We had the chance to take our first trip ever to Santa Barbara this summer. Michael's parents live there and invited us all for Fiesta, a big celebration of the Old Spanish days. We knew we were going to eat good food and that we'd all have a great time together! The kids play great and us parents like each other too!
They went a day before us and we took our sweet time getting there. We stopped in Buttonwillow Friday night and spent the night in a hotel.
Here's Abby "hiding" herself and crashing!
We arrived in SB on Saturday around lunchtime and headed straight for the street vendors! On our way there the kids couldn't keep their eyes off of all the confetti eggs! It's a tradition we learned about real quick!
You can purchase very colorful eggs from a million different vendors on the street. They were usually 4/$1.00.
Ellie and Abby showing off their eggs! In this very spot were all kinds of booths selling delicious food. We got tacos, corn on the cob, fruit kabobs and ceviche'. I never got a picture of the entertainment. Lots of dancers of all ages, in traditional Spanish dresses. So fun to watch!
Crack said eggs on your friends head and let the party begin!
Wow are they messy!
Who knew breaking eggs could be so fun!!
They kept the cracking quite even between them all.
Ellie and Angie have the type of hair that holds confetti for days!!
Of course we HAD to buy Abby and Ellie matching Fiesta dresses! How cute are they?! Matching bows and all! Purchased right on the street!
Tony and Natalie were so hospitable. They had two very comfortable rooms upstairs and a little loft area that the kids played in. Eric and I each slept with a kid and one night the girls had a sleepover together. We brought Legos, Bakugans, Barbies and babies along so they had plenty of things to play with.
They have a beautiful backyard with a hot tub and fireplace that we really enjoyed also. I sort of fell in love with Santa Barbara on this trip.
Sunday was the day of the parade and our kids had never been to a parade before! We headed downtown to State St. to put some chairs and blankets down and save some good seats. This was so foreign to me. How trusting? But everyone does it! We found a spot and had to purchase some more eggs of course!
Jack getting Ellie and Mathew getting Jack! Abby even took care of herself!
They even got Michael!
Since we had some free time before the parade started we walked a few blocks to a great park that was similar to our Wood Park here. Except we don't have cool marine sculptures :(
Then we walked across the street to another beautiful park that was home to hundreds of turtles!
The kids got to get up close and personal with a few.
They were all in heaven!
The turtles were so cute! We were all enamored with them.
We attempted to count them and the number went over 100!
Our family.
Heading back I grabbed this cute pic of the girls with Papa Tony. I love how Abby just adopted him as her new grandpa.
The parade was amazing!! Lots of floats, marching bands and TONS of horses!
Papa Tony and the girls on curb...
Angie and the boys right behind them up on the wall.
We were there too!
Cuties!
The fireman are the tail end of the parade and they sprayed all the kids!
Me and my boy!
After the parade was over we grabbed some lunch at a yummy restaurant kind of like Dos Coyotes. But it took a long time to get out of the crazy busy area!
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