Newport Beach California

We decided to go out of town for the Boys' birthday this year.  So a couple weeks ago, when I found the Marriott Villas in Newport Beach available on our timeshare I booked it.  We left Sept. 3 and stayed for a week.  Allie was so excited to be flying on a plane again!  We had just watched her first full length movie- Toy Story 2 and she kept talking about when Buzz, Woody, and Jesse were at the airport with the plane taking off.  (She loves Buzz!!!)

No longer a lap child.  And she was terrified this time during take off and landing!

But as you can see, she did just fine once we were up in the air!  (she won't let me open the window shade though!)

Cool weather, beautiful view, and not in Texas!

I love having the timeshare because we get full kitchens, living rooms, and 2 bedrooms!

Jon's Aunt and cousins live close by so the first night we got there we got to hang out with them.  They had some other friends over and a super yummy dinner for us!  (Allie is shy at first)  She was up very late that night as we started out with TX time and ended with CA time.)

Playing a little B-ball.

We went to the beach a couple times.  Sand was great, but water was  too Cold!

I brought her little baby pool so she could at least play in the water as I knew she would not like the cold ocean!

Jon is "helping" Allie with her sand castle!

We had a great playground right outside our door!  It was super!

All ready to go!

Quick stop at a neighborhood park.  Can you imagine having sand in the playgrounds here??  You would burn your feet to a crisp!

View from our place-ocean in the background.  I always forget how mountainous California is and how fun all the cute beach towns are along the Southern coast.

Just like home.... HA!

Our sweet friends, Lincoln and Priscilla, had this goody basket delivered on the boys' birthday!  It was such a fun surprise and we really appreciated it! (see previous post for their b-day at the zoo)

Too bad the rail cut off Jon's face!  Nice pose!

She is actually laughing while he is doing this!

Took a boat ride to Balboa Island.  This is where Jon spend several summers growing up (amusement park in background)

It's a beautiful area!

So many super cute (and expensive) houses line the boardwalk.

Great little small town feel along Marine Street with cute shops and restuarants!

This is the first time we ever put money into one of these things...  No fooling her anymore!!

Dinner at a great Italian place -and this was taken from outside the window!  It was fun to sit and watch people walk by.

Perfect timing with the sunset on the bridge!

Check out the two guys paddle boarding in the picture!

Fun ones!

Like a postcard!

Sweet Allie...  God has blessed us with you and you are the BEST little girl in the whole wide world!  You make us smile and we can't get enough of you!

Don't grow up too fast!  I will miss your sweet baby face!

Ice cream and frozen bananas!  Yummy

Another great time at the beach!

So many beautiful houses!

Yes, she has on a fleece and we are at the beach in early September!

And dinner that night at Ruby's Shake Shack

We ate dinner at this place (Beachcomer) and there will be another post about that...

"never mind the picture- give me the shake!"

Overall, it was a good trip.  We were both anxious leading up to the day we left, but once we got there- it was a good getaway.  I was trying to make sure that I had everything I would want on their b-day and trying to get everything ready that  frazzled me.  The only time that I really broke down was on their b-day when we got back from the zoo. We stopped at the playground and there were twin girls (one named Allie) who were 4 but smaller than Allie.  I found out it was b/c they were born 3 1/2 months premature and spent 6 months in the NICU, and still have many developmental issues.  I was talking to their G-pa about them and told him about our boys who were born 3 1/2 months early a year ago that day.  I couldn't contain myself and the man was super sweet and kept saying how courageous I was... I am not sure why he used that word- but I will take it!   Thanks for sharing in our journey this past year, and for all the love and support you have given to us!