Monterey Vacation

A few weeks ago, we took a little vacation to Monterey.  It was great to get out of the hot weather and into the cool coastal weather.  We were also lucky to meet our friends, the Cardenas' there. Rhonda and I have been friends since Jr. High.  It is so exciting to see our kids play together, even though we are only able to see each other a couple times a year.

We stayed at the Portola Hotel and Spa - it was beautiful and a great location - close to the wharf and the beach!

The first day, after we got checked into the hotel, we headed to the beach so the kids could play in the sand for a little while before dinner.

Our hotel and the courtyard that housed the pirate ship that provided hours of entertainment for the kids!

Hanging out on the patio

On the beach!

Ayden & Noah

Ayden hitched a ride on the monster stroller!  Rob was quite a trooper to push that thing!

Daddy taught Ayden a new bad habit - sliding down hand rails!

 On the second day of our trip, we took the trolley down to the aquarium!

Ayden telling Taetum what he thought of the penguins

Rhonda with all of the kids playing a game

Starfish!

I loved the seahorse exhibit!

Can you believe those are seahorses?

All Ayden talked about all morning was touching the sting rays.  It turned out to be a lesson in patience.  They were not really coming toward the edges very often.  Ayden was pretty patient and finally got to pet a couple.

The view from a window at the aquarium

Jayda, Noah, Ayden, & Taetum ready for the treasure hunt in the hotel lobby 

Ayden & Taetum - so cute!!

Ayden & Jayda (he spread his sweatshirt out on the floor of the restaurant at dinner for them to sit on!)

Goodbye wonderful hotel!

After checking out of the hotel, we headed to Dennis the Menace park.  I can remember going there as part of a field trip in Elementary school, and it did not dissapoint!

A real train to climb on - what more could a four year old boy ask for?

 We then headed back to the beach.  One of Ayden's only requests was to go back to the beach and wear his swimsuit.  We tried to explain that the water was too cold to swim, but he insisted.  He did get in the water, even asking for his goggles so he could swim, but that didn't last long. 

Ken and the kids built a sand castle

The big hole that that Ayden and the twins dug

We had a blast and are planning on making this an annual trip - next year to include some spa time for the girls and sailing time for the boys!