California Cuties?

The long awaited vacation has come... and now gone.... and we are quietly unpacking our suitcases today and talking about Minnie Mouse, the beach, Grandmas and going back to school. Mia is wearing a wet suit. Ali is wearing Cinderella's wedding dress. Eva is in the swing, smiling her big smile and thinking private thoughts. I'm sipping coffee, doing laundry and fantasizing about living near the ocean some day. Maybe.

Want to hear about the trip?? The Cuties are fantastic travelers. They did just fine on the airplane, coloring with Daddy and having snacks. Eva, of course, curled up in her baby sling and did baby things. We went to the beach first thing. Oh, it's so soulful to be near the ocean! We completely relaxed. The girls playing in the sand and Ali hit some waves. Eva napped in the breeze. We had In N' Out Burger for lunch. Yumm.. !

Then we went to Disneyland. I couldn't possibly type out the fun we had or relate all the things we did. We got there at 10 am. We left when they closed. It was awesome.

A couple days post-Disneyland, we're in the van looking for something to pick up for dinner. I suggest Hooter's as we drive by the restaurant - joking, of course. Mia looks up and says, "Yeah, Pooter! Like Mickey's dog!" Ha! I love my kids.

We baptised the baby at St. Lawrence. The same church and priest that married Joe and I and baptised Ali. Eva looked so sweet in her white gown. As soon as we sat in the pew, she filled her diaper and screamed in protest through the entire ceremony.

We played at the resort that is Aunt Janet's house. We swam, visited with cousins and lots of Aunties and ate great food. There was no lack of love and attention for the Cuties there!

We began and ended our trip near San Diego with Grandma. We hung out, roasted marshmallows, and waited for Auntie Nessy's eggs to hatch (well, not her eggs, but her ducks' and quails' eggs).

It was a lovely time. Joe and I have such great extended families - we are so blessed! I'm trying to get back to the routine today without feeling too much "vacation letdown". You know, the blues you get when the holiday is over and you have to return to your regular life? Maybe I'll keep Ali home from school today, fill up the kiddie pool in the backyard and linger in vacation mode for one more day....