San Diego

This year we were lucky enough to go to San Diego for the 4th of July.  Emma Rose and Porter were thrilled by all we described it to be as we prepared, but to be honest, we were a little unsure of how the actual traveling would pan out.  It ended up being a fantastic celebration of freedom ... and summer!

We were immediately greeted by our cousins, Bryce & Julia, who proved to be fabulous hosts, and with their own little one on the way, they are sure to be amazing parents.  They live a block away from the bay, and that is where we celebrated the 4th.  The kids LOVED the sand and the water, and Emma Rose loved rockin' out to all of Bryce's "America" songs.

The next day we headed to Sea World, where the kids had so much fun in Elmo's fun park.  Porter loved the rides, but he also loved seeing dolphins, fish, Shamu, starfish...but he still contends that the turtles were his favorite.

Bryce and Julia took us to a beach in La Jolla, where Porter had a blast waiting for the waves to wash over his feet, and Emma Rose ate ... and ate... and ate... sand.  Porter also made some friends while there, and thank goodness, because one little boy saw a huge wave coming and promptly rushed Porter away from the water.  He was covered in water, and says, "that ocean beated me up."

Here are some pics from the San Diego Zoo.  From the start of our trip, Bryce tried to get Porter to say that he was the favorite uncle, and so finally Bryce told Porter that he owns the zoo.  Porter will probably forever claim that zoo is Bryce and Julia's zoo.

We spent our last full day in San Diego at a beach with a long pier.  The kids had so much fun watching surfers, splashing in the water, and (again) eating sand.  Just as we were about to wash up and leave, though, Porter got an inch-long sliver in his foot, and with the help of some life guards, Mom had to "operate."  It was an awful, screaming process, with promises of icecream upon Porter's survival.  

It was a great trip, and the kids had a blast.  Is Bryce now Corey's favorite uncle?  This picture probably conveys Porter's feelings on that matter for at least the next week:

Thanks to Bryce & Julia for an awesome Sowa-family adventure.