All 6 Happily Ever After...: California

I figure since it's been a month, I should probably post some pictures now of our trip to California before the whole memory becomes ancient history. It's not entirely my fault for waiting so long. I took 584 pictures, after all. It was too overwhelming to choose which ones to post (or to even open and wade through the photo album for that matter!)

Without further ado, here are some of the highlights (finally!)

Our first stop: Newport Beach! We spent a few different days here walking around, eating, hanging around on the Pier since Newport Beach is fairly close to where we were staying in Anaheim. This picture was taken the day we arrived. From the airport - to the beach!

The next day we headed up to L.A. This is something I'd been wanting to do for a long time, but somehow it wasn't quite as enjoyable with 4 little kids in tow. Don't get me wrong, I love having the little ones with, but walking the streets of Hollywood with all it's crazy business was more work than entertainment. But we saw the sites, tried out our celebrity hands and feet "size" and spied the famous "Hollywood" sign up in the Hills. So for all that, I'd say it was a success.

Ahhh- the Santa Monica Pier. It appears in the opening credits of "Private Practice" (which no, I do not watch) and probably 100 other tv shoes and movies.
But I just HAD to see it for myself. So I did.

Here's my big strong boy flexing his muscles at the famous "Muscle Beach"

LOTS of muscles at this beach. Lots of muscles....

All righty then...moving along...

I'm pretty sure there is no sunset more exquisite than the West Coast sunset. I don't know why but the sun seems to appear bigger and closer. There is nothing quite like watching the beautiful glowing orange sun sink into the Pacific (except maybe watching it sink into the Gulf, which is also pretty lovely. And, come to think of it- watching it sink into the Atlantic, which I - believe it or not- have also done from the shores of Spain a few times in my life)

My little girls at the beach.

One of our favorite places was Crystal Cove near Laguna Beach. It's almost as if this area of protected shoreline transplants you a million miles (and years away) from the rest of the crowded, developed California shoreline.

The kids had so much fun playing in the tide pools and running around on the beach. They didn't want to leave! It was pretty amazing.

I realize this picture below really has nothing to do with my family- but I couldn't help but snap this picture as we sat at a stoplight because, as my husband pointed out, "Nothin says juicy Hamburger like, 'Duke's Hamburgers -- Mexican Food." (What!!?!?!) Gag. And as if putting the words "Hamburgers and Mexican Food" on the same sign isn't bad enough, it continues the assualt by adding at the bottom, "Breakfast Served." (Of course! And why would it not be? Hamburgers, Mexican Food and Breakfast... ummm ummm good)

One of our favorite memories is the trip down to the San Diego Zoo. I had always wanted to visit and finally got the chance. I was thrilled to be able to experience this with the kids! The Zoo is absolutely everything it's "cracked up" to be and MORE. The only problem is that you most certainly need more than a day to explore. There sheer expanse and walking distance makes it impossible to traverse all in one day with little kids. But we saw as much as we could.

Though there were so many amazing animals, seeing the Panda was truly a once in a lifetime memorable experience.

The boys checking out the Polar Bear- which I now see that I cut out of the picture when I snapped it. So, FYI- He was big, white and furry. And chewing on a carrot.

Another favorite destination was Downtown Disney. During the week of our hotel stay the kids endured about 57 elevator rides with other well-meaning hotel guests who repeatedly asked either 1) Did we like Disney? or 2) When we were going to Disney? The answer to those questions is No and No.

We decided not to go to Disneyland for various reasons. However, my husband and I were able to pacify the constant Disney inquiries with the kids by taking them to the (free and open to the public) Downtown Disney area a few different evenings. I'm pretty sure they kids had (almost) just as much fun dancing to the outdoor live music and eating at neat restaurants and my wallet saw a lot less action than it would have if we would have gone to DisneyLand. I think that's what you call a Win. Win. :)

Ok, I realize that Christian looks like he's sayin something along the lines of "Ufta. I'm tired. Get me outta here." - and, truth be told, if he could actually talk, I kinda think he would have been saying that very thing. Poor kid. We kept him up late. But he was a trooper!