San Diego

We just got back from one of my favorite family vacations!  We spent the week in San Diego and it was absolutely fabulous!  Since I don't know where to begin, I'm going to break it down day by day so hopefully I don't forget anything.

Sunday, May 28- We arrived in Vegas early Sunday afternoon so we checked out the pool at the Lucky Dragon Hotel where we were staying and then walked down the Vegas Strip, we didn't make it very far down the strip, the kids were hot and starving so we found a McDonald's then went to the  Pawn Stars shop further on down the strip.  I was so excited to go there, but when we got there the security guard was super rude :(  I was going to buy a souvenir or something, but after the way he treated us I refused to buy anything. 

Monday, May 29- We arrived at our hotel on Mission bay early afternoon.  We spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach and playing in the sand.  That evening they had a little cruise boat that takes you for a ride across the bay.  It was really cold but the views were beautiful and the kids loved sitting on the lower deck.  Our room was a mini suite and it was really nice, the view on our balcony was beautiful and the kids loved eating breakfast on the balcony in the mornings. 

















Tuesday, May 30-  We started out the day by walking to Mission beach.  There are so many shops and a really nice board walk all along the beach.  We played in the sand for awhile, collected sea shells, and of course the kids thought the outside showers were awesome so we washed off in them.  We then went and visited the beautiful San Diego temple and then played on the beach at La Jolla.  The tide was perfect and the sea lions were beached on the rocks right next to us.  One fell in after a big wave pushed him off, so he swam right by us and watched us like we were crazy (which we probably are!).  Finally we spent the evening at Belmont Park.  We got ice cream and cotton candy, rode a few rides, played in the arcade, and Rory, Connor, Matthew, and Kinlee played laser tag.  Matthew and Kinlee ended up winning because they would just follow Rory and Connor around and shoot them over and over again. 

Wed, May 31- We had a fun morning at the Mormon Battalion, we learned a little about the history of San Diego and the war that was going on with Mexico at the time.  We then walked through Old Town San Diego and checked out the shops and old town stores.  We wanted to try and go to a Padres game, so we went to down town San Diego, but there was so much construction and it was so crazy we decided to not even attempt the baseball game, good thing we hadn't bought the tickets yet.  Since we didn't have anything to do we went and checked out Balboa Park.  We walked through the park, but all the museums were super expensive, so the kids had a blast riding the free tram from the park to the parking lot, haha.  That evening we went on a tandem bike ride along Mission bay.  It was so fun and so pretty!  At the end of the walkway there was a playground for the kids to play on and it was so fun to see the houses right on the beach. 

Thurs, June 1- We went to the famous Donut Bar in downtown San Diego (they even gave me a free donut for my birthday!) then spent the day at Sea World.  We loved Sea World.  Connor's very favorite thing was the fish that eat the dead skin off your hands, that's all he wanted to do all day.  Kadee and Kinlee loved the Atlantis ride, and Matthew could have spent all day in the Elmo play area.  Mine and Rory's favorite thing was the sea lion & otter show and of course the kids loved getting splashed by the dolphins and orca's in the splash zone. 

We ended the trip with a 2 day stay at Lorla's house in St. George.  We were super lazy and hung by her pool all day.  The kids were fish and practically lived in the pool the whole time we were there.  It was a nice visit and a wonderful way to end our vacation. 

May

May is always a fun and busy month.  This May was no different.  We started out the month with the baseball parade and opening day, the same day I took Kadee and Kloe to the Ivy Girl Academy in South Jordan. While they learned about self confidence, self-defense, make up tips, and more, Kinlee and I went shopping and visited grandma and grandpa Curtis.   

Connor received his first class badge in scouts, he is well on his way to becoming an eagle scout and will be going on a 50 mile hike this summer. He also hit 2 home runs this month and the most exciting thing is he made the 12u Cal Ripken all-star team.  He loves baseball and is thrilled to get to play ball for the summer. 

Kadee had the pirate treasure hunt at the middle school,  it's a fun little activity they do to welcome in the kids that will be starting there in the fall.  They give them a treasure map of the school and the kids go around and get treasures while becoming familiar with the school.  She also had the 5th grade field trip to the bees game, Rory and I got to go with her and it was hot but so fun.  This girl works so hard in school and in life and had her DARE graduation and 5th grade send off.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  The teachers made a slide show of the 5th graders as babies and now and I got a little teary eyed.  I can't believe I'm going to have 2 kids in middle school.  She is super nervous to leave elementary school but is excited for some of her classes next year.  Kadee also passed the torch to the new historian and received an award for her reflections entry as well as several gift certificates for her attendance and effort she made on the SAGE test.   

Matthew graduated from preschool and had an end of year party at the wave pool.  He was so cute at his graduation and totally rocked Tooty Ta (his favorite preschool song of all time).  He loves baseball and did a really good job in coach pitch this year.  He is still a little afraid of the ball, so Connor has been working with him on catching the ball.  He is still doing Upstart (the online preschool) and will continue doing that until July, then he will be set and ready to go to Kindergarten.  He is such a little spit fire but loves life and always has a smile on his face.   

Kinlee and Kadee had their dance recital, welcome to my crazy circus.  It was such a fun show and the girls totally rocked it!  I was so proud of my little dancers, they smiled and did so well on all of their dances.  Kadee had 4 different dances that she performed and Kinlee had 3.  I love watching my kids develop their talents.  Kadee missed dance pictures because of the Hogle zoo field trip, but Kinlee went to hers and they turned out so cute! My favorite was a picture I took of her and Kaydree popping out of the popcorn box, little cuties!