San Diego Day Three - Gaslamp Street Party

On Saturday morning we headed to the Little Italy area of San Diego and they had a huge farmers market lining the street. We enjoyed walking around, listening to music and hugging on Henry our California golden retriever boy that we met! He was just 18 months old. We told him about Mills (who was at Golden Retriever camp - a place near our house that only board Goldens!)!

Grady got his favorite - avocado toast from a street vendor. He ate that right up!

I checked out a local Charlotte Moms facebook group and there was a recommendation for a restaurant nearby - Davanti Enoteca on India Street. The person that suggested it said to get a table on the back patio so that's exactly what we did. It was wonderful! Best pizza ever. This was the kids....


And ours had wild mushrooms, braised leeks, taleggio cheese and truffle oil. It was decadent!


After a 3 hour Grady nap, we headed to the event that evening - they shut down two streets in the Gaslamp area of downtown and rented out every restaurant and business on those streets. It was unreal!



Molly Anne and I matched and thought these were perfect Lilly outfits for a street party! My dress. Her romper. I must say, these were a great material and easy to travel with - no wrinkles. They were cool temperature wise as well!


Seriously how cute is this set up?! Love these colors together!


Have you ever seen such big servings of paella?!!

Love them and their relationship. Tight as tight can be!


The theme of the trip was how much lip gloss is too much for my Molly Anne! She loved putting it on each night for the events!


Dancing with the street hip hop dancers!







Biggest donuts you’ve ever seen!



We danced all night to the band’s music! They also had a DJ for the band breaks. And inside the restaurants they had smaller bands and solo artists! 

Molly Anne thought she looked like this lead singer! 


We loved taking the rickshaws to and from the events! They played loud music and shuttled the whole crowd back and forth. There were a ton of them!


Next up - our last day! 

San Diego Day Two - Children’s Museum and Miramar

On Friday morning, Kevin had a business meeting to go to so the kids and I walked a mile to Waterfront Park which had a great playground. Looking back, I should have walked a different way or just sucked it up and ubered in a big ole SUV but we walked. Def places along the way I was nervous as a vulnerable mom in a big city that I wasn't familiar with. But we made it. Then we had to leave after some people arrived that I didn't feel comfortable being near. I know I sound so wimpy but I'm here to protect my kids and I didn't want them seeing some of the behavior that started so we bolted! It's a big city, I get it. I'm just being honest that I'm used to my bubble and having my antennas up!

ANYWAY, it was a great playground and they loved playing on it!

We headed back and picked up Kevin at the hotel then walked over to the New Children's Museum. What a fantastic place this was. I definitely recommend if you're in San Diego with children ages 7 and under. Check out this "Whammock" that Molly Anne climbed all through to the top. See her up there?!


They made things out of clay. 


Molly Anne made this bird house with Mr. Marcus. Let me tell you all about Mr. Marcus. He was AMAZINGLY sweet and kind to Molly Anne. They had such a great time making her vision come to fruition. He was incredibly talented as well!



We decided we wanted to go to Miguel's Cocina, a mexican place on the water about a mile away. So I got over my carseat addiction and booked an Uber Black XL and figured in city streets going 20 miles per hour that not much could happen to my kids in that bus! 

The lunch was delicious!



After a nap for my dearest little friend, we got ready and headed to the awards ceremony then got on buses and headed to Miramar where the Marine Corps Air Station is!


Loved riding on the bus again!



Getting to go through those gates was so cool. 



Wearing this dress and these neutral earrings!


Grady talking to two women who were super sweet and extremely knowledgeable. 


My little girl. 


You know she got right into that helicopter. Grady didn't want to get in because he said it smelled. And it did...like oil. 





The band they had was fabulous this night as well. 


They never miss one detail. They had guys juggling, they had people flipping on a trampoline, just so many extra entertainment things for everyone. It's hard to describe but there is never a detail missed. These events are simply amazing and once in a lifetime. 


Tom Cruise?!


When Grady took his Maverick helmet! He squatted down and talked to the kids on their level, it was adorable. 




It was a wonderful night and we had a blast!

San Diego Day One - Midway

Let me just preface the next four posts by saying that these are highlights!!! Traveling with two kids ages 4 and 6 across the country to a time zone three hours behind and only for three nights is not all rainbows and butterflies. BUT, I had to keep reminding myself that these are amazing experiences for them even though it was a lot of work on my/our end.

The American Airlines pilots were soooo kind to let the kids check out the cockpit as we were boarding! This was super special for Grady as he was THRILLED to be flying! He didn't remember being on an airplane as a baby of course!

Going out there, Kevin flew in the row across and in front of us with Molly Anne. And I flew with Grady. We had really limited seat options so this was the best we could do and honestly it was fine. Sitting on that plane for over 5 hours was a lot for a little 4 year old but he did wonderfully. In fact, he got some compliments from those around us! This looks ideal but didn't last very long. Don't let this picture fool you ha! We had workbooks, magnets, snacks and my iPad with wifi!

We made it! Since this was a trip that Kevin won through his company, they take you on a charter bus to the hotel. Grady was stoked to go on the charter bus. They even liked the moving sidewalks in the airport. It's the little things that we don't even notice that the kids like the most!



We stayed at the Manchester Hyatt which is in downtown San Diego and near the Seaport Village area. We walked over there and had some lunch, beers and the kids rode the carousel!



We went back to get cleaned up before we boarded USS Midway for a memorable evening! It was only open to our event and it was wonderful. 


Inside 



We even got to do these simulators and they were amazing. Molly Anne was extra obesssed!


Of course they had a band on the top deck so you know my kids were on the dance floor immediately!


Goose and Maverick!




In one of the helicopters!

It was a long first day and the kids were up until 11pm which felt like 2am. Grady had taken a nap which was good. This was a routine every day - nap time for Grady = pool time for Kevin and Molly Anne. It works out well every time we go on vacation. We did the same in Disney!

Day two coming up next.