So this is Love: Cali trip 2011

We went to California for a week and a half back in June...(sorry my blogging is so far behind) Last year we missed our annual Cali trip due to the fact that we were broke and Shyloh was due to arrive only weeks after the scheduled trip. Although it worked out splendid because My sis Summer was able to go to the beach just before coming to be with me for the birth... that is another story though so let me get back to Cali this year. We were SO excited. I spent a whole week packing to make sure we had anything and everything we needed. The drive there was fine lasting only ten hours. The first night Shyloh came down with a fever. She was in bed with me and I kept a cold cloth on her to keep her temp down. her head was burning up but her feet and legs were freezing so here she is in her sweats and boots with no top on. Poor baby. That was no fun but at least I could hear the ocean all night as I watched over her.

The next day she seemed out of sorts, not wanting any solids and extra fussy. We took a trip down to the beach anyways... Shyloh was fine until I let her down in the sand and she got some in her mouth. Had we gone to the beach a few months later she would have done much better but she was at that hard in between age where she doesn't want to be held but she doens't understand how to play in the sand. Plus it was very cool and windy on the beach. It felt good for me but for little Shyloh with no body heat it was cold.

Nolan had loads of fun on the beach!!! He collected rocks, he threw rocks, he made rock sculptures and he kicked rocks. He was in heaven. One of this little mans favorite past times is doing various activities with rocks and our only rule was not throwing rocks at humans. He wore a hand-me-down wet suit (with padding for floatation) that came from his uncle Robbie. Thank goodness for that thing! It kept him nice and warm and away from the sun. The water was super frigid so Daddy only took him in a few times but he loved standing on the shore then running away from the waves.

Since Shyloh doesn't have a favorite blanket when she was feeling sick my hair became her blanket. The second I would hold her she would reach for my hair and twist it in her hands. So funny. On Wednesday we took a trip to L.A. She was in the back seat between my mom and Nolan and I was in front between Rob and Joe. On the way home Shyloh was just screaming so finally I leaned my head back on the seat and stuck my ponytail into her carseat. It was the most uncomfortable ride of my life but the second she could feel and smell my hair she was fine. After about 20 minutes she fell asleep and I was able to sit up again.

Dad and Mom Smith along with the kids were able to come as well. They stayed in a rented condo down the street. We really didn't get to hang with them much but it was so splendid having them there. It really made the week perfect. We went one night and enjoyed their hot tub then had ice cream and fruit afterwards. Super fun Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of them :( My camera was pretty much hidden after the first few days.

After our week at the beach we went to the Welk to stay with Joes folks at thier time share. They had an amazing pool with a slide. It was really nice and super fun. Shyloh and Nolan loved being in the water. Unfortunately Shyloh is just so tiny that she became cold very quickly so I spent most of the time snuggling her under a towel. It was so fun seeing Joe play with all the kids in the pool.

Here are the kids playing Cricket