Balboa

No trip to California would be complete without a stop at the beach.  Typically when Lowell and I have gone, we end up at Newport...free parking and a long walk across the sand.  At the suggestion of Matt, Lowell's brother, we opted to try Balboa this time.  Super close to Newport...yet different.   We LOVED IT!  Plus, we didn't have to trek far across the sand to get to the beach. 
Tanner of course loves the ocean.  That boy has been to the beach more in his almost 2-years of life than I had in my first 22 years.  Lately, Tanner has loved kites so of course, we took one to the beach and he loved helping his dad and watching it fly high in the air.  I liked watching Lowell inadvertently make the kite fall on a lady who really needed more swimsuit coverage (and I promise, it was an accident).  Sadly, it was a little cold that day, so Spencer didn't get in the water, but he seemed to enjoy himself well enough in the baby carrier.

In awe of the ocean

Oops!

More interested in the kite than a picture!

So Excited

Proof Spencer and I exist

Watching the waves roll in

Boo!

As the waves would roll in, they left behind foam on the sand.  Tanner loved stopping on it...then he got a little adventurous and went further into the water.  While running from a wave he tripped and got covered by the wave, Lowell was right there to help him up, but after that he was a little scarred from the water and lost interest in the beach.  Luckily, because Balboa is an awesome beach, they have a children's playground right there on the sand and Tanner took full advantage while Allison and Brant enjoyed more time at the beach.

Stomping on the foam

Not so sure what to think after getting trampled by a wave

Lovin' the slide

After the beach we walked around the shops and headed to Balboa Island to get Balboa bars and a yummy Hippo Cookie for Tanner.

The view to Balboa Island

Family Shot

On the way home we had to swing by the Newport Beach Temple.  The boys were sleeping (or close to it in the car) so we just took a quick picture.  Lowell took my to the Newport Beach Temple grounds on our first trip to California and we have managed to swing by a few times since. 

2012

First Trip - 2006

2007

When we got home from the day's activities it was time to pack up for our flights the next morning, but not before the boys spent more time with their grandparents.

A mischievous little boy who doesn't look at the camera

The next morning after some flight delays and one more trip to In-n-out that was possible because of the flight delays we headed home.  Spencer did well on the return flights.  Tanner struggled.  The delays pushed us back into his nap time and he was already sleep deprived from the week's activities.  However, we survived and were greeted at the airport by my dad.  Good to be home.
Thank you Doug & Peggy for such a fun trip.  See you in November!