Spring Break!

Spring Break was really fun and unique this year. It was a "girls only" week, even though we called our husbands every day, sometimes more... Mom and Dad win the "most romantic couple ever" award.

It was a long flight to California, but the bright sun and high temperatures kept me going. Since I arrived about lunchtime, Mom took me to "The Shake Shack" right on Pacific Coast Highway, overlooking the beautiful ocean. We shared a thick, chocolaty-goodness shake. I knew it was going to be an awesome week right then and there.

Mom was staying at a beautiful house, thanks to generous supporter friends who own a missionary house below their own. This was the view. Every. Day. Breathtaking.

 A closeup of that shore...

Then, of course, we had to stick our feet in it!! Notice that I'm wearing my new dress, and I even got a compliment on it by a passerby!! Yipee!! I don't look like a walking curtain :)

The next day, Mom took me whale watching because it was the festival of whales in Dana Point Harbor. My parents used to take us there to catch crabs using cheese or deli meat as bait on a string with a paper clip. We never caught one, but we never stopped trying.

So we got onto the boat and it started making me seasick... I focused very hard on everything BUT the boat movements... like the water, the view, the animals, conversation....
Lots of people were paddling on surfboards like this. I can't remember the name of the sport, but it's something obvious like "paddle boarding".

We saw tons of pelicans. They love to fly and dive into the water.

This is either a seal or a sea lion... it barked.

We never spotted any whales, but we saw dozens and dozens of dolphins. They were so playful and jumping every which way, which is why I couldn't get a good picture. The pelicans and dolphins were fighting over the fish for breakfast??

 Here's my best shot of a dolphin. They were so close to the boat!

Afterwards, Mom and I walked along the pier and browsed through the booths of handmade goods: jewerly, home decor, and lots of art.

There was an antique car show too!

 And a clam bake cook off.

Then Mom found a guy who had a pirate dummy and convinced him to try it. A small crowd gathered while the pirate, suddenly with a feminine voice, starting making jokes. I could only push through the onlookers and snap this picture as she was giving him back. Too bad he couldn't let Mom go on for longer, she was doing such a good job!!

On Monday, Sarah arrived and we had more fun: lots of shopping, walking, talking, eating out, and pressing on Sarah's belly to get the baby to kick! Baby loved the gifts I brought and made for him, AND Sarah's skirt fit well. Yay! We visited Grandma Minnie several times and even went to Universal Studios to see my second cousin perform in "Waterworld"!  The thing is, since Sarah's camera is pocket sized, she took all the pictures, so I'm left to direct you to her blog.

Thanks, Mom, for making the week so special! I love you!!