Family Vacation 2009

This year we took our family vacation to Newport Beach and San Diego. Here are a few pictures. Now I will tell you a few stories.

First of all, Sam and George are still obsessed with facial hair, and even more obsessed with armpit hair.  How do I know? When spending so much time in the car together, you are bound to hear conversations you didn't know could even take place.  Cara made the remark of how she needed more razors on the first day of vacation. She had forgotten hers. She said she needed to shave her legs and armpits. Sam noticed her armpit stubble and exclaimed, "You shave that off?! No, don't do that. You are so lucky. Can you save some and glue it on me? I wish I could trade places with you." Cara of course, like any sane person, thought Sam was disgusting, "Why do you want armpit hair?" Sam and George both replied like it was so obvious, "Because it's cool and Gary has it."

I learned that George has a bladder the size of a pea, no pun intended. He had to go so often that I was wondering if he had a bladder infection. I asked him if it hurt to pee. He said, "No." After two days of running to the bathroom and me asking him if it hurt, he finally said, "And for the last time, no it doesn't hurt when I pee."

We were at the beach and I got a popsicle for Max. All of the other kids were playing. As soon as they saw Max with the popsicle, they came running. I had to buy five more (George dropped his and started crying). Didn't think about it much at the time, but now I realize I spent $18 for six popsicles. Who in their right mind would even pay 1/4 of that in the grocery store? But when you are on vacation, who cares? 

Maddie did. We were in a line for a ride at Sea World. I said, "Anyone who gets their tooth out before we get on the ride gets to buy a treat." Maddie started wiggling. She wiggled so hard that blood was running down her face. She finally pulled it out after about 15 minutes of wiggling. There was blood everywhere when she flashed a triumphant smile and showed me the tooth. I think some others in the line were grossed out. Steve asked me what my obsession with loose teeth was. I just like them out. That's all. She got her chocolate funnel cake covered with ice cream and whipped cream and chocolate. 

We took the kids to the mall and were staring at the koi fish pond. They decided they wanted to touch the fish. So they were touching the fish and splashing the water trying to scare the fish over to a certain spot so George could touch one. He claimed that he hadn't done it. Some pita member tattled on us and Paul Blart the mall cop came over and told me that it wasn't good for the kids to even touch the water. I think he was shocked when he realized that not all the kids were mine and that he would have to repeat himself to another mother. George was crying because he hadn't touched one. Well, 15 minutes later he admitted that he really had touched one and was tricking us. Great, we could have avoided Paul Blart.

I learned that Disney really does a good job of advertising. Friday night was the premier of "Princess Protection Program." Cara wanted to watch it more than she wanted to take her next breath. It started at 5:00 California time. We got back from the beach at 4:50. She was watching the clock the whole time. She and all the kids wanted to watch the show so bad that they didn't want to go out for dinner (Cara's favorite thing to do). So we left them in the hotel room, with leftover pizza, while Steve and I went out. Thank you Disney.