I Miss California!

I need to go back to Cali! No, I just need another vacation which is REALLY sad since I just got back from a 10-day one in October. I caught John's stupid cold and I've been nursing a migraine all day. The good news is I've made myself stay home and been catching up on a bunch of silly things that make me happy. Like organizing my photos. So, it's several weeks past due, but here are some picture highlights of our trip!

Day 1: Drove to So Cal with John's 3 siblings, their spouses and our 4 nephews. Stopped at the first available In N Out burger in St. George.

Day 2: Spent the day at Sea World. The kids insisted we sit in the Splash Zone and we got soaked.

Me and Katie at the starfish pond. I think that Sea World is a little overrated for what you pay. Is it an aquarium, a zoo, a show, an amusement park? It was REALLY crowded (their Halloween celebration day), but we still had a lot of fun.

Day 3: It hits the fan. Several of our party get the stomach flu including John and Katie. Fortunately, the only thing on the schedule was lunch at Rainforest Cafe, shopping and swimming. But as you can tell, they both felt awful. John looks a lot like that gorilla actually.

Day 4: Katie is miraculously healed since we're going to Disneyland. Could I love my favorite holiday even more? Halloween at Disneyland ROCKS!!!

Katie with her Auntie Em and Uncle Chad. Loved the cute additions to "It's A Small World" -- if you haven't been there for a while, they've added a bunch of Disney characters throughout the ride.

The highlight of the day: 'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion!

James, Katie and Ethan with Winnie the #2, as they called him.

The parade was a street party for their theme "Celebrations"
so the kids had a blast getting out there dancing.

Day 5: Fun day at Laguna Beach. The waves were crazy high, so the kids could only get in ankle deep. But all the adults got in and seriously, risked our lives. I biffed it into the sand so many times and my suit was so full of it, I ended up throwing it away (it was 3 years old, so it was about time and an excuse to buy a new suit next summer!)

Day 6: More Disneyland!!!! The lighting on this pic is whack, but Tinkerbell was so cute. This trip was really different than our last visit when Katie was 6. She was SO into the princesses. Now, she's all about the Disney Channel heroines (Alex, Hannah, Sonny) and Tinkerbell. Tink is VERY cool in the tween scene & the new Pixie Hollow spot was a totally cute, minus the 30 minute wait!

No trip is perfect. John was sick this whole day. He only made it until noon and went back to the hotel while we were at California Adventure. We only spent a few hours there and were totally rushed. I was in a pretty foul mood because I wanted John to be there. The two saving graces were California Screamin' which I've never been on and the new Toy Story Mania ride. Fortunately, John came back at dinner time much better and was able to enjoy the rest of the night there.

Day 7: No pics. We said goodbye to the Huts as some went home, some went to visit other family. With Disneyland out of the picture, Katie got sick again and John was still recovering. We shopped a little in the afternoon and went to see "Toy Story and Toy Story 2" in 3D, but Katie had to keep leaving the theater to go to the bathroom and my dad got admitted to the hospital during the movie, so I kept leaving to talk on my cell. Thankfully we had seen it before! That evening, we went to stay with my birth mother, Margaret, and her boyfriend, Billy. They live in Tustin and are the best hosts. It was nice to just relax and hang out, especially because I was really worried about my dad and Katie was recovering.

Day 8: New day and everyone sis recovered! So glad I didn't get it. Drove up to L.A. with Margaret and Billy and went to The Grove to shop and go to a little girl's mecca: The American Girl store. That place is crazy! It's like Bloomingdale's for an 8 year old. Two stories of doll loveliness! Margaret and Billy are so generous: Katie's doll, Mia, got a cleaning and new hairdo in the salon and then, we all had lunch in the Cafe. Margaret bought her a new doll, Kit, and some accessories. Now she has 3 dolls. She's not spoiled... much.

Day 9: More relaxing, getting caught up on "Mad Men", visit with my Aunt Maureen, and swimming in the pool.

We went to a local pumpkin patch. Again, John with the goats. I dubbed him "Man Who Stares at Goats" but he didn't think it was that funny.

Me, Katie and Margaret

Day 10: Drove home!

Such a GREAT vacation -- even with the bumps along the way.