Vacation 2010....FINALLY!

We are FINALLY in Oceanside for our much long awaited vacation. I am not sure who is more excited to be here. Chris and I, or the kids! I was surprised at how easy the drive out from Texas was. Well...it wasn't exactly easy. But it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought that it was going to be. The kids all did really, really well. No battles or wars were fought out in the back seat and for the most part, everyone was happy and cooperative and good to go. We left out on Friday at lunch from Texas and planned to drive just as far as we possibly could that day. And we did great, making it all the way to El Paso. El Paso, incidentally, is a really, REALLY crappy town to spend the night in!!! We crashed at the La Quinta Inn...exhausted, slept until we woke up the next morning (which was early), and then hit the road bright and early again Saturday morning. Since we had done so well on our distance Friday we really didn't have too terribly far to go on Saturday and rolled into Tucson about 3 p.m. We quickly settled in to the hotel (which was blissfully nicer than the crappy La Quinta) and relaxed for the remainder of the afternoon, swimming with the kiddos and eating dinner poolside. We were NOT up late that night! On Sunday morning, I met my friend Mary at 6 a.m. for a good brisk walk. It was so nice to walk and chat with her and to see the beautiful scenery and mountains. Texas is so FLAT next to Tucson. It was a great walk, followed by a Starbucks visit for scones and coffee. Then we said our goodbyes and I headed back to the hotel where I found all my big and little people still snoozing hard! They slowly woke up and had a lazy kind of morning. Then Clara and I met my friend Jenny and her four precious girls for lunch at Sauce, followed by gelato at Frost. YUUUUUUMMMMMMMMY! It was more wonderful than words can say to have lunch with her again. It was exactly like old times and so great to just sit and chat. Like I had never left at all! Her four girls are beyond cute...haven't changed one bit....except that the baby I said goodbye to last year is most definitely on the road to being a "big girl" now! Still as cute as ever though. Clara was in HEAVEN to be there with her friends and smiled from ear to ear the entire time. But then, all too soon it was time to say goodbye. And I felt like my heart was being smashed into a million pieces. I just didn't want to. I realized by then that I missed Jenny even more than I had let myself think and I had to bodily drag myself back into the truck when we left. Of course...the tears started flowing the second we pulled away. It was awful. WONDERFUL to see her...AWFUL to say goodbye to! Luckily, there wasn't much time in the schedule to allow for a pity party and feeling sorry for myself. Clara had another little friend form school come and meet her at the El Con to swim and play for a couple of hours. She had such a wonderful time, AGAIN, catching up and playing and smiling. It was nice to see for her. Before we knew it, it was time to dress and head out for the get together that was planned with some of Chris's old coworkers. THAT was another fun get together...nice to see those friendly faces with whom we have shared so many other get togethers with, It was really a fun night. There were several kids there too that our kids were friends with...so it was an extra sweet evening. Before we knew it, the night was over and we were crashing for our second night in our beloved desert. On Monday morning, we were on the road again, excitement building, for we were BEACH BOUND at last! We made GREAT time driving in and arrived before dinner in Oceanside. We quickly set up camp and have been relaxing and enjoying life ever since. Chris is still working...vacation isn't ever really vacation anymore with him. But he is taking time for naps and playing on the beach, etc...so there's that. Month end was yesterday...so hopefully things will calm down now and he can enjoy the next 3 days that he is here with us. He flies out on the 4th, heading for Paris, France. But then will be back here with us again on the 16th. The weather here thus far is cool and overcast...sweatshirts and shorts in the day...bubbling away in the hot tub at night. It's good stuff for sure! There WAS a bit of excitement today...it seems someone was hit by one of the Coaster trains that runs on the track right by the campground. The train came to it's stop within eyesight of our trailer. Apparently there were a good bit of "blood and chunks" on the grate thing of the train...according to my kids and hubby. Ewwww....GROSS! Nothing like a little morbid and gruesome event to really spice up a dull afternoon, huh?! Tonight, we are off to see IronMan 2. I'm totally excited as it's a movie I have really wanted to see. Ben has seen it already and says it's great. So I'm ready to see for myself! And that's the update from Paradise...so far!