San Diego

So, two weeks ago, we finally made it to San Diego. I hadn't been since October (at that point, I was six months pregnant and we were two weeks away from Natalie getting her ear surgeries. Also, we were a family of three at that point. It seems like ages ago).

Despite my anxiety, Jacob did quite well on the flight. Natalie was a wee bit more challenging. At one point, in response to being told she couldn't have any more trail mix until she finished the (now chocolate-less) trail mix she had, trail mix was thrown. It definitely hit other people's seats, but I don't think it actually hit any of their bodies. Small victories, right? That incident aside, as Natalie's attention span increases, she does have these long stretches where she is distracted by DVDs. It's just those other moments . . . .

Anyway, we made it. And we were so happy to see my grandmother! And she was very happy to see Jacob and Natalie!

We also got to see the rest of the family:

And Oma's kitty cat. 

Although, truth be told, with all the other excitement, Natalie was a little less interested in Oma's kitty cat this visit. But, in general, her ardor for the cat remains. A few months ago, she told Mike that she wanted to live in California. When he asked why (expecting an answer like "the beach" or "to see Oma" or "because Grandma Pat lives there"), he was told that what made California a great place to live was Oma's kitty cat. You heard it here first.

Here's Jacob in my grandmother's living room:

 Milstone-wise, Jacob loves to watch his hands.

He isn't yet rolling over, but he's soooooo close.

At one point, a box of my grandfather's old ties appeared. Eric seemed interested in a few of them. Except they were bow ties. And no one, apparently, knew how to tie a bow tie. Even Eric teaching himself via YouTube video was not terribly successful.

 Other living room hijinks:

Snuggling together early one morning (gotta love flying west with small children!).

The weather wasn't amazing. We had more rain than I ever remember getting in San Diego in May (and this was rain-rain, not just May Grey). And here I though it never rains in Southern California (also, did you know there's another, totally different song with that title? News to me.)

It was also loquat season. Harvesting loquats is a team effort:

We managed to hit all our favorite parks, including the beach park (which Natalie calls - for no reason we have ever been able to determine - "the kremmitz"). Natalie was also super-into collecting shells and rocks on the beach.

Grandma Pat's first tire swing in quite some time:

Don't let the preschooler drive the fire truck!

Grandma Pat and Natalie also fed the seagulls at the beach. The seagulls were very interested in being fed.

Family shot by the sadly stinky beach:

We had Mother's Day (observed a week early) that Sunday. Here's to the mother that started it all!

It was a great visit! Too brief to do and see all that I wanted, but good all the same.