Sisters Visiting From Chicago
Emily and Chelsea in Seal Beach
This past weekend, Emily and Chelsea visited Long Beach. They arrived from Chicago on Thursday. Emily has been living there for some time, and Chelsea is there for the summer. I wasn’t able to take a long weekend off work, but we spent plenty of time together. It was a real pleasure to host two-thirds of my sisters.
Thursday and Friday we kept things pretty simple. They walked up and down Second Street. They relaxed in the sun and napped. Lucky them! I could have used a nap Friday afternoon. Friday night, we went to eat at Sushi of Naples. Chelsea wasn’t a big fan, but Emily likes sushi. Chelsea did pick-out a Bananas Foster like dessert which I really enjoyed.
Saturday was a more interesting day. Emily’s friend Heather drove down from Fresno. I hadn’t seen here since just after High School. Early on, it was gloomy, but we were waiting for Heather. Once she arrived, we decided to eat lunch and wait out the gloom.
We drove to Seal Beach for lunch at The Abbey. All the girls were impressed with the menu. Our eyes were larger than our stomachs, and we ordered way too much food. Somehow, our order included three pizzas plus more food! Good thing the sun finally broke through the clouds, and we walked up and down Main Street to lessen the lunch load. We found ourselves at the beach, and the weather was perfect. Chelsea dipped her toes into the water. It was her first time touching the Pacific. She wanted to swim, so we decided to visit Bolsa Chica.
After running home for swimsuits and suntan lotion, we rode south to Bolsa Chica State Beach. Everyone was excited for a few hours of quality beach time. It was almost 5pm, but the sun was shining bright. Chelsea was more excited than anyone else. She had her heart set on swimming. I told her the water was cold, but she didn’t care. She was going to jump into the Pacific. Shortly after we setup chairs in the sand, she was down in the surf. I give her credit; I still haven’t swam here. I plan to go in this August or September. The rest of the evening was spent lounging in the sand. We stayed until the air was too chilly to remain.
For dinner, we grilled on the deck. The girls helped me eat a stockpile of meat (Teresa is mostly a vegetarian). They loved the outdoor living room created by Teresa and I. Its a great spot to eat and enjoy the cool evenings.
Sunday was beautiful from the start. Heather had to leave early, but I was glad she came for at least one night. The rest of us had a long day in the sunshine. We started the morning at the Farmers Market. Again, Chelsea was more ecstatic than anyone else. She loved all the fresh food options. She and Emily picked up a few strawberries and trail mix for their plane ride home.
For lunch, we fulfilled one of their only requests, Margaritas on the Beach. Simple enough—we just walked to La Palapa. Their outdoor patios are basically on the beach. Plus, they have great food and drink! Its the perfect afternoon destination. Emily and Chelsea agreed, and I know they had an awesome lunch.
For our afternoon activity, we cruised the paved bike path on Long Beach. Emily, Chelsea and Teresa rode beach cruisers, and I rode my long board. It was good to exercise a bit, and you have to love the people watching. We rode all the way to Shoreline Village and around Shoreline Marina for perfect views of Queensway Bay. I needed the break since the entire ride was into the wind. On the way back to Belmont Shore, I was able to ride twice as fast with the wind to my back.
We finished Sunday with a walk to Yogurtland. I can’t get enough. Chelsea and Emily loved it as well. I forgot to mention, our first collective visit was Thursday evening. Its really easy when its just up the block. MMMMmm, Yogurtland.
Emily, Teresa, Simeon and Chelsea -- Our last few moments together!
Monday was a sad day. I had to go back to work, and they were leaving for home. Emily’s friend Eddie drove up from Oceanside to spend the early evening with the girls and take them to the airport. We said our goodbyes early in the afternoon. I really hope to see them both sooner than later. It was a joy to have them visit. I hoped they liked Long Beach as much as I liked having them around the house. I love y’all and miss you greatly.
