Califonia...an amazing trip part 3

The last few days of our trip started with our last day in LA visiting the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. If you haven't been there I recommend it we had a blast! Lots of great animals and beautiful landscaping as it is also a botanical garden. We had the privilege of being escorted through with my sister Kier and her boyfriend Roger who is full of facts and puns, he made this a very entertaining zoo trip! The boys loved seeing the animals and especially loved the L.A.I.R and the playground complete with animal sculptures.


*Hint: if you forget to pack your own water bottles buy one and refill at the drinking fountains.

After the zoo we made our way back to my moms apartment and packed up, then we headed back to Northern California to stay the night. The next day we packed some sandwiches, filled water bottles, and laid around and watched tv until about 6pm when we loaded into our van and made the 15 hour drive back home with a pit stop in Portland to drop off Grandma Karen. I would call this trip a success we spent a lot of time driving but only ended up spending around $400 in gas for all the driving, which is a huge saving from the $1500 air travel would have cost. It was so great to see where my mom and sister lived and it has helped the boys to know that their Nani moved away and lives in California now. I would do it again in a heartbeat and hopefully will in the next couple years!

California...an amazing trip part 2

After being in Northern California for a few days we headed 5 hours south to Los Angeles and as soon as we got there it was "get ready," and go out on the town. My Husband and I spent the night dining and partying with my sister Kier and her Boyfriend Roger.

It was like we had been transported out of our current life and into a fantasy world full of, short dresses, strong drinks, and loud music. I had a wonderful time and felt like a VIP as i sipped my vodka and pineapple juice and witnessed David Arquette Marionetting in the middle of a crowded nightclub.

I had a great night but was extremely excited to wake up bright and early the next day to head 2 hours south to Carlsbad California, for an epic day at Legoland! If you haven't been there I recommend it, also be sure to buy your tickets on the website 2 days in advance to get 20% off because like any theme park it is pricey. Everything is made from Lego's! Well not everything but a lot of things, we had tons of fun riding rides and playing in the water, before we sat down and ate some food which was delicious pizza!! All their food is "natural" or organic which I love! We had a great time but in retrospect I would have gone a little earlier in the day, we got there at 3pm and it closes at 8pm, I would have brought a backpack instead of a diaper bag, and I would have packed food and WATER instead of buying it. All in all the day was a success. The next day we hung out around the pool at my mom's apartments and had a home cooked healthy meal, which was a nice break from the whirlwind last 4 days!

 Stay tuned for the Last Part :)

Oh and pictures taken by my gorgeous sister check out her blog Fashion Addict

California...an amazing trip part 1

My family and I don't vacation that often having 3 kids is part of that but also we usually never have the funds to go on Vacation more than just a camping trip to the mountains. We decided to head to sunny California for a week to visit my sister and mom. We drove from the Seattle area to Northern California a 15 hour drive, with the kids it was so much easier on them to drive at night while they slept. We arrived in Prundale CA on Sunday July 29 around 4pm we got settled in and let the kids run and play, since they had been cooped up in a car for so long. We were staying with my mom's boyfriend who has a big ranch and a great house. We relaxed Sunday and Monday we had a big BBQ full of fun and riding horses! It was so great seeing my family having a wonderful time and trying something they had never done before. My Husband was a natural and my son Robert thoroughly enjoyed being a cowboy and riding the horses several times. I have ridden before and loved doing it again I took full advantage and rode 3 out of 4 of the horses!! Asher was not impressed and had a really hard time the whole week we were in California. Stay Tuned for Parts 2 and 3!!

Bucket List Update

So it is now the middle of July and in 6 weeks summer is over and school starts! So far we have:

• Made Big Bubbles
• Have attended 2 parades (bonus points!)
• Had a few water balloon fights 
• Made clay prints 
• Built a huge blanket fort.

We still have a lot left on our list hopefully we can knock a few out this week!!


Today 7/16

We washed a car :)

 

Today 8/07

 We were able to knock a few things off our list while on two different trips!

• Gone Fishing
• Visited the LA Zoo and Botanical Garden (two in one!)
• Visited a Water park inside Lego Land!
• made some yummy popscicles!

 Left: Asher looking at a snake
Below: Robert at the Zebra enclosure