Days 1-3

FINALLY!!

So I'm now, 6 or so weeks later, posting about our Thanksgiving vacation. I'm not behind at all. You're all just ahead. :)

I have a million pictures, so I'll post a day or two at a time. Then it won't be too overwhelming to read (hopefully) and it won't be too overwhelming for me to post.

The beginning is simple. Day 1 was Saturday, November 21st. We slept in a little, cleaned up the house, got everyone ready for the day, and packed up our fourteen thousand suitcases and headed to Utah! Pretty exciting, right?! I know. Not really. We spent the night at my parents' house that night and did pretty much nothing.

Day 2 was almost as exciting as Day 1! We got up and got ready and went to church at my parents' ward. Came home, changed into comfy driving clothes, had lunch, cleaned up, and left. Are you super into this post yet? It's probably the most exciting thing you've ever read!!

So on Day 2 we drove. And drove. And drove. And stopped in Vegas for a heavenly In N Out dinner. Jason had never been to In N Out (poor, deprived soul) and hadn't ever seen Vegas either. So it was fun to be driving through at night so he and the kids could see everything all lit up.

Day 2 finally ended shortly after midnight on what was technically Day 3 when we finally pulled into the condo in Newport Beach, California!! If you don't remember how gorgeous those condos are, refer to this post.

I swear to you that I am not exaggerating in the slightest bit at all when I tell you that those photos are 100% accurate. Aside from the fact that everything in our room was on the opposite side. It was beautiful!! So thanks a million to my parents for letting us crash with them! The place was stunning!! (And really, the company made it completely worthwhile!)

So on to Day 3! Where the real fun began! We were all tired from driving so long the night before, so we slept in. The kids and my little sisters may have been up early, but they just watched cartoons and hung out while the grown ups slept in. My dad got up and ran to the local grocery store for a few breakfast items, so we ate, threw ourselves together, and then my dad, Jason, my brother Devin, the kids, and my sisters (Madie and Maren) ran to the condo pool for a couple of hours while my mom and I headed to the grocery store.

None of us wanted to eat out every meal for an entire week. We had access to a kitchen. And let's face it. I'm cheap. Groceries at the condo were WAY less money than eating out would have been!!

After stocking up on some light meals and snacks (and, of course, Thanksgiving dinner necessities for later that week) we ate a quick lunch and headed to the Tide Pools!!

It was such a gorgeous day! The condo was right off of PCH, so just seconds away from the beach. Jack enjoyed being carried down the steep walk way.



The kids flipped seeing the ocean for the first time. It was so fun to watch!! And it was especially special for me to share with my husband and kids something that holds so many awesome memories for me from my childhood. It doesn't matter how long I've lived away from California. I will always be a California girl. Always, always, always!

We found a fun pool full of crabs and sea anemones. There were some HUGE crabs in that hole!! We tried to convince one of the boys to grab the biggest one, but we were all pretty chicken. My dad attempted to grab him with Jack's t shirt, but he was pretty fast and crawled back into his hole every time.



This girl had so much fun in the sand and water! She played with her aunts and they would run from the waves and build things in the sand.



And we had to write our names.



Jack was fascinated with the sea weed! When we showed him how to pop the little bubbles on them he went nuts!!



After a little while we walked over to the caves. They used to be open, but have been sealed for several years now. But it's still fun to climb on the rocks and play around over there. Payson got cold, so she stole Daddy's t-shirt. Grandma helped her walk over to the cliffs.



Jason is super happy that I am posting this picture of his rear. So cute, right?



Jason climbed up to the top pretty quick. Here he is waving to Jack from up top while Jack waves back from the beach. Those are two cute boys, I tell ya!!



The kids and I looking down from the top. Remember, I had already spent the day in salty wind. I had no make up on. And I was 8 or 9 weeks pregnant. So I'm very aware that I don't look so pretty. But I don't care at all! These pictures bring back so many fun memories! I just want to go back with my cute family!!



Here's Uncle Devin helping Jack over the top.



The kids exploring the rocks.



Daddy helping the kiddos down.



After that we headed over to the Newport Beach pier. The kids were ready to play in the waves and sand without all the rocks in the way. Uncle Devin helping Jack back up the hill.



My dad and sister Madison up front. Then Uncle Devin walking with Payson. I love how she had her towel around her neck. Don't ask me why. She's just adorable. And look at those multimillion dollar beach homes!! GORGEOUS!! Buy me one, please!



We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the pelicans and seagulls and just playing on the beach. So relaxing and so much fun!





My sister, Madison, and I being idiots. Thank you, Mom, for capturing this moment of my life.



My youngest sister, Maren, and Jack playing in the sand. I have no idea what got Jack so excited. But we actually have several pictures of him like this on the beach. :)



Later we blew up the beach ball and attempted to play volleyball with it. It was hilarious!! I seriously almost peed. The wind would blow the ball because it was so light, so it made for an interesting game. And every time the ball got near Madie she would yell, fall, and always miss the ball. Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious!!

Madie, me, and our Daddy on one team.



Jason, Devin, and Maren on the other.



And the two cutest cheerleaders you've ever seen!

After a while our cheerleaders got cold, so they bundled up in towels on a chair with Grandma (who, by the way, is not in many pictures as she was the main photographer).

Those would be the cutest, most edible, sand-covered toes ever.

And those would be the cutest, most feminine, sand-covered toes.



Eventually everyone was getting tired and cold with the sun setting. Isn't that gorgeous?!



So we headed in for quick showers and dinner. We hustled to throw ourselves together (although most of us left with wet hair and jammies) and went to Tom's Tacos (formerly Tito's Tacos). This place is a must whenever we're in the area. SO yummy! This is just a little hole-in-the-wall type Mexican joint in a strip mall on Beach and Ball in Orange County. Super cheap, super good, awesome service. LOVE this place! Enough that I've blogged an entire paragraph about it.

Jack fell asleep in the car on the way there. The beach had completely worn him out. So he slept in my lap while I ate my taco and chips and salsa. Then we all went home and crashed!

Ready for Day 4? Which really should be called Day 2, since Days 1 and 2 were so lame. So are you ready for Day2?? I really, really am. I thought I'd blog one day at a time, but I'm having fun reliving my vacation, so maybe I'll post some more!!