Southern California-continued

So enough with birthday stuff (there will be some more in the next post) finishing out trip.  Henri wouldn't be able to spend his 3rd birthday with the grandparents so we got a Cake over at Costco...

We also spent another day at Sealife. Sealife is the aquarium at Legoland. Not super impressive, but it was included in our pass we got at Costco, indoors (the weather was supposed to be iffy, we actually got a great day) and what the boys loved was there were legos in the tanks, what momma loved is the tanks were all right at ground level meaning the kids could all walk themselves around and see, no holding anyone up to see in the tanks.

and, it's right next to Legoland, so you can finish what you started the first day...

Back to miniland to visit Henri's favorite guy:

San Francisco

Chinese Mann's theater

Hollywood Bowl


Valerie has an In N Out burger

We also hit Disneyland. While the week of Thanksgiving was not the best idea between Baby swap passes and Larry getting a scooter since his knee brace had been rubbing, we got out of lines pretty much (he's having surgery in January).

We did Casey's Circus Train

The Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World were decked out for Christmas (The Mansion is in the Nightmare before Christmas theme from Halloween through Christmas)

Disneyland was a hour drive from Carlsbad.

In the castle area

If you love Cake Wrecks, you are going to LOVE this post.

Have you seen the Cake Wrecks blog?  It's when professional cakes go horribly wrong. I'm pretty sure Henri's cake will be on by the end of the week.  Let me explain. So, when Carter turned 3, my mom used the same Lightning McQueen cake pan and make this great cake. 

I've seen my mom make hundreds of cakes over my lifetime, I thought, "how hard could it be?" Oh, my. Harder than you'd think. I pulled out my Pampered Chef Decorator Gun, not realizing the tips are probably way bigger than I should have been using, and this is how my cake ended up.

But I had a ton of fun playing with the tips on the cupcakes.  At first, I was terrified. Tomorrow is the party. My backup plan involves Costco on a Sunday. But a few glasses of wine later, I couldn't stop laughing at the poor thing.

Most fun and fastest to ice:

Day 3-San Diego Zoo

We headed over to the San Diego Zoo today.

Yes, that is a monkey on top of a pigmy hippo.

Queen of the stroller.

pushing Carter out of the stroller.

Paul tries to catch us some dinner.

napping panda

The skyfari over the zoo.

Train ride in Balboa park after the zoo.

The zoo required lots of walking, including lots of hills, however, in a long day, we didn't cover probably even 1/2 of it.  They have 2 amazing Aviaries and tons of animals.

Day 2-Legoland

Legoland is a Lego-themed Amusement park for the younger set.  Henri, a short almost 3 year old at 36 inches was able to ride most rides with an adult.  Some rides even allowed for 34 inches with an adult.  Henri did get checked for height on every single ride, so if you are thinking of going, be prepared.  The most intense ride, the test track, makes your tummy jump a little, but is pretty tame as far as roller coasters go.

We got 3 month passes from Costco for $70 (less than the cost of one day's entrance) which includes the Sealife aquarium, which we did not get to today, but not the Waterpark,which is not open this time of year. Legoland is normally closed 2 days a week, but this, the week before Thanksgiving, they are open every day.  It was about 4 miles from our hotel. Costco was almost across the street from Legoland.

We started in Dino Island at the Coastersaurus.  Henri decided the first fall is a little quick and scary, but the rest was fun.  Then was Duplo Village. After the Safari Trek ( a mini jeep through a forest of LEGO animals) The kids has fun playing in the play area (DUPLO Playtown) and playing with the interactive fountains (Waterworks) and riding on the Legoland Express train. 

Then was Fun town.  Paul and Carter tried the Kid Power Towers (Henri was too short)
Sky Cruiser (a pedal powered car in the sky) ; Sky Patrol (helicopter); Driving School-Henri got a different track than Carter. Henri's was just a round track that he didn't make it once around. In fact he had to wait longer because he refused to get in any car but the yellow car. Carter's track was like a little city with stop lights and everything, it was awesome and he got a driver's license. At the Fun Town Fire Academy Henri wanted to drive and me to pump, You really need 4 people for this ride. We walked throught the Lego Factory Tour and did Skipper School (driving boats) Henri was a bit rough in his boating skills. Luckily we got a yellow boat, but even though we started before Paul and Carter, we ended up 3 boats behind them.

We skipped Pirate Shores and Castle Hill and Imagination Zone, but checked out Miniland USA, which is awesome. Imagine every major city built out of legos.  I'll have to take more pictures next time we are there.  There was also an R2D2 lifesize there. Henri walked up to him and said, "I love him." Then he patted him and said, "he is so nice."  Then hugged him.

After Miniland, we started to realize how late it was and made our last stop in the Land of Adventure where we did the Lost Kingdom Adventure (lazer shooting from a jeep ride). Hint to those wanting to win: don't "shoot" hold the laser continuously and aim at the targets. Paul and I tried out the Technic Test track, which was fun, but had a higher height requirement.  Then we headed back to grab dinner at TGIFridays where Carter informed us," the food is really tasty but it's not very good for you." On the way home he asked, "Mom, if you weren't my mom, how old would you think I was.
Me: 7, you are smarter than an average 6 year old, but not taller.
C: Why am I not 7?
Me: your birthday hasn't happened yet.
C: I think you forgot to do one and I'm really 7."

Day 1-San Diego

We decided to take a family trip to San Diego to see what we could do to entertain ourselves for a week. We figured there were enough attractions in the area we'd just get there, get a hotel, a car and wing it. As a perk we booked a ticket on the airplane for the baby and a king size 2 bedroom suite. Here's how day 1 played out.

We headed out about 7:30 to arrive at the airport at 8am for our 10am Southwest flight. Paul was trying to figure out why our flight was scheduled for 4 hours. When we arrived at the gate we got our answer... there was a top in Oakland on the way to San Diego. Hmmm... something that would have been nice to know ahead of time. Anyways, we settled in on the plane, I and the boys behind Paul and Val. Henri enjoys the take off and then proceeds to take a nap for the entire way until Oakland. Carter got involved in some Lego Chapter books and played a little DS.

So, we made it fairly easily to San Diego. Then we went to get our rental car. We headed to the Dollar where we had rented a car big enough for 5 people and 4 bags (we were told on the internet a Dodge Charger). Dollar was located much further from the airport than other companies, but right off I-5, so easy to find out way out of town. However, after a long wait (20 minutes, perhaps?) I get to the counter and he starts offering me all these different cars. I said, "I have no idea what kind of cars those are. I reserved a car that would fit 5 people and 4 bags, is what you are offering me going to do that??? And FYI, that includes 3 carseats across the back and 4 doors." He hems and haws, I'm telling him, " I reserved the car online that offered the room I needed, the gas mileage I wanted and the price I wanted to pay, where is the car I reserved?" He then starts saying I could get an upgrade to a Ford Escape. I said, "is it the same price?" He says, "well, no" I say, "No, I want the car I reserved." Then he starts in on the insurance. After I decline 3 times, I finally get my paperwork. Of course, Paul is driving away and we got to the hotel before I realize the guy never asked me if I wanted to add a driver. So now I'm stuck driving the whole vacation. Seriously, I will not do business with Dollar ever again at this point. I realized my experience was very much like this episode of Seinfield .

So we get to the hotel 2 hours after we get off the plane. The Carlsbad Homewood Suites. The suite is fantastic, the hotel is fantastic. It was pricey, but I got almost $50 off a night by booking non-refundable in advance. The maid straightens up after us, the room is all new furnishings, the boys' room and ours is across the living area. There's a fridge, two burner stove, microwave, a DISHWASHER, 2 bathrooms, 1 off each bedroom, 3 TVs. Nice. I call for a crib, they bring it up immediately. Valerie fits in the closet behind the bathroom door. Mon-Thurs there's a dinner buffet with free beer & wine tasting (full glasses) every morning is a breakfast buffet, lots of nice stuff. Free parking.

If poop offends you, do not read this post...

I've come a long way in the last few weeks. So instead of being completely furious at the mess I found in the bathroom, I'm laughing. This kid is going to be a riot.

Scene: T.P. unrolled about 5 feet, poop on the toilet seat, discarded, pooped upon clothing, stickers on the counter and floor.  Seems H had peed in the toilet (hence, rewarding himself with a few stickers) but had pooped his pants and tried cleaning up.

Me: What's going on up here?

H: I'm making a poop. I have poop on my hand.

Me: Don't put your hand in your bum.

H: You don't put your hand in your bum. (always good advice)

H: I'm making a big poopie, isn't that fun?  I'm making a potty poopy. Isn't it fun? Yeah, it is fun.

H: I'm done, you have to brush my bum now.

I put him in the bath to soak his hand and bum. The worst part, I think is that I never actually saw the poop ball. I'm praying that it made it into the toilet and was flushed.

Why I have to brag on the good days...

... because other days are like today. After going to bed at 6:45pm last night, Henri went to bed tonight at 6:30pm. Seems spreading poop all over the bathroom was exhausting.  He pooped his pants and went upstairs to "clean it up" and somehow I found poop on the sink, bathmat, his legs, the floor. I spent about an hour this afternoon giving him a bath and while he was in there was sanitizing the entire room.  Where was Valerie? Crying in the hall because she got up at 4am this morning, so her one nap was when she passed out at 10:30 in her high chair having a snack... for 1 1/2 hours (she usually takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon). 

Yes, at 4am, she greeted me with happy cheers from her crib, so we got up and I dozed on the couch until 6am with her smacking me in the head with a toy every time the on demand Sesame Street was done.

Henri was so tired at dinner that when I gave him the choice of white milk and water and he wanted chocolate milk, he informed me, sobbing hysterically (by this time it had been going on for about 40 minutes) that his milk was "dangerous" and therefore could not be drunk.  Meanwhile Carter was asking me about the "life cycle of wheat" and how it ends up to be bread.

Mondays are usually my days to get things done. Well, today I did invitations for Henri's birthday party and I sanitized a bathroom.  Oh, well, better luck tomorrow at being Super Mom, I guess.

ETA: oh, yes, let me not forget I finally, finally got Carter to school on time for his Spanish class when I got a phone call upon arriving at home asking why I had dropped Carter of at school so early. Yes, the dear boy had forgotten he was supposed to be at class, and went off... now 10 minutes late.