sand isn't as soft or white as it is at Mission Beach in San Diego, but it is still a wonderful place and it was never crowded. We even spotted a sea lion while walking down by the harbor. Isaac wasn't much for the water, but he didn't waste a minute digging into the sand. Sam really loved the sea gulls and Sunday night Jake had to chase him down.

Saturday night we went to Sea World and trick or treated. Then we saw the Shamu at Night Show. Sunday it rained. Church was nice, but Sam did not want to be quiet. We planned for a dinner at the beach, but it ended up as lunch in the condo. By evening it cleared up enough to do a little exploring. Monday Jake took Grace and Isaac to LegoLand with Joanie and her boys and Jared and their two big kids. It was too cold to go to the pool or beach with Sam, but he had fun playing with Jackson while I ran to Panera to get lunch for Trisa and I. Monday evening we went down to the beach again.

Tuesday was the Sea World Day! It was looking a little stormy, but we arrived at Sea World with no rain! The perfect vacation, right? It was clear... until the down pour at the pet show... with all of the umbrellas, ponchos, and strollers too far to reach before we were already soaked. Also good to know, Sea World is not rain friendly. The ONLY places that are covered are the aquariums and the arcade. The restaurants are only covered in the serving areas. We sat through a rainy dolphin show, ran to the shark tank for safety (ironic), and then Grace was promised (before the rain) to play an arcade game for a chance at a gigantic shamu. It was cheaper and a better quality to just buy it so Grace put all of her money on the big shamu. She plays with her three other shamus every day and since we have been home she has taken it everywhere we will let her. I think this will complete her shamu collection. Anymore and there won't be room for Grace on her bed.


Wednesday we headed to the beach. Yea! Side note: I brought 4 pairs of shoes for Isaac. Call it mother's intuition. If his shoes made it on the beach they are the first things he filled up with sand. First the kids played at the pool and then we headed down to the ocean. I love the beach, the feel of the sand, chasing the waves, the smell of the ocean. It brings up good memories of my grandparents and going to the beach in Florida.

While I was chasing the waves with a nephew and family friend, Jake walked with the kids down to the rock wall (a jetty?) about 150 yards away. When I walked down, Jake had just lifted Sam down to pick up a shell he wanted. It totally freaked me out, but Sam was so happy to come out and show me his new shell. I thought that it was the perfect place to take a family picture, but perhaps not in swim shorts... I wasn't crushed though because Heather brought her camera and we had a wonderful photo shoot on Friday in a nature preserve Jake and I had discovered Monday. It was fun to have the Crockett family with us at the beach and we were grateful for the snacks they provided after the sea gulls ate all of ours (still in the wrappers)!

Thursday we explored the San Diego Zoo for the first time. Kids are free in October, but what this means is that there may be large school groups swarming the park. Jake and I were a little worn out by now. It was good weather and Grace said this was her favorite thing we did. This was the one day all of the Ellis group was together. It was lovely taking the bus tour with all of Jake's brothers and family. Jesse made tasty pumpkin cookies which we all devoured. We then explored the park with the Tidwell bunch and Joanie kindly hopped Sam up a gigantic hill.

Grace loved petting the sheep and Isaac liked being with the Tidwell boys. Sam played with Liam at the playground and we left with a smile on our faces. Sam was so exhausted that he fell asleep with his hand in the chip bag.

Friday we took some family pictures thanks to Heather, Josh and Casen. Then we headed back to Sea World to make up for our rain day. We saw Clyde and Semour (my favorite) and explored some of the aquariums we usually don't have time to see. The bat rays were lively and the kids had no problems petting them or the star fish at the tide pool. We took one last ride through the shark tunnel and then said good-bye to shamu.

After we left Sea World, we drove the five minutes to Mission Beach hoping to catch the sunset and say hi to Jared and Trisa and Joanie and Russ and families. Saturday we were suppose to take a quick big family picture and then hit the road. But we were having so much fun...

We decided to stay another day! Joanie discovered that the San Diego harbor tours were being discounted and we couldn't miss that! Jake would have liked to have taken the two hour tour, but after one hour I was worried the ocean looked alittle too inviting for the kids. Grace brought a very tough little catepiller with her on the boat ride. She found a cup full and somehow they got dropped in the car. I was finding catepillars everywhere.

We checked into our hotel and then headed back to.... the beach, where else? Joanie and Alex ended up joining us that night because they couldn't make standby. We enjoyed watching Goonies and picnicing on the beds. Sunday we woke tired and finally ready to make the journey home.

A few things yet to be mentioned: Trader Joes, bonfires on the beach and Cuban food. Things we will be looking forward to... next year?