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Sunday, November 24, 2024

2024 :: 42/52

 wednesday was our legoland day! it didn't open until 10 am and was only 10 minutes from our airbnb so we enjoyed a slow morning by the ocean before going. we loved legoland!! we walked around it for 5 hours. we went on all the rides! even got nana on some roller coasters! unc-o too but there were some that unc-o didn't fit on cuz his legs were too long. :( the kids loved it! they got to spend some gifted money from grandpa neil and got to build some cool stuff. 

after we left legoland, we went to the tide pools to explore and it was so cool! Al found a sweet potato sea cucumber, we saw tiny crabs, anemones, and even an octopus. it was stinky but we all loved it! then we had in and out burger for the first time for supper. 

thursday our feet were still hurting but we went to the san diego zoo. the zoo was so big and so cool! and had so many cool animals! we walked around for a couple hours, then at lunch time we took our packed lunch on the tour bus for 45 minutes. then we bought souvenirs and headed back to the airbnb. on the way back, we stopped at la jolla cave to see the sea lions. they were so loud and so playful and so cute! Al had to just drop us off cuz there was no parking so he didn't get to see them but it was cool. 

once we were back at the airbnb we tried to go boogie boarding again but we were earlier than we were on tuesday and the tide wasn't in as much. we ended up walking on and hitting big rocks so we didn't last as long. then we went to dinner and got to sit right on the ocean with a view of the sunset! 

friday morning we packed up and started our drive to lake havasu city, arizona to meet up with auntie molly who flew into vegas and see grandma dede and grandpa rick who live there in the winters. it was such a cool drive but so long. the first half of the drive was up and down a big mountain which was cool! then a long straight road through the desert (through ghost towns and no stops/gas stations) with mountains on the sides. then mountains into arizona. we stopped at a couple pull off in the mountains and at joshua tree national park to hike around a bit. then we got to our airbnb and the kids went in the pool (which was cold!)

saturday morning we got up and went hiking at sara's crack with auntie molly & grandma DD. it was such a cool hike but was long and got hot!! the first part through the crack was so cool, treacherous, but we had fun and enjoyed it. there were a couple spots that we were cautious of Al and his injuries but we all made it! the hike back was up a mountain in the sun and we were hot & tired. nana & the kids had to take breaks and i had to piggy back tova a couple times. once back to the airbnb we went in the pool for a bit. we hung out at the airbnb & pool the rest of the day. grandma DD and grandpa rick did too. 

sunday the vikings played early so we watched that then took the kids to a park for a bit before hanging the pool. then we all went to dinner at a pirate place right on the river/water. it was fun and a beautiful place to have supper. 

monday was our last day there. we went to london bridge in the morning then hung out at the pool. Al's aunt debbie and uncle glen came over too. it was the hottest day we had and we all got in the pool. it was a fun day!!

tuesday was pack up day and we had to hit the road early to get auntie molly to the airport in vegas in time. we did stop and drive through hoover dam quick. dropped auntie molly off, drove/saw a bit of vegas, then dropped our rental car off and got to the airport. kids were again great travellers but it was a very long travel day. we got into minneapolis just after 6p, then got to moms, then had to drive home to eau claire. 

morning walk across the road in pjs to see the ocean, surfers & a big boat

our front patio on the ocean

legoland






dragon roller coaster we got to ride twice in a row since there was no line!

made sea creatures.
the submarine ride at this portion was so cool!!!!!





they got stuck and the lady tried to tell them it wasn't a weight issue but... haha
we went through the sea life portion too





designing race cars




spending their gifted money

tide pools!!
sweet potato sea cucumber
clam shell



tiny crab



san diego zoo!

cheetah

pygmy hippo


sea lions at la jolla cove





one last walk along the beach before we headed to arizona






pull off stop in the mountains; so gorgeous


picture of the switchbacks we were headed down
and the town below where we had lunch, palm desert
joshua tree national park







hiking at sara's crack in Arizona















how to find the midwesterners -> in the very little shade to be found
pool and unc-o's casita (pool house) at our airbnb
hot tub too
park at the beach in lake havasu



longon bridge


debbie & glen

hoover dam




















2024 :: 41/52

 wed oct 9 was school, work, i worked out at 9am, trevor's soccer practice got cancelled. 

thursday was trevor's parents versus kids football practice/scrimmage. I had fun playing with them but didn't have a single ball thrown to me from the dads I played with :(

friday Al was off for the weekend. after school we went to riverview park because it was so nice out. the kids played at the playground and we walked around for a bit. 

saturday the kids had soccer games and Al was forced to work 11a-3p. we had dinner and game night at matt & jodi's.

sunday we went to stone barn for pizza with matt, jodi and kids. it was chilly so we sat in the barn this time. jodi's mom & dad came too and her aunt & uncle met us there too. i took all 5 kids for a walk/hike around the property and the sun came out beautifully for us. we had fun! 

Monday Al worked, kids had school, i watched murphy dog. once Al was home we packed up everything and drove to mom's house to stay the night since we had to be at the airport early to fly to san diego to finally go to legoland and arizona!!

tuesday morning, mom's neighbor (who i used to babysit for) took all 6 of us; us 4 plus nana & unc-o to the airport. it was tova's first flight and trev's first that he remembers. they were rockstar travelers!!! tova's ears hurt a bit on the plane but they loved watching whatever they wanted on the back of the seats! 

we got into san diego about noon, then had to get out baggage, get to the rental car place, rent our vehicle which we got upgraded to an expedition and thank goodness we did with all our luggage. The first expedition we got had a seatbelt that didn't work so we had to switch. then we got some lunch/snacks & a booster seat for tova at target. then we drove to the uss midway museum and walked around the aircraft carrier which was super cool. 

then we left san diego and drove to our airbnb in carlsbad CA. our airbnb was right on the ocean!! just a road, small hill then beach and ocean. it was so nice to sit out in front and see & hear the ocean. after we unpacked, we got our swim suits on and went to the beach with the provided boogie boards. it was the kids' first time in the ocean! it was a bit cold and we were the only ones swimming, and in the water without a full wetsuit on, but we had so much fun! we loved boogie boarding! Al had never ridden a wave before and the waves were great for it! we had so much sand everywhere though!! Then we went to supper after getting cleaned up and got more groceries. 










stone barn








picking up murphy and using liam & elliott's trampoline
airport waiting
uss midway museum, san diego



kids got their wings



supper in carlsbad
the ocean!!





nana on the beach
the ocean was too cold for her



listening to the description devices