Recovery and Reunion

After our exciting day at Disneyland, you might guess we were ready to rest. You'd be right. That's how I had time to write a post yesterday. We'd intended to go to the Long Beach Aquarium. That just didn't happen. The family reunion group went to Catalina Island for the day, but Spawn was more interested in the aquarium, and Bubbles and I were pretty sure we wouldn't be up for an early start on Saturday. We were right.

We woke up slowly on Saturday and just took our time getting breakfast. By the time we were ready to do anything, it was past 1:00 P.M. We ended up heading down to the hotel pool and swimming for a while. It was great. I haven't gone swimming in some time and had no idea what a little dolphin Spawn had become.

After that we showered, got dressed and went to dinner at Red Robin. They make a mean burger. Read "mean" as "really yummy." Then we were off to Target to pick up some better shampoo for Bubbles, and while we were at it we grabbed Spawn some drawing pads at Office Depot. Yes, we live on the edge.

Spawn and I then watched "Kung Fu Panda" together while Bubbles read. It was awesome. There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.

Before we knew it (because we were asleep when it happened), it was Sunday. We had another slow start, which was fine because Aunt Nancy's ward does their block meetings in reverse. Sacrament meeting started at 10:50 A.M. Perfect! We got up, had breakfast, showered up and headed out.

Sacrament meeting was really good. The talks were great. The last speaker actually read a large portion of the Declaration of Independence as part of his talk. I love talks like that. And the Declaration of Independence.

Aunt Nancy gave us directions to Cousin Collette's house, and we were told we should be there by 2:00 P.M.

We headed back to the hotel, changed, ate a snack and once again hit the road.

Collette's was simply amazing. We'd seen the family on Thursday night at the restaurant, and that was great. Sitting and talking to them in a relaxed, household setting was incredible. I'd forgotten what a great bunch of people they are, and how welcoming they are. It's everything I want extended family to be, and rarely get except in Chico with my brother and his family.

Spawn found the cousin she'd hit it off with on Thursday night and they played while the adults talked. We had a taco bar Collette put together. It was incredible. There were babies to hold, new and fun conversations with every group, and a feeling of peace and comfort the whole time. 7 hours passed before we even realized it. People kept trying to leave but ended up staying another hour to chat. I loved it.

Tomorrow it's back home with a stop at Dreamworks. That should be fun.