Sorry for the lack of posting. You will understand why after reading this post.
We have been in Cali!!!! Aaron, Eli and me went to San Diego for six days if you count the travel. It was such a fun trip. Aaron was out there for a conference and because we have Delta credit cards we get a free companion ticket. Thinking we shouldn't pass up a chance to go to Cali we booked my ticket for only $43.00! That's right! We only had to pay the tax for the free companion ticket. So we had not only a great trip to California, but a very cheap family vacation.
Like I said Aaron was going for a conference. NACCAP, to be specific; National Association of Christian College Admissions Professionals. Mom just happens to be the current president for the organization and therefore was going to be in California as well. Which made it all the more fun because I got to spend time with her as well.
There are so many pictures, but I will try to keep it as short and as few as possible.
For starters, packing for us all was a big undertaking. I had a three page list that I typed up a week prior and then spent the better part of a day laying it all out and eliminating anything that was not needed. This is a little snapshot of it all out on our bed before I put it into suitcases.
Saturday (travel to San Diego) - It was a 1.5 hour flight to Atlanta, an hour lay over and then a 4 hour flight to California. Eli could not have been better. He slept for almost 3 of the 4 hours during the flight. People were nice enough to give us their seat so he could lay down in between us.
After arriving we met the Asbury admissions team and went to dinner at Hodads. It was a great little hole in the wall burger joint featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. The line was wrapped around the block and stayed that way all night. We got a great burger and then walked around on the beach and out onto the pier! It was beautiful and COLD. I had to put Eli down my shirt to make sure he was warm. I think someone else got a picture of that. It was pretty funny looking.
Sunday (San Diego Zoo)- Everyone says you can't go to San Diego without seeing the zoo. I am not so sure I agree. I like animals, but don't love them and so zoos are average to me. I don't like seeing animals just laying around because they look bored out of their minds and they are beautiful, but just seem sad to me. The elephants and giraffes were the best part to me. I will say however, the fact that their maps weren't to good may have made it less enjoyable. We got lost several times, but still managed to enjoy ourselves. Eli had one 5 minute come apart that we quickly fixed with a bottle. The three hour time difference was a little frustrating to him.
Monday (Conference)- Not a ton happened on Monday. Aaron was in conference all day so I just walked around campus and had time to myself. Not a bad thing when you are on the coast of California. The campus is beautiful and the weather was perfect.
Tuesday (Conference and Sea World)- Aaron had conference seminars in the morning and then mom, Aaron, myself and Eli went to lunch at In-N-Out Burger. We had been there once before but it was so good that we wanted to go back again. After lunch we walked around a local goodwill so Aaron could find a San Diego shirt. We then went to Sea World and walked around for 2 hours before the conference banquet started. I have to say I was again pretty disappointed with Sea World in San Diego. I had been to the one in Orlando and it has to be nearly twice the size. We had a fun time either way. The arctic area is my favorite. They were feeding the Beluga Whale right in front of us so we got to see them up close and personal.
There was one really rough moment of the night. While I was walking into the banquet I actually tripped and fell flat on my face, while carrying Eli. All you moms out there will understand this, but I have thought about this moment 1000 times! I have played it over and over in my head. He never touched the ground even though I tore my toe, foot and knee up pretty bad. I have a hole in my dress and there was fabric in my skin. It was very scary, but we made it out with a scratched knee and a hole in a new dress.
To end the night they had a penguin at the banquet which was pretty fun because we were able to get close and take pictures. My favorite part of the day had to be Eli watching the sea turtles. He watched them in the tank for a long time. He is growing up and it is very neat for me to watch him take little steps toward being a little boy.
Wednesday (free day!) - This was the best day by far to me. Again, mom, Aaron, Eli and I just spent the day together. We went to a very fun Mexican restaurant for lunch and then headed to Coronado Island. Aaron's dream was to swim in the Pacific Ocean. So...we took that off his bucket list. He not only went swimming and caught a wave, but he also put his little boy's feet in as well. Eli hated it, but we got a few shots. I had such a cute little beach outfit for him, but it was pretty cold that day. That is why he looks so silly in his pajamas and beach hat. I wanted to make sure he was warm enough. After Aaron went swimming we went to the hotel and walked around. It was a very pretty place. After leaving Coronado Island we went to Mt. Solidad. It is just a big mountain with a war memorial. You can see 360 degrees and it views were incredible. You could see forever down the coast. We met the president of the memorial while we were up there and talked to him for quite awhile. He asked us to help take down the flag which was a very neat honor. We finished the day at a cute restaurant, Sammy's Woodfired Pizzas and then headed back to campus for an early night to bed.
We flew home on Thursday and again Eli was a champ. Sorry this post is so long. I hope that you enjoy the pictures and that you are inspired to take your own vacation. Even if it isn't to California. Make it a special time with your loved ones.
