Newport Beach

The point of our trip to California was for Nathan to attend training in Newport Beach. So Sunday night we arrived at the hotel where we'd be staying and where the training would be held. Newport Beach is beautiful and the hotel was very nice. We were on the back bay, so away from the actual beach, but less than 10 minutes away from it.
One day Natalee got a little bored. She made a "relaxation room" for the pets and for me. The bear in the background is in the "Makeover Chair" and the other pets are in the "Refreshment Room" where you can get drinks and snacks. We had fun playing pretend in a house other than our own.

We did, of course, make it to the beach. Natalee had a blast playing in the sand and running in the water. She's not a huge fan of the waves which is fine by me. If she were I'd have to be a lot more attentive. When the water was calm she was all over it, but when the waves started to pick up, she runs for cover. We found a pigeon that wouldn't leave us alone. Natalee thought that was pretty cool. The beach we went to was very light on the shells, but she found a couple. She also found the skull of a small animal. I don't know how she has a radar for such things.

After we were finished playing in the sand, we walked over along the rocks lining the jetty. Our mission was to see crabs, sea stars and other marine life that came in with the tide, however we ended up seeing something much cooler.

We saw 2 or 3 sea lions off in the distance near a floating dock station. They were sticking their heads out of the water, and making their sea lion noises. (what do you call that? Barking??) They were so cute, and we stood there watching for a minute. Then all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise behind us and there was one right by where we were standing on the rocks. He was pretty quick, so this was the best picture I got, but it really was fun to see him.

We spent a lot of time at the pool. Here I am lounging and reading a book. This is as close as you'll ever get to a swimming shot of me. You're welcome.

Here is Natalee doing her kamakazi jumps into the pool.

One night after Nathan got done with training we went to Balboa Island. It was so seaside cutesy. We ate dinner at a diner on the end of a pier, rode a ferris wheel and saw where they keep all the salt water taffy in the world.

We waited in line to get Sprinkles Cupcakes. Yes, they are worth $3 each and the wait in line. We just wish so bad we'd had some milk.

We had so much fun in Newport. We did a few other things that I'll post later, but in all it was a very relaxing and fun trip.