Dreamy San Diego For Thanksgiving

Back in September we were about to go on our four day trip to NYC when the hurricane Florence decided to ruin everything, so we had to cancel our trip and miss a chance to hang out with our great friends, the Warners, who were supposed to be in NYC at that same time. After quickly changing plans, we decided to trade in our tickets for a flight to Sand Diego where the Warners live. And we postponed the trip till Thanksgiving. We basically left on Saturday before the Thanksgiving Day and came back late on Friday after.

This was our first family trip to California and we were all very excited! And we were so excited to finally see the Warners! Last time we saw the WHOLE family was in 2011, right before the Warners left Japan to move back to the states. We saw the old(er) Warners on two separate occasions for our Misawa reunions in Germany and in ladies get together in London, but not the kids. So we were all looking forward to us staying with them!

California welcomed us with open sunny arms! We arrived later in the afternoon, picked up by Emily and taken straight to the fabulous Taco Truck place to eat all together. We ate and talked and laughed and were just so happy to see everyone!



We were quite a bit jet lagged but persevered and stayed way later than we should have with the help of Emily's hot chocolate. We talked for a while longer even after all the kids went to bed.

The following morning we went to church, where I was blinded by the amount of people with bright blond hair! Wow! California blond is a true thing:)) We, then, let the Warners recover from our invasion and went for a quick sightseeing trip in Downtown San Diego.

The Mormon Battalion historic site is open on Sundays. We enjoyed an animated tour through this very interesting period of history that I didn't know much about. 

We took a bunch of pictures right in front of the building where the tour happens. Late afternoon sun and yellow-orange walls were a nice backdrop for them.

Alex, of course, was volunteered to be our Exhibit A during the tour. 

And at the end of the tour the boys enjoyed "panning for gold".  We talked to the missionaries for a while longer (they are the ones who lead the tour, actually) and then went on a walk through the Old City.

We came home for dinner to have Emily's famous crepes:) And then hung out for a long-long while. Katya was in heaven as the Warners have FIVE boys in their family. 

And this is our children SEVEN years ago on a super hot and sweaty evening in Misawa. Lincoln is the new addition:)

On Monday, since most kids were still in school, we decided to go to Sea World. It didn't open till 11 am, so we had a slow morning. It's a good thing that we got a discount because, to be honest, by 3 pm, we were kind of done. 

We did see the whale show which was pretty neat (I just hope they do take care of them like they say they do).

And Mark got his fill on touching sea creatures.

We walked through the sharks aquarium.

Found a funnel cake (with an enormous amount of whip cream and strawberries on top) and shared it along with a turkey leg and some random snacks since everything was so expensive. 

As you can see it was a cloudy, even a  little chilly of a day, but we didn't mind.

We took a couple of exciting rides--this is the one that got us all wet. 

Mark's favorite was the Electric Eel. The lines were not long at all so we just went on it multiple times. It's a short ride but super intense:)

Technically, you are supposed to flip the image upside down-haha. 

Oh, hi, Mark:) 

So there we go!

On Tuesday, since we were so close to the temple (and ours is closed for another half a year), we, as a family, went to the temple to do some baptisms. Mark got to hang out and read/watch movies at the visitors' room as we wanted to make it a whole family experience. 

It's so sunny that it was painful:)

Oh, teenagers!

Max came with us as he had a day off school too:)

On Wednesday morning, we all enjoyed a huge breakfast at Pipes. It's famous for a reason--the setting is very social, food is good, portions are humongous. 

I think this is the appropriate time to post a flashback photo from Christmas of 2009. Nine years ago--wow! 

Emily and I (with a photo bomber in the background:))

I think we are missing one kid. Sammy? It's hard to keep up.

After Pipes we were hoping to go on a hike but one of the trails that we planned to conquer was closed (well, parking next to it was closed) so we had to improvise and ended up going to the beach. Yay! 

The beach is always so much more fun with friends! 

In the afternoon, Katya and Mark got suited for some beekeeping business. Doug is an avid apiarist (that's my new word of the day). 

They look like they are working with some alien species. No one got stung this time.

The majority of the next two days the kids just played, played and played. 

And somehow no one broke a bone. 

On Thanksgiving Day, we all got ready for the Warners' family to come over, cooked some food, played some games.  

Mark sneaked away with one of the "cousins" to play a tennis match. That's after he was obliterated by Doug in a tennis match earlier that week.

And finally, the pinnacle of the Thanksgiving festivities--the Thanksgiving dinner! So yummy! So comforting and fun:) We just love the Warners and their family!

Emily and I--and we did save room for pie. Lots of pie:)

We had such a wonderful time with the Warners! If only California didn't feel like it's so far away! The kids fell in love with San Diego, especially Katya. She decided that someday, if she can, she would love to live there:)

We are grateful for the opportunity we had to go visit friends and spend time with them, talking as if it weren't seven years ago that we went separate ways.

Lyana.

The Watsons Go to Washington DC (Day 2)

Robert got up really early on our last day in DC to go and repark our minivan (it was still there!) to a parking spot that was free on holidays (the day offices are closed for Veterans Day). Then we quickly packed up, and left the hotel in the most dignified manner possible, loaded our minivan, grabbed some pastries for breakfast and drove towards the Capitol. Miraculously, after just a few minutes of circling the Capitol, we found an area with free parking again! Amazing! It was as close to the Capitol as you can see on the first picture.

We hurried to get inside and were signed up for the next available tour, which was within minutes--score!

Do I remember anything from the tour? No! I am sure the kids remember a bunch of random facts. 

It WAS amazing to see inside and hear the history behind the paintings, the roof, the statues.

Listening intently. 

Mark's facial expressions are the best. He didn't close his eyes "accidentally".

Through the tunnel we walked to the Library of Congress.

Saw Thomas Jefferson's original book collection. 

Next time we visit, I want a tour of the city. I love tours as through them I learn more about places than just seeing them. 

It was a blessing that we visited off season, because it's not crowded, but next time I wonder if we should go when the city is alive and the cherry trees are blooming. 

Robert said we must take pictures by the Supreme Court Building stairs. 

And then he said it was incredible that no one else was on the stairs! 

Mark always adds some flair to our pictures now;)

These could be our "Rocky Balboa" stairs.

Yep, still empty.

By midday, we were finished with the main sightseeing of the city. We grabbed a bite to eat on the way out of the city and headed towards Arlington Cemetery. It was on the way home.

It was a very special thing to visit the cemetery on Veterans Day. All the official commemorations of the veterans had taken place the day before, so the cemetery was not extremely overcrowded with visitors the day after.

We walked up the hill to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We had to wait for a few minutes for the changeover ceremony to start. 

A truly poignant sight to see. Rain or shine.

On the way out of the cemetery, we stopped by John F. and Jacquline Kennedy graves. He is one of only two presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery (the other one is Taft).

And that was the end of our short trip. We drove home for four hours in drenching non-stopping rain! It was kind of scary at times as some parts of I-95 just don't have good road markings. I am sure we'll go back to Washington DC! And we better do it sooner than later--still lots to explore!

Lyana.