California Dreaming

Renwick, New Zealand

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 15:31:21 +1300

Plimmerton, New Zealand

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 17:46:20 +1300

Celebrating getting our beach house back after a long term rental. A tad exhausted doing all the cleaning (loving those norwex cloths!), but also good to know we have our retreat back.

Honolulu, United States

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 07:22:14 -1000

Carlsbad, United States

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:10:00 -0700

This day started with a run for me and outlet mall shopping, while the kids had a morning swim...this was on the misunderstanding that our trip south to Carlsbad was only 2-3 hours. Oh how wrong I was. Once I realised it was more like five hours, wejust got on with it. Except that thegraffic on highways passing through LA was just totally crazy. We got stuck on highways for about 2 hours. It was something to absolutely endure, but the kids just coped with it (with the help of movies on the tablet!). I just don't understand why people would endure the traffic on a regular basis. Never plan to do that again. Eventually got into Carlsbad after the sun had gone down, dinner for kids then straight to bed! Friday 6th oct: Legoland day. Both kids really excited. A quick walk across from the hotel and it was game on. A really hot day so taron and I were constantly looking for shady places to hang out while the kids were doing various activities. Williams favourite place was Funtown, where he was driving around in Lego car and warmers a legoland drivers license. But mean mum and dad wouldn't pay $17 to convert it to a "proper" license. Well he kept going on about it so we promised he could do that activity later in the day and get his license. His face wAs absolutely beaming when he got it. That feeling was worth the money alone. He's still wearing his license two days later. The surprise of the day for taron and I was that Fleur loves roller coasters. She seems to be a real thrill seeker. William and I did one of the roller coasters, but I felt no need to do any more after that. Taron kept Fleur company on the other roller coasters. A really great day for the kids, perfect age for them. So glad we came.

Pismo Beach, United States

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 09:10:00 -0700

Started the drive down towards LEGOLAND, but taking it over 2 days with the first stop in Pismo Beach. A bit of a late start leaving San Francisco though, picking up rental car. Stopped off in Monterey Bay for lunch, but didn't do the aquarium in the end. Didn't have enough time and didn't want to rush it considering entry fees. So back on the road, planning to take the coastal route (which I was wprrried about doing but had built up the courage) only to find once we had started on that road that parts of the route were closed. Probably explains why google maps keep refusing to show Route 1 (as coastal highway is known) as an option for our travel south. So, done backtracking to get an inland route. Several hours later arrived in to Pismo beach. Dinner was subway on the way. One thing we have discovered are that the rest areas along highway, while few and far between, are very well maintained. Bathrooms, picnic tables, on site staff! Attempted to eat our subway there in picturesque peacefulness that night but the wasps had other ideas! Still some free drinks at the hotel went down really well!

Picnic along the 101.

San Francisco, United States

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:10:00 -0700

So lesson learned from the longest leg of the trip. I totally underestimated my kids ability to cope with the inevitable airport delays and 13 hr flight. They were really great. Some sleep was had in said flight, but not too much. Writing this from the comfy bed at our first hotel on this trip. Today seems to be a bunch of firsts for the kids-longest flights, first trip on the BART ( rapid transit system), first stay in nice hotel. Even managed a swim in hotel pool and gentle stroll around the marina. A great, very long day. We are all snuggled up in bed at 8pm.... hoping for a solid nights sleep for all. Monday 2nd: pretty relaxed start to the day with the kids sleeping in, while I got my run in first thing. Stunning, stunning view of the virtual and Goldrn Gate Bridge. Kids particularly enjoying the free hotel breakfast (it was pretty good as far as free American hotel breakfasts go). William's getting used to having scrambled eggs each morning. Finally ventured out on BART again and getting dropped off in Union Swuare area where we eventually made our way to Ghidelli Square after a couple of bus mishaps. Enjoyed the obligatory ghiodelli ice cream sundae and then (more successfully) on another bus over to Golden Gate Bridge. We walked across as far as the first main suspension part of the bridge before the kids were keen to get back. All in all a good first day out with the kids. Tues 3rd: an early start today (and therefore slightly more rushed breakfast) to get into Pier 33 for the Alcatraz Cruise/tour. Kids really enjoyed boat ride and Fleur seemed particularly interested in the island, listening intently to the audio tour of the prison cell block. Walking again to get lunch, then to find toilets, a brief stop in a gallery showing Dr Suess artwork, then after more bus mishaps (ie they just didn't arrive) we somehow managed to convince the kids we could walk back to the Montgomery BART station from where we were close to Fishermans wharf. They totally did it with not a bit of squabbling. So a whole day of walking, naturally ice cream in the menu for pudding followed by a movie chilling out in bed. Tomorrow's a more relaxed day with a five hour drive planned.

Sydney airport- embarking on family adventures requires a certain degree of silliness

Snuggle time, kids having to share a bed.

Experiencing Bay Area Rapid Transit system

Evening stroll around Berkeley Marina/park.

On the plane. Daddy, daughter time!

A pretty red bridge!

Picture perfect-quintessential San Francisco

The kids have been making the most of the free hotel breakfasts!

Sydney, Australia

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 08:10:00 +1100

Kids super excited, despite 3:30am wake up call. Talking non-stop. William just itching to get on the plane while fleur is issuing minute by minute countdowns till we can board the plane! Doubt the enthusiasm will last all day... 2pm Sydney time. Actually kids doing remarkably well, and tolerating the additional one hour flight delay leaving Sydney. Amazing how you can fill in what is now 7 hours in an airport doing very not much. William and I have played snap a few times and even managed to get in a game of cards battleships. William also took a nap on me! Being that he is now 6, that's quite something...and while I loved that feeling again of him snoozing on me he is getting a tad big!

Home, 4am: Packed and rearing to go!

As close as we got to central Sydney

Waiting, waiting, waiting... both listening to audiobooks.

Wellington

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 09:10:00 +1300

The night before