California!

As most of you know we went to California a couple weeks back for Angelina's (Albert's brothers daughter) graduation! We usually go in the Fall or early Spring because of weather and my work. Turns out the weather was perfect and well work just dealt with it! :) Angelina attended an alternative High School and graduated WHOLE year early! We were all so proud of her. She had gone through a rough patch and has completely turned herself around. It is amazing how much she has grown up since the last time we had seen her!

Angelina wouldn't come out and say she was proud of herself; but she was and rightfully so as were we! To graduate an entire year early? Who does that?! Well she did! : ) I am excited to see where she goes from here.

It had been at least 2.5 years since we had been to California so it was way overdue! Antonio loved going on the airplane! He slept for about 45 minutes on the way down until the attendants woke him up with the darn beverage cart. Grrrr...  Same thing happened on the way back up but he had slept for just over an hour so it was ok. Antonio loved California! We stayed in Carpinteria, which is about 10 miles south of Santa Barbara, right on the coast, for 4 days. Albert's sister Nelly, lives there so we got to spend a lot of time with her which was so fun. It was perfect, pretty much 75 and sunny every day! Ahhhh.....  We went to the beach, the zoo and the natural history museum (we saw dinosaurs and butterflies there). So much fun!

After our days there we went back inland to Simi Valley where my Mother in law, Eva, lives and where it was much warmer. It was easily in the mid-80's, a bit warm for my liking but not as bad (or good) as it could've been! Antonio loved spending time with his Grandma. He followed her around everywhere.  She got a lot of Grandma time; it was good for both of them! We also got to see friends of ours that live nearby which was so much fun. Even though it was just hanging out in her (awesome) backyard with a couple bottles of wine and beer; it was good for the soul! 

All in all it was a good trip. We are broke but broke with full hearts! It was good for Albert to see his family and Antonio to pretty much meet that side of his family. I really wish we lived closer because he had a blast with his Uncle (who introduced him to candy), cousin Elise and everyone else. Antonio still to this day talks about "Ewise"!  We hope to go back next fall, 2013, for a Disneyland trip! I know Albert can't wait! Ha!