June

Hell and Good Bye, June

Is it just me, or did June come and go in the blink of an eye? I know we did things, but I had to look back at my camera roll to refresh my memory. We took a big trip to California for Nick’s 30th birthday with his side of the family. It was the relaxation trip we needed, especially Nick. Why California? It’s where my mother-in-law grew up, and one of her eldest brothers still lives there. We split the trip into two sections: the first portion was spent visiting family in the Upland area, and the second was at a gorgeous house in Oceanside. It felt like a beach town on the East Coast—highly recommended. It wasn’t crowded, but we went during the week, and I think that was the trick.

Our flight out of Denver was 7:15 a.m., so we had to be at the airport by 5 a.m., meaning a 4 a.m. wake-up call. Does anyone want to participate in that with two kids? I saw a meme before we went on vacation that couldn’t have been truer. It said something like, “Waking up at 4 a.m. for work? It’s NEVER going to happen. But waking up at 4 a.m. for VACAY? Up at 3:45 a.m., beating the alarm clock by 15 minutes!” Whoever made that nailed it! Surprisingly, the kids weren’t grumpy. Keegan popped up like a meerkat and said, “Is the car here to get us? Mom, I need to get dressed!” Everly, our little three-nager, just said, “NO!” I told her she could stay in bed until the car was 10 minutes away. We took an Uber Black since none of our family members could take us. The car was a Lincoln Navigator, and the kids legit asked if we were taking a spaceship to the airport. Gotta love kids’ imaginations! The Uber driver was great, and we arrived at the airport without any problems.

The most stressful part for me is getting through airport security with the kids. Without them, I’m like someone on a walk, seeing a butterfly. With them, I’m like a bull in a china shop, just wanting to get to the exit. Waiting for someone to check our bag seems to take forever; I already know our bag will always have to be searched because of the milk we bring for Everly, since airports are not fully allergy-friendly. If you know of an airport that has dairy-free, oat-free, and corn-free options, please tell me which one I need to fly out of! Anyway, after we get through security, I can finally breathe, get a coffee, and find a lounge. Yes, we’re those people but don’t knock it until you try it, especially if you have kids with food allergies like ours. We made the mistake of staying in the lounge until we were about to board, but if you know anything about traveling with kids, they need to run off that energy, or it’s non-stop chaos in a long, narrow tube with people who look at you like you shouldn’t have brought your kids on the plane. To those who feel the need to make snarky comments: please show compassion to parents who are trying to manage their children. We know our kids can be challenging; we don’t need reminders from others. Thank you, next.

Here are some things that have made traveling on planes easier for us: Amazon tablets and headphones are lifesavers! We download seven to ten movies and let the kids help pick what they want to watch. We make sure the tablets are fully charged the day before. We also do a Dollar Tree haul for toys that don’t make noise, but this is only recommended for kids ages three and up. We tried it with Everly when she was two, and she threw a car on the plane. Thankfully, the man it hit was cool about it, but it was still an awkward situation. The key to using the tablets effectively is not giving them to the kids until the plane is backing up from the gate. And just like that, we were there. Remember, the energy you give off, your kids will match or double it. So breathe and handle whatever comes your way. You’ve got this.

I don’t think we’ll be flying into LAX again anytime soon. That airport may be large and under construction, but it still feels like the dinosaur age to me. Let me explain. We got off the flight, got our bags, and everything was fine until we had to get to the bus for the rental car. The lanes where buses were supposed to pick up people were full of regular cars, causing traffic and near accidents. The buses filled up fast.

The bus not only picked up arrivals but also dropped off departures every 5 to 10 feet. We were on the bus for 30 to 45 minutes before we finally got to the rental car destination. If you travel with kids and are in a constant state of stress, LAX is not your airport. Next time, I’ll pay extra to fly to a different airport. They need to sort out their arrival situation before I’m willing to go back.

Driving in LA wasn’t as stressful as I thought it would be. Maybe we’re just used to it, living in Denver. The five lanes didn’t scare us, and the motorcycles riding the dotted lines didn’t shock us. We timed our drive to avoid rush hour, so it didn’t seem as crowded. I highly recommend this if you can manage it.

The first place we stayed was the Residence Inn Ontario Rancho Cucamonga. Amazing! There was a semi-heated pool, a courtyard with tables and grills, and even a basketball court. These were lifesavers when waiting for family in the lobby, and the kids had a lot of energy.

When traveling with kids with food allergies, we always need a kitchen to prepare meals if we can’t find suitable restaurants. And no, we do not research and call restaurants in advance. We plan our days over coffee and go with the flow, especially with the kids.

We celebrated Nick’s 30th birthday in the Upland area with family. As a child, he used to go to California to celebrate his birthday, often at Disney. Nick and I decided to wait until the kids were older and could fully enjoy Disney, including all the rides.

The second half of the trip was spent at a gorgeous Airbnb in Oceanside. If you’re interested, look up 802 S Clementine St. Amazing! I can’t rave enough about this house. It was in a great location, with a glimpse of the ocean, and within walking distance of restaurants, cafes, and even a brewery.

We walked a lot, partly to tire out the kids, though they mostly rode in the wagon we brought, giving us a workout 90% of the time. Oceanside is full of the cutest cafes, great breweries, and amazing restaurants. The beaches weren’t crowded, but again, we went Tuesday through Friday. It was the perfect time to be in Oceanside.

On Friday, we took the scenic route back to L.A., stopping at Laguna Beach to explore, shop, and have lunch. It’s a gorgeous town, but driving a large SUV through narrow streets lined with parked cars was challenging. Our three-year-old daughter had to pee badly, and it took a while to find parking. Talk about stress! After a couple of laps around the block, we finally snagged a perfect spot.

We made a mistake by not putting the kids in their swimsuits, and they desperately wanted to get in the water, leading to tantrums. After that, it was time to head to our hotel near the airport car rental. At first, I wasn’t impressed—we passed a street lined with trailers that homeless people were living in, and the area was trashed. But when I walked into the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express, you’d never guess the hotel was in the hood. Our room faced the front of the hotel, capturing every flight in and out of Los Angeles. The kids were in heaven.

We had another early flight, leaving at 7 a.m., so we were up at 4 a.m. again with the babies. They were such troopers. Once we landed in Denver, we had a little surprise waiting at the airport. My mother, who was watching our fur baby, Bentley, surprised us by bringing him to the airport. Oh my gosh, we all acted like we saw Santa Claus, and Bentley was overjoyed! It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Until next time, Los Angeles. Thanks for the memories.