That time we flew across the country to stare at Legos

I do so love a good vacation review, complete with field notes from pros who've masterminded a trip for a family of seventeen to see Paris on $4/day. Santé! How I plan vacations: 1. Overhear my husband buying a plane ticket for his parents to Los Angeles. 2. Get psyched when he says we can buy ones, too. 3. Sweat bullets that we won't be able to make rent on account of our bicoastal lifestyle. 4. Remind self that we don't have a lifestyle. 5. Pack cute outfits for kids that are not climate-appropriate for destination. 6. Look through TripAdvisor the night before we go to LegoLand and laugh at all the cranky people on the internet.

How I prepare my kids for the vacation of their young lives:

How I vacation with my wonderful, ridiculous family for a week in SoCal:

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Tidepools in San Pedro 2015-11-23 14.55.33

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Marine Mammal Care Center - San Pedro (adorable!) 2015-11-23 16.22.22

Korean Bell of Friendship - Fort MacArthur 2015-11-23 16.35.08

Santa Monica Pier mall 2015-11-23 18.49.53

(skeptical Baby Girl) 2015-11-23 19.41.29

Our AirBnB in Vista - amazing hosts - highly recommend if you want the rec, let me know 2015-11-24 19.50.31

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Our mecca: LegoLand 2015-11-25 13.31.15 2015-11-25 13.31.46 2015-11-25 13.43.14 2015-11-25 14.03.45 2015-11-25 14.28.59 2015-11-25 14.30.13 2015-11-25 14.36.51 2015-11-25 14.39.22 2015-11-25 14.40.32 2015-11-25 14.41.57 2015-11-25 14.43.57 2015-11-25 14.44.51 2015-11-25 15.04.01 2015-11-25 15.36.30 2015-11-25 15.48.22 2015-11-25 15.54.47 2015-11-25 15.58.57 2015-11-25 16.02.40 2015-11-25 17.31.25 2015-11-25 18.42.22 2015-11-25 20.16.17

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Thanks, California 2015-11-26 14.10.11