We just got back from a wonderful almost dream-like family vacation! It was amazing! Friday night after I got off work we loaded up the kids and headed down to Poway, which is a 9 hour drive, so we figured that driving through the night with 3 kids would be easier. (I did learn a few things about traveling with kids though... NEVER switch cars seat for your baby right before you leave for a long car trip; not only will you have a crying baby, but your car doors may not close without some major finagling. Oh, and Norah Jones can sooth said crying baby EVERY time)! Poor Darren had long since outgrown his carrier-type car seat and we just had not gotten around to switching it to his rear-facing big-boy seat... until that night. Ooops.
Any way, we got in safe and sound early Saturday morning and spent Saturday through Tuesday at my aunt and uncles ranch. We rode horse, went to the farmers market, played in the ocean, sat in the spa, watched movies, slept, talked, ate, visited with family, rode more horses, had a few riding lessons and had a all-around wonderful time! Now thanks to my Aunt Alicia both Mallory and I have a BAD case of horse fever!
Tuesday morning we loaded up the kids again made a quick stop at my Aunty-M's new home and then drove to Palm Desert where we met up with Joyce and Johnny-boy at their timeshare. It was a beautiful condo/resort, with a huge multi-room condo to stay in, multiple pools, a water-slide, movie theater, activity center and golf coarse! One day we all visited the Living Desert, another day Matthew and John played 13-holes of golf but we spend every day in the pool. And Mallory in now officially able to swim on her own!!!!! The kids had a blast and Matthew and I even got to head into Palm Springs for a date! I wish that we could have found a way to extend it all! It was heaven! Thank you all who made this trip such a ragging success!
