An invite to Sarah Thorsteinson's 10th birthday party at the climbing wall? How kind. But I'm pretty sure I didn't see Jennings on the invite list. Those nice Thorsteinsons need to employ a good bouncer to keep out the riff raff.
Grace must be part monkey. And part drama queen which her mother would rather not discuss less the pounding headache return.
Alien: "Uh, Annabelle, was it something I said?"
The birthday girl.
Annabelle scales new heights.
Now the truth can be told. The day Alien almost went on walk-about. The trip began so well with a stop at the Palm Springs Air Museum. I carelessly put him in my pocket while getting out of the car and then unloaded a sleeping Jennings, got a stroller ready, camera bag, organized kids and 9 other things. Walking around the museum for the first couple of minutes and spot a great photo op for our friendly Alien. Reach into pocket. Reach into other pocket. AAAHHHH!!!!! Hand Jennings off to Grace and bolt out of the museum.
Alien: "Spring break trip anyone? I hear Chocolate Mike is on a trip with the Spains and Carmel Spike has taken a part-time job on the Thorsteinsons' used car lot. So I'm off to the Palm Springs area with the Shooks. On the day we left it was 4 degrees in Spokane and 74 in Indian Wells. WHAT? I have to sit with Jennings again on the airplane? How many miles to upgrade to first class?"
For the first two days Uncle Joe was in town for a little r and r. Or what he considers r and r - biking through Joshua Tree desert. Whatever.
Jennings showing Alien how small the ball turret on a B-17 was for the gunners.
Joe and Jennings: "A-6 Intruders are Number One!"
Uncle Joe: "And there I was...."
Alien: "Now this is what I'm talking about. Testosterone-laden tourist adventures. Just a bunch of men and jets."
Alien: "Nobody told me this was the seafood trip. We turned James loose in 3 seafood restaurants on the trip because that's his thing and it's a little hard to come by in Moscow. He ate his first and second bucket of steamer clams, sea bass and tasted lots of fish and chips and clams and chips. The boy is a freak."
Alien: "Doesn't the Surgeon General say pipe smoking is just as bad for you as cigarettes?"
On Monday we hit the park at 10:00 and didn't leave until 4:00 for the drive back to Indian Wells. We did it all.
Alien: "The highlight of Legoland was of course attending Barack Obama's inauguration. An amazing Lego display. I hear they worked on it for over a year. I just had to see what Michelle was wearing and look at those adorable kids."
Alien: "OMG! It's Aretha Franklin singing! OMG! It's Aretha Franklin's hat!"
Alien: "This trip just turned me around."
On Sunday we did a mini-adventure at Legoland's new attraction of Sea Life, an aquarium from a kid's perspective. Great fun. Love the Lego Dude with the tropical drink.
Lots of interactive things to do and touch for kids.
In the evening we wanted to see the Pacific Ocean so we crossed I-5 and headed for the beach. Thanks to TripAdvisor we went to another seafood restaurant right on the beach and then frolicked in the ocean.
Fun at the Holiday Inn Carlsbad Hotel by the Sea.
Alien: "This is more fun."
