As promised, here are some photos from our spur of the moment California trip! While traveling under some difficult circumstances once, my veteran world traveling, laid back no worries husband called me a Super Duper Trooper! One of the highest compliments you can get when journeying about, as far as I am concerned. I am very proud to say that my little boy also earned his Super Duper Trooper badge while on this trip. He had no preparation, we just put him in the car and headed south! We stayed in a beautiful hotel room overlooking Mission Bay in San Diego and could look out and see the boats in the harbor.
We were right across the street from Sea World and just up the road a spell from the world famous San Diego Zoo. We went to both. I learned that we probably would have been better off just going to the Balboa Park for free, because Connor was more interested in rocks then any wildlife or sealife. But there were a few things that caught his eye....
Connor had the most amazing encounter with a playful polar bear! We got to go right up the glass and see them swimming around underwater (you would be AMAZED at what good swimmers they are!). This particular polar pal decided to put on quite a show for Connor, complete with playing with his ball. It was so cool!
Connor also loves caves and getting in tight little places. My friend Elaine thinks he is going to be a spelunker (is there ANY chance I am spelling that right?) so when he found this little spot, he had to drag Mom and Dad in with him....
At Sea World there was a big old scene because for a mere $20.00 per person, you could go and eat breakfast with Elmo and Friends. We tried to walk past it casually, but Connor spotted Big Bird, took off running, broke through the security barriers and ran past all the kids who actually paid money, towards BB with his arms outstretched screaming "Big Bird Big Bird" (if you have ever seen the footage of those girls from the 60s seeing the Beatles, you will have an idea of what I am talking about). Big Bird was clearly confused as to what to do, he didn't want to have too much contact and royally cheese off the families who paid, so he just kind of waved at Connor and moved away. I was left to pick up the pieces of a screaming toddler. Because this all happened so fast, we only have video tape of the encounter and most of it is the heartbreak of a little boy and his mother crying because, well that's pretty much how I spent most of this trip! In otherwords, UGLY. But I digress. Later, in the Sesame Street Bay of Play, we were lucky enough to run into Elmo and Zoe! Connor ran as fast as he could right into Zoe's arms....it was so sweet! She held him for a super long time (it was if she knew we ALL needed it) and told him that she loved him. You can barely see him, he is lost in all of Zoe's wonderful monster furriness!
Then Connor got to meet the biggest rock star of all, ELMO!!!
I think the Big Bird incident was forgotten. I think. He now has a stuffed Big Bird.
Later, back at the pool, Connor tackled the slide ALL BY HIMSELF!!! He was such a big boy and loved it so much!
Finally, a trip to my parents graves so Connor could say hello to his Grandma and Grandpa who live with Jesus. This was difficult and though he won't remember it, I felt it was important. I miss my parents all of the time, but especially when things are hard. It helped alot to be back in the place where I grew up, back in the place with so many wonderful memories for me.
We feel so blessed that we had the opportunity to take this unplanned trip, to begin the healing process and make new memories. There have been many tears shed and much chocolate eaten (thank you Ginnie, Lisa, Marcie and Pearl for my new peanut butter M&M addiction - I can barely fit in my new Shamu Rocks! T-shirt, so again thank you very much) many prayers whispered. We still feel that our baby is out there. So again, I ask you to please keep your ears and eyes open. Please think of us and feel free to mention even the slightest little thing - adoption stories are incredible, even the ones that fall through. There are always, always lessons learned, even if they are hard. We love all of you so very much!
Everybody put your hands together for the All Girl (plus one toddler) New Year's Rockin' Eve Band! Amy on vocals, Tina on bass, Marcie on lead guitar and Pearl Jam on drums!!! Here we are doing our cover of the Go-Go's WE GOT THE BEAT!!!!
And of course, Lonny "Slow Hand" jams it out and plays it cool!
Somebody once told me that Connor looked like a little Paul McCartney...I always thought it was because of the almond shaped brown eyes, but it turns out it's because, like Sir Paul, Connor is a master of the left handed bass (Sesame Street edition)
