One of the benefits of Daddy's job is the conferences in great locations. We decided to pack up the girls for Spring Break and head out to the West Coast. We flew to Santa Barbara first. Our girls are great travelers.
We left winter and arrived to a beautiful Southern California day. Maddie did not know what to do when she saw the weather. She looked at me and said "Can I go run around in the grass?" She just went bananas running around in the warmth and sunshine. It was so cute.
We arrived at Bacara and well ... I realized I was going to be VERY underdressed. It was BEAUTIFUL ... and fancy! Evelyn got right to relaxing in bed
Daddy also relaxed a bit on the balcony.
Then we all headed down to the heated pool. Maddie had a wonderful time swimming with her daddy. Later that afternoon, Maddie was swimming around by herself as we watched from the chairs, and a few teenage girls were swimming with her. They complimented her swimming skills (in her little floaty ring, of course) so she showed off some of her skills. Nick and I called out to her and she looked so embarrassed to have her parents around. She looked at us and swam back to her teenage "friends" totally ignoring us. It was our first look at our soon to be future as Maddie's totally uncool parents.
Evelyn and I relaxed on the lounge chairs
Our view from dinner one night. Pretty nice.
Dinner on the balcony.
The girls woke up early (of course) so we let Daddy sleep in. Maddie and Evelyn had a lot of fun staying quiet playing the iPad.
Evelyn liked being a princess.
Breakfast. We got lots of compliments about how good our girls were. This was Evelyn's first time in a restaurant high chair and she loved it! Our children don't realize their age.
The girls and I went on a walk while Daddy got a little work done. I get it Southern California. I get it. 70 and sunny is pretty nice.
We walked down to the beach (Evelyn was in the carrier fast asleep) and put our feet in the Pacific. Maddie was so excited. The water was VERY cold but she had such a great time splashing around.
I was eventually able to talk Maddie into taking her pants off and running around in a shirt and undies. I sure hope her teenage friends didn't see. :)
We headed back to the pool for a little lunch ...
and a poolside nap.
Maddie took an afternoon nap too ... you know you are tired when you fall asleep sitting up with your iPad.
Beautiful girl
The next morning we had a delicious room service breakfast, packed up, and got ready to head north to Portland. Maddie was very excited to see her soon to be new home.
The first place we went was the Portland Zoo. Daddy discovered that the PDX Zoo sells microbrew beer. He was very happy with his new home.
We had a wonderful time wandering around the zoo in our fleece outfits.
I think we might all get a new fleece wardrobe during our time in Portland.
The next day we went to Daddy's new hospital. To get there, we rode the gondola up ... and up ... and UP!
Later we went to the Rose Garden but there were no roses yet. We will try again this summer.
Maddie ran around and around and Evelyn just loved watching. I think she is ready to run around with her sister.
(NON)Rose Garden.
Instead, we found our way to a park down the hill from the gardens. This was Evelyn's first time on a swing and she LOVED it!
That afternoon, we made it to Voodoo Donuts and waited in line to try this special Portland breakfast. Daddy tried a Mexican Chocolate, Maddie had something COVERED in M&Ms and mommy had ....
The Memphis Mafia ...
Memphis Mafia
Fried dough with banana chunks and cinnamon covered in a glaze with chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts and chocolate chips on top!
Yeah ... it was that good.
The night before we left our girls took a bath together. How much fun!
We headed back to St. Louis having missed this:
We missed probably our last big snow in St Louis by a day. I think the California sun made up for all the missed snow. :)
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