Joe's Crab Shack & Oceanside Pier

One evening we were lucky enough to have Kurt's mom Karla come to our hotel to watch the kids. We went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack (delicious crab), watch a beautiful sunset, and walk along the beach holding hands (we don't get to hold each other's hands very much!).

The following morning we went to the Oceanside Pier.

(See- Kurt was holding Jolie's hand most of the time)

Watching a surf contest

The kids had a lot of fun chasing after birds and watching the fisherman.

Grandma & her grandkids!

Birch Aquarium

The Birch Aquarium is part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and this is the place I was the most excited to go to.

We arrived at the perfect time to watch the sharks getting some breakfast. I was hoping they would be putting live fish in, but it was still fun to watch.

Stuck in a shark tank

Snack time for JawsThis was a neat exhibit!! Called the "Wonders of Water" water ran from the side closest to the bottom of the picture to the end with the baskets, and the kids could change the flow of the water with the yellow or blue discs put into slots of different sizes. There were also little boats to float from one end to the other. We played here for a long time and decided we want one for our house!

Lots of tanks inside - jellyfish, octupus, eels, 100's of different fish! We ended up stuck behind a tour bus group which was annoying until I realized Austin and Nyah were actually listening to the guide talk about the last few exhibits.

Another favorite part was called "The Art of Deception." The tanks would seem empty until you could find the camoflauged fish and frogs hiding- usually in plain sight. The tide pools - the kids were able to touch starfish, sea cucumbers, anemones, sea urchins, west coast lobsters (they don't have claws like east coast ones), and ask the staff questions. We played here for a long time too.

There were also plenty of plastic versions in a shaded area for the younger two to play with.

Playing in the fountains out front.

We had a great time!!

Beach

Austin and Nyah had a BLAST on the boogie boards. Me too when I had the chance to get out there.

Kurt spent the morning reliving his childhood.
Back at a playground!! Jolie didn't like the ocean, waves, or sand washing out from under her feet so she stayed as far away from the water as we would let her.

Olivia was willing to try the water, but then she got knocked over by a wave and tumbled around for a couple more waves, and decided she was done with the ocean. Both little girls cried and hung on for dear life any time we came close to the ocean again.

Another playground!! This time at McDonalds for dinner, which had the freshest, crispest, nicest salad I have ever gotten from a McDonalds before.

This is Oceanside Harbor- walking distance from our hotel.

So we went walking at sunset

Me and Jolie

For some reason the pictures from my phone wont' save right side up. But here is a shot of Kurt and Olivia walking on the beach a looong ways from the water if you want to try to decipher it.

And Austin and Nyah finding sea shells.

Whenever I am walking along the beach at sunset it always reminds me of Emily Dickinson's poem "There is a Certain Slant of Light" especially the last stanza, because she is describing those moments that can't be put into words, the feelings of the sublime that can't be described or expressed. I love Emily Dickinson's poetry in case you wondered :)

When it comes, the Landscape listens —

Shadows — hold their breath —

When it goes, 'tis like the Distance

On the look of Death —

San Diego Zoo

Full of fascinating animals and charming children!!

I think this is the best shot I've ever been able to get of a Hippo
Who's feeding the animals? The sad thing is it was only about 9:30 in the morning when they wanted their cheetos.
The older 3 kids and I went on the Skyfari(?) ride. This picture is of Jolie and Kurt while we head for the sky.
The kids were delighted, and I was scared.

Austin was clutching his seat for dear life too.

Nyah and Olivia were dancing all over the place and freaking me out.

Sleepy lions

This is one of only a couple pictures with all 4 kids.

Having lunch

Jolie napping

My favorite part of the whole day . . .

Olivia had so much fun with the "tiger" as she called it, and was running and giggling up a storm long after the other kids were headed to the next exhibit.

Driving to CA

We are sooo lucky to have family in Las Vegas so we could break up our trip into two days.

Olivia proving that kids will find weird ways to sleep even in limited spaces. We stopped in St. George for a break, and went to one of my favorite parks there.

The water makes it one of the kids favorite parks too.

Sweet little girls

The kids walked in the water and raced leaves.After spending all day in the car, and a few hours in a condo in Las Vegas, it was time to get out!! So we headed to another park. Nyah with Kurt's sister Elaine playing with tops. Austin was running through the sprinkler park, and thus too far away for me to take pictures.

Back in the car again!! Jolie sleeping- she put the blanket over her head on her own.

Thankfully the drive from Las Vegas to San Diego wasn't as long as Salt Lake to Vegas. Once again a fter driving and a few hours in a condo the kids were restless so where did we go? Another park!!! By the end of the trip and numerous playgrounds I couldn't help thinking to myself "Did we really go on vacation to go to the parks?" Yes, I guess we did.

Karla, Nyah, Austin, and Innes (sp?- Karla's dog)

Olivia hanging out.

Jolie followed Ines around the whole time. She also wanted to pet every dog we saw the whole trip!!

I have survived!!

Flying to South Carolina, then back to Utah for one night, and then DRIVING to California with 4 kids and we are finally home again. I plan to do lots of posting this week about our vacation, but it is also a busy week with the kids' club meetings, scout stuff, and practicing the piano after two weeks of not being able to play before my lesson so who knows what will really happen.

It was wonderful to go to South Carolina to see my sister Amelia and her husband Brent, and their sweet new baby Tylie Ann. My mom was also there and that made it that much more fun.

On my first day we had a picnic lunch (Bojangles fried chicken, which was so-so) in a fabulous park, complete with a waterfall and froglets hopping around. Tylie Ann and her favorite Aunt
I found this frog outside Amelia's front door, and when I told Austin about it on the phone later he tried to convince me I should bring it home with me on the plane. I'm not sure the airport has security protocol for flying amphibians, but I didn't want to be the test case!! That, and the frog was rude enough to pee on me. What would happen to a frog in an airplane? Would it pop?

The next day Brent and Amelia took me on a river walk by the Congaree river. It was sooo beautiful and peaceful, and I say lots of new things-- turtles sunning on the rocks, skinks scuttling away from us, a cardinal in the trees, and signs indicating the bacteria levels in the river exceeded safety recommendations for swimming. Ummm, okay.

One of the huge bridges we walked under.

Later that night Amelia and Brent took me to get some southern barbecue, but when we arrived at Little Pigs (right name?) it was closed because of a fire, so they took me somewhere else for some wings. Amelia and I shared a platter with five different flavors and a couple of them were FABULOUS!! Others were not- like the ones the kitchen forgot to flavor.

Amelia and I also did some good old shopping! It was so good to be shopping with one of my sisters again!! Thank you Amelia and Brent for a wonderful trip!! It was way too short!

South Carolina!!

I'm here!! And I forgot the memory card for my camera, which totally stinks, but I'll work out how to get some pictures posted somehow, someway, some day. Tylie is beautiful, Amelia is beautiful, and its so much fun to be here! Love you all!