Spring Break Fun- A Recap

I always work during Spring Break.  I never take time off.  I don't know why because I should take some time off to spend with the kids.  For the first time, and seriously,this is the FIRST time, I took half a week off to make everlasting memories with Dylan, Brandon, and Mia.  Initially, Lance was going to spend the time in San Diego working on the boat, but he wanted to spend time with us instead.  I welcomed his participation.  It was nice doing things as a family.

We worked a half day on Wednesday. When we got off work, we picked up the kids from their dad's house, and spent the afternoon touring two popular exhibits in Buena Park: the Titanic and the Bodies in Motion exhibits.  Lance and I had seen the Bodies exhibit before while visiting Vegas, but I thought the kids would be intrigued with the miracle of the human body.  It truly is a wonderful, incredibly interesting exhibit.

I get an eerie feeling when I read about the Titanic. We were given a boarding pass upon entry to the exhibit. The boarding pass gave detailed information about a passenger aboard the doomed ship.  Upon departing the exhibit, we discovered the fate of our passenger.  We also actually got to physically touch a piece of the ship too.  What a unique experience! It is such a tragedy....so many lives lost.  You can't help but feel a sense of somberness while walking through the exhibit..  They had us sit in a makeshift lifeboat at the end and we watched a giant screen where the luxurious liner was sinking.  It gave you the impression that you were in the lifeboat on the ocean.   You could hear the screams and then it is consumed by deathly silence and darkness. 

After the learning experience, we all went to Huntington Beach Pier for dinner at Ruby's diner.  The malted milkshakes were so good, and we ate the most greasy yet delicious burgers.

On Thursday, we drove to San Diego to go to the zoo.  I have mixed feelings about the zoo.  I understand, in some ways, they help animals (i.e the Condor) and teach young children, but at the same time, it makes me sad to see the confinement of such large animals like the lion.  I admit that I selfishly like vising the zoo, but if I had a choice, I would probably choose to have them completely eliminated.  Animals in captivity should be in some type of sanctuary where they have a large amount of land. 

I recognize that I'm a hypocrite.


Lance with the boys in Tram 1

We spent a few hours at the zoo before making a stop at Tide the Knott. I got to see firsthand our bedroom.  Lance hopes to have it done by the end of May, which means more visits by me to the boat.  He tells me that everything he does is with me in mind.  He is a romantic.

The kids and I headed to Hollywood on Friday. We took the Amtrak and then the Red Line (Subway) to Hollywood.  I think it is important that the kids get to experience public transportation.  It is not something they do regularly. 



Catching the train at the new ARTIC. It is a gorgeous building.

We stayed at the luxurious W Hotel at a reduced rate of $350.  Seriously? Yeah, that was the discount.  Normally, rooms at the W can go up to $600 or more a night.  The hotel was perfectly situated for us to get to the expo and the race start line.  It was also within steps from the finish line.  Yes, I dragged the kids up to Hollywood to run.  Lance stayed at home on Friday night to tend to our canine children. He drove up early Saturday morning for the race.

Outside the W Hotel

Hollywood is not without its WEIRDOS.  A man came up to Mia and accused her of spitting on him. He was obviously on some hallucigen.  He seemed out of it.  Additionally, a woman was sitting in a restaurant at one of the tables outside when she began to massage both of her breasts as me and the children walked by.  We only walked along Hollywood Boulevard to get dinner.  We ate at a scrumptious Japanese restaurant.  I was eager to get back to the hotel.  I felt uncomfortable and a little unsafe.  When I was a teenager, I would visit Hollywood monthly, but now?  It's weird.  You have the W Hotel which is a 5 star hotel, and literally, a few blocks down, there can be weird people.  I guess I'm just getting too old, and I don't like the adventure of big city life. 

Japanese dinenr

dinner on Hollywood Blvd.

After we picked up our bibs, we went back to the W Hotel to swim. The pool is on the rooftop.

getting our bibs

 

We tried to go to sleep early because the Hollywood Half Marathon and 5k/10k race started at 6 a.m. I went to bed at 10 p.m., and  I was up at 3:30 a.m.  I could not go back to sleep.  Lance arrived shortly after 5 a.m.  We then walked a mile to the start line.  Lance and the kids were running the 5k while I was doing the half marathon. I'm a Hollywood Legacy Runner, which means I've run this race every year for the past four years.  I like this race because it has a family atmosphere to it.

 I wanted the kids to achieve a personal record (PR). I knew they had it in them.  Brandon had to beat 34 mins, and Mia had to beat 37 minutes. Lance was Mia's pacer, and Dylan was Brandon's pacer. 

this family runs together

Not yet 6 a.m. and they are ready to run

Our running group minus Lance

Brandon finished in 30:23 at an average pace of 9:48 per mile.  Out of 98 boys ages 19 and below, he placed 16th.

Mia finished in 34:47 with an average pace of 11:13 per mile.  Out of 100 girls ages 19 and below, Mia placed 30.

Wow!!! I'm speechless with pride.

I ran the half marathon in 2:19:32 with an average pace of 10:39.  I'm also very proud of myself . I could probably knock between 5-10 minutes off that time because I had a desperate bathroom break at mile 7.5.  Seldom does my Crohn's disease interfere with my running, but today, it did.  I was in that port-o-potty for a long time. 

I'm also overweight.  I have been eating without any care, and I've gained 5 lbs in the last month. 

While we were in Hollywood on Friday, Lance took the dogs out on the dinghy and Bella made a new friend. She swam and played with a seal.  Many onlookers were also taking photos of such an amazing sight.  Buddy swam in circles. This weekend, the dogs got to swim at the beach and spend time running freely around.

Bella swims with a seal

Good-looking boy with his ball

 

 Lance plays with his new drone. It actually does video recording. 

Bella drinks from the fountain after a carefree run.

 Kids playing handball
 

It was a great few days off, and guess what? Next year, I'm doing this again! My kids are growing up so fast, and there are not that many Spring Breaks left.

Finally!!! A Visit to Arizona

Our youngest grandson was born in February 2014, and it took us over a year to finally see him.  It is easy to justify the delay with excuses but quite honestly, there really isn’t any valid excuse.  We should have gone out there sooner. It is that simple.  It is pointless to focus on regrets, but we have committed to making a more concerted effort to see our grandsons.  They don’t live that far away.

 

Jaxs (super ADORABLE!)

 

Lance’s youngest daughter Lauren lives in eastern Arizona.  She is about a 2.5 hour drive from Phoenix.  She is married to Don, and they have two young sons, Carter (almost 4) and Jaxs (13 months).  Phoenix is about a 5.5 hour drive from Southern California, and to make a weekend get together possible, we agreed to meet in Phoenix.  We arrived late Friday afternoon and met them at California Pizza Kitchen.  Following a great dinner, we satisfied our sweet cravings with a trip to Coldstone.  Lance and I also took the boys to Target that evening to spoil them with brand new toys.

 

Jaxs with his new airplane toy

Our Saturday plans consisted of a tour to a railroad park/museum in Scottsdale.  We were able to view mini railroad models.  Because of the intricate details,  I could spend hours looking at these miniature models. There is so much time involved in assembling the models, and each has its own theme.  Lance and I once tried to build our own mini railroad model.  We laid out the tracks on a table he custom built and began getting buildings, cars, and accessories for our town.  We, however, never fully pursued the hobby and eventually, our railroad town was disassembled.  At the park, Carter and Jaxs were able to ride on the carousel, and we all took a ride on a mini functioning railroad through the park.  The highlight for me and Lance, however, was viewing the museum.  One of the rail carts on the exhibit is probably the most historical rail cart in the United States.  It was used by four US Presidents (Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower).  In fact, we learned that Truman first heard about the atomic bomb in that rail car.  It was used for campaigning by Eisenhower,  and it was the primary transportation for FDR to/from Washington DC and his home during his presidency. 

the mini functioning locomotive that took us around the park

About to go for a ride

on the carousel

Carter plays inside the museum

on the historic rail cart.  I'm standing at the location where Eisenhower campaigned.

The most historically significant rail cart in US history.

Mimicing FDR.  It is not the same chair, but I am sitting in the exact same spot as FDR.

 

Following the railroad park visit, we had lunch before heading back to the hotel for a swim and a basketball game. 

 

Carter is a daredevil.  He is fearless.  I gasped because Lance and Don were throwing him up in the pool like he was a football.  He loved it and laughed and kept wanting to do it again.  In fact, when Don and Lance returned to the room to watch the game, Carter just jumped into the water without no one close to catch him. We had to remind him to NOT do that.  He is such an adventurous, thrill-seeking, courageous, and FUN little boy.  I have never met a kid who is so fearless.  It was Jaxs first time in the pool.  He is such a good baby too.  He hardly cried or whined.  He welcomed us and allowed us to hold and kiss him. He is beautiful baby. There was no fear of strangers yet.  The day ended with a visit to Denny’s for milkshakes.

playing outside in the water system after lunch at BJ Brewery.  Carter decided he didn't want to wear his shorts while jumping through the water, and he started to undress! Whoa! When I turned around, I saw his naked cute little tush.  I quickly pulled up his shorts.

Jaxs looks so much like Lauren

Lance and Don---good husbands carry their wives' purses.

Carter is not only so cute, but he has such personality!

 

sun was in Jaxs face so that's why he looks grouchy

Carter loved jumping in the water

acrobats

  

We are going to try to, at least, see Lauren twice a year.  If we meet in Phoenix, it is basically a weekend trip….easily doable!  The good news though is Lauren, Don, Carter will be visiting So. Cal in late August so we will see them again soon!