Trip Report - Part 2

I'm overdue for the rest of our Trip report!

So Friday morning (June 26th) we drove from my dad's house up to Ventura, where I was raised. I got to Ventura around 11:30 to meet up with my Nana. We had lunch at Mimi's. Then I took the kids on a little driving tour of Ventura, past my High School and down by the beach to get to our hotel at Ventura Harbor. We checked in there and rested up for a few hours. Then I decided to go find a park for the kids to play at, and I was trying to find Marina Park but didn't know where to find it. So we went to Von's got groceries, and then I found the park! The kids played for a while. Quinn had lots of fun on this pirate ship with a zip line. But, he was on the front of the ship and fell off from about 5-6 feet up! I didn't realize he had fallen and hadn't seen him in a while. Poor guy landed on his head, bit his tongue and hurt his wrist trying to block his fall. We went back to the hotel to clean up and rest, he ended up with a decent knot on his head! We then drove up to Oak View to have dinner at my Uncle Joe and Aunt Darlene's house. That was lots of fun, and really nice to have a homecooked meal. She even made me a cake since my birthday was the next day :) We drove by my old house, but it was dark and hard to see.

Saturday we had McDonald's for breakfast, at my favorite McDonald's on Seaward! Then drove back up to Ojai, first driving by my old house in daylight to get a better look at it! Then we went to see my Aunt Karen and Uncle Terry in Meiner's Oaks. We had fun with Aunt Karen building a train set. Then we went to see my Uncle Bob, Aunt Carrie and their kids Marty, Megan and McKenna (except they aren't kids anymore - they are all grown up!) We hung out there and picked fresh California oranges, yummy! Then I took the back road to up to Santa Barbara. Wow, I forgot how curvy hwy 150 is! We were running late to meet my friend Jennifer since we were able to visit at my Uncle Bob's, but she was waiting patiently for us at Stearn's Wharf. I promised my kid's ice cream, so we got that. Colin was at a cranky phase of the day though and would have rather been napping. We walked around and had fun just hanging out and catching up. I wish we could have stayed longer! Then we had to go up to the Santa Barbara airport since that is where Ryan flew in from Miami.

That night we took the kids to the Mall to get them some books to read and they ate at Red Robin for dinner. I was meeting my friends Melissa and Brian at California Pizza Kitchen. That was so much fun! Then we went out to a few clubs for dancing and hanging out. I haven't done that in YEARS! It was awesome being with them again. They even got me to dance, and I said I wouldn't. :) Oh, and Saturday was my birthday too.

Sunday morning Ryan took me to brunch at the hotel, Alexander's, while the kids stayed in the hotel room (Jessica was babysitting.) and that was nice. Then I think we just hung out around the hotel until we were ready to go to the BBQ at the park with my old High School friends. That was awesome! I got to see Fiona, Mera, Melissa, Brian and Christine. Everyone brought their kids and we just hung out in the park, ate and had fun! Melissa has these awesome friends, that I had met the night before, and they brought the BBQ, and shade cover. It was so nice to see everyone. I can't believe it's been 18 years since we graduated. (eeks!)

That night on the way back from the BBQ I mentioned that I hadn't had any corn burritos yet. I was going to get some at Frosty Cone in Meiner's Oaks, but we were running late on time so we didn't. So Ryan obliged me and we headed to the Santa Paula Foster's Freeze to get some. (Since we were already in East Ventura.) They weren't quite like the ones at the Frosty Cone, but it was still good. I think I might have to try and make some myself! The kids had ice cream too. I used to work at the Foster's Freeze at the Ventura Mall, before it was all renovated.

Monday morning we packed up, and we went to Foster's Donuts (Not the same as Foster Freeze, I don't think!) and got some yummy donuts. I used to go there all the time since it's across the street from my High School. Then we headed to Thousand Oaks to see my college friend, Julie and her kids. That was nice, it's been since Jessica was about 1 that we saw each other last. She reminded me that I threw her a baby shower, and I had totally forgotten that! Then we were off to Phoenix. We stayed at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass resort, on points earned by Ryan's work travels. We went swimming that night, and it was lots of fun!

Tuesday we swam in the morning, hung out by the pool, ordered lunch poolside and enjoyed relaxing. Ryan went golfing in the afternoon (in 112 degree heat!) and I went to went to my friend London's house. Our kids played video games and played outside. Her hubby grilled us burgers and we just hung out and had a good time. I left to go pick up Ryan from Teakwood's with some of his friends, one of his old hangouts when he used to live there. Wednesday we were going to go swimming again in the morning, but there was some rumbling in the sky so we decided to head to the movies. We ate some yummy Mexican food, and then went to see Ice Age 3D. Then we met London again at the mall to play with our kids in the splashpad and playland. Did a little shopping, Colin got his first Build A Bear! Quinn got a new skateboard - thanks to his dad. Jessica got some new shoes.

Thursday we left Phoenix to head home. We met up with my friend Dawn at a McDonald's in Tucson on our way through. It was great to meet her after knowing her online all these years! Then back on the road. We ended up staying in Fort Stockton that night, we were going to try and make it all the way but it would have been 3 am Texas time, and you have to drive slower at night anyway. So we made it home Friday around 1 or 2, and as much as we loved the trip we were all so glad to be home! Colin did really well again driving home, except for about 2 hours from home he got fussy and then fell asleep 1 hour from home!

It was awesome to get to see so many people! Friends and family both. I counted that I met up with 16 people from Facebook, but add in everyone else, and their kids and it was probably over 30 people! I feel caught up now, it had been so long since I had seen some of them and even that was only for a few hours at my Grandpa's 80th b'day 2 years ago. Some people, like Julie, Jennifer M, Brian, it had been anywhere from 10-18 years!

Thanks to everyone who met up with us, accommodated us in their homes and fed us! We had a great time.