San Diego part 3

After spending most of the day at the beach, we drove back to the hotel to rest a little. This basically meant everyone headed for the pool. Joseph was a little wary of going to the pool so we took a bath in the tub where he could control the depth of the water. By the time everyone got back from the pool they decided they were hungry and wanted to go to dinner. They also wanted to go see the San Diego temple since we didn't have time to go on Sunday. I was so tired (and so red) from the beach, I volunteered to stay behind while they went. Joseph had fun seeing the temple. They took a lot of pictures. I almost wish I had gone with them. But it was all I could do to drag myself across the street to Taco Bell. I would have died on the temple grounds.
Here are my boys being silly at the temple.

The next day (Tuesday) we went back to Sea World. Kallie wanted to ride on the Atlantis ride. Because it had been so cold Saturday, that wasn't even an option. So she and Merna headed off to get soaked. Joseph and Jace wanted to ride the kiddie rides again. Joseph rode the Elmo ride three times in a row. Only to be followed by the Oscar ride twice.

After the rides, the Sesame Street gang came out and sang a couple songs and then they were available for photos. Joseph had fun with Grover (he played with Joseph's hat making Joseph laugh heartily)
Here he and Jace are with Cookie Monster, Elmo and Zoie. They were so excited to see them.

Here Joseph is waiting for a dolphin to swim by so he can pet it. Josh and Kallie were able to touch them, but the rest of us didn't.

After petting the dolphins, we (Joseph and I) went to find his souvenir. He had thrown a fit on Saturday about a shark, so I thought that's what he would want. But he decided he wanted a killer whale (or a death fish, as he called it for a while). I think it's funny he wanted a killer whale since he slept through the whole killer whale show. But that's what he wanted, and he loves it.

He loved holding the starfish. He would have stayed here all day. He can tell you all about the legs and eyes that starfish have on their arms. Just ask him.

After our short day (ha, ha, we didn't leave until almost 6:00) at Sea World, we went out to dinner and took two very tired little boys (Jace actually slept all through dinner) home to bed.

The next morning we got up and packed. After our goodbyes we headed north.

I'm so glad these two get along so well. They had so much fun together. Joseph keeps telling me he loves his cousins Jace and Kallie. We're so glad he had company on vacation. It made it so much nicer for him.

Here are the two brothers. I think the one on the right is the cutest. Sorry Jake.

We drove to Anaheim (both families did, but Jake and Merna went to Disneyland and California Adventure. We just spent a couple hours walking around Downtown Disney)

Here is Joseph and his favorite sheriff.

Me with my cute boys.

Once we got to Disney territory all I could think of was my family. We plan on going to Disneyland sometime next year. I thought of all the trips (all two) I've taken with my parents and can't wait to be here with them again. I can't wait to be anywhere with them again. (Just a few more days til they come home) So this was a fun jaunt to think of my family.

Here's Joseph's first (and only) glimpse of the happiest place on earth. He wasn't to excited at this time, we were in the middle of a fight (he thought we needed to buy him some toys that were way too expensive for a little boy) But I sure enjoyed seeing that iconic train station.

We passed the Rainforest Cafe on our way back to the car just as the bird show started (it was just this lady sharing the story of this bird, but Josh and Joseph liked it).

That night we drove to Barstow. We spent the night and (after cruising for a bit on Route 66, sorry, no pictures) we headed for St. George. Upon reaching St. George we got checked into our hotel and unpacked, then we went swimming. In Barstow, we had gone swimming, but it was late (7:00ish) and we were tired. Joseph didn't seem too excited, but we got to St. George around 2:30 so we wanted to swim some more.

At first, Joseph didn't seem to excited. Josh would take him into the deep end and try to help him float. He wanted to spend more time in the hot tub than the pool. Finally he learned that his feet would touch the bottom in the shallow end. (At first, he wouldn't put his feet down at all), it took over an hour to get him out of the pool. We then walked to Iceburg for dinner (so yummy) Joseph fell asleep on the way and slept through most of the meal.

When we got back to the hotel, he didn't want to sleep alone in his bed (I think he was getting tired of being alone in big beds). So I laid with him for a while. When he fell asleep it was so cute we had to get a picture.

Here is my cute little sleeper. He had such fun and he was so good in the car. I love this little man.

My little reader.

Hiding from the camera.

It was so fun to go with my boys and spend time away from the normal. Joseph keeps talking about the killer whales, dolphins, sharks, starfish, sea lions, beach and ocean (ocean water is yucky)

Looking forward to our next vacation.