San Diego Highlights

So we finally took a family trip to San Diego to visit with Jay's family.  Here are a few pictures of each day to highlight what we did.  I am making a slide show with all of the pictures, but figured I would post some highlights for those that do not want to sit and look at a REALLY long slide show.

So Thursday our first full day we went to Sea World. We saw the whale show, the dolphin show, and the pet show.

Here is Aurora with her Aunt Wendy

 Aurora, Jay Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Wendy in the shark area

 We went on the Shipwreck ride and got soaked.  I only got it on the one side the other three were soaked head to toe.

 Aurora petting a live alligator

 Watching the beluga whales

Friday we spent the day at Lego Land.  The kids were just the right age for it and had so much fun.  There was one roller coaster that Aurora and her cousin Ally loved and went one it together.

Daddy, Aurora and Lego Vader

 Ally, Lego Leia, and Aurora

 Ally, someone dressed as a Lego man, and Aurora (we tried to get Ben and Luke in the picture but he scared the boys)

 They had a small water park area, the kids loved it.  I ended up soaked because the boys wanted to go down the water slides and needed help getting up to them, so I took them.

 Jay and Ben waiting for the airplane ride.  Ben rode on it 6 times, it was his favorite)

 Saturday we went to the San Diego Zoo.

Ben, me and Aurora in the petting zoo

 Aurora and Ben (they were best buds)

 Ben and Aurora as a spider and fly

 Aurora, Aunt Wendy, and Ben

 Saturday night Jay, Aurora and I took Grandma and Grandpa to La Jolla Shores for a walk on the beach.

Aurora, Grandpa, Me, and Grandma

 Aurora walking in the waves

 We had to tuck her dress in because the tide was coming in and she wanted to have her feet in the water

 Sunday morning we were able to get everyone out to the same Sacrament meeting.  First time the whole family has been in the same Sacrament together in a VERY long time.

The whole family group (left to right)

Kyle (Sissa's boyfriend), Sissa, Ally, Mark, Paul, Luke, Chris, Ben, Tara, Jay, Aurora, Me, Cameron (Wendy's boyfriend) Wendy, Grandpa, Grandma

 The original Norlund Clan

Sissa, Tara, Wendy, Narcisse, Carl, Jay, Mark, Paul

 After church Aurora wanted to go see the San Diego Temple, so we went and walked the grounds.  All the pictures without Aurora in them she took.

 Monday morning we headed to the beach bright and early to catch some waves before the sun fully came out.  The water was wonderful, just the right temp. It was a lot of fun, and Aurora did great with the boogie board.

Aurora and Jay heading into the water

 Ally and Aurora boogie boarding

 Just one of the several waves Aurora caught all the way in.

 Practicing to be a surfer girl

 Ben and Aurora cuddling after playing in the water

 Aurora and Jay getting ready to go to the car

 After showers and a nap on Monday we met up with Mark, Ally, and Paul to go bowling.

Aurora's first throw

 Aurora and Ally

 For Family Home Evening we took Ally, Grandma, and Grandpa to the Mormon Battalion.  I really like what they have done to it, when we left San Diego they were just renovating it.

Aurora got picked to dress up as a member of the Battalion (the gun weighed 10 lbs)

 Outside they had a place where you could pretend to make bricks, wash clothes on a scrub board, a well you could crank a bucket up from, and hand pump to pump water, and panning for gold.

Aurora and Ally making bricks

 Aurora panning for gold (once they found gold they were allowed to keep two pieces and then throw the rest back into the water)

 Inside they took these old time pictures of you, they would print out a copy for you to take with you and then let you email a copy to yourself so you can print out more if you want to.

Ally and Aurora

 Jay, Aurora, and me

 Tuesday morning Jay and I were able to go through a session at the temple, it was wonderful to be back at that temple. I think that is the one thing (other then family) that I miss most about San Diego, it will always be my favorite temple. After we went to Tara's apartment and went swimming. Sorry no pictures of that we were all in the water and having fun, so I forgot to get any pictures. After swimming we went to Jack-in-the-Box for a late lunch. It is the best fast food restaurant, we wish they had on in Omaha.

Here is the group at our table:

Paul, Jay, Mark, Ally, Luke, Aurora, Tara, and Ben

 Luke waiting for his milkshake and fries

 Ben saying "CHEESE"

 Tuesday night Jay went with Mark, Paul, Kyle, and Cameron to play basketball. So the girls decided to have a girls night out (Wendy was not able to make it with us).  We went to this fun 50's style diner called Corvettes.  They used straws to style our hair, and the desserts were huge and yummy.  we had a lot of fun, but got home a little late.  Aurora was exhausted.

Sissa, Ally, Me, Aurora, and Tara

 We had to head home Wednesday afternoon, so we headed to Balboa park to play and see Grandma one more time before heading to the airport. There is a park across the street for where Grandma works, we played there for a little while then went to see Grandma on her lunch (she has an early lunch)

Jay, Luke, Ally, Ben, Aurora, and Paul on the playground

 Ben and Aurora sitting at the fountain in back of Grandma's work

 After seeing Grandma we went to the Ruben H. Fleet Center for about an hour before our flight.  It was OK, not worth the money though.  The kids had fun, so I guess that is all that matters.

They had an exhibit of gross things.  Here is the fart machine, you can make fart noises with it.

Aurora and Ally

 This bike thing you petal as fast as you can to make light bulbs light up.  The girls could only get 2 to light.....

 so the big boys gave it a try.  They finally managed to get all 5 lit

 Ally, Ben, Paul, Luke, and Aurora dancing in the rainbow lights

 This is a hurricane simulator.  The "wind" got up to 78.7 mph they thought it was funny.

Aurora and Ally

 Tara and Luke (Ben thought it was great to watch, but freaked out when Tara tried to take him in it, he was just fine watching his Momma get blown around and laugh at her funny hair)

 Jay and all the kids on the GIANT chair

(Ally, Ben, Luke and Aurora)

So that pretty much sums up our trip. It was great being able to see family that we have not seen in over 2 years.  We got to meet our nephew Ben, we love him (and Luke too of course). We played family games and did a lot of the tourist stuff in San Diego.  Thanks everyone for having us.  We miss you guys.