California

We've been home for a week and I have finally recuperated and gathered enough strength to write about our "Oh so Fun!" trip to California. I will say that it started out wonderfully! We flew. Nothing more to say. Andrew even took his first bottle on the flight. Trip worth it right there!

So, the trip was very last minute. The purpose of the trip was not only to get away from winter for a week, but also to pick up our new minivan that Mike bought on auction. Shipping the car would've cost approximately the same as one way flights-- hence how we could justify the airline tickets. 

We told the boys about it 3-4 days before we left. To introduce the surprise, James's and my conversation went like this: 

You're talking to daddy again??

We're talking about a plan. A surprise.
We am going to Walmart?
Noooo. Much better.
Chuck e cheese?

I then proceeded to write on a piece of paper: We bought a van. We are going to California. We are going to Disneyland. 

I helped James decipher the words and both boys were pretty excited.

So, trip day, Aunt Sara drove us to the airport, flight was fast, and it only took us like 1 1/2 hours to find and pick up our van from the lot... Once we picked up our van, returned the rental car, and ate Wendy's, we drove out to Shad and Lizzie's house. The boys loved, loved, LOVED playing with their cousins and we loved visiting and spending time in the warm sun. As a bonus, Ama met us there and we were able to spend some time with her!

On Sunday we drove to the coast and surprised Mike and the boys with Grandma and Grandpa!!! They are serving their mission in Mexico City but travel on assignment over weekends. This weekend they happened to be in Tijuana and had been instructed to return on the US side of the border. So, they drove up to Aunt Debbie's house and surprised Mike and Julie's family. We enjoyed a brief visit with them PLUS, Andrew was able to meet them for the 1st time! 

On Monday we went to the beach with James, Jeanette, and the Hoffmann's. Unfortunately no pics of them bc they got there so darn late ;) and our kids were done. The beach was sunny, warm, beautiful and we saw dolphins!!! Loved the sand. Loved the waves. Loved the drive. Loved everything about it!

Tuesday: California Adventure! Dan was sick and out of commission for the day. He even slept in the stroller for 2+ hours... something that never, ever happens. We left fairly early to get rested for the remainder of the week. 

Wednesday: Disneyland. Dan was not his happy, goofy self. Lamm's met up with us and we spent the day together. Boys went on some big kid rides and felt very big. 

Thursday: James started his day by throwing up. He continued to throw up 9 more times that day with a whopping 16 times total in a 36 hour period. He couldn't keep down anything and was losing lots of fluids. This time he took the 2+ hour nap in the stroller-- even more unheard of-- and Daniel was the happy one.

Friday: James puked. Andrew creamed his pants. I was exhausted. Daniel was ornery. Mike was restless. Solution: Mike and Dan spent a fun day at Dland with the Hoffmann's while the other two stayed home and napped with me. 

Saturday: Dan was healthy. Boys were rested. Sunny and warm day. Should be a fun day at Disney right? Ya, we get there and it takes a good half our to park in the parking garage and another 15 to get in the gates. We stand in a 35 min line for Toy Story and once it's our turn to get on the boys refuse-- absolutely REFUSe to get on the ride. At this point James refuses to get out of the stroller and both refuse to get on ANY ride and all they can say is: "I want to go home." Add in another James throwing up all over the concrete and Andrew creaming his pants again we decide to throw in the towel and head home early. 

The drive went from okay to miserable. We were hopeful of making it home in one day. Ha!

After a 1 1/2 hour stop in Primm and Andrew bawling then throwing up all over himself just outside of Mesquite, we decided to book a hotel in St. George... one of the major highlights of our trip! NICE, clean, new hotel. Restful. We all showered and bathed. We slept. Nice breakfast. And St. George. I love St. George. The next morning, after losing 2 hours with daylight savings, the drive home required a stop and listening to Andrew bawl for at least half of it.

Then we got home. And it is good to be home. So, so, so good to be home. 

Now, 1 week later, we are all rested and Mike and I are wanting to go back to Disneyland. Without the kids and without the flu.

Airport (love the modest Andrew with wings stuck to his hoody):

 Breaking in the new Family MINIVAN (little did we realize just how well we would break it in)

  

Lamm's House  (This is the life):

 

The Beach (Mike dug a hole to contain Andrew from the sand castle):

Disneyland/ California Adventure (Can you find the man with a red scarf in the 5th picture? This perfect stranger was standing near when James suddenly puked in the flower bed behind us. If that was me I would've grossed out and backed away. Not him. He stepped closer and started patting James's back until Mike could take over. Who does that? If nothing else, we met some incredible people with huge hearts):

 
 
 

On the drive home (yes, that yellow stuff is barf and the blue stuff is a window-washing paper towel from a gas station. Andrew got to sit and play with both for the 45 mindrive to our hotel):

At the Hotel (next time St. George will be the first and final destination):