Cali ~ Day 5, Newport Beach Part 2

We don't have anything planned for while we are here except hit the beach. Sure, we could take a boat ride where someone would get sick. We could do several other activities too, but my kids just love the beach. So, why not just go to the beach?

Oh, but before I get to that, here's a few photos of our condo from last night.

Master bedroom. We put the fan in the window to draw in the cool air. :)


Emily's room.


The boys room.


Living room.


We woke up this morning and went for a 6 mile bike ride. Oh, it was an adventure. Ben is good at riding his bike, but it was like playing frogger on the board walk. There were people everywhere. Some were walking, riding bikes, on roller blades, with their dog. It was crazy. He was totally freaking out and I was freaking out. We'll do it again when it's not so busy. Maybe Monday.


We finished the bike ride and all the kids wanted to do was hit the beach. So, we did.


David and Noah playing chase.


Noah tried to surf.


Noah looks like he's out there alone, but David was to his left. He doesn't seem to have a lot of fear this year, which is good.


I tried to boogie board, and I could barely catch any waves. Ben barely does anything and he's riding every wave to shore. I guess it is the 100 pound weight difference. So, I quit and spent some time people watching.

There was the blonde in the thong. Seriously, we have the whole beach and Miss Cheeky sets up right next to us. We are next to the half naked chic with the perfect ass. Great.


Then, these two girls took, I kid you not, about 50 selfies. So much so that while taking one, a wave came and soaked all their stuff. They didn't even notice.  At least there phone was dry.


This little boy was next to us and had the most impressive afro. I mean this is impressive, no?


Then, these people dressed in hearts came walking down the beach and hugged random people. David and I were watching them and knew Ben was right in the path. Sure enough, he got a hug. He was like what the heck? Then, they gave him a sucker and told him Jesus loves him.


I'll give the boogie board a try again tomorrow. But, if not, I hope we'll be camped out next to some more characters.  Well, Miss Cheeky can stay home.

Cali, Day 4 ~ Newport Beach

First let me just say, how wonderful it is to have good wifi again, and my good camera back. Oh long lens how I have missed you. The hotel wifi was awful. It sometimes took an hour to upload 5 photos from my phone. I just uploaded I think 30 pictures in less than 5 minutes. It's the little things you are thankful for when you are deprived for a few days!

We are now in a lovely home in Newport Beach. It's about 7 houses from the sand and really great for our family. I should have taken pictures before we threw our stuff everywhere. But, I'll take some tomorrow since I can't possibly do 30 beach photos a day. Well, maybe I can. The check in time was 4:00 here, but luckily the lady let us have it early since nobody was here. We left our hotel near Disney and drove the 20 minutes to Newport Beach. We unloaded our bikes and got everything situated. Then, we went walking to the closest market to pick up a few things. David and I were funny pointing out all the restaurants we want to try while we are here. The store is only a 6 minute walk, so that was nice and we picked up a meatball and sausage sub on the way back home. Oh, the kids got McDonalds.

Then, we got suits on and hit the beach. The kids went straight to the water.


I was surprised Noah wasn't the least bit leery. Last year, he could take or leave the water.


Emily swimming.


This area is huge on surfing and Ben was channeling his inner surfer with the board on his head.


It was like 90 degrees here today, which apparently is as hot as it gets here because the beach was packed.


I love when they get along.


Here's the other side of the beach, and Ben playing near the Japanese tourists.


My hubby catching some waves.


I remember four years ago, we took Noah to the beach for the first time. You can read it here. He wouldn't move off the blanket and touch the sand for nothing. Hated, hated, hated the sand. Now, look at him.






He would cover himself with sand and then run in the water. One of the great perks of renting a condo is they have all the beach stuff for you. They had that huge purple "hamper" thing full of beach toys, boogie boards, coolers, chairs, umbrellas. We didn't need to bring a thing. I love that!


Emily and David riding the waves.


David and Noah went looking for seashells.


Then, Ben joined them.


Emily was happy to do about 50 of these.


And splits in the water.


Ben just loves to run and run and run.


Noah was doing this hysterical thing where he'd dig in the sand like a cat in litter. Even the Japanese tourists thought he was funny.


I'm not sure what Ben was doing here, but he is in his own little world at the beach.


Emily did this to her brother, but he liked it.


Noah had sand all over his face. It looked like a 5:00 shadow. Kind of funny, but even after a shower, I'm still trying to get it out if his ears.


Noah made "art" out of stuff on the beach.


Emily jumping.


And looking pretty.


I mean, how does this feel good? It looks like Ben is wearing sand stockings.


Noah looking cute.


Come on Ben, it's the golden hour of light, give me a good smile. Nope.


Nope.


I'll take it.


Ben looked like he had a mustache and beard.


We stayed at the beach until the sun went down almost. Then, we came back and grilled some chicken breasts with salad. We have nothing on the agenda for the next three days. Just go to the beach! Sounds perfect.

Cali, Day 3 ~ California Adventure

We spent the day today in California Adventure.  I wasn't sure how today would go.  It was almost 100 degrees.  I half thought we'd come back to the hotel for a few hours, but as it turns out, it wasn't that bad.  All the rides are shaded or in air conditioned areas.  It wasn't bad at all.  That being said, we drank 6 .5 liters of bottle water, 10 24-ounce cups of water, a 32 oz coke, 32 oz Lemonade and 5 juice boxes.  And, we only peed 3 times.  I'd say we were sweating. 

Okay, to our day....we headed straight for the Cars ride.  This was the ride we tried to get on two years ago.  It broke right before we got on. At first temporarily, then they said indefinitely.  Needless to say, the boys were mad.  But, here we were praying it wouldn't break before we got on it.  And it didn't.  This is a GREAT photo.  That's what happens when you leave your fancy camera at home.  I tried using flash and it wasn't any better.  Oh well, I really just wanted to cool rock. You know what my kids look like.

We only had to wait 35 minutes which in Cars land, nothing short of a miracle.  Let me just say, it was AWESOME!!!!  WE all loved it.


Then, we split up for a few minutes.  David doesn't do well with spinning or upside down stuff, so I get stuck with those.  So, while David took Noah to the carousel, I took Emily and Ben on California Screaming.  The upside down super fast roller coaster.  I have a picture of Emily and I right before her first roller coaster, so I had to take one with Ben. You can see mine and Em's picture here.  Wow, just looking at that post and the great pictures makes me wish I would've taken my fancy camera.  But, I swear it was so nice not lugging it around.

Ben was totally nervous.  It was great.


Then, we met back up with David for the Toy Story ride.  This one is super fun and competitive and David wins every time.



Then, we did more rides.  David actually went on this one with Emily and Ben.  Noah didn't want to go.



We rode more stuff.  Noah LOVED Soaring Over California.  It was so nice going on things with our whole family.  For 10 years, I haven't ridden a roller coaster with my husband.  One of us was always on the side doing baby swap.  Now, that Noah is older, there was so much we could all do together.  It was great.  Plus, I got to hear my hubby scream like a girl on some rides!  That's always fun.

I took the kids on Tower of Terror.  They had never been.  That's what is so great.  We come here every few years and with that they grow a half a foot, and a whole new set of rides opens up for them.  So, each time it's new.  I was having more fun watching the kids than watching the ride.  I think Ben and Emily were ready to get off at this point.



They went on this Goofy roller coaster 6 times.  Three times in a row, then another three times later. There wasn't a wait, so why not.  After the fourth time, Noah started putting his hands up.  The little daredevil.



The kids get to pick out a souvenir.  Noah wanted this goofy and he got a Mickey too.



I didn't get a picture of Emily's, but she grabbed the cute little peas in a pod from Toy Story.  And Ben wanted a personalized Mickey hat.


Then, we stayed for the World of Color light show.  We've never seen it.  Usually, when the park is open late, this show is at like 9:30 and 10:30 which is too late for tired little kids and tired parents.  But, tonight it was at 8:15.  We can handle that.  It was so good.  Here's Noah on David's shoulders.  As our friend said, it puts the Bellagio fountain in Vegas to shame.


And that was our day.  We went on almost 25 rides today.  It was probably our best Disney trip ever.  The kids did great. The lines were minimal and the fun was abundant. Disney never disappoints.