We had a fabulous holiday to Palm Springs this past week!! Jeff's parents took all us kids and grandkids to Palm Springs for the week. It was a great week of being together as a family, which doesn't happen very often because we don't all live close to each other.
We left home just before 6am last Saturday morning and our first flight left at 7am. We arrived in Palm Springs around 1pm. It was the first time in an airplane for Gabby and Marty and really the first time Megan could remember(we flew when she was 11 months old). The kids were really great travellers. The 3 hour flight from Calgary to Palm Springs got a little long with Marty because he doesn't like to sit still for that long!
We arrived in Palm Springs and it was warm and sunny!! We went to the rental house and checked it all out. It was a beautiful home and just perfect for our holiday. The house had 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The girls shared a room and Marty slept in our room with us.
Mom and I went out that afternoon to get some groceries and when we came home Eric and Traci had arrived. We pick up Curt and Anne from the airport later that evening. It was so great being together again. The kids had a blast all week from all the attention they got from their grandparents and aunties and uncles! Truly a blessing for us to have family that love our kids as much as we do.
The next day, Mom & Dad, Eric & Traci and Curt & Anne went to the tennis finals that were happening in Palm Springs and Jeff and I and the kids ventured out to the outlet mall. It was a cool and rainy day, so perfect for shopping! Jeff got lots of things and I got a few things for me and the kids. It's not quite as much fun or relaxing shopping with 3 kids!
On Monday, Mom, Traci, Anne and I went out to a spa and got pedicures and then went shopping at ROSS. I think we spent 3 hours in ROSS...so much fun:) We had a great time together.
Most afternoons, we spent lounging around the pool in the backyard. The first 2 days of the week were cool and rainy, but the rest of the week was beautiful, sunny and warm! It was so relaxing to sit around outside and so nice to see some sunshine.
The men went golfing one afternoon and had a great time together! We took walks around the area and around downtown Palm Springs. Jeff rented some bikes for 4 days and he managed to get out for lots of bike rides. I got to do lots of shopping...I can not get enough of shopping in the States, I just love ROSS, Target, and outlet malls. The deals are always SO much better there than here.
Jeff parents graciously watched our kids for us one night, so all us siblings could go out for dinner...it was such a blessing to us! We went to an area called The River and ate at a yummy restaurant there and then went to Cheesecake Factory and took dessert home to share with Mom and Dad...SO delicious!
On Thursday evenings in Palm Springs, they shut down the main street in downtown and have a market with vendors. There were TONS of people!
Jeff and his dad took the girls to a place called "Boomers" one afternoon. It's a mini golf/games place. The girls really enjoyed it.
Megan, Gabby and Marty loved the pool in the backyard and spent lots of time in it. The girls even went in on the cooler rainy days...they loved it! Marty wasn't scared of the water and he had a blast in there too. I think I need to put him in swimming lessons!
The kids slept great at the house! I didn't nap Gabby all week, so that she would go to sleep good at night and it worked great. They woke up a little earlier than at home every day, but they did really good.
We left Palm Springs on Saturday afternoon. We got to Calgary and after we were all in the plane and ready to fly home, they shut the Calgary airport due to a power outage on the runway:( We were SO disappointed. I just wanted to be home at that point because the kids didn't nap on the first flight and they were get restless. I also wasn't feeling good, I think I got a little motion sick on the first flight. After about 1/2 hour the power was back on and we were able to fly home. We arrived home around 10pm and didn't get home until almost 11pm. Marty did fall asleep on the flight to home, but only for about 45 minutes and he hadn't slept ALL day otherwise..he was a grumpy tired boy!
It was hard to say good-bye to everyone and one week didn't feel quite long enough. Especially, when we came home and woke up the next morning to SNOW! It was a fantastic holiday and we have great memories and pictures of our week together. Thank you SO much Mom and Dad for making this holiday possible!! We are forever grateful and have so many wonderful memories:)
