While J was off in PA getting medieval on a lot of people, S and I headed west to see my parents for the week. That's right, I took a 2-year-old on an airplane. Across the country. And back again. By myself. Somehow we survived.
S gets settled into her seat. She did really well, all things considered. She loved her seatbelt, the tray tables, and our in-seat video screens. Go Virgin America!
The first morning we were there, S woke up at the crack of dawn. She and Nana checked out the fog.
Once we were all sorted, S and Tapa fed the geese across from their apartment.
Then it was time for a walk.
S doesn't look too sure about this yet
I love this picture
Thank you, California, for giving me this amazing lunch. You rock. Oh, and thanks to Dad for making them just so ;)
S took this photo of my parents' "bar". She loved pulling all the water bottles from the bottom. I said they should get this instead:
When the first day was all said and done, Tapa was SO tired. He never even noticed when S brought him her blanket and otters so he could nap properly ;)
Then the cousins came! My brother and sister in law brought their 3 kids, including my niece who is only a year older than S. The first 24 hours were a lot of "No! No!" and "Mine! Mine!" But before I knew it, they were sharing everything. Like a box:
And clothes. Apparently Miss G doesn't like dresses or fancy shoes, so S gets to wear this sassy pair of Mary Janes
After a few days of fog (oh, how i enjoyed fog and 65 degrees in August), we had some clear days, which meant BEACH!
S wanted nothing to do with the water at first, and preferred to hang out in the sand (or as she put it, her "sandbox"). But I think she caved to peer pressure and finally headed out into the "deep"
Tapa had to hold her hood so she wouldn't dive into the Pacific
I love sand-covered toddler feet
On those sunny mornings, S would wake up early and have her morning milk on the patio. Here she is modeling another dress from her cousin
Since we were in the neighborhood, a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium was in order. I don't have many pictures, because it's hard to get shots in low light with a gazillion people around and moving animals. Suffice to say we enjoyed the otters, and the sharks and sunfish, and the giant tuna. And the seahorses and jellyfish. But most of all, we enjoyed lunch.
How can you resist that view?
Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head home. S handled an hour delay on the tarmac pretty well, and is slowly getting back into her sleep schedule. She was delighted to see Daddy return, and we are getting back into the swing of things.
We did find what leaving for 10 days will do to the zucchini garden:
3 lb, 7 5/8 oz. Spam me with recipes!
