The Beach Trip - Set Up and Sunday Tours

We've never had to take a baby to the beach before, so this was a new experience. It's amazing how much stuff just one little (yet chubby) person can add to our vehicle in supplies. Plus carrying him all the way down to the beach with all the other crap we have to take down there was quite load. Luckily, Malcolm napped like a champ every day we were on the beach and quite enjoyed the cuddling and walks and eating sand and such.

But Day 1 was just traveling and setting up camp. I was very nervous that Malcolm wouldn't sleep and wake up the entire campsite, but he did really, really well. Stella always sleeps well when we camp because she wears herself out playing!

Day 2 was Sunday, so we tried our hardest not to spend money or go to the beach, although that's all Stella wanted to do all day. It was pretty chilly and overcast all day though, so I was happy not to be there.

We were planning on going to church, but found out that it was Stake Conference. I wasn't going to do that to myself or my kids, so we just went to the San Diego Temple instead. Stella and Sarah and Garrett had a great time rolling down the hills until Stella realized how sharp the grass blades were and had little cuts all over her arms and legs. This was super painful for her the next day when we had to put on sunscreen at the beach. Ouch!

We went to a park to have our picnic lunch and the kids got to run around a little bit. It was really, really cold and I didn't bring a jacket.

We went to The Mormon Battalion for our next tour. Elliot and I haven't been there for 12 years, so it was fun to see the significant changes they've made to the tour.

Stella volunteered immediately to be one of the soldiers. She's the cutest thing ever.

We did some panning for gold and Stella misunderstood the very clear rule of how many pieces of gold you get to take. They had just refilled the water with new gold so she was finding herself quite a bit of success.

We headed to Cabrillo National Monument to see the Point Loma Lighthouse across from San Diego bay. This weirdo guy dressed up at a soldier wouldn't leave our family alone while we were looking out into the bay, so we tried to make our way up to the lighthouse before it all closed.

Cramped. Good grief, I would never live in a lighthouse. I don't think I'm claustrophobic, but I would be if I lived in a lighthouse. There were 25 people trying to climb to the top of the lighthouse at the same time with no where to go when you got there.

We took a little walk around to see the functional lighthouse down closer the water (with binoculars) and then the kids and Lorraine hurried down to the museum area to meet the weirdo soldier (who had changed his costume) so they could help him take down the flag and fold it.

It was a totally relaxing day, so I don't know why I get so extremely exhausted. I'm sure I fell asleep on the way back to camp. Malcolm and Stella did a great job and weren't cranky at all!

Dinner time . . . delicious, but burped it up all night.

And thank you Grandma Dibble for the best camping highchair ever!