Summer Vaca Catch Up: Part Two

Two weeks after our Utah/Idaho, girls/boys trips, we spent a long weekend in warm summer sunshine in California! Phil, Bennett and I went with my Grandpa Bowler, my mom and dad, and my sisters Katelin and Kacie. I have to give a super big THANK YOU to my Grandpa Bowler for inviting our family along and being so helpful during the trip. We had a really great time, and it was an awesome way to close out our summer vacation.
On the way to LA we stopped at the outlet malls. I haven't been to these outlet malls since I was a kid. It was a good thing I was pregnant and there wasn't much for me to try on because there would have been way too much for me to choose from. I ended up just getting a few things for Bennett. Bennett didn't love the shopping but Aunt Katelin made it worth his while by letting him take a little flight/ride with Pooh Bear. He LOVED it!

Eventually we made it to LA and checked into our hotel and crashed for the night. The next morning, Phil had convinced my sisters and my mom to go to the beach at the crack of dawn so they could boogie board before the Huntington Beach got too crowded. So Bennett, Grandpa and my dad stayed back and had a nice leisurely breakfast and the rest of them had a good time at the beach boogie boarding. Phil loves boogie boarding. It basically the only thing he wanted to do in California. He could have done it all day!





Later after breakfast, the boys and I met up with the girls and Phil and explored the beach. Bennett was just in hog heaven! He couldn't get enough of the sand. It was super cute! The weather was perfect! Couldn't ask for anything better!

Huntington Beach was super crowded while we were there because the U.S. Open was going on.  We were able to do some shopping amongst the craziness of the people, and to score a couple tables at Fred's for some great tasting lunch.



We pretty much spend the rest of the day shopping and eating, and then recovering from the shopping and eating. It was fun, but it would have been super if so many people didn't want to do the same thing as us. Oh well, all in the experience, right?!

We spend the next day all at the beach boogie boarding, tanning, sand pits, biking up and down the beach, and enjoying the perfect beach weather.

My dad and Phil could not resist digging a hole and plopping Bennett in it and covering him with sand. I was worried that Bennett would hate it but he actually loved it! As soon as my dad or Phil would take him out he would climb back in and cover himself with sand. It was really fun to see him have such a good time. :)

Phil had to be home by the 31st of July in order to be back in time to start medical school. So he flew home a day before the rest of us, but not before going to Six Flags. It was an extremely busy day at Six Flags and because of that everyone didn't get to ride very many rides because the lines were so long, but I chalk that up again to that just being a part of the experience. Being pregnant and having Bennett I didn't get to ride any rides so we roamed the park ooo-ing and aww-ing over people and characters and rides and....you get the picture. It was a hot LA day but it was good. Aunt Katelin was nice enough to take Bennett on the Merry-Go-Round. He wasn't sure of it at first but after a few go arounds he liked it.

We got Phil to the airport on time and the next day the rest of us headed home. It was a fun trip. The last one we take with only one kid! So crazy! Cant wait for our little girl to get here!