Short Trip to Long Beach

The kids got airplane tickets for Christmas!

They have been begging to go on a real plane for a very long time.  We attempted to buy one-way tickets either to or from our family reunion in California, but that never really felt right, making Mike or me drive with the babies all the way home by themselves, and still so expensive.  So when this steal-of-a-deal popped up, I jumped!  The tickets were 93 cents each way, plus taxes and fees, making the total $24 round trip per person.  Phenomenal!  I literally had people calling me up to be their travel agent after Mike bragged about the deal for me.

We left after work on Tuesday night and arrived in Las Vegas fairly late.  But in the city that never sleeps, there is still plenty to do!  We had a hotel on the strip (Monte Carlo) and walked from there to the Bellagio to see the fountains.  We watched two of the shows and hit Walgreens for some "breakfast" food.

Joey, Michael and Mike watching the first show

Adelyn, showing me the beauty before her

Kids taking pictures of us

After about 5 hours of sleep, we woke everyone up for the big day.  We had to be to the airport by about 6am because our flight left at 7.  Everything went flawlessly, and we were in Long Beach by 8am.  I loved the small airport because it meant the kids got to walk right onto the tarmac and get a good look at the plane.  As far as the plane ride goes, the kids loved take-off, but after that, we had to really prod them to look out the window at the tiny houses and clouds, because the plane came equipped with individual TVs that the kids were lovin'!  Go figure!  They were thrilled with the complementary animal crackers and pop!  Thrilled!  Coming from a frugal family, they know what it means to appreciate free stuff!

Joey and Michael watching our plane get loaded up with luggage (none of our own)

Adelyn checking out the pictures she just took with her new camera

"Breakfast food" from Walgreens

Yay for Jet Blue!

We picked up a rental car and drove straight to the beach.  I love having GPS on our phones!!  I had done a little research and decided we'd hit Seal Beach.  It was empty!!  A few people were walking on the pier but nobody was on the beach but us.  Anyone walking on the pier stopped to gawk at the children who were obviously "not from around here."  The temperature of the water said 52-56 degrees F, and my kids had plunged themselves into its very depths!  Even Adelyn, which was amazing, considering I'd left her swimsuit at home, and she was in jeans!  They had so much fun!

Michael running from the waves

Michael

Adelyn

Content to be on the beach

Even Abby was getting a little tan

Michael and Joey

We had decided to play the beach by ear... maybe stay there all day if the kids were content, but seeing how cold they were going to be the rest of the day, we went with  Plan A and drove up the coast to find a whale watching tour.  Considering Adelyn was soaked, with no extra clothes, I looked up "thrift store" on my phone (love GPS... right?!)  and we found one that was right on the way.  When we arrived, it was very obvious that this was a thrift store targeting gay/lesbian patrons (the GPS didn't tell me this).  But they sold clothes, among other things, and we were able to find Adelyn something to change into so she didn't freeze.  I also bought Mike a tie.  Every tie needs a story, right?

The whale watching tour was pretty chill.  We were on the boat for about 2 1/2 hours and saw 5 whales, plus a few dolphins and sea lions.  One whale came right up to the boat, which was amazing!!  Mike and I both got a good look, but I'm not sure the kids really did.  They saw the group of three whales pretty easily, and the other sea life, so it was good.  It was a little cold/windy and we hadn't eaten lunch, or slept much, so we snacked on more "breakfast food" from Walgreens and Joey and I cuddled up for most of the boat ride.  It was a good time, even though we probably wouldn't do it for the whales again.

The crew ready to set sail, and eating more "breakfast food"

I was probably the coldest!  And I really wanted the scarf around my head.

Whale watching (Joey, Michael, Adelyn).  See Adelyn's new skirt?  Cute, huh?

These are the captains pictures.  This whale came right up to our boat and we could see the orange barnicles all over it

Little tail flip.  So pretty!

We returned the rental car and arrived at our flight just in time to board the plane.  Dinner waited until Las Vegas (Panda Express) and we were home by 11:00 pm that night.  We let the kids sleep in, and they were back in school by lunch on Thursday.  I still can't believe they only missed a day and a half of school for a trip to California!

This trip will go down in history as Mike's first official day off since we started buying the grocery store.  May there be many more Wonderful Wednesdays to come!