Day 50: Back To The Grind

We are back to reality today. The wonderful week we had last week in San Diego is over, and we jumped right back into the real world today with tons of laundry and tidying the house, baseball picture day for Calen, hockey practice for Camden, and a pile of homework the boys needed to catch up on that's due tomorrow. 

We're not on the beach anymore, folks. 

Today's only photo comes from Camden moments before he hit the ice for hockey practice, wanting to send his new "cousins" a picture "in case they missed him". 

Ahhh, cousin love. 

Day 49: One Last Hoorah

It's our last day in San Diego. In fact it's our last half-day, because we had to drive all afternoon back up to the North Bay. 

Of course, being our last day, San Diego finally decided to act like San Diego, and the temperature skyrocketed to 80 degrees. 

Where were you all week?!

So of course, we headed to the beach! Because where else would we head when it's 80 degrees and we're in San Diego?

We returned to Gator Beach (where we had gone earlier in the week) and enjoyed a warmish few hours on the beach with our great family friends, before wrapping up our week and driving home. 

What an amazing week we had. Every day was a great adventure, and we made some incredible memories that we will cherish for life. 

Until next time, San Diego. 

Day 48: Everything Is Awesomer (Round 2)

Our Legoland tickets came with a 2nd day in the parks for free. And why go once when we can go twice?! So we left early today and spent another great day in the land of Legos. You know the drill. Lego rides, Lego structures, LEGO. This time however we did spent a couple hours at the Legoland Water Park. We played in the Lego Duplo pool for a bit, went on a huge Pirates water boat ride (think a smaller Splash Mountain but you get WAY more soaked), and did several laps around the lazy river, where the inflatable tubes have foam Lego baseplates attached, and floating along the river are giant foam Lego bricks to "build a raft" with. 

Photo dump because pictures are worth way more than (hundreds) of words. 

Literally the only photo at the Water Park

We ran into Lloyd (Lego Ninjago) at the Legoland Hotel lobby

The brand new Lego Castle Hotel!

Meeting Emmett!

Emmett loved Calen's Benny spaceship

Lego donkey that Calen decided he needed to ride

Calen ran up and posed with this Lego knight. Funny guy!

Love these random Lego building stations that are all over the park. Great place for a rest. 

With the Tiny on the Aquazone ride!

Aquazone racers!

Having another look at the Lego Movie 2 film set

Miniland USA, look at this Star Destroyer!

Lego San Francisco

Checking out the big Clone War battle in Star Wars Land

Day 47: Mission Beach

Despite the weather being extremely UN-San Diego this week, we are taking full advantage of being in So-Cal and being outside absolutely every second we can this week. It was slightly almost warmer today (65, clear skies, just chilly with the wind), so our family friends and us spent a good part of the day at Mission Beach. It's a public beach, but the coolish weather must have scared away the spoiled San Diegons (is that a word?), because it was practically empty. 

We have to get used to it, because 65 and a wind chill is going to be a blistering hot summer day in Alaska. 


Boys will be boys and spent another glorious day digging a gigantic hole. 

Action shot!

These two have been nicknamed "Chaos and Mayhem" ever since they were toddlers

Calen went searching for some pretty cool shells. 

Cam spent another day delightedly shipwrecking his toy boat in the surf. 

The send off

The excited dance of anticipation

The shout of joy upon the ship "crashing" (which you can't see)

And today, Camden and Joshua were brave souls and actually went boogie boarding, not just once but for half an hour, somehow not acquiring hypothermia and actually having a good time. 

I've missed the beach days. 

Day 46: Everything Is Awesome (When You're 10)

It's Calen's TENTH Birthday, you guys. 

TEN!!!

Personally, I'm in complete denial. He's still my "little buddy", my funny guy that I will forever view as a 4 or 6 year old in my head (I don't know why 4 or 6, but those ages have always stuck out with him to me). 

Even though we are staying at our friend's house in San Diego, the traditional birthday celebration commenced as usual, starting with birthday pancakes (complete with sprinkles and whipped cream), a singing of "happy birthday" and number 10 candles to blow out. 

Then we started an epic birthday bash at Legoland, CA. We drove out early in the morning to Carlsbad and spent the entire day at the theme park completely dedicated to all things LEGO.

Fun fact: We spent Calen's 6th birthday at Legoland as well, when we lived in San Diego in 2015. 

We spoiled Calen with absolute control over what we would do in the park in what order, what to eat, and basically anything (small) he asked for, he got. After all, TEN is a big deal. (Don't worry, Cam got to pick out small things too, and a medium sized gift at the Big store, and lots of treats). 

The actual Lego Movie 2 movie set!

Driving knight "jousters" 

Lego horses!

Don't take little boys into a castle themed gift shop that sells swords

Calen scored a Lego Abraham Lincoln, who is now sitting precariously in the trench of the Death Star

It's Benny! SPACESHIP!

We also got him the biggest milkshake in the history of ever, made of milkshake (obviously) with Fruity Pebble cereal inside, complete with an entire cupcake as the topper. (Legoland is also celebrating a birthday so they had it as a special). 

Look at this thing! LOOK AT IT. 

He's still adorable even at 10

At the end of the day, Calen got to go shopping in the Big store, as promised. He picked out a HUGE Lego Movie 2 set that he's been oogling over for weeks now, and walked away possibly the happiest 10 year old on earth. 

His beloved birthday present he picked out himself, that I forgot to take a picture of until we returned from San Diego

And if that wasn't enough, we came home and had cake. I had made Calen's birthday cake yesterday in preparation: a big space cake, since he's so into astronomy right now, including his name as a constellation, and of course added Legos, because obviously. Especially featured was Benny the "1980-something Space Guy" from the Lego movies, and a really cool Overwatch shuttle as the topper. 

Overall it was a birthday for the ages. I don't think Calen will ever forget his 10th extravaganza. 

Happy birthday, Little Buddy.