San Diego part three

On Wednesday morning, more surfing practice for the big boys. Ben just really took to it. "Just one more wave!"

Then we went to La Jolla to look around. We passed the San Diego Temple, and Ben and Andrew said it looked like Asgard, and Millie said it looked like Elsa's Castle.

We got a golden parking spot right by a big field. Then we walked up and down looking at the seals and sea lions. James named one "Big Chunga." They were so loud! And it was a bit smelly. But really fun to send a picture of the creatures to my siblings with no explanation, only the caption, "current location."

In that backpack were her little toys and precious things.

In the field, Max and Ben tossed a football, and the little boys climbed these twisted, leaning trees from the winds..

JB the photographer got both of us in a shot. His vacation beard was coming along nicely.

Then we went over to a spot JB had read about with fish tacos and stuff. 

Half the kids like fish (living inland, we just don't eat it enough!) But the other half liked the chicken and steak options, too. And there was a cookie place a block or two away we tried as well. 

Thursday I was very happy for the chance to take the three little kids to Legoland. We have been back in 2012 (see young Max and Benny and toddler Andrew in this post) and then we went in 2015 with a baby James (see all the cute pictures in this post!).  

Here we are when JB and the big boys dropped us off.

We ran around to everything we could, and got there early enough to miss most of the lines, until we got to one long line for the indoor Chima laser adventure and the kids did NOT like waiting. I gave gum and snacks and that got us through.

I remembered riding this ride with a young Jamesey

And now he had his own helicopter.

Millie found these girls to pose with, but her goofy brothers were pretending to kiss them.

They acted like the shark was eating them

Here's the screenshot of the Lego Chima points board

Their favorite parts where when we found a room where you could build and race cars.

They were enamored with this donkey creation. But the Star Wars Lego creations of years past were gone. Probably because of licensing?

I insisted on the boat ride through miniland USA. It was sunny and so pretty hot, but definitely not like the triple digit smoky weather I kept seeing posts about in Utah.

We had such a great day, and they really did so well not begging for Legos, so they got to pick out a little something at the end. Millie picked a minifig package, and when we left the park and got to the van to open it, it was Emmet, and she sobbed because it was a boy. But she rallied quickly, I think Andrew arranged a trade.

That Thursday night JB took the kids on some rides around the neighborhood on Matt and Alison's electric bikes with room for kids on the back. He is so much fun! I am not as adventurous.

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Friday morning we were up early to clean up and pack up and hit the road. Millie didn't want to use any of the bathrooms along the way home, stubborn girl (but she gets it from me, I also never liked public bathrooms growing up, but needs must as an adult).  We stopped at Raising Cane's outside Las Vegas. Here's a hungry James, finally trying something new, as documented by JB. I was on the other side of the table cheering him on.

 Thinking about it...

Grabbed it...

Liked it

Then we just powered through for the rest of the drive home that whole day. I put in movie after movie. The big boys liked the new minivan arrangement of having the captains chairs on the second row. They could stretch and sleep more.

The back row of three little kids did....ookay....most of the time.  I loved our trip so much, and will happily go back to the beach today.