3 boys + 1 crazy mommy + 400 miles = Fun family weekend!

3 boys + 1 crazy mommy + 400 miles = Fun family weekend!  A few things led to this perfect "storm".  It seems that every time we have plans to go to LA, someone ends up sick the week before we leave and we have to debate about which friends and family it's safe to visit.  Plus, the kids LOVE dinosaurs and there is an awesome "dinosaur museum" in LA (a.k.a. The Natural History Museum).  AND this mommy's baby was 18 months old which meant I was getting a bad case of baby fever. AND our good friends, Colleen and Benny, had just had their cutie pie Benji who I had to meet!  AND James was starting kindergarten soon which meant my days of picking up and going wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted, were becoming limited.  So... on Tuesday, I decided that the boys and I were going to drive down to LA on Saturday morning.  All was going along wonderfully until I got sick with a cold (in June!) on the drive down to LA... really!?!?!?!?  Unfortunately, that meant no visit to meet Benji (frowny face!) but still a wonderfully fun weekend visiting family (and dinosaurs!)

The usual stop in Buttonwillow for McDonalds breakfast.  We sat at this large table last time we traveled so James insisted on sitting there again this time.

The rest of us enjoyed our breakfast at this table... Yummy pancakes!!!

And the always delicious orange juice!  

We actually got to LA sooner than we expected (miracle!!!) so we stopped by the seal sanctuary to say hi to the seals and ask a few questions.  One volunteer told me, "These boys are so curious!  You must be exhausted at night!"  Uh... yep!!!  :-)  And I love it!!!  

Hi G.G.!!!!  Can we come in?!?!?!  Jack is wearing the "pants of shame"... the extra pants in the car for accidents.  Oops!  :-) 

Enjoyed swimming at Uncle Tim's pool... A little boy favorite for all our trips to LA!  

James and Jack's favorite "toy" at G.G.'s house!  

G.G. love... and "GO BEARS!!!"

An awesome show at the Natural History Museum.  James loved the t-rex, Jack not so much!  

Auntie Woo-Woo and Jack checking out the fossil lab.

Uncle Glen and Jonathan enjoying the museum. 

Picnic time after the museum... Thank you Auntie Lou and Uncle Glen for joining us for a fun day!

Mommy and her boys!!!  They are all too cute!!!  (Matching clothes makes it a little easier to find little ones in a crowded place.)

Single stroller or triple stroller... Lots of tired boys!  

Awesome dinosaur fossils!!!  

Boys will be boys!  

And as always... the necessary stop at Auntie Billa's and Uncle Jeremy's in Patterson on the way home.  Mommy gets a much needed break while the boys get their wiggles out at the park with Cousins Johanna and Dagbjort!  Thank you Patterson Slades!!!  

All in all, a wonderful weekend!  Thank you to everyone who made it possible!!!  Love you all!!!  Let's do it again!  :-)