Bojangles: California Part I - Santa Monica and San Diego

Our trip to California was a really great one. In case you didn't know, my best friend, Maggie, got married in LA on October 15th. We took the opportunity to travel as a family vacation. We went for almost 2 weeks. This is SO late, as we got back on October 17th, but it has to be posted! We left really early on a Friday for LAX airport. The flight was surprisingly easy--our first as a family of 4. John and I braced ourselves for 4.5 hours of pure h*ll, but both kids were so great! AJ played games or watched TV most of the time and Jacob slept most of the time. Perfect ages to fly, I must say.

Jacob's first airplane ride! AJ looks mad, but I think it was because he didn't want his photo taken!

We spent the first few days in Santa Monica. I found a great deal at a 5 star hotel that was within walking distance to the Pier. It was also within walking distance to the 3rd street Promenade and tons of shopping, restaurants, Venice Beach, etc. We did A LOT of walking (and eating)!

John and I on the boardwalk in Santa Monica. Notice the big metal things in the background? That is adult playground equipment. It was really neat seeing these people do some swinging.

AJ got a skateboard on the boardwalk. I think John enjoyed it more then he did! Here is AJ practicing in the room. Notice his spiderman PJ's? Yes, he loved them. He thinks he is Peter Parker.

My boys and I in the room ready for the water!

Mom, Jose, and Kayla came too. They flew in really late the same day we did. This was day 1 on the Pier before they went down to San Diego.

Mickey and Minnie posed with AJ (of course for a fee). Did you know that Mickey and Minnie are asian?

Kayla touching her feet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. It was also my mom's first time.

Our family of 4 on the beach. So beautiful!

John posing with some crazy creature. He ended up scratching John.

The boys were on east coast time, which meant a 4:30am wake-up call. AJ took this photo of me and Jacob. Excuse the face, I was tired!

Before we left for San Diego, we had to go see the football games. We found an awesome sports bar.

After two nights in Santa Monica, we went down to San Diego. San Diego was John and I's first vacation together as a couple (well, real vacation at least). He took me there after I graduated college and we loved the city. We have really close family friends, the Pena's, that live down there. Let me tell you, they were the ULTIMATE hosts. John fell in love with Pedro. We went to their house for dinner one evening and it was a ton of fun. Let's just say they love Tequila.

We spent the first night as a family alone--went to Coronodo and had dinner at Hotel del Coronodo (very famous hotel).

Pedro took us first to Mission Beach. We walked from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach. In Mission Beach, they had a little amusement park that we all enjoyed. Here is John and AJ about to get on one.