California Vacation and Shawn and Kelly's wedding

We spent almost a week in California and had a wonderful vacation.  My older brother, Shawn, married the love of his life, Kelly, on Laguna Beach, CA.  It was a dream wedding, one that I always thought I would have, barefoot on the beach at sunset. 

Jerome C. Daniel Overlook Hollywood sign behind us

We arrived last Wednesday in Orange County a little after noon.  Collin upgraded our rental car to a red convertible.  We drove through LA traffic to Mulholland Dr. and saw great views of Hollywood and the Hollywood sign.  Then we drove back through the horrible LA traffic to San Padro to meet a friend of mine from Germany who just recently moved to California with her family.  Sue's daughter, Grace, and Caden were good friends in Germany and played together in MOPPETS and PWOC.  They are a month a part in age.  Caden LOVED seeing an old friend.  They hit it off right away, basically as if they knew each other their whole life.  Sue picked a great place for dinner.  We saw sea lions jumping out of the water for fish and pelicans.  The seafood was excellent, very fresh.  We were so glad Sue and her family could meet us at the last minute for dinner.  She is very dear to me and just a wonderful person.  On the way back from LA we found out that Caden gets car sick.  He threw up all over the back seat of our convertible.  Poor little guy!  It was all the stop-and-go traffic.

Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl

Caden loved the sea lions

All the kids loved this

Me and Sue!

Gracie and Caden

Watching the animals in the water

 

Thursday we spent all day at Disneyland.  We all had a blast.  Caden loved every ride except the Pirates of the Caribbean, which Collin and I didn't care for it either.  That was the only ride he asked to get off of.  You have to be 40 inches to ride several "big kid" rides and Caden is right at 40 inches.  One of our favorite rides was the fast train ride.

Buzz Light Year

Train ride

After this picture I put the camera away!

In front of It's a Small World

 

 

Friday we went to Laguna Beach in the morning to see Shawn and Kelly and the rest of the people who came.  Then my dad and other siblings went to Hollywood.  Collin and I thought we would have more time but the traffic was so bad about 2 hours each way, all we had time for was to walk the Walk of Fame and buy a few t-shirts.  Caden got car sick and threw-up again because of the stop-and-go traffic.  Hollywood is pretty dirty and we wish we would have just stayed at the beach.  Friday night we joined the wedding crew for a lovely dinner in Laguna Beach.

Michelle and I reenacting a pose from childhood

Silly face for a silly author

 

 

Saturday, Collin, Dad, Caden, and I went to Laguna Beach in the morning.  My brother and sister-in-law rented a cabana for Friday and Saturday that was indoor/outdoor on the beach.  They also rented some paddle boards.  Collin and I both got to paddle board in the Pacific Ocean.  It was fun, Collin was really good!  Caden enjoyed the sand and did not like it when the waves knocked him over.

Caden really wanted to swim in the Pacific Ocean

Marisa Paddle Boating

Collin, the pro, paddle boating

 

Saturday evening was the wedding and it was beautiful.  Kelly was gorgeous and Shawn looked really nice too.  The reception was at a delicious restaurant overlooking the ocean.

Cathy, me, and Michelle

My handsome guys!

Opa (my dad), Caden, and Collin

My siblings

Drew and Kristyl

Best wedding kiss ever!

Caden during the ceremony

Sunday Collin, Caden, and I took Drew and Kristyl with us to Newport Beach, specifically Balboa Peninsula.  One side of the Peninsula is a very nice beach, the other side is the bay.  Collin, Caden, and I took a boat tour of the bay and saw sea lions and famous houses.  We ate delicious fish and chips for lunch, road a farris wheel, and then went swimming in the ocean on the other side.  Collin and I both would like to go back to Newport Beach.  There are lots of shops, restaurants, and things to do within walking distance.  We walked down the pier and had a wonderful time.  Sunday evening we met everyone for dinner. 
 

Farris Wheel at Balboa Park

View from Farris Wheel

Boat tour of celebrity homes and sea lions

Caden immediately went to play with the other kids on the boat

Lazy sea lions

Beach where we swam later, left camera in the car

Monday we had a lazy morning at the hotel, checked out at noon and went to the airport.  This was Caden's first state in the U.S. to visit.  He loved California and so did we.  We have missed traveling since moving back to the States and look forward to more family vacations.  Traveling is one of our favorite things to do.