Family Trip 2018 San Diego

We left Sunday, March 25th to drive to Orem to begin the trek, car was packed to the gills with food, etc.  Monday morning said hello and goodbye to Tom as we headed out early. Met up with Brock and Brad.  Brock came down from LA after a wedding of a friend over the weekend.  Brad came from Orlando where he had spent time with Erin's family and with Bryce while Bryce attended a conference.  We had an airbnb, an old house which was fine for just the few of us.

The next day we went to Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, the tide pools which weren't low enough, ate at Natis Mexican restaurant, visited Old Town San Diego, had a lovely day.  Weather was gorgeous.
  

Bryce and family arrived Tuesday evening and we had dinner ready for them when they got there at the airbnb.   The airbnb - Walk to Trolley.  Could have been worse.  Could have been lots better.

Wednesday the 28th.  Our first adventure.  We were off to the zoo.  We did a bus tour ride at the end which should be done at the first.  We sat on top of the double decker bus and the sun was hot and the kids were tired.  It was long and kind of boring.  Too much stopping and talking.

Came back and had benders for dinner and the kids headed to the COLD pool.  Addy loved it and would swim while she was shivering.  Brigham just wanted to be held and didn't get much in the water.  

Brock spent time with a friend for the evening and then flew home. 

Thursday - We had bike reservations in town at The Bike Revolution.  Looked like online that there were bike paths.  Found out when arriving that the bike path was a lane in the street.  Hmmm.  Not what I had envisioned.  I was nervous because Bryce had a trailer behind his bike with the two kids and it stuck out further than the bike.  Cars were pretty good but one was within a foot of him.  We road to Balboa Park which wasn't as great as everyone seemed to make it out to be unless there were parts we didn't see.  It is a park in the center of town.  They had a playground there that the kids enjoyed.  There was a circular spinning car that the kids could climb into and sit down.  Then someone on the outside of the car would spin it.  Addy was in it with a couple other kids spinning and Brigham came running up and just ran right into it.  I guess he didn't even stop.  One guy there said he just came out of nowhere.

A reward most evenings was watching baking videos (Food Network instagram posts).  

Friday we went to the air and space museum.  It was very interesting.  The kids did pretty well.  They had a play area where they could jump on the "moon", balls floating above air blasts, and lots of displays for the adults. 

On Saturday Bryce and Brad hid eggs at the pool and we had an easter egg hunt.  The kids loved it.  We listened to conference, a historic one with the solemn assembly.  We went to the Mormon Battalion historic site.  It was very interesting and they have an interactive tour that Addy loved.  She listens so carefully and is processing what they say.  At the end of the tour Addy asked the missionaries why the men didn't use cars to go back to Utah at the end of the war.  She's a bright one.  They had an area where the kids could pan for gold.

We had lunch at the Burger Lounge, a little hipster place.  It was great food.  Dinner was leftovers and then we watched the priesthood session.

Sunday morning was conference.  I had a picture of bunny pancakes and Alicia is such a good sport and gave it a try. 

Afterwards we went to the San Diego Temple.  There is no visitor center and the grounds were locked.  There was a very narrow strip, 15 feet? of grass along the road where we could park and take pictures through the fence and have a snack.  There were only 4 or so people there when we arrived.  Then lots of other Mormons in the area had the same thought as us.  It got pretty crowded.  Alicia had some family pictures taken and the kids were ok but that was the end of picture taking for Addy.  We tried to include us in the picture and she wanted nothing to do with it.  She wasn't crying but didn't want to be a part of it.  It was very funny, that's why we all have bigger smiles than normal, we're all laughing very hard.

That evening we drove over the Coronado Bridge to Coronado island and the beach for sunset.  It was cloudy and it's good we went early so the kids could play before it got dark.  They loved it, the sand and wading in the water.  I loved it, too.  I should have planned more time at the beach. 

Monday was the day that kept Brad with us.  He had actually looked at flights to leave earlier in the week because he was anxious to get home. He had been gone to Orlando before San Diego and he had had enough.  But he wanted to see Legoland.  I think the adult tickets were $107 and the kids were $103.  Weird. Then you could buy passes for $35 to $55 that got you into the rides faster.  I definitely did not think that the park was worth the money, but fun to go one time.  There were few rides for adults and the lines were very long.  The kids did the carousel, and again.  And again and again.  They loved it.  We did a boat ride and a train ride in the play area.  I can't even remember any other rides we did.  The lego displays were incredible.  Star Wars and more Star Wars, including a large Death Star.  And cityscapes from large cities around the world.  Those were fun to see.  Lunch at Pizza Mania which was very reasonable and the pizzas were very good. 

Brigham fell asleep in the stroller for about an hour so life was good.  Made it home to chicken stacks in the crock pot (crock pot was a life saver) and I think the kids tried swimming one more time.

We all headed home Tuesday.  It was a huge success!  Looking forward to many more.