California Dreaming....

Ellie and I recently took a "ladies trip" to California to see Uncle John Postlewait.  We had a fantastic trip together.  She was incredibly excited to travel.  She loved the airplane rides and was a really good girl on them.  California treated us well - it greeted us with sunshine and 80 degree temperatures, perfect for afternoons at the beach!  Uncle John showed us a great time - breakfast out at Uncle Bills (our favorite place, we went three times), days at the park and on the beach, and some great dinners at night. 

For those of you that don't know, John lives right on the beach in Hermosa Beach.  So that lead to an easy walk to the beach, helpful with a 2 year old that needs to go to the bathroom.  John and his roommates were great hosts!  Ellie walked in to his house to a pile full of toys and things to do, and his roommates were really nice and played with Ellie and talked tv and pop culture with me!  It was our dream come true!  When we got home, Ellie said to Mikey "We left Uncle John in California with his girls"  :)

Big thanks to the weather gods for giving us some good sunshine in LA!   Even bigger thanks to Uncle John for having us and showing us an amazing time!

Here are some pictures...

On the bus ride from the parking lot to the airport - 5:30 am...tired

Ellie pepped right up at the airport when she saw the airplanes

Real excited about the airplane!  Her quote every time we were about ready to take off "Are we ready freddy?"

Checking out the ocean right after we got there..."Mama, its a pool!"

At our favorite breakfast place...Uncle Bills.  Hi Uncle John!

Ready to order like a big girl

Posing with mom...Ellie was not the most willing photography subject.  To get this we bribed her with Skittles.  Uncle John and I had other methods of bribery for photos as well.

Really busy days and short naps equaled some tired car rides.  Also check out her "big girl hat"  She always wore it backwards like Uncle John does, but for the car rides had to turn it sideways.

At an awesome park near where John lives.  6 slides at this park!

Checking out the birds

Using her new skill of bird chasing that Uncle John taught her

Ready to hit the beach

Laying out - Mama, I get the flower towel.  This was the only time she held still on the beach.

Posing with Uncle John...cost - 5 skittles.

Heading into the water

Uncle John had to do a lot of lugging the sand pail with water.

Running out of the waves was her favorite things to do

Diva.

Posing with Mom in front of the Kelly and Donna's beach house from 90210.  Passing the 90210 adoration down a generation.  Mikey wanted to tear up this picture.  His 90210 hatred runs deep.

Posing with mom on Manhattan Beach Pier.  For this one, she wouldn't be bribed so we had to say "Is that a balloon behind Uncle John?"

"Ellie, is that a dolphin behind Uncle John?"  She got smart after this one and never posed again.

Carosel at the Santa Monica pier

Wheeeeee

Her favorite part of the trip...seeing Minnie and Mickey Mouse.  My most annoyed part of the trip: Minnie refusing to pose with my child who is begging for a picture until I gave her a "donation". 

First ice cream cone.  Happy.  Messy.

Headed home.  She really was a great girl on the airplane.