April bits and pieces

Now that I am done posting about Spring Break I have a few catch up pictures from this month.  Most of these were taken on my phone, so they are not great.  I am slowly learning how to use my iphone.  Nate made me upgrade to a smartphone by taking his iphone so he could get the new iphone 5.  He needed more GB's so I went ahead and let him do it.  Not sure I like having a smartphone, but I do like taking pictures easily.  Here are  few from this month.

 I was shopping for a baby gift for my friend and this is what Ashlyn was doing while I was shopping.  Ashlyn loves to shop!  It is so fun to have someone there with me who enjoys it.  We ended up buying the glasses because they were on sale and they are just too cute!

 The boys had Spirit week last week.  One of the days was fashion disaster day.  Here is what we came up with.  They wore their pants and shirts inside out and backwards with non matching socks and one shoe and one boot.  If you look closing at Liam he also had half of his hair spiked and half combed down.  Funny!

Ashlyn and I spent an afternoon getting our hair done.  While I got my color done Ashlyn got her hair cut.  I have been wanting to have it done for a long time.  Ashlyn does not like me brushing her hair and pulling it up, so I told her we would cut it so it would be easier to do.  She loves it now! (and so do I)

 Before

After

USS Midway/Mission Beach/Old Town

Our last full day in San Diego we tried to fit in as much as we could.  We first stopped at the San Diego Temple.  I love this temple.  One of the things that is so awesome about it is its location.  It is right next to the major freeway I 5.  You drive along and BAM! It's right there big and beautiful.  It was overcast that morning so we didn't get any pretty pictures with the sun, but it was still beautiful.  

 I finally kicked the boys out of the pictures because they were just being goofy.  So here is my pretty girl with the pretty temple.

 Still goofy.

Next we went to the USS Midway Museum.  This is an aircraft carrier that they have made into a museum.  It was VERY cool.  They have an audio tour that took us all over the ship.  I could never be a sailor and live in the cramped rooms they have.  Liam especially liked this part of our trip.  He has always wanted to be pilot and he got to sit in a bunch of planes.  He was in heaven.

 Right where they belong.  The ships jail. :)

 It was VERY windy, hence the crazy hair and funny look.

We walked down the road a bit from the aircraft carrier to see these cool ships.  The kids loved them because they look like pirate ships.

After a quick lunch in the car we headed to Mission Beach.  We only stayed for an hour or so, but the kids could have played forever.  They didn't mind that it was not warm.  Nate and I were laying on towels trying to keep warm while the kids dug in the sand and played in the water.

 Gotta love a good backside shot.

To end the day we went back to Old Town.  We ate some good Mexican food and then walked around.  Of course we had to go to the Old Town candy store and buy some homemade taffy.  It was SO good!

That pretty much ends our Spring Break trip.  We didn't take any more pictures of the drive back.  We went as far as Las Vegas on Friday afternoon.  We got out and walked a little bit of the strip, but it was quick because we were easily reminded why we hate Las Vegas.   We went to our hotel and let the kids swim and swim.  We knew it was the last time so we wanted to let them get their fill.  We got up Saturday and drove home.  It was a long drive, but worth it to end our nice vacation.  It was nice to be able to listen to General Conference on Saturday and then spend Sunday resting and watching Conference.  

Sea World and a beach tease

Our second full day in San Diego we headed to Sea World for the day.  It has changed so much.  They had a few rides and just a lot more things to see.  Nate and Gavin got on the bat-ray ride right when we got there because there was only a short wait.  They were able to ride twice.  The wait was over an hour later that day so they were glad they did it when they did.  While we waited for them we got to pet the stingrays.  Of course we had to go back and do it again for Gavin, so I managed to grab some pictures the second time.  Did I mention that the weather was great?  Sunny and warm.  We went to see the Shamu show, then booked it over to the dolphin show.  Later we went to the sea lion show.  The kids said the the sea lion show was their favorite.  It was much more entertaining than the other two shows.  Sadly I didn't get any pictures of it. We saw a ton of sea creatures, both freshwater and salt water.  I could watch fish swim forever.  It is so relaxing.  Anyway, after we had our fill of Sea World we went to the beach just to let the kids see the ocean and get their feet wet.  Silly us for thinking that would be it.  They all ended up with wet pants.  Luckily we were on our way back to the hotel for another swim in the cold pool.  It was a great day!

 Touching the stingrays.  They are slimy.

 The bat ray can get to be bigger than Liam!

 Watching the Dolphins.

 Waiting to see Shamu.

 Waiting for the Dolphin show.

 At the beach.

 The water was freezing.  We were spoiled by the warm Florida gulf water last year.  The Pacific just isn't the same. :)

San Diego Zoo

Our first full day in San Diego the kids decided that they wanted to go to the zoo first.  I admit I was surprised because I thought for sure they would want to go to Sea World.  It turned out to be perfect because the weather was ok for the zoo, but even better the next day at Sea World.  I think the kids enjoyed the zoo even with all the complaining about walking so much.  Gavin of course loved the reptile house.  He wanted a picture with every snake.  The San Diego zoo is one of the best in my opinion.  It took us most of the day to see it.  After the zoo we found dinner and then went back so the kids could swim in the not so warm pool.  Nate was brave enough to swim with them, but I never could do it.  Just not warm enough for me.  The kids didn't care one bit.  They love to swim!

 Pretty Peacock.

 Pink Flamingos.  My favorite.

 Cheetah.

 Proof I was on the trip.  And the zebras.

 Panda Bear. My other favorite.

 Grizzly Bear in the shadows.

 One of many snake pictures.  Not sure what kind this is. :)

 Tortoise.

 2 of my monkeys.

 Can you tell they are under water? ;)

The Albino Burmese Python (one of Gavin's favorite snakes)

Up next... Sea World