We’ve been talking about our April trip to California with Juliette for a few weeks now and while it was fun to see the anticipation build, we eventually grew weary of hearing her ask, “When will it be vacaaaaaation time?” Â So it was awfully fun to walk into her room last Tuesday morning and tell her we were finally heading to the airport; when I said “Let’s go to Santa Monica!”, she literally started applauding (truth be told, she was clapping because she thought I meant we were going to meet Santa, but never mind).
We made it through the Lightrail-Airplane-Rental Shuttle shuffle smoothly, tossed our bags in our minivan, and hightailed it to In-N-Out for our requisite welcome burger.  We checked into our cozy bungalow in Venice mid-afternoon, peeled off our long sleeves, and settled in.  We had arrived!  Juliette found a beachball in the yard and Shane taught her the art of the volleyball spike while I sat on the patio, feeling my shoulders go from white to pink.
Make yourself at home, Jules!
We drove over to the beach in the evening – Juliette was pulling off her shoes and squirming excitedly before we’d even parked. Â This is so much better than Santa Claus, isn’t it, kiddo?
Shane and Juliette quickly assumed what would become their typical stance for the week: Â hands held, surf lapping at their toes.
Shane and I stretched out while Juliette ran circles around us, flapping her arms like a seagull, jumping and spinning until she collapsed on the sand in a fit of hysterics. Â No doubt, the beach has incredible happy-making powers for this girl.
She quickly soaked her first set of clothes and changed into the spare I was so glad I’d packed. Â And then, to tempt fate, back to the water’s edge…
We went back to the house to hose the sand off of Juliette and I headed out for a run. Â In the evening! Â In a tank top! Â Springtime in Cali is so so good.
Wednesday was bright and sunny – perfect weather for strolling down Abbot Kinney in search of donuts and coffee. Â Mission: accomplished.
This street is almost painfully hip, with its urban art and vegan cafes and handmade wares.  I’m not sure we fit in there.
(Actually, Juliette totally fit in there.)
After dragging a disappointed Juliette out of a children’t boutique that sold $50 rag dolls, we headed over to Will Rogers State Park for a leisurely hike up to Inspiration Point.
Juliette was totally enamored with this horse named Lily, thrilled to pieces when she was invited to get up close and give that lovely mane a few pats.
And lizards! Â So many lizards!
Hungry and hot, we drove over to True Food Kitchen for a veggie-packed lunch – it felt good to follow up that morning’s Blue Star donut with a big kale salad.
Juliette was too amped up to settle down for a nap when we got back to the house, so we agreed she could do an hour of “quiet time” in her room with her books and colored pencils. Â She lasted indoors for all of…ten minutes. Â The pull of warm sun and cool grass was just too much to bear.
We grabbed tacos and margaritas at Casalinda for dinner and then found ourselves back at the beach, just in time for the glory of the golden hour.
Juliette reminds me of one of those little birds that skitters along the tide’s edge, so fast and light on her feet that she hardly makes footprints in the sand.
Oh, Santa Monica. Â COME ON.
Cheers to days 1 and 2 in our happy place!
