The first 48 hours...

We have made it to our first destination and overall had a very smooth trip.  Flights on time, children behaved and all luggage accounted for.  The kids are thrilled to be here - giggling, singing and playing the piano in the new house.
Its an easy place to like.  We were at the beach just hours after we arrived and spent the evening there again today.  The weather is perfect and the scenery is gorgeous.

Some things I learned on this trip
1. Always book a private car or shuttle to and from the airport.  I thought I had done this on both departure and arrival, but apparently I did not confirm this for LA.  Although the trip wasn't too long, the extra 20 minutes in a van with other people, and children that have been on an airplane for several hours, is not ideal.
2. Curb check is your friend.  Its worth the tip to pull up to the curb, point to the mound of luggage that is falling out of the car and let them take care of it.  They tag your bags, print your boarding passes and you're done! No lines. Easy.
3. On the same note, let the guy at the baggage claim with the giant cart take your luggage to the car when he offers.  Again, the tip is well worth it and probably the same if we had paid for the redi carts to push ourselves.
4. Southwest Airlines. Ugh is an understatement. Unfortunately we have flown them several times lately because of their increased # of direct flights,  but I dread it.  God forbid you don't pay for early check in and try to get seats with your travel companions (the poor young couple who got on last).  I just don't get it.  GIVE ME AN ASSIGNED SEAT.
5. $54 for breakfast is just too much - lets not go there again :)
6. Always drive up the hill when going out and about - even if Google maps tells you otherwise.  If you go down the hill to the PCH, you can only turn right (and needed to go left) and it takes 20 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic at 11am to get turned around and back to your starting point.
Lesson learned.