TG in CA

This year, we spent Thanksgiving in California. 

Anna did a great job of helping me pack.

I went down five days before Nick to soak up the sun with the girls. Here we are at 5:00 AM getting on our plane. We didn't get into California until around 2 PM and by that point, nobody had napped. It was about as good as it sounds.

But we made it in one piece (sort of, I think my patience and brains were sadly left in Seattle).

It was such a fun trip! The weather was unbelievable! 75-80 degrees the entire time. I couldn't believe it! We had a blast running all over with Nick's family and my girls were seriously in heaven with all the love, attention and snuggles.

We were able to go to the beach twice. Both my girls had such a wonderful time.

Evelyn has taken to building sandcastles VERY seriously.

And there is nothing cuter than a baby at the beach.

Unless that baby is Anna.

She pooped sand for days.

This girl! She is such a water baby. The frigid November water didn't even phase her. She loved playing in the waves and when I finally pulled her out (I was fearful she was hypothermic) she cried!

Model?

She kept putting her face in. It was weird and hilarious at the same time.

We also ran the Dana Point Turkey Trot. 

There were so many people there! It was awesome to see so many people justify eating 2,000 calories in one meal. (These are definitely my kind of people!) Chels and I ran the 10K and Nick, John and Jillian ran the 5K. And Nick's mom took one for the team and watched our girls (Thank you, Grandma!)

Nick and Jillian. Unfortunately this picture doesn't portray how well Jillian did. It was her first race in a long time and she did awesome!

Everybody.

Evie and her FAVORITE PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE, Great Grandpa Bernie.

Evelyn talks constantly of Bernie and she seriously loves him so much.

Legoland!

These two!

It was a pretty awesome day. Ev was LOVING life.

We look pretty thrilled here.

The kid behind us nailed this photobomb.

Ev isn't tall enough to ride some of the roller coasters. So we did what any good parent would do and stuffed her shoes with rolled up socks so she could ride. Her ankles and toes were BLEEDING and she never gave up. Anything is worth an adrenaline rush RIGHT!!?

Lovers.

More lovers. 

Nobody spoils our children like Nick's mom. She brings "spoil" to a whole new level. When Evie receives something new she always says, "Is this from Grandma Jordan?" 

Because there is a 90% chance that its true. 

Evie named her balloon elephant, "Sweetie Pie," and insisted that Aunt Jillian babysit it.

I think J is going to be a great mother someday.

The Evies.

They have such a special bond and I love that.

Normally when Nick goes surfing, I try to let him have his space and just enjoy one of his true loves in life. But sometimes ... I invite myself along. I mean, two loves is better than one.

We had so much fun. At least I think we did. Nick spent most of the afternoon coaching me. I caught about a dozen waves and I'm definitely getting better. It helps that the waves were small, but there is hope that someday we could take a surfing trip together and I wouldn't be a total embarrassment. 

Let's be honest, I'll probably be an embarrassment either way.

My wet suit was so big (it was one of Nick's friends) and let's just say it wasn't the most flattering. You know in the movie 'The Proposal,' when Betty White is hunting for Easter eggs in Sandra Bullock's wedding dress? It was like that ... but worse.

We tried to get a family pic...

It went as well as expected.

 

Playing games.

Sadly, our trip had to come to an end (but not before stopping to get Acai bowls on the way out of town!). So grateful I had Nick's help on the way home.

Some people had a rough flight.

Sad to leave Grandma's!