Family "Adventure"

** Quick note - we updated the previous post with a bit more detail from our trip east. So if you already read it, go back and take a peek. **

The weekend of Oct. 10th was Lina's birthday. She had said for her birthday she wanted to take a family trip; an "adventure". Both kids had Monday off from day care and pre-school, Lina and I also took Monday off, giving us a three day weekend to do something(s) fun.

Saturday morning we left for the Monterey region, via Gilroy Gardens. We were there when they opened and let the kids run it out for a good 3hours. We went on rides, had lunch, played in a water park section...etc.

Picking out animal shaped shrubbery.

Amelia so happy to have her own car to drive.

Get use to it Mia, Miles will be your personal chauffeur for years to come.

We were hoping the kids would take their nap in the car on the way to Watsonville. Mia got 30 mins or so, Miles got exactly 0 mins. Watsonville had, literally, the only vacancy in the area. So we book a night there with plans to bounce to a new location for Sunday night. The hotel was conveniently tucked behind a convenient store/gas station. Not the most exotic location, but would be fine for the night. They did have an indoor pool, so after arriving, we dashed down for an hour or so of swimming and splashing. During our swim session, Daddy, while tossing Miles into the air and catching him, misjudged weight, velocity and his own strength, resulting in Miles being briefly and only partly dunked. The expectation was that Miles would be upset, scared and totally not interested in playing in the pool any longer. To our surprise and relief, he was fine with it, laughing and immediately said "again". So, we went over the steps of holding his breath, wiping his eyes, etc. and for then next 5 or so tosses, he went up, down and under.

After the pool, we all washed up and head out for dinner in Watsonville. Lina had her tooth set on Sushi, so we hit the top rated place in the area. The kids were incredibly well behaved. They ate Miso soup mixed with rice and tofu and some vegetable tempura.

Sunday Morning we checked out and went to Santa Cruz for the day and to spend the night. On the way, we stopped in Capitola for coffees and some looking around while we waited the restaurant in Santa Cruz to open...yes, we were "up and at 'em" that early.

With coffees in hand, we watched Miles play on the beach; Mia was on Daddy's "shouldies", not interested in the sand or surf. Miles would run out with the receding waves, then run back (barely) ahead of the water as it rushed back in. A few times we thought he'd get caught.

The end result was a sandy, salty wet Miles by 9am.

Mia taking to higher ground.

Braving the waves. They have nothing on his little legs.

"I love the feel of salt water on my toes in the morning."

Birds? Heck yeah I want to chase them!

After the beach, it was time for some Boardwalk fun in Santa Cruz, but first, breakfast. Breakfast was in a hole in the wall called "The Hole in the Wall". Never a more accurate name for a place. To Daddy's delight there was a car show at the boardwalk. The model years were mostly 60's and 70's muscle cars - right in Daddy's wheelhouse of interest. But the day was fo the kids and Mommy, so after a partial peruse, we were inside on the rides.

Miles instructing Mia on what to expect.

"Whiplash" I don't think he mentioned.

Waiting for the ride to begin.

After a full and wonderful day in Santa Cruz, we headed to Monterey for dinner and to sleep. The following morning, Monday, we got up and headed to the Monterey Aquarium. We spent 98% of the time playing in various discovery sections of the aquarium. Fish had nothing on slides, tunnels and various items to lift, drop, twist, carry, drop again.

We headed back home after lunch in Monterey and the kids napped as we drove. Once home, we just played in the yard until the sun was as low as our energy.

Happy Birthday Mommy, thank you for the wonderful adventure!
~Miles and Amelia.