Thursday I would say was our most relaxing day on this trip. Together with Uncle Mark and Aunt Sandra, we (Scott, Carolyn, Austin & I) did loads of new things yet not once did we feel rushed or felt like we needed to 'take a rest'. After meeting Uncle Mark & Auntie at their place (which was only 20 min from our hotel!), we headed to the Great Park Balloon.
Waiting for the fog to clear & have a 5 mi visibility so we can go up!
These pictures don't do it justice! What an awesome experience and we wish there was something like that offered here in TX! Another perk: it's free! We had to wait about 45 min-1 hour but it was manageable since they had picnic benches and a kids area for Austin to play with. We were thisclose to leaving and coming back later since they needed at least a 5 mi visibility to have the balloon go up and it was looking like that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So right when we were thinking about and debating on going to the mall to wait our pager went off! OUR TURN! :-)
"WOW! Big balloon!"
Austin loved seeing the balloon but was in a 'mood' all week, therefore refused to go up. His response to things by saying, "I don't wanna ____" was getting old, so I :gasp!: forced him. I may have traumatized him, but he said that about the other things he didn't want to do (ie: rides at Disneyland), but halfway through he'd shout how much he loved it or that it was cool. This one, however, was not the case. Oh well! We were all going to experience this and not have someone on the ground missing out. Austin did peek out from my shoulder once or twice, but pretty much kept his eyes closed.
. . . and we're still going up!
It was beautiful - although Austin was very afraid and not into it
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
After the balloon ride, we headed to the mall - Irvine Spectrum - and walked around and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Can anyone say YUM!?
One of many gorgeous outdoor malls in CA! Why can't they design outdoor malls like that here in Texas?! Seems logical to me - built it like an indoor one with the parking on the parimeter and the stores/isle on the interior! Genius ::) Seriously, though, between the temps, the beaches, and their malls I'm ready to move!
We came across this and Auntie & I convienced Uncle Mark to come with us while Scott, Carolyn and Austin walked around.
One photography lover taking a picture of another photography lover!
Auntie & Uncle Mark!
After walking around for a bit, we then headed over to Balboa Island by ferry for some more window shopping. That experience was just about the coolest thing ever! HAHAHA sometimes (yes I said SOMETIMES) I'm easy to please :-)
The family pimpin' out in our (rental) minivan on the ferry!
Austin not very trustworthy of the ferry!
AWESOMENESS!
Carolyn walking the quaint town.
After walking around Balboa Island we then headed over to Newport Beach and had a blast! I think we could have literally spent all day there, but sadly we couldn't. :( Huge bummer, but it was fun while it lasted. Too bad we weren't here for another day of nothing but the beach. Austin, like pretty much everything he did this week, was refusing to go on the beach and get in the sand/water. After, again, some forcing of him to get on the beach, he quickly realized how much he likes sand (a new thing - use to H.A.T.E. sand!) and begged to have his shoes taken off! By the time we were leaving, he had to be carried - he didn't want to go! LOL
Family portrait!
testing. 1..2..3.. OK! "I LOVE THE BEACH" <-- his exact words!
Austin's first time at the beach and he loved it. Ran the whole time soaking it all in.
My favorite picture of Father & son! XOXO
Momma & son sandy feet
Looking into the magnificent ocean is SO peaceful!
Our first California/Pacific Ocean picture!
Making our mark!
LOVE THIS!
Frameworthy!
After the beach, we headed home (Auntie & Uncle Mark's place) for dinner. Auntie is such a phenomenal cook and apparently afraid we were going to starve (LOL <3 ya! 831), so she made us some cheese dip while we were waiting on her delishious chicken enchilada dinner to finish. Austin proved to me that day that although I carried him for 9+ months, he is NOT my child! He was tearing up the cheese dip and, I believe, had 4 helpings all to himself!
Making the delicious dip!
Going to town on the dip
plus two different cheeses, melted over the stove = yummy. A tad spicy for me but we've already made it twice at our house since! :-)
After dinner we just relaxed and caught up & it was SO NICE! I haven't seen them since October 2008, when we flew to AZ for the Race for the Cure in honor of Grandma. Uncle Mark was the "fun Uncle" growing up and clearly, he still is. He may be older, but he's still the same fun-loving, tickling, tackling Uncle that I remember and Austin loved playing with his Great Uncle and doing things that I remember doing with him.
It sucks having all your family live so far away and I was sad for yet another family filled day to end. :( I'm so grateful we made this trip to see so many of our family and for them to finally meet my husband, my son and my mother ("in-law"). A lifetime of memories were made and we were sad for it to end, but alas it was time to get back to reality.
Although Friday was technically our last day of vacation, all we did was pack, drive as fast as we legally could to Hollywood to see the Hollywood sign and then get to the airport. Our flight was great - no turbulence - although Austin was very afraid and knowledgeable about what was going to happen so it was a feat getting him buckled in. Once Daddy told him to close his eyes if he was scared he did that and then slept till we were about 15 min from San Antonio (our layover stop). Then from S.A. to Dallas was literally 30 min LOL. My parents picked us up and then we headed home after an 'interesting' trip to Dairy Queen.
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