To sum it all up

I have been trying for the last two weekends to get my home computer to let me write a post. It would not. For some reason it will not pull up my blogger dashboard. So here it is. I am typing this whole post on my phone.

So, this trip to California could be broken down into about 3 more posts.  That is crazy.  It was only about a 4 day trip to begin with.  So, to save us all some grief - (and to be able to post about other things) I am going to try to finish up our trip in this one post.  There are quit a few pictures.  so it shouldn't be that bad (I hope).

I believe we left off on Friday morning.  Well, after Brenn stayed up until 3am playing cards, this was the sight Friday morning:

I of course, woke with the sun.  Brennen slept quite a bit longer.  We were about an hour behind schedule.  But we had an hour and a half layover in LA.  So, you can image how much I DIDN'T mind being late.  

Here are a few of the pictures  we got as we pulled into LA:

I tried to capture the sky scrapers but I had began to get nervous about switching to the right train and so my picture taking suffered.  

Luckily for us, as soon as we got off our train, there was a guy with a golf cart thingy who took us right to the spot of our next train.  We did not go underground into the actual station.  So up top where we were, there is only about 5 feet between each train track.  Dozens of tracks, all right next to each other.  When you need to change trains, You just look real good and hope there is not a train coming and then just cross across the tracks until you get where you are going.  

I hear that if you actually go down into the station (kinda like a subway) it is crazy.  I wouldn't know.  (Brennen will but not at this point).  So, we safely boarded our next train.  It was called a surf liner.  This is what our ticket looked like.  I was actually able to download the Amtrak app and then they scanned the ticket off of my phone.  But you know I had 2 copies of the paper ticket , just in case!

So, as you can see from our ticket, we weren't on the surf liner but about an hour or a little over.  This train was standing room only.  We did get a window seat after about the first stop or two.  One of the funniest things that happened that just screamed "TOURIST" was that as we went through Anaheim, CA we saw this huge red A.  It was across from the Anaheim Train Station.  

 

 Well, Brennen yells out - "The ASTRO's."  Not once but twice.  Ha ha.  Of course, everyone on the train stops and stares at us.  Then I go to correct him but he realized at the same time (I think - it is all kinda blurry now) and we both say "NO.  THE ANGELS".  Who, let these tourists on the train?  TOO FUNNY!

Anyway, like I said before, we were on the train about an hour.  The surf liner goes down the coast of California.  Anyone can ride it for a discount price.  It is a train that does not check luggage.  It is used for commuting, and for days spent on the beach, or shopping.  Someone might get on in LA and then travel down to San Diego for a day of shopping, or a day on the beach and then just hop on the train when you are ready to leave.  You do not have to ride at a certain time.  You buy a ticket and it is good for all day and night.  You just get on and off where and when you want.  Pretty cool.  So, about 35 minutes before we arrived to San Clemente, we saw the ocean.  We went downstairs on the train and looked out the door at the water.  I am super glad I was with Brennen for his first time to experience it.
 
You can totally see how close the train was to the ocean as I snapped a few pictures just before entering San Clemente.  It had just started to rain as we were getting there.  So, the first picture in this row should actually be last.  But, you get the idea.
Of course from looking at this next picture I didn't take it but here is how close the train runs to the beach.

 Crazy Right!

We got off of the train and with about 10 steps we were totally on the beach.  It didn't take long for us to find Aunt Kay and Kim (who had come to pick us up).  We hugged and then everyone was hungry.  We decided to load our bags into the car.  Well, the only slight hang up was that the  car was like 1/2 a mile up a huge hill.  The humidity in the air was crazy.  I barely made it up the stinking hill to the car.  Brennen and I had our luggage and it was getting heavier with every step.  (At this point I decided that the swim classes were not doing a whole lot for me).  Ha ha.

Anyway, we get into the car and talk about what we want to it.  I quickly found out that our Texan relatives only wanted something that they knew "like Whataburger".  I told them - when traveling to new places, you are supposed to try the new and local cuisine.  They begged to differ and had seen a Denny's not far away.  Brennen and I were starving too so we didn't put up a fight.  I would like to point out at this point in my story - I never really did see any fast food there.  A few sandwich shops, a few Mexican places, but no fast food.  So, where were we?  Oh yeah.  Denny's.

Here is a picture of Aunt Kay and Kim while we are waiting to order lunch.  It was so good to get to catch up with them.  I had not seen them in quite a while.  So, we had lunch and then off to the hotel.  Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary weren't in yet and there was not enough room for all of to ride to pick up Mom and Mamaw.  Brennen and I went to the hotel to wait.  They were nice enough to let us hang out at the pool while Aunt Kay and Kim went for the only one of us who could check into the hotel.  

Here is a picture of Brenn swimming in the pool.  I thought this was kinda a cool picture.

He kinda looks like he has a shrunken head.  

While we were swimming Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary showed up.  They had drove in from Ehrenberg, where they live.  We sat outside the motel and just caught up with each other for a while.  I really enjoyed it.  I had not seen Aunt Mary or Uncle Mike since they had gone in for thier transplant.  I really did enjoy spending time with them.  After a bit, Aunt Mary and I went to get manicures just down from the hotel.

Like my little flower?  Cute? Right?  

Anyway, while we did that the ladies returned.  As soon as they got into town they were starving as well.  So, Aunt Kay and Kim took Mom and Mamaw to Denny's to eat too.  After they had a snack - from what I hear, Mamaw ate only dessert.  Everyone went to the hotels and got changed for the Bar B Q.  Here is a pretty picture of our hotel.

We then went to the Bar B Q.  We saw a bunch of family we had not seen in a long time - in particularly Aunt Mary's Family.  We all did some catching up.  Here is a picture of Brandon and Stacey at the BarBQ.

We even got to meet Taylor for the first time.  Man, she was super cute.  I think (now don't quote me) but I think that all of their friends went in and rented this house for the weekend.  It was a nice little place.  All of Brandon's friends from the fire department cooked (again, don't quote me).  And it was super delicious.  They had hot dogs, and burgers, and sausage.  They had all of the fixings for a great burger including tons of bacon, sauteed mushroom, sauteed onions, etc...Anyway, after some catching up and eating, we all called it a night.

Please forgive me because I did not get very many pictures while we were actually in California.  I was to busy enjoying it.  So, for the first night, Brennen curled up under the desk and went to sleep and I curled up between the bed and wall and slept.  About half way through the night I woke with horendis leg cramps.  I spent the rest of the night in the chair.

So, we all know how early Aunt Kay wakes up.  Well, the rest of us were not far behind her.  Aunt Kay, Kim, Brennen, and I went down and enjoyed a pretty good breakfast.  The eggs were disgusting but the rest of it was great.  I just love when the hotels have the breakfast bars.  I think I had like sausage with gravy and biscuits, some fruit, and yogurt, and it seems like something else.  I don't remember.  That was literally like a month ago.  But anyway, after breakfast, we went to the beach.

Of course we did!  Who can go to California and NOT go to the beach.  Especially when you have a teenager who saw the ocean for the first time just the day before.  So, Aunt Kay and Kim walked the beach and then later relaxed in the sand.  Brennen and I were out trying to learn to body surf the waves.  Ha Ha.

Kim had her camera and ended up taking some pictures.  Since we haven't got those from her, I will show you this:

This is not a picture I or Kim took.  But this is right where we were at.  That building on the edge is a restaurant.  Then that is the pier.  Right even with the Cabana thing on the right side is about where we were.  There is a little hill that goes down right into the water.  But do you see the train tracks.  Yes, literally, our train dropped us off on the beach.   

This is a picture taken from the pier, looking back at the beach. If you divide this picture in 3 the first third is where we were playing in the water.  The second half there were actually surfers with surf boards.  It was really cool.  (Here is a hind point - the train dropped us off at the right side of this picture.  The day that we carried our luggage to the car, well, the car was just about where the line btwn the 1st 2 thirds you drew a minute ago.  On top of that green hill and a little bit up was the parking lot.  Again I say UGH!) 

So, after we swam for about an hour and a half or maybe two, it was time to go back and get ready.  We returned to the motel and did showers, dressed, and make-up.  Then what did we do?  We went to eat.  Everyone met up for a very hurried lunch.  Wanna know where we went?  

 Yup.  You guessed it - DENNY'S! 
As you can see my cheeks are a little pink.  Keep that in mind a little later.  After lunch we went to dress and then caravaned to the wedding.  They had some mingling time before the wedding where we all visited.  Then the wedding - short and sweet and then the reception.  Here is a picture of them at the wedding.

It was super cute.  They put Taylor in a wagon covered in flowers and her and their dog come out before them for the ceremony.  During the reception Kim took some more pictures.  She took some really great ones of Brennen so I can't wait for her to find time to get those to us.  I am super excited.  Anyway, it was so hot.  Many people got a little blistered.  Let me show you how blistered I got...

OWWWW!!!!!

When I returned from the reception (I stayed with Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary) everyone was asleep.  It wasn't even late and everyone was still asleep.  I wasn't sleepy yet.  So, I did want every great american would do. I went and chilled on the patio and ordered pizza.  

That pizza was super yummy!  I ate some and then went to bed.  (Well, more like to my chair).  On this night I stayed in the chair and propped my feet up on the end of Aunt Kay's bed.  Better than the floor.  

Tired of reading yet?  Well, let's close here and then you can read about our trip home after your eyes rest.