San Diego!!!

We finally got to go on a real family vacation. It was the best!  Yes, traveling with kids is extremely hard and exhausting and tiring and stressful and hard and exhausting and tiring, but totally worth it and SUPER FUN! We packed a lot into a few days and I'm glad we did.  I loved loved loved spending time with just the 5 of us.  We don't get to do that enough!

We had to wake up at 4:30 am for our flight!  Oh my.  Not one of our smartest decisions.  It made for a really long day and some fragile kids (and parents).  But oh well.  We made it.  They did great on flights. When we got there, the kids and I sat and waited while Zack JOGGED to Kathy's house to grab her keys and drive her car back to the airport to pick us up.  And the ridiculous part of the whole thing is that I accidentally mixed the number up in her address so I sent him to the wrong place. LOL.  He took it well, and ran an extra 2 miles or so to get to her house.  The kids and I waited for what felt like forever, but we finally got to the house.  We were all so excited. 

We arrived at the airport with kids in pjs and ate breakfast on the run. Hahaha.

 

Smith and I were plane buddies.

Waiting at the airport.  Thank goodness for iPads. 

Zane and Em got to share a room.

First stop: In and Out Burger of course!

In California, you gotta wear your shades.

Next stop was Mission Beach.  One of the best places!  We played hard.  The kids seriously could have played in the water and on the sand ALL. DAY. LONG. It was the best.

Zack and I were feeling to tired and horrible so we drove to a Starbucks and got us all a treat.

 Playing football near the beach

 I love how they were cautious at first and just got more and more brave as time went on.

 JOY!!!

 These two were best buds, screaming, laughing, and jumping in the water.  It was fun to watch.

 The next day, we headed over to Coronado Hotel and beach.

 We rented a boogie board. Zane did pretty well.  Em tried it too.

 And Zack built a big castle with the kids, moat and all.

 We spent one afternoon visiting and showing the kids where Zack grew up.

 The third day, we went for a huge outing to Legoland!  It was awesome.  But it was also hot, there were long lines, and we didn't bring enough snacks, etc.  The kids did so well though and really did love it.  I wasn't sure how they would like the bigger rides, and if Smith would be scared of characters, but all did well and loved it!

 Emmy's Lego Friends

 We met Wyldstyle and Emmett from Lego Movie.

 We also got to see some of the real set from the movie.

 Emmy and Smith racing in Lego cars.

 We let them each build a mini figure and then they could trade it for a new one with any of the workers in the park.

 Zane was the only one tall enough for this major ride, so we rode together.

 Smith found a ride that he loved and rode it 5-6 times in a row.

 We got up pretty early the next day to go to a Charger's training camp.  We got to watch them practice and then got to try for a bunch of autographs from players.

 Zack and Zane

 Happy Charger's fans.

 Meeting some players and getting autographs was the highlight for sure.

 Zane was so good at squeezing to the front of the crowd to get his book signed.  (He did have a little of my help!). This was Manti Te'o...a star player!

 All of us in Charger's gear.  Let's just say, I love my husband.

 Zack took Zane to a Padres game.  They had an awesome time.  Zane loved every second.  They even randomly got picked to move down to field level by someone who worked there. Then, afterwards, they jogged/walked back home.

 Out of order - more Legoland pictures.

 Sweat, mixed with a little water - curly haired man!

 Roller Coaster!!

 3-D movie

 This was our last roller coaster of the day - one that Smith was tall enough to ride.  It was so fun all riding together! Smith and Emmy were laughing harder than ever.  I loved it.