First hour behind the wheel!
Well, we FINALLY did it! We took a vacation! For longer than a weekend. Just the six of us and the dog. Now that we are exiting the "baby stage" we are feeling like we can actually GO somewhere and, better yet, possibly ENJOY it! So we planned a get-away for the 2nd week of Chloë's Spring Break (yes, she gets TWO weeks!). We did something we have never done before...rented an RV. Not just any RV...a 32 foot RV!! It was HUGE! Myke went to pick it up on Easter Sunday and when he pulled back down our street with it my jaw hit the pavement! I had NO idea you could drive an RV that size without a special permit or license! Apparently, you can. And we did. Well, Myke did. I would have had a panic attack behind the wheel of that big rig.
So we headed north and began our RV camping vacation. I won't go on forever about it...but we all had a blast...beside driving through L.A. in gridlock traffic. Myke was definitely white knuckling it and I was taking deep breaths...but we got there. I was VERY impressed with Myke's driving and ability to remain calm in some crazy traffic situations. I couldn't have done it! Myke says he has a new appreciation for big rig drivers.
As for the layout, the RV had a queen size master bed, two twin size beds (in bunk style), and then the kitchen table area and seats and the seats across from that both turned into beds, AND there was a full size bed above the driver and passenger seats. So we actually had an extra bed. We could have taken a 5th kid! (no thanks). We stayed at 3 different campgrounds, the first being an actual RV Resort by Disneyland. The RV resorts definitely have all the amenities and hook-ups. The campgrounds were state-run so were a little more "roughing-it" style, but that's what we had set out to do, so we enjoyed those, too. Even the coin-operated showers (whereas the RV Resort had a bathroom and shower fancier than most nice hotels). We stayed at state campgrounds near Santa Barbara, California and then Malibu, California (no, Mom, I did not see Matthew McConaughey...sorry!)
The kids had a blast exploring, riding their scooters and plasma cars all over, playing on the beach, roasting marshmallows, getting to eat some junk food ("vacation food"), and just being outside. I'll add some pictures. Was a perfect vacation for us...didn't even need to find a dog-sitter for Kyla. Four days was probably plenty for us. By the end we were running out of clean clothes, the kids needed REAL baths as they were covered in sand, dust and dirt (and Myke & I probably were, too). We had a great time and are already talking about doing it again.
Riding in style
(we stored the car seats in a big storage area underneath the RV once we parked)
The other two
(and Kyla on floor)
Night #1
El Capitan State Beach
near Santa Barbara, CA
Night #2
Dinner at El Capitan State Beach Campground
desserts (though it was pretty chilly! these kids wanted ice cream and no jackets)
Owen LOVING him some Cheetos!
Roasting marshmellows
Breakfast inside the RV
Stormy clouds over El Capitan State Beach
Sea Lion in background
Leo Carrillo State Beach
Malibu, CA
Sittin' in a tree
The boys
