Little Italy - San Diego

One evening we rode the train into the neighborhood of "Little Italy" for dinner. In case you are wondering, it has pretty good Italian credentials! I heard the most Italian I have heard anywhere outside of Italy and we had some pretty darn good food in a rather authentic cucina. I think the highlight, for the girls, was the gelato -- although the calamari ran a close second.Sportin' our gelato spoons, we have (yes, HAVE -- still) many gelato spoons because the girls were so charming with the woman at the gelato counter that she couldn't help but give them taste after taste of the yummy-good-stuff. Pistachio, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry won the day.
Clowning around waiting for the train to go back to the hotel. I just love this picture of Aoife!
"Plane -- fly -- fly plane!" Love this one of both of them!
One more of our cuties loving their treat ... and their daddy : )!

More to come, including tide pools and beaches, which ranked as all of our favorites!

Besos!

Our Little Traveler and Our Little Pilot? - San Diego

First, let me say that both girls are incredible little travelers. They couldn't make Mommy's and Daddy's lives much easier when it comes to long days on planes, renting cars, driving around unknown cities to find hotels, unpredicted fiascos (which there were) ... etc. They are beyond troopers, they were even excited!

Aoife, in particular, couldn't get enough of riding the trains in the city. She wanted to do it as our exclusive manner of transportation. That didn't work out everyday, but it was fun on those that it did.Two cute girls waiting patiently.
Monkeying around with Daddy (typical).
Great picture ...
... too hard to decide between the two.
Waiting, but this time, hmmm, pensively?!?

Enjoying the historic train station.

Even though we knew we wouldn't get to take the tour the way we might without children, we couldn't miss the opportunity to see the USS Midway, a very cool and long commissioned aircraft carrier. The girls ended up doing really well. Aine in particular was fascinated, particularly by the planes. She wanted to sit in every cockpit and "fly plane." When she wasn't able, for one reason or another, she was actually pretty pissed -- ha ; ).Busy.Flyin'.Okay, I guess I can take a minute to say, "Live long and prosper."

I like this!

Still too busy to look up at the camera : )!Aoife got into the action after a bit. Again, these two were too cute to decide between them.

Beaches and more fun to come!

Love,

Aoife and Aine XOXO

Riding the Hippo - San Diego Zoo

I can't believe I missed this one! We had to pose quickly, there was quite a line to climb up on this hippo and snap a fun shot. Even more fun, watching the mama and new baby hippo play in the HUGE tank just around the corner.

Mommy and her girls ; )!

Sea World and The Zoo - San Diego

So, here is the first of our "San Diego posts." We had an amazing time on this vacation! We enjoyed the San Diego Zoo and Sea World. We didn't stop to take too many pictures at the zoo, we were busy checking out the animals and loving how close we could get to all of them. The girls posed for a few pictures post lunch and pre sprint to the rental car, cramming in as many last exhibits as possible, before two babies crashed for a two hour nap ; )! Love this cute as ever kissy face!Blowin' kisses to each other -- beyond adorable! Heartwarming! The Floppy Hat Brigade! -- Yep, we need to protect that pasty-white, Irish skin ; ). Anticipation, waiting for "the show" to start! The girls got to fling some fish to the seals, which they loved!FEED ME!!! She loved this!Okay, see this, I'm going to throw this fish......so long as this heron doesn't steal it from me. Daddy and his sweet babies, fishy fingers and all. Gettin' and givin' some love by the 'Tide Pools.' Reach... Got it ... and like it! ... if only my arms were a little longer. Lookin' pretty, despite the squinty eyes (thanks to that glorius sun), in front of the sea urchins.

So much fun, and we were only getting started. We look forward to sharing the rest of our trip .. stay tuned : )!