Tip's Included: A Family of 6: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Jake had spring break last week- not that that really means anything when you only go to preschool 2 mornings a week :) I have wanted to visit the aquarium down in Monterey for the longest time and thought it would be a perfect place to spend a couple of days during our "break." So we packed up and headed south right at nap time and timed it perfectly because the boys woke up with only about an hour to go and then I just shoved all kinds of snacks in their mouths the rest of the way- ha!

We met up with the Leffew's (our greatest friends in Healdsburg) who had spent the week down in Santa Barbara and decided to stay in Monterey and do the aquarium with us on their way home. The hotel had a fun pool which was heated so we all swam until we were shriveled up and then headed to CPK for dinner. Sorry, but no pictures from the pool or dinner :(

It was the first time all 4 of us had stayed in a hotel and while bedtime and waking up time proved to be a little bit difficult we all managed just fine but next time we will plan a little better and maybe get a second room.

The next morning, we drove into Carmel and had a very yummy breakfast at Katy's. If you are ever in the area- go there! It was delicious!

Next stop- Monterey Bay Aquarium! I think I was just as excited as Jake was :) We got there right at 10 when it opened... along with HUNDREDS of other people! I'm not kidding. The place was packed with people. Maybe coming the Friday of spring break and just 2 days before Easter wasn't such a good idea after all...

BUT the boys LOVED all of it! Pierce was WIDE EYED and Jake couldn't get enough of it. Pierce rode on Mark's shoulders most of the time and Sara and I were just trying to keep up with the other 3 kids. There was a huge area for all the kids to touch all different kinds of things- seaweed, starfish, STINGRAYS, and basically like huge water tables complete with mini waves, boats, toy water animals, etc... and I'm sure we didn't even get to 3/4 of the whole area... because of ALL the kids... did I already mention that it was CRAZY busy?!?

I did good to get the very few pictures I did. I was afraid that every time I put my camera to my face, A, someone would walk right in front of it and B, that I would lose sight of my kids. So sadly, I barely took any pictures and the pictures that I did manage to snap show the backs of their heads :)

We were all done around noon so we headed up the street for lunch at... Ghirardelli! Why not, right?! The kids shoved down the yummiest chocolate ice cream cones and then as everyone was starting to fall apart we headed to the car to head back north. Once again, timing it perfectly with naps and we were all back in Healdsburg by dinnertime.

It was a very short trip but loved it all!

So cute! :)

if you look closely at that leafy thing you will see that it's really a seahorse!! it's called a leafy dragon. makes you love God's creativity doesn't it?!? :)