We're going back to Cali

Right after returning home from northern California in May, we booked a trip to Washington DC for October.  The plan was to fly into Baltimore and drive to DC, enjoying the fall foliage along the way.  Cue prophetic phrase, "Best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."  Days before our trip, the federal government was still in the midst of a shut down, meaning the national parks and monuments in DC would be closed.  No amount of planning could have predicted that.  Long story short, that's how we detoured from DC to southern California. 

Just on the cusp on a horrible snow and ice storm attacking Oklahoma, we were lucky to get out of town and avoided the thing entirely.  We arrived to sunny, slightly colder than normal Santa Monica, where we enjoyed fish tacos and margaritas on an open air patio, framed with swaying palm trees and the sun setting over the Pacific.  The next morning brought a 5-mile run on a sidewalk that paralleled the beach.  These people are genius!  A sidewalk in view of the waves.  Be still my heart.

Dinner in Santa Monica

This would never get old.

Our next stop was Anaheim, an inglorious LA suburb, best known for Disneyland, which was the only reason we were there.  The morning that we were set to go, I kept saying, "We're going to see the mouse! Disneyland!" AnnaB was oblivious to the fun awaiting her.  Us grown ups were more excited than she was.  It didn't take long for her to catch on though.  AnnaB rode her first ride, Pinocchio, followed in rapid succession by the Teacups, Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland.  She loved them all.  Waiting in line, however, was not our 2-year-old's specialty.

Despite her sourpuss face, AnnaB had a blast in Disneyland.

Dumbo ride with daddy!

Checking out all of the sea lions at La Jolla Beach.

The last few days were spent in wonderful San Diego.  You wouldn't have to twist my arm to live there.  I could call it home in a heart beat.  Another couple of fabulous runs - one in the crisp air of Torrey Pines and the other along the water at Seaport Village.  Our hotel was within a block of the USS Midway, a WWII-era battleship, docked in the San Diego Bay.  After heading out for a couple of miles, it was a beacon in the distance, directing me home.  That's something I can't get in land-locked Oklahoma.

Not only do I love to run, but I also love to eat (if all truth be told, that's WHY I run).  We found a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, reminiscent of every college town's favorite hippie pizza, and ate ourselves silly.  Another night, we dined within sight of the water in Seaport Village, indulging with a a cold beer, under heat lamps on the patio.  It doesn't get much better than that.

We explored the San Diego Zoo over 2 days.  It is an amazing place that transported us to whole new worlds.  We were awe-struck at the exhibits, baby girl, not so much.  She was underwhelmed at the necessity of her stroller, which is a fight not worth having with a tired almost-2 year old. 

As penance for her unruly zoo behavior, AnnaB cooperated on both flights to get us home without pulling out any hair.  Another fantastic trip for the (virtual) photo album, only made better knowing that our next adventure is just around the corner.

Out of her stroller at the San Diego Zoo.

Last run in San Diego before heading back to reality.

Pumpkins, Turkey & Good Company

It was the last week of October and the baby and I were slated to fly to Houston to visit dear friends.  It would be only the second time I'd flown by myself with her.  She had flown with me and the hubby several times, but the duo of mom and daughter had only attempted the endeavor one other time, with moderate success.  Two days prior to departure, my anxiety level was through the roof.  I was acting like a drug addict, all shaky with darting eyes, couldn't finish a sentence.  I was worried that she would cry inconsolably or worse yet, poop and I'd have to change her diaper in that teeny, tiny cell that passes for an airplane bathroom.  What if our flight was delayed?  What if we sat on the runway for 2 hours (like we had done back in the spring)?  How was I going to keep a toddler sitting on my lap for the duration of the flight?  The anxiety was growing, GRowing, GROWing, GROWING.  I kept thinking, "If I can just get us there, everything else will be cake."

And so, we're boarding the plane and we take our seat next to an older, grey-haired man doing a crossword puzzle.  Pleasantries exchanged, we squeezed into our seat and AnnaB immediately reached out to touch his sleeve.  I pulled her arm back and directed her to look out the window.  The elderly man softly said, "She's not going to bother me." I replied, "You say that now, but you may feel differently by the end of the flight!"  With more emphasis, he repeated, "She's not going to bother me.  Even if she's kicks and screams and cries.  I have 7 children and 10 grandchildren."  I smiled from ear to ear and thanked him for his kind words.  My anxiety dissipated, my blood pressure lowered and I acknowledged that only fate could give such seat assignments.  And then, another little miracle happened, the flight attendant said that there was an empty seat a few rows back, which would give me and the baby our own row.  Yeeesssss!  I again thanked the wonderful grandpa for putting this worried mama at ease.  I never saw him again and couldn't pick him out of a line up, but for that one day, for those few minutes, he was my angel.  He'll never know that his calmness and friendliness meant the world to me and that it set up the rest of our trip for perfection.

Our little adventure was only for a few nights and we were staying at my friend Lesli's house.  Our relationship is unique in that it was my first real, adult friendship that I chose to have and not because school, work or family brought us together.  We met at the gym, both loving aerobics classes and having many other things in common, Lesli arranged for us and our husbands to have dinner together.  It was our "first date" as the husbands like to mockingly call it.  Many moons later, we've stayed close through relocations, pregnancies, natural disasters, holidays, pretty much, all major life events.  So it only made sense that when the hubby had to be at an out-of-state training course over Halloween, the baby and I should spend it with a super cool family!

Enjoying the Oklahoma fall weather & OSU football.

Pumpkins!

The week of Halloween, trying out Storybook Forest in OKC.

Halloween day in Houston.

Princess car riding with Kendall.

And bike riding with Charlie.

And more princess car with Charlie.

Dressed up for Halloween - Spidey Girl!

Our little super heroes: Captain America (Charlie, eating his shield), Spidey Girl (AnnaB) & Wonder Woman (Kendall).

Blink! It was the weekend before Thanksgiving and we (the hubby, AnnaB and I), hoofed it up the turnpike to stay with our oldest, know-things-about-you-that-could-put-you-in-big-trouble friends.  The hubby and I were racing the Tulsa Half Marathon, but not before enjoying some R & R with D & R. 

AnnaB & Harrison holding hands while exploring the Jenks Aquarium.

Laundry time! No one is ever this happy to do laundry.

Thanksgiving Day brought 2 huge meals and much gratitude.  It's hard to be properly thankful when life gives us so much wonderfulness.  So happy, so thankful!

Our family!  As AnnaB says: RyRy, NaNa, Grandma

Cousins! AnnaB with baby Pax and Uncle Brettie and Aunt Sass