Vacation Part 1: California Here We Come!

There are so many pictures from vacation, that I've decided to break it up into several parts. Here is the first section. From California:

We went down to visit my dad. Here's Weston with Grandpa.

Goofy smile from Wes.
We went to Irvine Park: AWESOME. There's the Orange County Zoo, a Railroad, Horseback riding, Paddle boats, and more fun things.

Van playing at the park.

Horses

Van was a bit freaked out to ride on the pony.

Big tears.

After one lap around he was all smiles.

Van's pony's name was Dan, how fitting.

Petting the horse.

Van posing as a Railroad Engineer. Too cute.

Grandpa

Derek

Katie

The Orange County Zoo (only $2!!!)

There were a lot of birds.

Eagle

There were peacocks that roam around the zoo. We first encountered this one hoping over a fence into this enclosure. They come and go as they please.

Derek was calling to the peacock which is when he opened to show his feathers. That's my man: sounds like a female peacock, go Derek.

Had to add the bum shot too.

Black bears off in the distance.

Van looking at the bear sitting funny.

Close up on the bear

This coyote kept anxiously pacing in his enclosure, it was sad. Colorful bird

Van petting a goat--the goat turned away just before I got the pic.

Next up was the train ride.

Me and the boys.

Cute smiles.

Wes is so silly.

Fun on the train.

Then we went to the beach.

Van went right up to the water.

He was so excited. He kept going farther in the water, so we took his clothes off.

He fell a couple times when some big waves hit him. He got a bit freaked out.

Me and Weston.

My dad catching some rays.

Weston loved the water.

Save me dad, the waves are coming.

All smiles.

Splashing in the water.

Wes had so much fun.

Splashing around.

Grandpa and Weston

Weston makes the cutest faces.

Walking to Grandpa.

Hanging with Grandpa.

Van picking flowers.

It was such a beautiful day.

Van giving Grandpa a flower.

He really is such a nice boy.

Weston playing with the flower--he then tried to eat it.

Next, we visited Derek's Aunt Margret (not a good picture of her--but the only one we happened to get). It was a lot of fun--2 of her kids (Derek's cousins) were there with their kids who are around Van's age. He had a blast playing with cousins.

Van and Wes crawling on the floor of her beautiful house.

Wes with his second cousin Jacob and his dad.

The next day we got to visit with my long time friend Risa (we've known each other since we were 3).

Hanging out at the hotel with Risa and Grandpa. We hung out til we had to leave for our flight to AZ.

End of the first part of the trip.