A Promenade and Pier Outing with the Family

We love living so close to the Santa Monica Pier and the 3rd Street Promenade. Not only are they great places to play and shop, but they are also perfect people-watching places. We love to wander and watch, and we take advantage of 2 hours free parking in the nearby parking garage (before 6pm). Definitely one of our favorite ways to spend an evening.

At the entrance to the 3rd Street Promenade

Love the Pier. 

   

Debbie hadn't been to the Promenade before (which blew my mind because this is her fourth visit!), so we packed up and headed out down for what was a great afternoon/evening. It was breezy, but warm, and there was plenty of sunshine. First, we first wandered around the mall, subjecting Aaron to a walk-through of Bloomingdales and playing around in the Disney Store. Next, we walked up and down the Promenade - visiting whichever stores caught our attention. When hunger struck (it struck Aaron first), and after much deliberation, we decided to get Pier burgers for dinner. Delicious food. As always. Our friend, Kimberly, was even working; she hooked us up with a couple complimentary ice creams (we love when customers change their minds last minute). Olivia, Sarah and I wanted to go down to the water and Aaron, Debbie, and Lauren wanted to walk to the end of the Pier; we parted ways. 

Princess Olivia - the new Disney Princess!

And the new Rapunzel! 

Isn't Grandma Deb so cute?!

Liv and I love spontaneous trips down to the water; although, it's always trickier when we're fully clothed. We chased waves and played in the wet sand, and even despite our best efforts, we couldn't save Livi from a face-plant in the water. Her entire front side was soaked! It didn't seem to bother her though. She went on playing in the sand and wanting to chase more waves. 

Watching the waves with her Auntie Sarah.

Yep, I'm one happy California girl. 

I love that she'll grow up on the beach. And I love how she's looking up at me in this photo. 

Post ocean face-plant.

Sarah took some photos of the ocean and Pier while we waited to hear back from the "end of the Pier" crew. We super hard when we discovered this photo after the fact...

I guess Aaron, Lauren and Deb had been trying to get our attention. They could see us on the beach, but we had no idea they were at the end of the Pier shouting to us. The waves are louder than you think! 

Such a great way to spend and end a day. Man, we love Santa Monica.