22 May – Visit to Palm Springs

We have just returned from another fantastic visit to Palm Springs. As usual we had a great time catching up with friends and of course wasted no time before we visited Jo, Todd and the children in San Diego.
The children had certainly grown in the four and a half months since we had seen them. The Boys had both learned to cycle without stabilizers although scooting remained the transport of choice. Sienna had not started to crawl properly but managed to propel herself around the floor by pulling herself along on her tummy – but that soon changed.

On Good Friday, we spent the night with Jo and Todd and after enjoying an Easter Egg Hunt with the Boys on Saturday morning brought them back to Palm Springs for a few days at Ocotillo. The four of us had a great time especially in the pool. Alexander and Oliver’s swimming has improved so much with both doing 20 metre swims. Their confidence above and below the water was amazing but more of that later.

Having returned the boys to San Diego on Wednesday we were back in San Diego for the weekend to take part in Sharon’s Walk in aid of Epilepsy Research. We were part of Alexander’s A team and whilst Todd ran, the rest of us walked the 5KM in glorious sunshine and then enjoyed BBQ food before returning home. The Photo shows Alexander, Jo and Annie crossing the finishing line.

We also visited San Diego to spend a day at Sea World with Jo and the Children. We had a lovely if not exhausting day enjoying the exhibits, and a couple of the shows but the most memorable part was the fact that Alexander was now tall enough to ride on the rollercoaster-water splash. His first trip with Jo and Grandpa saw us sitting in the second and third rows of the boat so we did not get too wet. He enjoyed it so much that Grandpa and Alexander went on again. This time we sat in the front row and got thoroughly wet. Alexander thought it was a hoot but Grandpa was not so sure!!!!

Family P also managed to spend a week with us in Palm Springs. The boys slept in our unit and Jo, Todd and Sienna had another unit. We had a wonderful time in the swimming pool with the boys showing their prowess as underwater salvage experts.

During the week, Sienna took her first steps and then there was no stopping her she also loved the water as much as her brothers but has some way to go before she starts swimming on her own!!!! Despite spending most of the time in the pool at Ocotillo. Jo and Todd took the boys for a day at a local water park and Grandpa, Alexander and Oliver also went off on an expedition up Bug Mountain (not as many bugs as in previous visits but they enjoyed exploring and finding some different sorts of beetle). The week passed by very quickly and we certainly missed their company when they returned to San Diego.

Our 7 weeks passed all too quickly and although sad to leave, we have some great memories especially of how quickly children develop and grow. Click here for more photos.