San Diego

After our quick stop in LA we spent the night at a hotel in Irvine. Wednesday we headed down to San Diego to meet up with Grandma & Grandpa Matheson, the Stephensons, Monte, Lincoln, Michelle & Sadie. We stopped at the San Diego temple while waiting for them to drive in from Arizona. It is beautiful. Eve was asleep and Carter was tired so only Alex, Brad and Lydia roamed the grounds. That night Alex, Brad, & Carter joined Grandpa, Monte, Lincoln, Adam, Lauren and Clark at the Holiday Bowl -- Uof A vs. Nebraska. Four quarters and zero points pretty much sums it up. The one saving grace was that our band really blew their band out of the water.  Seaworld the next day was a lot more fun than the game. 

Shamu and friends were a big hit of course. Carter wanted to sit in the splash zone so he and Alex went down below. They had great seats and barely got wet -- we should've joined them. The kids also really enjoyed the sea lion and otter show, the shark tunnel and the 4D showing of the Polar Express.

Thursday night was New Years Eve and since we were in a hotel room with very tired kids we all celebrated by going to bed early. Friday we started the new year off right with a visit to Point Loma. We also saw the old lighthouse and went to the Point Loma visitor's center both of which the kids really enjoyed. After Point Loma we went to Seaport Village for some refreshment. We happened on a magic show and also rode the carousel there. That evening we met at the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner.

Saturday morning Grandma and Grandpa treated us all to the breakfast buffet at their honeymoon spot -- the Del Coronado hotel. The highlight though was the after breakfast visit to the beach by the hotel. We went to just to look and of course and ended up having to change all the kids clothes on the sidewalk and head home with a suitcase of wet clothes. 

We were all happy to sleep in our own beds when we got home. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Matheson for helping us have such a wonderful trip!

Last time we were at Seaworld Bradley and Carter were too short to go on the Atlantis ride. Here's proof that they, along with Alex, Adam, Grandpa Matheson, Lauren and Bella survived.

Brad and Carter

Eve, Clark and Lydia had a great time watching these dolphins and Lydia insisted I take her picture with them.

Watching the sea lions. Eve thinks she's one of the big kids.

Showing off Eve's dirty face.

Lydia poses at Point Loma with her new friend Lucy -- the doll she bought at Sea World with her Christmas money.

The tide was high so instead of tidepools we watched the waves crash. Lauren, Monte, Alex, Eve, Anna, Bella.

JohnDavid was excited about the 'pirate ship' he discovered.

Carter shows off shells, sedimentary rock and crabs.

A cave in the rocks lets the waves through and provided lots of entertainment.

Lydia shunned the cliffs and instead found lots of perfectly sized chairs and beds for Lucy.

Brad and Grandpa Matheson explore.

Eve's first experience with the ocean was when Alex got too close to a big wave. Eve took the brunt of it and she was not amused. 

Lydia loved the fanciness of the Del Coronado.

Eve enjoyed this experience with the waves much more than the last.

Brad, Alex, Eve and Carter race the waves. Point Loma is in the background.

Lydia and Eve preferred the sand.

Carter, of course, did not hesitate to immerse himself in the experience.

I looked over at Eve and found her systematically filling Brad's shoes with sand.

After our impromptu beach visit it was time to head home. Lydia is wearing her swimsuit because that was the only clean clothing she had left -- too bad we didn't think to wear that to the beach. 

Eve screamed for the first 30 minutes of the drive and then fell sweetly asleep.