Our California Adventure Day, Beach Time, Downtown Disney, Rubio's and An Angels Baseball Game

Day four was one of my favorite days and this vacation was awesome so that is saying a lot! We had no where to be in the morning so we literally got to sleep in and hang out on the beach all morning and into the afternoon. I woke up earlier than Zack and Warren and ended up sitting with Jessica and Kate on the beach watching the ocean and talking. It was a perfect morning. Zack cooked breakfast while I watched the kids play in the ocean and sat with Kate. We played in the waves and relaxed on the beach all until 2 or 3 that afternoon. The kids had a great time and so did the adults. We flew kites, lost my prescription glasses, played in the sand,  and talked. I can only describe this day as perfect. Warren and Emma held hands while jumping in the waves and it melted my heart. I don't think I will ever forget that image as long as I live. Emma came and swam with Serenity, Ashley, and Shane's brother David. It was quite the feet to jump the waves while holding Emma. I was trying to keep her out of the water and sometimes I could jump high enough to keep us both out of the water but usually not, hence the lost glasses. But, the lost glasses meant that Zack and I got to walk along the beach hand in hand looking for them, knowing we most likely wouldn't find them but that was a perk. I could have 100 days like day four and never tire of them. Beautiful day, so beautiful I didn't even take many pictures, I just enjoyed it. These photos I took from Jessica. Thanks Jess. 

It was so cute to see these cousins flying kites in the ocean and on the beach. Zack even let one all the way out while standing in the ocean, it was cool.

These two were adorable to watch. They held hands and jumped in the waves for at least a half hour,  not letting go of each other.

That same afternoon we went to Downtown Disney and walked around. Shane and Jessica had bought a brick 10 years earlier during the 50th anniversary and wanted to show it to their little kids. So we shopped while they looked at it. Warren loved the Lego store  and got to pick out some Legos and was in Heaven. He could have stayed there all day. After Downtown Disney we went to Rubio's for dinner, again. We were not complaining. It is so yummy, and Zack's parents and Robert and Ashley had not eaten there this trip so it was a good excuse to go again. Then we parked and headed over to the Angel's game. None of us had been to a major league baseball game before and we were excited. The Angels were playing the Boston Red Sox so I was looking forward to the game. We made it around the 4th inning and the score was 1-0 in favor of the Red Sox. Warren just wanted to catch a fly ball and be on the big screen. Not too much to ask for right?!?! Ahh as a mom I was hoping for at least one of his dreams to come true, so each and every time music came on I told him to dance. He did not end up on the big screen or catch a fly ball but seeing him dance and have a good time totally made the game for me. He had a great time. After the 7th inning stretch I was really relaxed, the kids were having a great time and I really, really started to enjoy myself. It had been fun before but it was awesome after. The game got good, and Warren got a hat for only $7, then Jake and Emma came back with matching hats so that required some pictures, and then Robert bought himself one. The game got really good in the bottom of the 9th when the Angels won! It was so exciting! I had never been at a game where it just ended  before the time ran out or everyone was out. After they won there were fireworks, lots of pictures and then we started making our way back to the cars. Our seats were great, we were on ground level just off of the foul pole on the first base side. We could see the plate and the action but far enough away that we didn't have to pay a ton, and we had the possibility of catching a fly ball.

Outside the Angel's stadium, everyone else took off so we just took a selfie.

They are the three Angel's Amigos

We were so close to the field.

I love his faces, not sure what he was doing, but it was funny.

Then Ashley noticed and did an awesome photo bombing.

Me and my  man, so shiny from the sunscreen and sweat.

Warren loves his Angel's hat

Grandma, Serenity, Me, and Jessica

It was getting late and Warren was tired, and really wanted to be on the big screen.

The Angel's won!!! 2-1

We got back to camp a little after 11 pm packed up pretty much everything but our tent in preparation to leave early Friday morning for Sequoia National Park. We were going to drive there and  hope to get a campsite then explore the park with the Brunson Family Saturday.

Our California Adventure Day, Aquarium, Lighthouse, Balboa Island, In-N-Out, and more beach time

Day 3 we got up early to make it to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was about an hour away and we wanted to get there close to when it opened before it got crowded. It was so much fun, as soon as we walked in there was a huge wall where we could see what type of fish lived in the beach we had spent the last two days swimming in. I was amazed at how large some of those bass can get! The whole aquarium was an awesome experience. I got to touch a shark, rays, and a horseshoe crab. I was a little nervous but got brave and did it. The horseshoe crab was my favorite. They are known as living fossils. Warren didn't want to touch most of the fish but he did have a good time getting stamps in his book  and seeing all the fish. We got to watch an otter show and they are still one of my all-time favorite animals. The jellyfish exhibit was also so amazing! There are so many different types of jellyfish. I am so glad we made the drive up to Long Beach to visit the aquarium.

Zack touching a sting ray.

I actually touched a shark!

Horseshoe crabs, a living fossil. These animals are so cool.

The pictures do not do the aquarium justice. It is beautiful and the exhibits are amazing.

These three are such good buddies.

Amazing jellyfish

This is Warren giving me the "Naughty Mommy lecture" I did not see a sign that said no flash photography but he did.

This tank had a five foot shark and so many cool fish.

Warren experiencing what blubber is like.

After the aquarium we had a picnic lunch near a lighthouse, where our view included the Queen Mary then drove back to our camp. On the way home we stopped at Balboa Island for a frozen banana, a balboa bar, and visited a taffy shop. Zack and I used to watch the O.C. when we were dating and first married and driving down the Pacific Coast Highway through Newport, and visiting Balboa Island brought back different things that we remembered from the show. I was geeking out a little even though none of the places we visited we in the show that we remembered, just implied. We got our frozen banana and balboa bar from the store that advertises that they were the place with the original frozen banana which they started selling in  the 40's I think. We then went to a candy shop and found all sorts of different flavors of taffy to try, which Warren ended up sneaking and eating so I only tried a couple. I guess I will just have to go back and get more another time and get more taffy and window shop without lots of little hands. The drive was so nice, we got to see Huntington Beach and there were several events going on as we past by, as well as several other  beaches that I can't remember their names now. I was excited to drive down part of the Pacific Coast Highway as it helps me cross another thing off my bucket list and make more memories. I still want to drive from Washington down to Southern California all on the One. Someday.

Such a nice picnic spot and the kids got to play Pokemon Go and see the pier so it was a win-win-win-win.

The Queen Mary in the background.

This is not where the O.C. was filmed but it made me think about the show and I got all excited.

mmmm frozen banana and a balboa bar.

Warren trying the frozen banana with everything on it, sprinkles, nuts, and so much more. It was good.

Oh and we found Pete the Cat so that requires a picture.

Shane offered to get dinner at In-N-Out and they stopped  by the Pirate Tower but we just kept going back to camp. Back and camp Zack and I played in the water for a while and enjoyed the ocean and its amazing views and sunsets. 

Our California Vacation Day 2, La Jolla and the Beach

Day two of our California Adventure was awesome. We actually got a good nights sleep and felt rested. It was a warm night to begin with but after a little bit our tent cooled down with the cool ocean breezes and we had a very relaxing night falling asleep listening to the waves. We woke up got breakfast and got ready to head to La Jolla. Zack and I had gone to La Jolla about seven years ago when we came to California for Zack's birthday. The last time we were there it was so choppy and we were there at high  tide. But we got there and the water was awesome. The tide was no where near as high as it was last time and the water was clear, cool, and so refreshing. I loved being at La Jolla Cove again. It is one of my favorite beaches. We got a great parking spot and were able to set up camp down on the beach. Warren enjoyed playing in the sand and we eventually got him to try snorkeling and he LOVED it! He did not want to stop. I was to nervous to go out beyond where the waves were breaking even though it was calmer beyond that point. While we were swimming a sea lion swam up just behind us and I jumped then went to get Jessica and Warren so they could see it but the sea lion went back out into the ocean. It was cool and a bit scary all at the same time. So unexpected. We saw lots of cool fish and had a great few hours enjoying each others company and the ocean.

Warren getting ready to try snorkeling.

Zack and me getting ready to snorkel.

Helping Warren feel comfortable with the mask and breathing under water.

Yay! He overcame another fear  and accomplished another first!

Serenity, Ashley and Me at La Jolla Cove.

Me and Jess

More snorkeling and Mommy wearing Warren's hat.

Me and my love

Look at the rock behind us and you can see sea lions.

Love my little family

Seven years ago Jessica and I had a picture at this same spot, now Jessica, Me and Ashley got one

This boy had so much fun in the sand and water. He loves playing in warm sand as much as I love the water. With so many of us he got to play while mommy swam, then we all played together, and swam together.

After we got back from La Jolla we hung around camp, made hobo dinners, and enjoyed playing in the sand and hanging out with family.

Warren and Emma enjoying the sand.

serenity and Warren playing in the sand.