A couple of weeks ago, we got back from a week long trip to San Diego and L.A. We went to San Diego as part of a conference where Kristen was presenting and networking and L.A. to visit my brother James, his wife Stephanie and their daughter Melanie. We had a fantastic time and Davis was a great traveler. It was great to escape from Boston for a while, see our family and give Davis some new experiences.
We left Boston late in the afternoon on Saturday, arriving very late in San Diego with a connection in Chicago. Davis loved the airport and he spent all his time on the ground watching plans and trucks. His favorite part of flying seemed to be landing. When we landed in Chicago he kept saying "More? More?". Even after a full day of traveling he was sad to get off the plane in San Diego and kept requesting "More plane?". We were amazed at how easy it was to fly with him across country and he took to staying in a hotel room like a champ.
We had one day together to enjoy before the conference started and we spent it at Sea World. There is no doubt in our minds that Davis' favorite activity at Sea World was the Orca whales. We attempted to take him to the Sea Lion/Otter show, but when we sat down and watched for a bit he looked at us like "What? This is really lame". He was especially confused when people clapped after a sea lion did something, which to Davis just didn't seem to warrant clapping. We left not too long into the show. In stark contrast to this, Davis clapped after everything the whales did during the "Shamu show". If the whales left the main tank for the human-only portions of the show, Davis would sign and ask for "More whales?? More whales??". Increasing in pitch the longer the whales weren't seen. The entire time, he was standing on Kristen's lap jumping up and down. We probably haven't seen him so excited before.
Exploring the tide pool at Sea World.
After Sea World, we went out with Mom for a quick dinner, then went to Old San Diego to run around the park before bed. Part of my strategy for the trip was to tire Davis out as much as possible during the day. For the most part it seemed to work as he slept in the stroller and went right to bed at night.
Kristen's conference took up almost all the time between Sunday night and Wednesday afternoon so Davis and I spent a lot of time exploring the sites of San Diego. Monday we went to the San Diego Zoo, Tuesday the Wild Animal Safari Park, and Wednesday the USS Midway and Maritime museum before meeting up with mom again.
After a great breakfast at the Village of La Jolla on Monday, we ventured to the zoo. It was enormous and a lot of fun. Every now and then Davis would notice there were animals, but he really just enjoyed running around and exploring. Since the zoo was so big so we started with a bus ride around most of the park. After that we walked, explored, walked and explored and walked some more. His favorite part of the zoo was the fake caves and sea ice by the Polar Bears. He spent about 45 minutes in the sea ice eating his apple and being silly with the other toddlers and kids who cycled through the exhibit. Some of the other highlights of the zoo: seeing a cheetah out for her walk, the female lion who reared up and tried to paw a toddler through the class, watching the Monkeys play above a fish tank, picking flowers and throwing them in the water and the black Jaguar.
Playing in the Sea Ice
More sea-ice time
Lions!
The light by the pandas was way more interesting than the pandas
He had a very interesting encounter with a bird who seemed to be guarding something.
My little ham
We spent a lot of time picking up flowers and throwing them in the water.
After the zoo, Davis and I went back to Old San Diego, this time in the sunshine, to have dinner and run around before heading back to the hotel. Davis enjoyed the cannon, dropping rocks through a hole in a bench, climbing a tree with another toddler and hearing the trains at the nearby depot.
Dropping rocks through a hole in the bench
Climbing trees
Climbing on the canon
Tuesday, Davis and I went to the Wild Animal Park which is run by the same organization as the zoo. They have a big park where lots of different types of animals are able to mix together. We spent the whole day are the park and walked at least 6 miles by the end of the day. We saw another cheetah out for its walk (Davis was asleep when we saw the third cheetah out for its walk) and saw a lot of animals with a lot of space. The park was about 40 minutes outside of San Diego and they had a lot more room for the animals than traditional zoos. Some of the highlights: The cheetahs out for their walks, being out in the glorious sunshine, the elephants with tons of space to roam, feeding the ducks, seeing 2 of the last 7 white rhinos in the world and the playground.
Tram ride through the park
Exploring the flowers.
Hanging out by the gorillas
A Secretary bird. I thought this was very cool. They stomp their pray to death.
The petting part of the zoo
About to pet the deer. At least he didn't try to ride it
Wednesday, Davis and I had a short day together before we meet mom after the conference ended. We headed down to the maritime museum where we saw a replica of the HMS Rose (used to film Master and Commander) then headed to the USS Midway where we had a blast exploring the flight deck and planes. After the conference ended, we picked mom up and headed back to the zoo. We enjoyed a quick trip including the polar bear caves again, feeding the gorilla statues and lots of climbing and running around.
Watching the gorillas
Feeding the gorilla statues
Feeding the gorillas
Playing with the elephant statues
Thursday, we had a wonderful family breakfast overlooking the cove in La Jolla where we watched a person swimming and every minute or so would se the head of a sea lion pop up just behind her. After that, we headed back to Sea World hoping to see another whale show. We saw a few of the sites we'd missed the first time, including feeding the sea lions and the shark tank. Davis and Kristen were even able to touch a dolphin! (Davis correctly called this whales as well). We also took in a different, more educational version of the Shamu show which Davis once again enjoyed. After Sea World, we packed the little one in the car and drove up to L.A. to start our visit with James and Stephanie.
L.A. was great, we had a lot of fun. Davis and Melanie were fantastic to watch together. They taught each other a lot and played really well together.
Playing with one of Melanie's trucks.
Melanie
Playing with Melanie's bike
Davis and Melanie
Friday we went to a train museum / exhibit were Davis was in heaven. He really enjoyed the trains and taking a model train ride around the park.
Trains!
More Trains!
James, Stephanie and Melanie
And more trains!
There goes a train!
Cousins
Taking a train ride
Saturday went to the local farmer's market were we picked up some amazing fresh fruit and produce. We had the best oranges we've ever had before packing up the kids and heading to the beach. The toddlers had a great time digging in the sand smashing sand castles, wading in the water and being outside. My brother took a few pictures that I hope to get uploaded soon.
The kids had some more fun playing together that night:
Wresting?
Wresting / Hugs
Sunday, Kristen's flight left very early in the morning. Davis and I had a final morning with James, Steph and Melanie. We went to the park to enjoy some final sunshine before Davis and I headed back across the country solo. Davis was a great traveler: I really couldn't have asked for more from the little guy.
Spring hasn't quite sprung yet, we still have some snow on the ground and the lakes are still mostly frozen (but melting). However, this weekend we got a gorgeous day to go outside: sunny and 50 with only a little bit of wind. We headed down to the park across the river where there are a lot of trucks and toys to play with. This was our first time there, but it won't be our last: Davis had a lot of fun with the trucks and the playground was really good for toddlers.
Last night, we had friends over for dinner. Mike grew up near me in Washington and also went to the University of Washington. He brought over a new shirt for Davis and I couldn't help but put it on the little guy tonight.
This weekend we started a Toddler sports class at the YMCA in Woburn. We missed the first class for our trip to San Diego and LA, but the idea is to give toddlers (2 to 3.5 years in this case) a sampler of a bunch of different sports in 30 minute classes over 6 or 8 weeks. Our first class was basketball and it was an amazing amount of fun.
The class started out with about 15 toddlers and their parents lined up at one side of the gym. The instructors told the toddlers that they should run across the gym as warm up. When they said go, some of the toddlers ran across, others stayed where they were and other, such as our son, just ran and ran and ran. They then ran back across the gym (Davis once again went for a big run). This was followed by stretching (touching toes, arms up and arms down) then by some basic basketball instruction. They tried to teach bounce passes, chest passes, shooting and dribbling, all of which were a ton of fun for the kids and great entertainment for the parents. Davis enjoyed running, kicking and throwing the ball, as well as jumping of random structures in the gym and running all over. We don't have any pictures yet since the Y only allows pictures to be taken during one week during of the classes.
We've just got back from a week long trip piggy backed on a conference to San Diego and LA. We had a great trip and Davis was a fantastic traveler. We spent 4.5 days in San Diego and the 4 days in LA with my brother, his wife and their daughter. Here are a few pictures from the trip. I hope to get some posts up about the trip soon, but right now we are playing catch-up with chores and sleep while Kristen gets ready for another trip in a few days.
"Tide pools" at Seaworld
Davis loved the killer whales
At the San Diego zoo, we probably spent an hour here over two trips - playing in the caves by the polar bears
There were Pandas at the zoo, but other things were more interesting
Old town San Diego had a bench with a hole that was perfect for dropping rocks through
There were also some great trees in Old Town San Diego to climb
We petted some deer at the wild animal park
And fed gorillas at the Zoo (second visit)
Davis has learned to "Raaaar"
A visit wouldn't be complete without some sharing issues
Friday we went to a train park where they had TRAINS! Davis was in heaven.
Cooking with Davis has become something of a regular weekend activity. During the week, we spend a lot of time after picking Davis up from daycare cooking in the kitchen while he plays in the other room (or screams at the gate). On the weekend, we have a little more time and can bring Davis in the kitchen with us in a little bit more controlled environment and let him have fun cooking with us. We've made banana bread, muffins, lots of different types of cookies. Today we made cookies and macaroni and cheese (in the crockpot). He had a blast - he loves being in the kitchen and helping out.
About a month ago, we took our Christmas tree out to the curb for recycling. We did this right before bed and Davis said bye to the tree and waved as the tree went down the stairs. Since then, it has been part of our bedtime routine to say bye to the tree (bye tw-ree) and wave down the stairs at bedtime. There have been nights where we have forgotten to do this, and he has cried at his door until we open it so he can say bye to the tree. This routine now seems to be fading a little bit, but he will still say bye to the tree pretty frequently. It is very cute and endearing.
