We drove from Utah to San Diego with two kids under 2...
and WE SURVIVED!!!
I don't even know why I worried so much about everyone's clothes and packing snacks for the ride. What I should've worried about was entertainment for the little ones. Especially Mr. Bret (Flash). We thought maybe listening to some Roald Dahl would do the trick, but I don't know what we were thinking. I think sometimes we forget how old our kids really are...
This parenting thing...we're really just winging it.
For the 12 hours in the car, there was a lot of screaming and crying and me swearing off having any more children. Heath was as calm as a summer breeze though. We left at 3am and he drove the whole way. The kids and I slept here and there, so there were some quiet times. He and I both agreed we aren't doing another long road trip until the kids are older.
Whenever we go anywhere, we have to pack our essentials. Even if it is only for a night, we pack A TON! Babies need LOTS of gear.
-2 pack and plays
-Mia's bumbo seat so that she can actually sit and enjoy the view.
-Boppy pillow to feed Mia or to just sleep with (It's WAY comfortable in the car!)
-Our handy-dandy double umbrella stroller. (I was surprised at how many people asked us if Bret and Mia were twins haha).
- And of course all the diapers and wipes we can fit in the car.
I'm kind of glad Mia is not eating solids because we don't have to pack any extra solid food, just her formula and thickener. Also, all her medical supplies. We were so grateful we only had to cath her twice this time around! It would've been harder to have to stop every 3-4 hours to cath, like we were doing once before.
We were also so very grateful that Bret isn't potty-trained yet. Flash is super smart and I betcha that if he were potty-trained, he would've asked to go pee just so he could get out of the car and not necessarily because he had to go.
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Our hotel was in downtown San Diego and we arrived on Thanksgiving day. We decided to stay in that day and rest from our travels. We attempted going out to eat, but there was nowhere to park, so we just ordered pizza and watched Toy Story.
Friday
We drove to the beach
A friend recommended the cliffs at La Jolla, so we went and had breakfast there. It was magical! I was in heaven! (Even if Bret was throwing a tantrum and Heath had to take him on a walk until they brought our order). I just felt like I was in a movie without a care in the world!
I loved the pots hanging off the wood panels. The people having conversations in different accents and languages. The bohemian-looking lady that showed us to our table. The fact that we were a block away from the ocean and that we were going to spend the rest of our morning at the beach.
It was EXACTLY what we needed. A break from the hustle and bustle of every day, a break from hospitals and therapy. A BREAK!
-Bret had chocolate-chip pancakes for breakfast. He gobbled that down ( I tried a piece, and let me tell you, it was divine!)
-I had chilaquiles. You guys I can NOT tell you how happy it made me that they actually tasted legit! They were served on top of black beans, with a fried egg on top and queso fresco!!
-Heath had the all American breakfast and had little to say about it...
I took the kids on a walk around the park by the cliffs. I took Bret out to look at the waves, and that kid almost launched himself into the ocean. I had to use all my strength to hold him back and put him back in the stroller.
When we finally made it to the beach, Bret was in heaven. We jumped waves and I taught him to stand still, as the tide went back in, and let the sand slide right underneath him. He thought it tickled. Heath "taught" him how to skim board, but he didn't care much for it. He liked it better when him and his dad would run into the waves! We also collected shells!
That water was
cold! But Bret didn't care! He was shivering and his lips were trembling and he still wanted to go in!
Once we convinced him to stay by us and play in the sand, he loved it. But the little stinker would crawl backwards and totally think he was being sneaky. Once he was a few feet away from us, he would stand up and
book it to the water! It was hilarious.
Mia was
also in heaven. She would laugh or giggle randomly and squeal and just bounce her feet up and down in
pure delight. That girl was having the time of her life!! She discovered the sand and loved playing with it!
For the two plus hours we were there, she never put the sand in her mouth. Until... I turned around to give Bret the selfie stick to take pictures before we left, and boom! She put it in her mouth! She threw up immediately and I was trying to get all the sand out before she threw up more. We made it through that and took our pictures and left.
We walked on the trail that goes right along the beach and just talked. Bret was throwing a tantrum, but I didn't even care. I was at the beach and no tantrum was going to ruin my mood. He eventually stopped and enjoyed the ride as well.
Later on that night, we walked around downtown and went to Sea Port Village. There was a shop with cute little wooden toys! I was able to get some stocking stuffers for the kids. There was live music and Bret loved running around and the panda glow- stick we got him.
Saturday
We went to the temple first. We thought there would be a visitor's center, but they don't have one. Flash needed to let some energy out and so he ran around the grounds as we walked. Probably NOT the most reverent thing ever... But he needed it?
We then headed out to Old Town San Diego. I felt like I was in Mexico and I was in my own heaven. There was a little market with people selling handmade stuff and Mexican candy, decorations, clothes. It was beautiful. There were ladies selling churros and tortillas they were making right in front of you!!
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| Enjoying a delicious Mexican fruit cup |
Up a hill, is the Mormon Battalion exhibition. We thoroughly enjoyed it and at the end Bret got to mine for some gold! I think
that was his favorite part.
Then, we had dinner...Best. Dinner. Ever!! The corn tortillas were
to die for! The meat was all delicious and the rice wasn't crunchy! I met a really nice lady that have us a discount.
It was getting really windy so, we headed back to the car. We wanted to go back to the temple to see the lights. But it was getting chilly and the kids needed some jackets. We were at the perfect place to get some! A vendor was selling these,
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| How Bret feels about me making goofy faces to make them smile |
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So, to the temple we went! But it started to pour!! Bret was so mad because we got there and took him out, then had to put him back in the car it was raining like it was monsoon season or something.
After 20 minutes, the rain let up. We got to go back and walk around. I love the peace that's felt on temple grounds. The nativity is life-size. I just imagined the burden and gratitude Mary must have felt as she was called to be the mother of Jesus. My heart was full of gratitude for her and for Joseph for staying with her. Then, as I told Bret, "Look, this is Jesus. He is just a baby here, but he died for you and me so we could be happy in this life and the next." Tears weld up in my eyes.
How did Mary really feel as the mother of our Savior? Did she feel inadequate as I sometimes do with my own children? How can I become a better mother? He came into the world as a baby... How can I be more grateful for the sacrifice He made for me?
I have been carried by Him so many times. Especially through the hard moments in motherhood and with Mia's diagnosis. I know He lives. He is our Savior.
Bret turned into the Flash again and ran away. He kept playing with the selfie stick and counting to three pretending he took pictures of himself. I wondered if anything I said to him stuck. I hope he can learn who his Savior is. I hope he can turn to him when things get hard. And I hope I can have the spiritual strength as the years go by to teach him and Mia about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Great trip over all. The way back wasn't as bad as the ride there. We woke up at 2am and got home at 4pm. Three days of some
very needed family quality time. Now back to the hustle and bustle of life and hospital visits and therapies! So grateful for my little family!
