Santa Monica

On Friday night we loaded up all 8 kids, four adults, three strollers, two diaper bags, several cameras, and headed to Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Pier was one of our favorite spots to explore. It's over 100 years old and not only provides breathtaking Pacific coast views, but it comes complete with roller coasters and funnel cake!

It was lined with entertainers drumming beats on 5 gallon buckets and others preforming magic tricks. Of course Harrison was immediately impressed with Captain Jack Sparrow and his talking parrot.

We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant at the very end of the pier to celebrate Matt's birthday. The boys were ecstatic to not only munch down tortilla chips, but that Daddy was sung "Happy Birthday" to by a mariachi band.

Unfortunately, somewhere between the salsa and the singing, or maybe it was the half a dozen bathroom trips with a 3 year old and an overtired toddler, we completely forgot to grab Jeff's favorite cup when we we left dinner.

 We also completely did not even know we forgot it until the next day. Oh well, thank goodness for Target. They had a 2 story Target and I got way too excited over that fact as Matt had to remind me that is not what we came to California to spend all day in. Anyway, I digress...

Once the sun went down the lights of the pier exploded. The music, crowds, flashing displays, and technicolor dance on the Ferris-wheel kept the boys mesmerized, until Harrison spotted the arcade. We had a little meltdown.

So pardon the pleasant expression on his face as he was dealing with the injustices of life and know that he really did have a good time, just like the rest of us. Anything that combines an amusement park with the ocean is probably a really good idea :)
(Linking up with PaperMama for Wordless(ish) Wednesday)