San Diego!!

We had so much fun on our trip to San Diego! It was so sunny, warm and relaxing ... it was good for the soul!

We took an early flight out on Thursday morning (too early ... we won't do this again if we can avoid it!), and landed with lots of time to play. Our hotel was really close to the airport and water. It had a great walking trail with a playground on it, which was fantastic. We started by playing a bit and getting all that airplane stuffiness out of our system. While Landon was playing he slipped and bonked his chin. I was worried about it, but it didn't seem like too big of a deal. Until blood started coming out of his mouth. It took everything I had to stay calm (and Jeff being his level-headed self). It turns out he bit his tongue on both sides when he slipped. I was so worried he somehow knocked out a tooth! After that mini-crisis and once Landon was back to being his playful self we made our way to our hotel and took naps (all of us, not just Landon!).

That afternoon and evening we visited Old Town. When Jeff and I were in San Diego a few years ago we ate at a great little Mexican place in Old Town - The Coyote Cafe. It was fun to go back. This time the balloon artist came over and made Landon an Elmo balloon ... he was thrilled by this. Then the singers came over to serenade us. And it totally freaked him out! It was hilarious ... and yet they still kept singing. I'm pretty sure I would have taken the hint and started walking around if a little kid was freaking out :)!

Friday we hit Sea World!! We were there before the doors opened and closed the place down. Landon loved EVERY second of it, and so did we! Luckily friends warned us to bring extra clothes. When we checked the weather before we left it was supposed to be in the low 60s ... turned out it was in the mid to high 70s! AMAZING!! However, this left Landon in blue jeans - which get really wet :)! So we always had a set of clothes drying on the stroller. Classy, I know :)!

They have a Elmo/Sesame Street themed "Bay of Play." Landon was in heaven. Everything was just his size. He loved the bouncy area, the water (of course!) and the Elmo's Flying Fish ride. Pretty sure we rode it 10 times or more!

We made our way throughout the park. Our other favorite area was the Beluga Whales/Arctic exhibit. Landon could not get enough of the whales or the walrus. Do you know how BIG those things are? We loved it!!

We loved every inch of the park!! At one point Landon was snacking and the next thing we knew we looked down and saw this:

So cute!

Jeff and I took that time to walk around a bit and just enjoy ourselves. Sea World is actually quite empty on a Friday (not during Summer I'm sure), so it was a great day to be there.

We left really tired and happy!! Then we hit our favorite place in Little Italy (we found it last time too!).

Saturday we took a long walk in the morning. We didn't realize we would be so close to the water (we went a different direction than before). Landon found a friend ... and got right in the water ... fully clothed :)! Then we spent the rest of the day at Coronodo and the beach! What a beautiful beach it is!! Did you know the sand has gold flecks in it? That and the white hotel make it really enchanting. We tried to snap a few pictures of Landon since he is turning 2 ... we got a couple and then he decided that was totally over-rated and it was time to play!!

Sunday we started out at the Zoo. I always have mixed feeling about zoos. They just aren't my favorite places in the world. But the San Diego Zoo is really well done and beautiful. I don't know if it is his age, or interest level (or perhaps his parents!) but Landon wasn't very interested in it. Some of the exhibits are so good you have to really look for the animals and I think that was hard for him.

After a couple of hours we decided to leave. This was a really good decision. Sometimes we have a tendency to push through and keep going at things even though we aren't loving them just because they are an "area attraction" (are we the only ones who do this?), and this time we decided to move on and do what we really loved. And it was so much better!!

We couldn't leave without riding the train though :)!

We took a drive so Landon could get a little snooze in and passed the temple and stopped at Torrey Pines Golf Course (it's a famous one), so Jeff could look around and buy a hat.

Then we headed back to Sea World! This time we were more prepared with shorts ... this kid will just head right into a splash pad even with freezing water. We re-visited all our favorite exhibits again (ask Landon what a Sea Lion says ... his impression is hilarious), and naturally rode the ride again (and again, and again!)!!

Landon was so tired this is what happened before dinner that night.

Oh how I love these two!

Monday was Jeff's birthday as I mentioned before. We had to celebrate in style ... and leave San Diego with a bang! I found a golf course we could accompany him on (which is rare!) and we golfed with him that morning. Jeff and Landon were both in HEAVEN!! It made me so happy to surprise him with something he loves to do so much and to be able to have Landon and I go with him. The golf course is a really peaceful place, I can see why Jeff loves it.

First golf lessons!

Acknowledging his fans :)!

Then we took a drive up Highway 101 along the coast - it is so beautiful!! We spotted a little Mexican restaurant and had lunch and then headed back to show Landon the temple (since he was awake this time!). He loved it as much as we do!

At the airport Landon fell in love with this water fountain (this kid and water ...) and then we lucked out and he had his own seat. He was very interested in the safety card and his window. Then after takeoff he crashed and slept the rest of the way home!

One last look ...

We had a great time and were sad to leave ... but we came home refreshed, bonded, sunburned and tired :)! Truly the signs of a great vacation!