a little summer vacation

This past summer we took a little vacation. Our original plans of going overseas to Italy were put on the backburner when Noni got ill. The backup was Disney much to Nicks' dismay. He fought me on this for 2 months and I don't know why seeing as how I always win!

So, we planned and saved and started off on our adventure and it was a long, long ride but it was worth every minute. Okay--minus the 24 hours or so where Phoebe had a really bad fever and threw up and had diarrhea (cha cha cha), but after that it was great!

I have never seen a kid more grateful than mine when we got to that place. I don't think she really ever believed we would make it! We stopped in Gilbert, AZ to visit really awesome friends and then in Palm Springs which was cute and all but really wretched with 118 degree weather at 9pm at night. Finally we hit the major freeways and even though Nick was sweating it with Noni in the passenger seat next to him, he did it! We made it onto a couple of quiet, calm freeways and gladly paid the tolls for the sweet silence of the roads and made it to Newport in record time. Yes, Noni got to come with us and so did Aunt Mary, Uncle Chuck and Jessica.

How beautiful is Newport?! The best part for me was that I got to wear a sweater there and it was awesome!! We took Phoebe into the heart of west hollywood that same day to visit the mecca for all little girls her age and up. My cousin Dave and his wife Lindsay met us there and thank god for Dave, because then Nick had someone to sit with and talk manly things with.

The American Girl store was beyond what I ever imagined. The best part was seeing Phoebe blown away at all the displays and the treehouse display and the having tea with her doll.




Thank you Mary for giving our daughter the love for these dolls. She adores the stories and plays for hours and hours with all of them.

We had a awesome vacation this summer with some great family and it will always be something we can look back on and show Phoebe that Noni went to Disneyland with us and she rode Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise and sat down with chip and dale at breakfast while they blew raspberries at Uncle Chuck who was standing outside the window of the restaurant!

The highlight of our trip and a surprise for Phoebe was meeting Ariel. She got all flustered and shy and didn't know what to say! It was the best moment for me and Nick.

can you tell she just got over her flu. All the characters were rubbing her shoulders and giving her kisses, it was really nice!

Nick meeting his baby cousin Oliva (not olivia) for the first time!

This was a most memorable trip for all of us. Enjoying Phoebe's face light up when she met characters or riding Dumbo or going on the teacups for the 4th time. Meeting new family and enjoying each others company during fireworks.

For Phoebe, who doesn't have any siblings--nor does she want any, this is important to me that she spend as much time with every side of our families. I want her to know every baby cousin and every aunt and uncle.

And on Nicks side....that means we will probably have many more vacations to come meeting new family.

Thank you Disney for giving us a wonderful vacation and thank you to Noni and the Komadinas for joining us and for all the many laughs!!