Spring Break

For some reason, we have two Spring breaks...one in February and one in April. I only had one growing up, got out of school a week earlier in June and somehow managed to survive the year. Come the third week of June I'll wish we were done but that didn't keep me from enjoying a break in La Jolla last week.

I don't want to jinx any future traveling but it was a fantastic trip from the moment we left to the moment we got back. Ruby was an amazing traveler, the house was perfect (AKA toddler friendly), the weather was beautiful, we had great company and we got to see a bunch of friends. There are too many stories and pictures but here are some highlights:

• Ruby likes the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo. Everywhere she looked there were, "Apples! Apples! Apples!" No dice on keeping her asleep while we set up the Pack 'n Play. She woke up immediately and was ready to play. After some snuggling and Sports Center, I put her to bed. We didn't hear a peep from her until the morning. Phew...Ruby still sleeps in the Pack 'n Play.
  
• Our next pit stop was at the courthouse in Santa Barbara. I'm not really a mushy person but it touched my heart to watch Ruby run around the same spot that Adam and I got married. What a difference five years makes!

• Adam and I will never stop at the Irvine mall again. What innocently started as a stop for gas and a restroom turned into Ruby's one and only melt down of the trip. On the surface it appears to be a nice mall but it's actually an anti parent carnival. The first thing we saw when we arrived was a train so we bought Ruby a ticket. Of course, she loved it and lost it when it was time to get off the ride. We bought a second ticket thinking she'd get it out of her system. No dice. She lost it again. We tried our hardest to distract her but every time you turn the corner there's a new thing that kids will love and parents will hate. We finally got her past the pet store filled with dogs and cats, the merry go round, the fountains and the toy store filled with Sesame Street characters. It was only an hour but it was exhausting!

• The house was totally toddler friendly and Ruby had the run of the house. Except for one run in with a Costco box and a coffee table, she escaped the trip boo boo free.
• Ruby loves the ocean and the sand. She loves to "jump, jump, jump" in the waves while holding Adam's hands and to knock down sand castles.

• We were afraid someone would call CPS since we took Ruby to the beach in the evening. It was pretty cold but she didn't seem to mind. We had to carry her home kicking and screaming every night. Fortunately, it exhausted her and she practically begged us to put her to bed every night.

• We visited Kristin, Brad, Gunnar and Kendall in Carlsbad. I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures. The kids played outside while the grown ups ate brunch. That settles it...we have a kid not a baby.
• Ruby and I had a play date with Lara, Asher and Alexa. They are so happy but we sure do miss them back home.

• The San Diego Zoo is fantastic. We spent two days there and saw elephants, pandas, gorillas, chimps, giraffes...you name it, we saw it. Ruby's favorite? The peacock. It was the first thing we saw when we got to the zoo and we could've stayed at the entrance with them all day. We got her a stuffed peacock for a souvenir. She called it "cock" until yesterday when she finally added the "pea" to the beginning of the word. After the peacock, Ruby's second favorite thing was climbing and hanging on the guard rails.

• As soon as Ruby woke up she asked for "Auntie, Kevin and Grandpa." I love, love, love our family and love, love, love traveling with them.
  

• Ruby loves ice cream. Oddly, she does best when she can hold her own cone.

• We made a quick stop to introduce Ruby to Adam's childhood friends on the way home. Once again, Ruby played while we sat with grown ups. She was in heaven playing with Maddie, Dawson and Chase. She especially liked when they taught her how to jump on the bed.

• I hate Los Angeles traffic. After a while, I decided it was best not to look. Ruby and George didn't seem to mind the drive at all.

• Adam and I heart Sesame Street on the iPod.
• Ruby ate Taco Bell at a rest stop for dinner. If you think that's bad, her first choice was beef jerky.

Sorry I took the week off from blogging Grandma Stone. I hope you enjoy it now!