Five days after returning from our 4th of July getaway, Evelyn, Kella, and I hopped back in the car and drove down to San Diego to spend the week with my family while Jay traveled to Florida for work.
Initially we planned to leave Monday and avoid any Vegas weekend traffic. Since we were just down in San Diego, I never really unpacked and by Saturday night was well prepared for this upcoming trip. While chatting with my dad and Luke through FaceTime on Sunday I mentioned that I was basically all ready to go. Dad checked the traffic and told me I could probably make the drive without too much trouble. It was an intriguing idea but I was already set on having one more night with Jay and leaving in the morning. And it was already 3:30pm... By the time I was out the door I would be getting in to San Diego kind of late. However, the more thought I put into it the more I really wanted to leave that night! The clock was ticking. I hadn't committed 100% to leaving that night but made the decision to start getting ready as if I were leaving, then see where we were at on time, meanwhile checking Google Maps constantly for traffic updates. Without traffic the drive is typically 4 hours and 30 minutes. Google was estimating no more than 5 hours and 15 minutes. Not bad. It was 5:30pm and I was ready to go but still hadn't decided. Jay came downstairs and we discussed it over dinner...
Cons: Potentially hitting a lot of traffic, and driving in the dark.
Pros: I am not a morning person especially while pregnant and had been dreading getting up early on Monday and potentially feeling too sick to make the drive. I was currently feeling just fine and well-rested. Driving at night meant Evelyn was more likely to sleep most of the way which would make the drive SO much less stressful. And lastly, somehow spending a long amount of time in the car can be really exhausting. I've always kind of disliked traveling in the morning because once I've reached my destination I'm already pooped and feel like I lose time trying to regain energy. So getting in late at night, going straight to bed, then waking up and having a whole extra day to vacation sounded perfect.
Jay said, "It sounds like you really want to do it, so you should just do it." We were both sad we wouldn't get to hang out one last night before being separated, but he fully supported me and after saying a prayer we both felt it was a good decision.
Initially we planned to leave Monday and avoid any Vegas weekend traffic. Since we were just down in San Diego, I never really unpacked and by Saturday night was well prepared for this upcoming trip. While chatting with my dad and Luke through FaceTime on Sunday I mentioned that I was basically all ready to go. Dad checked the traffic and told me I could probably make the drive without too much trouble. It was an intriguing idea but I was already set on having one more night with Jay and leaving in the morning. And it was already 3:30pm... By the time I was out the door I would be getting in to San Diego kind of late. However, the more thought I put into it the more I really wanted to leave that night! The clock was ticking. I hadn't committed 100% to leaving that night but made the decision to start getting ready as if I were leaving, then see where we were at on time, meanwhile checking Google Maps constantly for traffic updates. Without traffic the drive is typically 4 hours and 30 minutes. Google was estimating no more than 5 hours and 15 minutes. Not bad. It was 5:30pm and I was ready to go but still hadn't decided. Jay came downstairs and we discussed it over dinner...
Cons: Potentially hitting a lot of traffic, and driving in the dark.
Pros: I am not a morning person especially while pregnant and had been dreading getting up early on Monday and potentially feeling too sick to make the drive. I was currently feeling just fine and well-rested. Driving at night meant Evelyn was more likely to sleep most of the way which would make the drive SO much less stressful. And lastly, somehow spending a long amount of time in the car can be really exhausting. I've always kind of disliked traveling in the morning because once I've reached my destination I'm already pooped and feel like I lose time trying to regain energy. So getting in late at night, going straight to bed, then waking up and having a whole extra day to vacation sounded perfect.
Jay said, "It sounds like you really want to do it, so you should just do it." We were both sad we wouldn't get to hang out one last night before being separated, but he fully supported me and after saying a prayer we both felt it was a good decision.
So off we went! Evelyn, Kella, and I were out the door by 6:00pm. There was a little bit traffic around Nipton, and then again just after Baker but we still managed to get in to San Diego around 11:00pm. I was definitely tired by the end of the journey but was so happy to be there and have the drive behind me. Evelyn slept from 8:30 til 11:00, and the only stop we made was a potty stop just off a little dirt road in the middle of the desert.
Normally when I come home for a visit I split the time up between staying at my parent's house and the Parks' house. Sadly I missed the Parks' this time around because they were still traveling, but I still had a wonderful time with the rest of the family.
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There haven't been many changes in her health in the last two months. Grandma spends her time in bed, doesn't speak much, and some days won't eat much, but every now and then flashes a smile. She wasn't doing so well during my visit with her unfortunately. It's good to see her though and very surreal thinking it could be the last time.
BBQ, bonfire, and a SeaWorld firework show at the bay. A Bramwell family summer tradition.
This wasn't Evelyn's first trip to the ocean, but she's finally at an age where she can truly embrace it. And she couldn't get enough.
Evelyn's first visit to the Zoo, and quite possibly my last. I'm only kind of joking. Every time I've gone to the Zoo it's been hot, crowded, and tiring. Evelyn didn't get too much out seeing the animals but she enjoyed the sky buckets and being pushed around the stroller all afternoon. Give her another six months to a year and I'm sure the Zoo will be a big hit, which will probably make it even more enjoyable for me as well.
No matter how hard we partied or how late she went to bed, Evelyn was still up at her normal time: 6:30am. It was a little rough since I was getting to bed really late each night and running on little sleep. We made the most of it by spending lots of time out in mom and dad's beautiful newly landscaped yard. While the mornings were early, they were so pleasant and I thoroughly enjoyed lounging on the patio while Evelyn explored the yard. It's been brutually hot in Vegas, so being able to sit outside for long periods of time without melting was a luxury which I did not take for granted.
Evelyn just couldn't get enough of those rocks- rearranging them around the yard and even stashing a few in the house for us to find later.
This is a very unflattering photo of all of us. I just love spending time with these two siblings, drinking Chick-fil-a shakes and watching Tommy Boy.
Dinner and swimming at the Schmelter's.
Living a four an half hour drive away from the ocean and our dear family has been a dream. We've made countless trips in the last six months, and with each visit I'm never ready to leave.
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