California LOVE

WARNING:
Super... Super... LONG Post

The morning we headed out, we'd all planned to meet up at Matt and Heathers around 7:30 AM. In the Scott Smith world that means 9:30 AM!
In the mean time, Saige drew this LOVELY interpretation of my little Family
Looks just like us, Thanks Saiger



After what seemed like a week straight of packing for 4, for 8 days, the day FINALLY came to take off. This was the 2nd Smith family vacation that we have taken all together, thanks to my wonderful In-laws.
The first day and and a half was spent driving from Draper to Primm (just outside Vegas) to Laguna. We took a couple pit stops for food and restroom along the way, and one of those pit stops was The Bass Pro Shop in Las Vegas. Yes, this was the stop for the Smith men. This place is GINORMOUS, its about 6 or so times bigger than our Cabelas in Lehi! I do have to admit that it was pretty cool, and an outdoorsman's paradise.

Milo and Coasten standing in front of the massive fish tank
Look at that shark, YIKES!

Ever seen a real life mermaid?!
Well, here she is! Aand she LOVES us:)

That evening we stayed at Wiskey Petes (just outside of Las Vegas). Super clean and cozy Hotel........ Ha, not even close!! Early the next morning after a DELISH breakfast at Carl's, we were again on the road..

Documenting our adventure along the way... Oh the beach is so close, I can almost taste it.. Wait a minute, wait a minute......

It does exist! Dear Beach, Oh how I L.O.V.E You! Can I please pack you up and take you home with me?! You are Heaven on Earth! It was so so good to see you after that long, HOT, and very LOUD drive:) Love, Shana

All joking aside, this babe did AWESOME! I am pretty sure that he was just as excited as we were when we finally spotted the Beach and our destination.

Coasten! Well, he was a little MAD, TIRED, sort of EXCITED, and purposely trying not to smile or look at the camera... All in all, he was a trooper while we drove countless hours. He even entertained Hyde a little during his grumpy moments..

My Handsome Husband, driving along the Beach just Happy as a clam! Man, I am one lucky Lady! Love you

Beautiful! The only description for it

After we got settled into our Condo's we were staying in that week, mine and Josh and Jenni's Families decided to go walk on the Beach.. Stretch our legs and take in the Beauty.
Coasten is a very daring and fearless little boy. Just moments after we took this picture, the wave behind them came crashing onto the beach taking Coasten along with it! The boy was soaked from head to toe.. It was cold on the Beach! That kid is one tuff cookie..
However, he was a little per-maturely traumatized!

This is a Hotel on this cliff, and I would without hesitation stay there. Gorg!

A rocky part of the Beach that actually reminded me a lot of the Oregon Coast!

A not so beautiful picture of my AMAZING little Family. Coast completely drenched..

Day 1 on the beach! Seconds after this picture, the Life Guard had told us to pick our spots a little further down the Beach because there was a river of water flowing from the Ocean into another body of water, that is supposedly contaminated!
I held Hyde, Nate was carrying so many large, heavy, bags, so Aunt Pete had Coast jump on her back and she could take him across the contamination. Pete waited until she thought it was safe to cross, and about half way through, an ENORMOUS wave swept through taking our 7 year old Niece Abby and Coasten, as well as many of our belongings into that river of contaminated water. My heart ached as I realized what was happening! I truly thought at that moment I was loosing my 3 year old little boy. I was certain that he had drowned! Completely covered by the powerful rushing water, I thought he didn't stand a chance..... I was a panicked Mother! Nate threw everything to the sand and dove into the water to retreive him. To our surprise, he wasn't even choking on the water, he was breathing just fine. Although, that moment SCARRED him for the remainder of the trip! Oh my Lucky Stars, We were blessed that day! Abby was saved too by Naters, and completely shaken:)

Saige being buried

Hyde Loving that toy. Such a sweet baby

Love him to death

Coasten and Milo. 3 years old. 6 months and 1 day apart
at Laguna Beach

2 years pryor. Coasten 11 months and Milo 17 months
at New Port Beach

Disneyland! The Happiest Place On Earth:) My Favorite place EVER, seriously I HEART Disneyland! Coasten and Hyde's first time, and Coast could NOT wait...

The Babe

He actually did VERY well for all 16 hours we were there, such a good sport!

Anxious Coast

Get me in... Get me in...

Coasten took this picture of Moi! Not too bad right?!

I think Hyde just might be the Happiest baby ALIVE.. He makes up for Coasten... Ha ha

Gramps! Coast's BFF

Main Street Disneyland. If I could place my house somewhere along this street, I'd be one happy Lady:)

Oh the castle! Did you know that there is one Hotel suite in this Princess Palace?! How fun would that be for a night?!

Alice's Tea Cups and Lantern's.. Can I have these??

Meet Lindsey! This is my Bro-in-law's girlfriend of a year and a half... Jake, PLEASE just Tie-the-Knott already! We LOVE her... Linds, we LOVE you:)

One of the many Princess we stood in line to meet. It was fun to see the girls faces light up!

Hyde and Daddy! In line for our 1st ride of the day- Its A Small World

My Boys

Toone Towne

Standing in line waiting for our turn on Toone Towns roller coaster.
Coast, Nana, Macy, Jenn
Coasten LOVED this ride, he still talks about it to this day! Huge fan

Not really sure why, but Coast really wanted to meet Mickey Mouse! So we stood in line at the end of touring his super adorable home. We finally met him, and the boys were thrilled. Hyde could not take his eyes off of him and Mickey would not let go of his hand either.. Coast gets sort of shy when he is next to someone he likes:)

Can you believe that Hyde was able to ride this ride?! Anyway, he felt big and LOVED it!

I love my Hyder in this picture.. This is him, a total HAM! Fireworks at Disneyland are AWESOME, and the Boys loved every minute of it..

Exhausted! Hyde had a hard time sleeping in a pack n play on this vacay! So most nights he slept with us which is VERY unusual. At home this boy cant sleep anywhere other that in his pitch black room all by his lonesome! I was sure glad to get him back in his bed when we got home. I did love snuggling him though:)

Coast was a little timid and unsure about the Beach after those 2 mishaps. With a little coaching from Gramps, he slowly came back to liking it.... A little!

Love my boy

Look at those eyes, beautiful!

My Mr. Handsome

A-Maz-Ing

Snacking on some Animal Crackers

This Beach house was built in the rock, so awesome!

Hyde had his share of sand... Think he pooped sand for the next 3 days! Love Him

Me and my Boys

Sometimes you just get so tired, you'll sleep anywhere!
Love those cheeks

Some of the crew playing it up

Love my toe nail polish! Thank Heavens for Sally Hansen Nail Effects

Saige was a trooper and let everyone bury her in the sand... BRAVE

Milo, kickin back with a cold one!!
Dr. Pepper style

I am sure glad to know that this Life Guard could save my life!!! GET OFF OF YOUR PHONE!!

How much???

Coast playing!

Coast, I love you more than words can express! You were A HUGE, GINORMOUS, PAIN on this vacation, but I wouldn't trade you for the world:)

Headed home... Bittersweet!

Gotta take picts! If I dont who's gonna?!

Crazy Hyde

Posing for this picture, while waiting for Coast to get his poops out on the side of the road in the middle of NOWHERE! Hyde was laughing at me!!
PS. Dont tell anyone that we were all under power lines during a pretty amazing lightening storm!....
Mom of the year award right here! Gosh...

We did hit up the H&M in Vegas on the way back home! I Love that store and I really do love Vegas!! Coast thought the strip was awesome in all of its glorious LIGHTS N such...

Final stop in Paragunah to visit the grave of Nate's Dad's older sister! She was killed in a car accident when she was 2 years old! This is her new headstone.. Oddly enough we happened to be there on her Birthday. Tender moment!

Anyone know of a good Plastic Surgeon??? I just realized that I look like a 12 year old little girl!! Man we've got to get those babies fixed! Not, not a flattering shir t(in the pink) when you got nothing to show.. LoL..... One day I suppose



Scott and Lisa- This was a great little Vacation! I needed it! There were some REALLY FUN times and some moments I'd rather not mention or remember... I am sorry Coasten reared his "Ugly Head" on this vacation. I think we were all somewhat glad to finally hear the screaming and crying come to a STOP! He's 3, and I have to remember that!!!
Thanks for making this vacation possible, I know we will remember this forever! Thank You, Thank You! Love Ya