BEACH DAY!

I LOVE the beach...even better I love my family on the beach! I always get the best pictures of them on the beach.

Jason,Ryan and the kids hit the waves not too much longer after arriving back from the zoo. 

(This one I believe was taken on Sunday)

(Sunday Picture)

They all had a blast with the boards! I waited too long so by the time I choose to go out it was just freezing so I just sat in the hot tub. Bummer!

Wild Animal Park

 On Tuesday we started our day nice and early so we could spend a few hours at the zoo.
Only half the group joined us(Russ,Lisa,Dena,Ryan,Jason,myself and all our kiddos). It's a cool zoo with a lot open areas for the animals. Our favorite part was seeing the white rhinos. There's only 7 in the world and we got to see 2 of them.  It was sweet we got to see them but then sad knowing they are very close to becoming extinct.

The zoo wasn't very big so we had plenty of time to get back and hit the BEACH!

Sea World

Monday was Sea World day!Sea World is a great amusement park. Everyone in our group enjoyed themselves. The shows,exhibits and rides kept us very well entertained. 

 Of course Shamu was the main attraction. We did get wet during the show! Brad And Synda saved us a great spot. We're grateful they offered to sit at The Shamu stadium and wait for about an hour before the show started so we could see more of the park and another show. We sat on the 7th row right smack in the middle.  In the Wet Zone but not close enough where you need a change of clothes. I now wish we would have gone years ago when the trainers could get into the water with the whales and do fun stunts.

The Atlantis ride was super fun and soaked Maddie and Kenzie. They dried off somewhat quickly. I loved the long drop at the beginning of the ride, it was unexpected.

Shipwreck rapids was the last ride of the day. Dena and I were wet for a while. We didn't take any of our cell phones on the ride and we forgot to set a meeting place with the rest of the group. So let's just say it took us a while to find them and it was a long wet car ride back to Carlsbad. As soon as we got back the kids ran out the back door and onto the beach.

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Wild Animal Park & Beach Day!

Carlsbad

      In celebration of Carol and Brent's 50th wedding anniversary all of the Eckardt's headed to sunny California for a week. 

The plans and arrangements for this trip started to come together during Synda's visit in the summer. We all decided UEA week/weekend would work the best for all of us. So we waited patiently until the week finally arrived.
We said goodbye to Utah at about 6:30 in the morning on Saturday, October 9th and arrived in Carlsbad around 5:30 at night. Yes, we're all day travelers. The kids know to pack whatever they need to stay entertained for this long journey every time. Jason and I just drink a lot of Dr. Pepper to keep us going.
Once we arrived in Carlsbad we headed straight to a beach house that Brad and Synda where able to use for the week (one of Brad's bosses house). It had a breath taking view and it was a very well planned out home. All the eating/entertaining was done there. It was common for someone to always be looking out the windows either just taking in the view or watching out for dolphins.

The first night was simple and quiet. The kids played on the beach for a few hours. We had a fabulous dinner made by Synda (Pork Chalupas) and planned out last minute details for our photo shoot that was happening the next day.
All the cousins had a sleepover at the beach house almost every other night. Our kids just loved it!
 Jason and I bunked up with Ryan and Dena at a condo at a nearby city. Jason's dad Russ stayed with his family at a hotel in another nearby city. Grandpa and Grandma E stayed at the beach house with Synda's family and again all the little people. It all worked out great.

Sunday was mostly spent hanging out and waiting for our pictures to be taken. It was torture for the kids to stay out of the water and sand but they survived. Our photographer did an amazing job. We have only received some of the proofs...it's making me restless for the rest.

The rest of the week was go go go!

 We all purchased The San Diego 3 for 1 discount passes from Costco. The passes included Sea World,San Diego Zoo and The Wild Animal Park. It was a steal of a deal! I always forget how much money these little amusement parks cost once you are inside.  Lucky for us our passes included all the little things inside. We only had to pay for parking.
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Monday was Sea World day!

California Preview

Just a preview of our latest California trip. All The Eckardt's/Wayment's celebrating Carol and Brent's 50th wedding Anniversary in sunny California. 

Dinner

A favorite dinner time conversation in this home is our own version of Seinfield's/Man made prison scene. We love it. It's a classic! The kids don't get it, but Jason and I enjoy it.

Last night we didn't have our classy Seinfeld scene but the kids took the initiative of coming up with a new dinner conversation category. 

Look at what I can do?

It was hilarious!