FOREVER YOUNG: our last spring break. ever!

daron and i celebrated the last spring break we will ever have. technically it's his spring break since he is the one in school but his life is my life. married life, you know how it goes. in 2 months daron will graduate from USC and we will never be students again, kind of crazy and really really exciting. we will go back to the real world and won't see another spring break until it's our kids turn.

daron's parents originally were going to come out during the week of spring break to spend time with carter because they will be watching him for a trip daron and i are going on in may. then, daron's parents had the genius idea to rent a beach house in newport and make it a whole family affair! we hadn't all been together since thanksgiving so it was quite the treat. carter got time with his only cousin on daron's side, anderson. they were pretty adorable together. it made me really antsy for them to be old enough to recognize the other is there and that they have a playmate in each other.

daron and i were designated tour guides since we were the "locals." i quickly realized that driving to 42nd street and back home and following my parents on our family outings to the coast was not very conducive to learning about the city. but i have to say, playing tour guide really helps! our first day was spent at the california adventure park at disneyland. this was my favorite disneyland trip yet. carter clapped above his head the entire stroller ride to the entrance. i guess going weekly would make it familiar, huh? southern california has it's negatives (crowds and traffic to name a few) but living next the happiest place on earth ain't one of them! ;)

linnea using smarties to draw carter in. one smart woman if you ask me!

the grizzly bear rapids ride broke down while we were on it for a solid 15 minutes. what else to do besides snap a few pictures while we wait? i couldn't remember why i didn't like this ride until a huge wave of water crashed over me making me soaking wet. my shorts stretched out and i felt like i was wearing the diaper the rest of the day. then it all came rushing back why i don't like that ride!

the next day we spent the afternoon strolling around the irvine spectrum mall.

carter is obsessed with water. he tries to get in every fountain we pass. a few weeks ago i was with friends at the spectrum when i let go of my stroller to chase down carter who was just about to jump in the fountain water. i barely snatched him to see people darting out of the way of my run-a-way stroller. good times.

^like this!

^^my little fish

^that little smirk/smile over dad's shoulder. kills me every time.

below is documentation of us bribing carter for kisses in exchange for a cupcake. this kid will give you 1000 kisses if it means he gets sugar.

i could not get over how cute carter was looking at his grandpa. daron and steve are having some serious conversation about real estate and then there is carter - grinning at steve like like he's about to give him a lollipop.

been trying to teach "arms up!" ^^on the disney land rides.

i think we are catching on.

that evening, we headed to my parent's house for swimming and a bbq. summer is officially in the air! we stayed late playing games and eating campetelli cookies.

the last morning was spent hanging out on the sand finding sea shells, digging holes and playing with our sand toys.

^a little artsy find while running along the water. people are so creative!

in the afternoon we went biking in newport and on balboa island. i grew up 30 min from balboa but had never had the famous chocolate covered bananas from dad's. i was pretty excited when i realized this was my chance! then i had one and was sorely disappointed, not even close to enough chocolate for me!