San Diego - Post wedding

HAH!  You thought I was gonna say something about a honeymoon.  Nope.  Some lines I don't cross - believe it or not.

Saturday morning dawned and there was no way I was going to the gym.  I was tired.  I was aching from sleeping on a bad bed in between Splenda and Chloee.

Corb and Kar needed us to sign the marriage certificate as witnesses so we left Splenda's car with the kids and we took Chloee and headed BACK to Camp Pendleton.

This is what we saw at the gate to enter

A darling retired couple who chose to spend their Saturday morning standing outside the gates of the Marine base thanking every Marine and their family who returned.  I want to grow up to be like them.

Corb and Splenda built their kitchen table while Karalee, Chloee and I ran errands.

In the evening everyone gathered at their place for a family BBQ

Chloee enjoyed being with her daddy!

Some of us watched a movie and others chatted and played with Chloee.  At the end of the night, Luke and Robby stayed at the apartment, the rest of us went back to our hotel room and spent the last night in beautiful So Cal.

San Diego - Post wedding dinner

Oh Buca di Beppo - how I love you!

Streets of down town (wherever we were) - how I don't!

Parking...interesting.  Did you know that in southern Cali that they would charge you to take a poop if they could?  OY VAY!  40 bucks just to get out of the hotel on the beach parking and now..... you know what?  It's all cool - this was FUN!  And an adventure!  And so far, my spanx was holding up!

We all met up at the restaurant and ordered several dishes to be shared family style.  Karalee's mom and sisters had a beautiful cake all ready and once everyone got there, it was great! 

Someone was very tired though..... remember the whole schedule being off? 

Liking Daddy's decorations

Kayla is a total sweetheart and had made bracelets for each of the girls and put personal charms on them all

Mine had a D, M, Faith, and a Running Shoe.  How cute is that?  It really meant a lot to me to see all the work she had put into them.  Each girls was unique to her.  And you can kind of see Chloee's in her hand.  White beads with a C charm.  Thank you Kayla!!

After the eating, it was time for cake!

I think both of them were exhausted and once the cake festivities were done, they were OUTTA there! 

We were right behind with a sleepy, tired Chloee and Mimi who couldn't wait to get to our bed!

PS - I can honestly say that I once again found spanx to be overrated.  It just shoves the fat other places.  And just so you know, I can drive with one hand and rip of my spanx with the other.  Just ask Montana (if she wasn't too traumatized)

San Diego - Day 2 continued......THE WEDDING kinda......

The long awaited day!

Corb called on our way home from the beach and wanted to come get ready at the hotel room.  No worries, we threw everyone else in the shower, and then when they left to get food, Chloee and I started our primping process. 

Chloee's dress was beautiful!  GORGEOUS!!  She loved it for about an hour.  Then all she could do was complain about getting it off.  It was in her way.  She couldn't walk.  It itched. .......... we spent a lot of time distracting her.  Girlie girl - she is not!

One last shot (or 4) of just our fam before leaving the hotel

Chloee don't pull a funny face - just smile please

Tuffy thought Rob said to PULL a funny face

Try again

This is as good as it's gonna get - and I think it's pretty darn GOOD!  What a beautiful family I have!

So, me, Tuffy, Tana and Chloee were in Kayla's car with the GPS and address all punched in.  Corb and Luke are in his car, and Splenda and Robby are in Splenda's car.  All equipped with GPS.  All with the same address.

Have you driven near Coronado beach?  Yeah, the streets aren't straight.  Anywhere.

At least Montana and Chloee amused themselves with the camera.  These were all taken by Chloee:

I LOVE her little red piggies!

So, some frustration as we drove around trying to find where we were supposed to be.  Finally the hotel that we believe we are supposed to be at.  Score some free parking.  Get out, wander around only to discover that we should be ACROSS the street!

Splenda votes to leave the cars parked there and walk.  Talked into moving across the street.  18 turns later, we make it into the RIGHT parking lot and start unloading and heading for the beach.

Everyone is getting excited and as we meet up with Kar's family - everyone is so lovely and looking great!

We get on the sand and Chloee is in heaven!  She wants to run in the sand, play on the rocks, and goof around.  The adults are trying to get the arch put together, meeting (some for the first time) and Karalee is with the photographer.

I decide to hand my camera over to Roboyto and let him go with it.

Just as it's getting time to get in our places, Chloee has to go potty.

Sah-weet!  No potties on the beach my friends.  She and I leave and hike a good half mile to the hotel and around the front to find a restroom.

Hope they don't start without the flower girl!

San Diego - Day 2 The Beach!

I let myself sleep until my body naturally woke up and while everyone stayed snoring, I snuck downstairs and hit the treadmill for an hour.  The workout room was fabulous and had everything one could possibly need!

When I made it back to the room, Chloee and Poppa wer awake so we put on our swimsuits and hit the pool.  Okay, in reality, it was the hot tub since the pool was FREEZING! 

The skies were still cloudy and it was a little breezy but our own personal Rainman (Robert, Robby, Roboyto) kept us in the loop with the weather, GPS, and everything else under the sun with his iphone.  Knowing that it was going to clear up and be perfect beach weather, we got everyone else up and headed out.

First stop was to find food.  I don't know about you, but when traveling, I like to go places that I can't normally do at home.  Sure, there is safety in chain restaurants, but with Rainman and his app's, we were directed to a fabulous sandwich shop in Del Mar

His apps also would tell him the most recommended sandwiches

l-r Rob, Tuf, Tana, Chloee, Splenda, Me and Luke

It was then back in the cars, plug the beach address into the GPS and off we went!

An omen of things to come.  Poor sleeping schedules, naps in the car - but gladly I can report, she was an ANGEL the entire time!

Mission Beach.  Where the people watchin is aplenty! 

This girl LOVES the ocean and the beach - San Diego is going to suit her perfectly!!

While the others were frolicking in the waves - Luke and I did what we do best.....shopping and being rebels

No worries, they're just henna....but it was fun anyway.

After a full afternoon, it was time to head back to the hotel and start cleaning up for the BIG EVENT!!

San Diego - Day 1

Splenda, the boys, and Montana all left Wednesday night stopping in St George for some shut eye.  Shout out to Mindi and her man at the Marriott!  They were well taken care of!

Thursday morning they set of for CA stopping to pick up Robby (nephew) in Vegas.  While they were sitting in the car, listening to Splenda's choice of satellite radio - Chloee and I were sitting in the SLC airport awaiting the Southwest cattle call.

Must begin the day with chocolate

She's a great little traveler, but when we do it again, I am NOT opting to change planes.  Little stressful getting off, finding the right gate and getting back on.  Have you ever tried to hurry a 4 year old in an airport?  Yeah, no bueno.

But all told, she travels very, VERY well.  No whining, kicking the seat, flippng the tray table......she's just very well behaved.

After landing in San Diego, Kar and Corb picked us up, and we went back to Camp Pendleton and to check out their new apartment.

Pictures? Why no.  Totally forgot.  Imagine some fairly decent base housing.  Back gate opens to a playground.  Close to the gas station, commissary and a base convenience mart.  A Marine Sev if you will.   Very nice.  Chloee's bedroom is very cute and each trip we will be moving more and more of her stuff down.

After some chit chatting, Corb had to get back to work, so Chloee and I headed back to San Diego and our hotel.  Shout out to Kar's sister Kayla for loaning us her ride to use and the GPS!  I don't know what we would have done with out it!!

And another shout out to Mindi and the Marriott - Very nice.    The room was a little small, but since we just needed it to sleep, it sufficed.  The property itself was fantastic!

By the time we got there, the car and it's tired occupants had arrived and after we all got settled in, we  headed to Old Town for dinner at Fred's

I'm telling you, it's one of the best places to eat in Old Town.

After that, we pretty much called it a night.  Every single one of us was beat from the entire day of travel and wanted nothing more than sleep.