California Road Trip Part 5

It's time for another exciting somewhat interesting installment of our California adventure.
Yes, take two adults, two kids, a ton of belongings -and stuff them in a small 4-wheel drive for over 2000 miles, and you're bound to get a few stories out of it! ;)



I have to say...this particular day proved to be my personal favorite time of the whole trip.
Not that I didn't love Disneyland...but on this particular Friday, I now I felt so relaxed and happy, and the weather was perfection.

We had all just had a wonderful time at the San Diego Zoo, and now, as the late afternoon sun was still warm in the sky, we headed over to check into our hotel.

This, I'm relieved to add, looked much nicer than our previous one.
I had splurged and gotten a suite type room...nothing fancy by any means, but still pleasant and roomy.

And besides, we were now on the second floor with no one above us...so no chance of a surprise septic shower in the night!
Second Floor = Good.

After carrying in our belongings, we headed over to my nephew's and his family.

I've mentioned this before, but my dad had been previously married, and I have two half-sisters. So R. was my dad's grandson.
After growing up in a non-Christian home (where, for awhile, his only exposure to things of God was during visits at our house) he is now a Navy chaplain and I truly couldn't be more proud of him.

I had never been to his San Diego home, and after having such a great reunion with their family last summer here in Oregon, we were all eager to visit with them again- as well as have a home cooked meal!

Well, our evening couldn't have been any better. Have you ever known anyone who seemed to personify hospitality?
I know a handful of people whom I can truly say this of, and they fall into this category completely...not only do I love my nephew like a brother, but he married the most gracious gal, who made us feel completely at home.
We had the best barbecue dinner, and as the kids excused themselves and went to all play together, the rest of us sat around the table and talked and laughed into the evening.

(In case you're trying to figure out how the children are related to one another- my dad, who is passed away now, is grandfather to my children as well as R. But R's children would be my dad's great-grandchildren- even though all of our children are all about the same age!
But as R likes to simplify it whenever I get into explaining how everyone is related by just singing that old crazy song, "I'm my own grandpa...")

Afterwards, my fun niece in law got out some baked cupcakes for the kids to decorate...


And then...and then... my dear nephew actually insisted that we leave the kids there to sleep over.
They offered extra clean toothbrushes and jammies...so how could we resist?

Let's just say, a little unexpected couple time was very nice and leave it at that.

The next morning, because my nephew had to work, his wife offered to take the rest of us to one of their favorite San Diego beaches, La Jolla.
Unfortunately, the weather became cloudy and the tempature dropped down to a high of 58 on this day...58!
But we all made the best of it...

(Above, my husband plays catch with R's oldest...and all the kids play in the water as if it's really not as cold as...well, as back home in Oregon!)

And after washing all that sand off, we headed back for lunch and to pick up my nephew...because we were now all headed for Sea World!

This was especially significant for me...
You see, the last time I was at Sea World was on the California trip way back in 1977 in which this same nephew was with me...

Don't you love it? Look at us- he was eleven, I was fourteen.
My dad bought him that Confederate hat at Knotts Berry Farm and it was basically glued to his head for the rest of our trip.

We've both changed a bit since that first visit to Sea World, but he still has that same cute smirky smile.

And now, 31 years later, we were there together again with our spouses and children, wandering around the exhibits and enjoying the shows.

Well,
mostly.

Remember when I said there was a story for you in Sea World? There is...and let's just say that I think the word "moisture" seemed to be the theme of the trip.

To be continued...