The San Diego Temple!

Having never been to San Diego...the temple was one of the things I missed seeing!
We decided to slow the pace down in the middle of the week--and took an evening trip after hanging out all day to the temple! The kiddos certaily LOVED the grass hills that the temple is situated on!
Because we had four kids and no babysitter--going through a session for Dan and I was out of the question. BUT you do not necessarily need to go inside to feel the spirit. We loved being there as a family and talking with the cute couple missionary's assigned to the grounds outside the temple. They showed us pictures of the inside atrium, and staircase--it was a good experience for us!
This temples design is so unique and awe inspiring-- and from pictures I always envisioned it being bigger. However when we approached the temple-although it is large, was not as big as I thought! I realize the design of it gives the appearance of being bigger (even looking at these pictures now).
It is majestic and amazing, as all temples are.

It was the "fairytale castle" for our perfect vacation.

The icing on our cake!!!

Dancing at Sea World!

Much to my hearts delight...my children (some more than others) tend to bust out their moves when they hear a catchy tune, regardless of where it is!!

Ryland is no exception...he told me to record him dancing like he is going to do on TV (ever since he saw that little boy break dancer on so you think you can dance--he thinks he is going to be on TV dancing)!!! Not sure he will ever be on TV for his classic dance moves, but we certainly can have FuN trying!! I think children are so great in regards to no inhibitions or worrying about what others think--they just enjoy the world around them!

and....SEA WORLD!!!!

We also spent 2 WONDERFUL days taking in the sights and sounds

of Sea World while in San Diego

They have a special running right now, that you pay for the price of one day

and get to go 2!!!

I cannot imagine being able to fit it all in one day, with lots of small kiddos!

...of course, they had decorated for Halloween (my absolute favorite time of the year).

being desert folk-we rarely have contact with creatures of the sea.

It was awe inspiring for us!

The shows were easily Dacie and I's favorites. We could have watched them all day long!

Dacie would insist on sitting by herself the whole time and would just sit and watch...not even a wiggle!
The boys wanted the real deal, and opted to sit on the front row (sterling did for every show)

in the SPLASH ZONE--they came away soaking WET!

The rest of us sat a few rows up with towels!

Here is Dacie watching the dolphin show intently!

...and they even have a show for rescued pets-it was amazing to see what you could train your pig, cat, dog, and ducks to do!
We had no camera for the walrus show.

They went trick-or-treating and it was HILARIOUS!!!

We LOVED the 'hands-on" experience our kids got there as well!
Playing in the tide pools with the star fish!

Dolphin feeding time-Ryland and mommy got lucky and got to pet/play with one of the dolphins
They feel pretty awesome--

The sting/bat rays were Sterling's favorite and he kept asking to go back

Their texture was a bit more slimy!

They had about every kind of sea creature you can think of to observe!
The shark tunnel was always a hit.
The penguins were stinky, but much looked forward too by Ryalnd and Sterling!We managed to have only one or two melt-downs for the missed nap days
(Dacie will only sleep in a crib--no parents or stroller)
She is not a big fan of having so sit in a stroller strapped in anymore!

...and, of course the rides were always a BLAST (of water)
Dan and Sterling are in the very back!
Mommy and Colton are in the very front!
The have a whole kids Sesame section--that my kids could have spent hours in!
We only lost one kid (Sterling) for about 15 minutes (of panic).
Kid leashes are in tow for next time!

Colton flying solo!

Dacie and Daddy!
Sterling!
Dacie and Daddy!
We closed the park down each day and walked to our car looking at the sunset!
What a happy, fun, fascinating, adventurous kinda of day(s)!!!!

The BEACH!!!

We spent 2 BEAUTIFUL DAYS on Mission BEACH

(6 plus hours a day for us beach bums)We built one masterful sand castle as a family...that the boys promptly wanted to

'wreck' when we were finished.

Sand was plentiful (even AFTER we went home), and so were the toys...
Sterling and Colton spent HOURS looking for shells. Sterling had THE FIND of a lifetime and found a complete sand dollar (whole)...

which was smashed by his brother Colton later that afternoon!

This is as close as Dacie got to the water, if it touched her toes...she would scream!It was the harvest of the kelp this time of year. I LOVED popping the bulbs on the end that make them float--it felt like bubble wrap!

Of course kit flying was in order-

we only let one fly away and one ended up in the trash can!

Like how Ryland flew his kite?-prostrate style!

Ryland was our little scavenger, and would consider ANY little thing he found on the beach a treasure...
including cigarette butts, broken pail handles (they were his keys), lip gloss, lip stick, a sole to a sandal...
Here he is (above) filling up an old french fry bag with sand.
Who needs to bring sand toys when you got trash?

This was the most action our boogie boards got this trip. I took the boys out on the boards the first day and every single one came in crying. I am not gonna lie...the water was cold (66 degrees) so that probably did not help!
Dacie never strayed far from "home" base, or momma--she would rather pose, play in my bag, or sit on her special chair!

Colton and Sterling spent the first day in the water (to their knees) pretending to surf and getting tossed around by the currents and waves.

Little Sterling got 'rocked' so much that first day--we were up most the evening giving him Motrin and helping him to walk (his little gimp foot had a hard time of it)

Usually Dan and Dacie would call it a day at late naps and lunchtime. I would call it quits when every boy was crying from exhaustion, sand in their eyes...and just too much fun!
I could pretty much sit on the beach all day reading a good book, piddling around, feeling the sea breeze and listening to the waves!

LIFE'S A BEACH!