Summer Road Trip Part 2: SoCal & DISNEYLAND

Back on the road (which may have involved a 12 hour stomach bug for one toddler in our car, resulting in vomit EVERYWHERE) we were forging on! Thankfully Hailey made a quick recovery and the puke smell was eventually detailed out of my car. However, this episode DID result in Hailey getting her pacifier, which she otherwise only gets at night, and rather than re-train her out of it on our vacay, she's got paci-face in the ensuing saga of vacation pictures. 

Once we reached LA (pit stop visiting my awesome family in Santa Monica) I was eager to see UCLA and the changes on campus since I hadn't been back for about 5 years... plus I had to show Hailey her future school ;-) 

Here are a few highlights from our college tour:

Obligatory Bruin Pic!

They grow up so fast!

One of my favs... Hailey chasing me. And yes, I run like that. 

Can you find us??

Checking out the UCLA swag.

Next stop: DISNEYLAND!!! This was Hailey's first trip and Joe hadn't been since he was about 5, so this was his first memorable time being there. It was a big deal.

SMALL WORLD! Hailey's liked the ride more than her expression shows it.

Toon Town Sillyness

Playing in Minnie's House

Playing in Mickey's House

We met Mickey! Hailey only freaked out shortly after this shot was taken.

Dumbo Ride! And Mommy didn't throw up! SUCCESS!

Waiting for the Buzz Lightyear ride

Easily my favorite ride. And thanks to a handy applesauce pouch, Hailey loved it too.

Submarine Ride!

My husband is a PRO at sleeping through pictures. I may have to make an album of his blink pics.

We bought this hat for Hailey and once it was on, she FINALLY took a nap. Best $30 ever spent. 

 Walking around the park, we decided to check out the Tea Cups...

What are these giant cups and why am I not in one?

Sheer Joy

 Hailey discovered her FAVORITE ride. EVER. Thankfully there was no line, so Daddy & Hailey continued to ride different cups SEVEN times in a row. Mommy played photographer on the sidelines to avoid covering every rider in vomit.

Tea Cups Ride #6

Waiting to ride!

She has no idea what's coming...

Whoa! Everything's in 3D now!

Discovering a Bug's Life

Hailey has since referred to this "bug" picture about 999 times.

Carousel!

I'd say Disneyland was a success! And exhausting to say the least. I'm thinking next time we're going to bring grandparents as reinforcements :) Thankfully our wonderful Santa Monica family took us in for a night to recover from all that walking!

Unfortunately this is the only pic I have with our Santa Monica Fam. Hailey has learned the art of spraying Aunt Karen with the hose

After we were packed up the next day, we were back on the road. Not to be out-colleged, Joe made sure we visited SLO on our return trip. We got the added bonus that it was Thursday night, which meant Farmer's Market night!

mmmm Corn on a Stick

Hailey's a sucker for walking teddy bears

Whew! Not bad for a family road trip. Now if only we could get a vacation to recover from our vacation...

Summer Road Trip Part 1 - Paso Robles

This year we decided to take a week off of work and daycare for a road trip down to Southern California to visit with friends & family and see the sites. Fortunately all of this coincided with the 4th of July weekend, making it extra fun.

Part 1 of our journey was a long weekend with friends at an amazing ranch house rental in Paso Robles, about a 3 hour drive from home.

10 adults and 7 kids ages 4 months to 4 years. Talk about a full house!

Let's get this road trip started!!!

Gorgeous backyard view from the house

The Crew

Kitchen Hangout

Kiddos at breakfast

Hammocks & Firepit after kiddos went to bed

Jamie & Sarah - Sarah powered through the weekend recovering in a boot after ankle surgery!

 The house had a giant backyard with a pool. Everyone had a blast splashing around.

Hailey & Me

Mike & Kendall

Everett on the Left, Weston on the Right - Bros for life. No, literally.

Uncle Jamie!

Our Weekend...

 The babes spent time in the Pack 'n Play under the shade by the pool.

Ethan & Weston(?)

Baby Blues, in a sea of PINK

The pool is THAT ah-way

Swimming in Style

Wilder Fam (one of the twins must be taking the pic)

Oh and Hammocks... 

Lazy Goofball

Look closely, that's our monster mock slip 'n slide. Better in theory than reality.

Bath Time!

Evening Porch Lounging

Some of the Dads

Ethan's showing Bob how to play Candy Crush

Silly Boy Charlie

Hey there beautiful!

 One of the benefit to these trips is that our kids are best friends. Yes, it helps that most of them go to daycare everyday together. But we're all basically family at this point.

Kids activity time

 Here are our two newest additions to daycare, twins Everett and Weston! Or is it Weston and Everett? Dang it!

Trinette & Cary hanging with the twins

Me & Kendall

Sarah & Weston... no Everett... no wait Weston. wait what?

Legs fo' days.

Hailey & Kendall 

Kendall's ready for babysitting

Jameson & Sarah

The Rohrbach Family

The Wilder Family

Our Silly Fam

Group Shot!

Loved this house, loved this weekend and love these friends! Couldn't have kicked off our vacation any better!