summer vacation in cali - week two

After Half Moon Bay we found our way to Lake Tahoe and our campsites.  We were also informed that we were staying in bear country.  All food and pretty much anything that smelled nice to us that might attract a bear had to be stored in a metal container.  I was glad to have Bailey (dog) with us, but every growl in the pitch dark seemed to make me a little nervous. 

The next day we headed to Gordon & Marcia's condo and spent the day swimming with everyone in the nearby pool.  After dinner and movies we headed back to camp for another nights (restful?) sleep.

Tuesday morning we woke early, and went into town to drop off Bailey (spending time with doggie friends) and have breakfast at IHOP.  Afterwards we met up with everyone at the lake, and decided to rent something for even more fun.  We settled on a sixteen seat pontoon boat with a tube.  After some playing on the beach and lunch in our tummies we boarded the boat, and headed out to the west part of the lake where it was calmer, and not so windy.  The kiddos all took turns riding in the tube, and then the grown-ups got it on the fun.  It was such a beautiful sunny day on the lake, and we all had so much fun.

After saying our goodbyes late Tuesday night, we woke at the crack of dawn, threw the kiddos (still in their jammies) in the truck, and begin our crazy long trip to Escondido.  To avoid traffic we took the 395, and we deemed it the hottest, driest, longest highway ever.  Our stops were short (as they usually are) because it was crazy hot, 110 degrees, yikes!! We arrived safely at Dan & Cindy's and were happy to to be out of the truck.

did you miss week one??...click here

summer vacation in cali - week one

Over a month ago, we left for our summer vacation in California.  We packed up the kiddos, the tent trailer, and even threw in the dog for good measure. 

We left Tuesday late afternoon and made it to Grants Pass, OR where we spent the night in the oh so glamorous Wal-Mart parking lot with the tent trailer (hey, can't beat free!!)  The next morning we travelled through northern Cali to our destination of Half Moon Bay State Beach.  We set up camp, and were soon joined by Dave's brother Andy, his wife and four kiddos.  We were also met with fog, and some pretty cool temps. 

The next morning we ventured out on the beach for some fun, but the cooler water and air temperatures made it quite short.  We then cleaned up and made a day trip into San Francisco. We had lunch on the wharf, explored the piers, and I took the whole family on a wild goose chase to find the Lucas Arts yoda fountain (I'm sure they were thanking me when we finally found it).  Back to camp for some dinner and s'mores over the campfire.

Friday we ventured south to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.  We walked around, played in the arcade, and got some yummy mexican food for lunch.  On our way back up Highway 1 we stopped at a roadside place to pick strawberries.  A big favorite with little miss, since these are her favorite.  After our tummies were full with sweet berries, we stopped a little further up at Bean Hollow Beach where we jumped on rocks, explored the tide pools, and then played on the beach for awhile longer before heading back to camp.

Saturday found us with much nicer weather.  Before heading to the beach we decide to head into town and visit a few local spots, including the farmers market. We visited Lemos Farm where the kiddos fed baby goats, posed for pictures, and climbed on all the fun stuff.  We then headed to Spanish Town to check out the gigantic steel dinosaurs.  We finished of at the local farmers market where I stocked up on (more) strawberries, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, and fresh corn for dinner that night.  I love me some fresh produce.

After another full day of exploring and playing on the beach, and it was time to pack up, and make our way to our next destination a few hours away in Lake Tahoe, CA..

we're back

Over 3100 miles..
twenty four days..
one family beach camping trip..
two day trips to San Francisco, and Santa Cruz..
more camping in Lake Tahoe..
fun with family, and tubing on Lake Tahoe..
driving down to Southern Cali..
visiting with family, and meeting a new cousin..
spending my 35th birthday with my bestie in San Diego..
five glorious beach trips..
seven crazy days at the pool..
Wild Animal Park..
pot luck with old friends..
dinners with old friends..
extending our stay another week..
realizing how truly blessed we are having such great people in our lives!!
and finally returning home to our new house, and starting projects!!

The pictures (and more details) are on their way, but as we have started our first project on the new house (the playroom) we're furiously working to get it finished as soon as possible..

but so happy to be back!!

we're off..

We're on our way for summer vacations...

first...beach camping at half moon bay

followed by...lake tahoe

then... friends and family in san diego

...and orange county.

see ya later alligator..

Long Beach

On Saturday morning we woke up, had breakfast, threw the kiddos and Bailey (the dog) and any other needed items in to the truck and started off our journey to Long Beach, WA. 

For lunch we had yummy fish 'n chips, and then we drove into town.  The downtown streets were crowded with tourists, so we drove a little north to the next "beach access" sign.  We made a left, turned on the 4 wheel drive, and drove onto the beach to find the perfect spot.  We passed a few groups and then we saw lots of empty space.  Perfect!!

It was a beautiful warm sunny day, with plenty of wind, perfect for kite flying.  Two kites immediately flew into the air, and because there was so much wind, even the little ones got in on the action.  Then came frisbies, soccer balls, and volleyballs.  Daddy and the kiddos built forts, and then we dug a hole in the sand and started a fire.  Hot dogs and s'mores were on the menu.  With full tummies, worn out kiddos, and a worn out puppy dog, we packed up and drove home.

It was a beautiful fun family day at the beach.





The drive home was great!!  Dave and I spent almost the entire time talking to our almost middle schooler about what was ahead of him this next year.  It was such an open conversation, and we discussed especially how important it was to be "in the world, but not of the world".  I know that he is ready for the challenges ahead of him, and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Hawaii - Zip Line

Our last big adventure on the island was zip lining.  We decided to book through Big Eco Island Adventures, and it was so worth it.  Our guides were hilarious, and so fun, and the lines were amazing. 

We had 8 ziplines, and 2 bridges (one a suspension bridge). We started out at base camp in Hawi, Hawaii and then took a Pingzauer (6 wheel drive swiss army vehicle) offroad to our destination along the North Kohala mountainside.  The lines started out small (to get us used to it), and got bigger as we progressed.  Our final line was almost 1100 ft long, and went over a huge ravine.  Such a fun exhilariting experience!!

Hawaii - Exploring the Island

The next day we set out to explore the island.  Armed with our rental car, and guide book we were on our way.  We first had a wonderful "hawaiian style" breakfast at a cute cafe along the way, and then our first stop was the Alkala Falls State Park, where we took in the beautiful views of the waterfalls, and the lush tropical greenery.



Then we made our way down to Hilo, where we visited Coconut Island, and took in the local farmers markets, and shops.  It was so crazy to see lava that had flowed hundreds of years earlier still so present.  From there we travelled to the Volcano National Park.  A lot of the park was closed off for safety due to activity, and again so crazy to think that there are active volcanoes still flowing underground, and above on this island.  We walked through the lava tube, which was cool and a little freaky at the same time (it was pitch black at the end!)



After that we headed north to the infamous Waipi'o Valley.  This valley is one of the most sacred on the island, and almost impossible to reach.  There is a 25% grade hill that leads down into the valley.  Only a few homes have access to phone, and electricity, and the rest live off the land.  This is also where famed King Kamehameha was hidden after he was born because others feared he would become a great leader. Guess they were right to be scared!!

Hawaii - Hotel, Snorkeling and Luau

We arrived home from Hawaii almost two weeks ago, and it already seems like a distant memory.

We had an amazing time.  The hotel was beautiful, and exploring the island was so much fun, and it was amazing to see how the different parts of the island were so diverse.

I wanted to post some pictures, and promise to have the rest up before the end of the week (just as soon as I finish this mountain of laundry, and a few woodworking projects I started)





These are some pictures (and yes I took these), of the amazing ridicoulously huge hotel that we stayed at, that spanned over 62 acres.  Did I mention that we needed a tram to get from the lobby to our room.  (or walking took about 15 minutes)

It had three large pools complete with water slides, a lagoon that we snorkled in and saw sea turtles, waterfalls, dolphin exhibits, and over a dozen restaurants.  It was really amazing, and maybe even a little too fancy schmancy for us (ok maybe a lot) but it was fun!!

After spending the first few days enjoying the hotel and it's many amenities, we were ready to get out and explore.  We signed up for an all day snorkeling trip with the Fair Wind. 



We arrived early got our gear, and set sail for the Kealakekua Bay.  We arrived at the underwater state park, and the site of the Captain Cook monument.  It was breathtaking, and so clear.  The visibility was over 90 feet.  After spending an hour or so in the water we feasted on a barbecue, and then spent the last few hours getting in all the snorkeling we could.  We also took a few rides on the slide fixed to the back of the boat, as well as the high dive.  It was an amazing adventure.



Later that evening, we attended the Luau at the hotel. We watched as they pulled the roasted pig from the ground, and then we filled up on the succulent eats offered.  Dave and I also enjoyed a few virgin pina coladas, and strawberry daiquiris, we're such goofs.  The entertainment was fun, and we loved anything with fire the best.

Tulip Festival

On our very first ferry ride when we moved here, there was a giant poster on of the walls that showed a beautiful tulip field in bloom.  Below it said "Skagit County Tulip Festival, WA".  I made sure to when we got home to look up when and where it was, and marked it on the calendar.  The festival runs from the entire month of April, and we picked the sunniest most beautiful day of the month to visit it.

We visited the famed Roozengaarde Garden & Fields.  There we found the 3 acre show garden full of over 250, 000 bulbs that they re-design each year.  It was full of the many different varities of tulips/tulip bulbs that they sell. 

They were beyond beautiful. 

After walking through and admiring the beauty, we headed towards the fields to let the kiddos run free.  There we saw endless fields of daffodils and tulips.

We made our way back to the gardens, snacked on kettle corn, took even more pictures, and finished up our visit with lunch.  It was a beautiful spring day admiring God's handiwork.

aquarium

Last week I took my two littlest kiddos to the aquarium while the big boys were still in school.  I love downtown Seattle, it is so fun, and there is just so much to do. 

We pet starfish, played on the felt wall (do you like how natalie likes to line everything up, she did the orcas too!)

We looked at lots and lots of different kinds of fish.  We had fun in the orca exhibit, and the kiddos were to busy playing "ring around the orca fin" to let me take a picture. 

Natalie was most excited by the cute little otter, that she says gave her a big kiss through the glass., and Caleb liked the seals that barked.

After a fun few hours we walked farther down the waterfront and had a tasty lunch, and took home balloons as souvenirs.  It was a fun fun day with my Caleb and Natalie.

Poulsbo

Towards the end of Spring Break for the kiddos, Daddy took the day off and we had another day of local fun!!

We woke up bright and early, and took the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (Daddy loves the ferries).  There we had breakfast at the Big Star Diner, a Triple D's favorite (Diners, Drive-In's and Dives). 

With full tummies we continued on our travels to the cute scandanavian town of Poulsbo.  We parked and walked around the pretty little town, and marveled at all of the fun architecture, and bright colors.

We had to stop at Sluy's Bakery for some tasty treats.  The kiddos had a tough time deciding what to get, and Dave and I opted for their famous upside down Cinnamon buns filled with cream cheese frosting.

The kiddos were getting antsy so we found a nearby park that led down to the water, where they could run and explore to their hearts content.  Then we packed up the crew, and boarded the ferry for our return trip home..

Coulon Beach Park

This year we kept our Spring Break sweet, simple, and local.

At the beginning of the week we visited Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park on the edges of Lake Washington. 

The kiddos had a great time on the huge play structure, while Daddy and Daniel took a walk over the water. 

We then played in the sand by the water, and Natalie was intent on building a sandcastle. 

We then went off to explore more.  With docks and restaurants, walking trails and boat launches, we only got thru a tiny portion of the 57 acres of the land and water of the park.  We can't wait to explore more, and even visit for swimming and enjoy the slides set up on the docks when the water and weather warms up.

Birthday & Exciting News

Yesterday we celebrated Daddy's 35th birthday!! (He's getting so old!!)
...OK, I'll be the same age in a few months.

I made Rouladen, and Spaetzle for dinner, and it was so so good.  The kiddos loved wishing Daddy happy birthday over and over.  It was a simple family night, complete with a movie and raspberry custard before bedtime.

Happy Birthday Daddy, we love you so so much!!



and our exciting news...

We booked our trip/flights to Hawaii!!!
7 days/6 nights on the big island. 

Our first big trip since we got married.  Even our honeymoon was local (granted we did get married a few days before Christmas)

We are so so excited!!

This is where we are staying...

I'm not sure what I'm looking more forward to..
 
  special time with just my hubby
  exploring the beautiful island
  sleeping in
  laying on the beach
  snorkeling
 
..oh the list just goes on and on.

Museum of Flight

Last week the little ones and I met up with some friends at the Museum of Flight.  It's just down the road a bit, located next to the Boeing airstrip. 

Natalie and Caleb loved all the planes, and I loved the display of flight attendant uniforms through the years.  Retro is probably my favorite, but I had to share these..



Caleb and his buddy were completely into the NASA flight simulator, and little miss loved playing pilot in all of the planes. 



There is so much to do and see here.  I can't wait to bring the older boys and Dave (who especially loves planes) to come and explore on our next visit.

Rain or shine

Rain or Shine, is the motto here in Washington.  So Saturday morning after a week of school, work, and pretty much staying in, we were ready for some adventure.  Even though it was chilly and raining off we went. 

Our first stop was Olympia, the state's capitol.  There we visited the Cabella's store, and let the kiddos ooh and aah at all the animals, and the fishies in the aquarium.  We also got a chance to check out gear for some new hobbies we'd like to start here in the pacific northwest (fishing, canoeing, and hiking).

After we were finished there, and our tummies were full we headed to the coast. We visited the fun little town of Astoria, Oregon, and then made our way across the bridge (it's a really big one) to Long Beach, WA.  Once there we put daddy's 4 wheel drive to use, and drove onto the beach.  After a few donuts, and showing off his driving skills in the sand we found the perfect spot.  We dug a hole, made a fire, and the kiddos got busy to playing.  It was pitch black, but they were equipped with flashlights and came up with all sorts of fun games.  We also brought Bailey with us, and she was ecstatic to run wildly on the beach chasing the sparks from the fire, and the crazy kiddos.

After some yummy s'mores, we packed up the crew for our drive home.  The weather wasn't perefect, but it was a great family day, and rain or shine we made it fun!!

Gig Harbor

Saturday morning after breakfast we threw the kiddos in the car and ventured out to explore a little more of this new place.  We headed southwest to Gig Harbor.  We crossed some amazing bridges on our journey, one of my favorite things about this place. 

Our first stop was the Harbor History Museum.  It was a small museum, but beautifully done.  It shared the history of the area, and how it had been explored and it's most early inhabitants that came from across the globe.  I was absolutely in love with all of the "old items" that had been collected. 



They had learning stations at each area, with rubbings for the kids to do, and interactive things like basket weaving, rowing your own boat, and rigging the sails on a sailboat.



They also had an amazing one room schoolhouse that had been restored, remember how much I love old things.  I was in heaven.  I love anything nostalgic.



After we were done at the museum we asked about nearby places to eat, and found ourselves at the Marketplace Deli & Grille.  The one side was completely filled with diners, so she put us on the opposite side with it's own seperate door. We had a fully enclosed room all to ourselves.  Perfect for my crazy little monkeys.  The fish 'n chips were delish, and the boys loved their "krabby patties".

After lunch we got back in the car and drove to nearby Bellingham. We drove around and looked at the city, and the homes.  We then gathered some snacks, and boarded the ferry for our return trip to Seattle.

We arrived home with still some of our Saturday left, and after getting into cozy jammies we cuddled on the couch for a family movie. 

I'm not sure what our next destination will be.  It's kid's choice so we'll see what they come up with.

Sledding in Ephraim

Sledding with...

cousins!!

 

Link to all Sledding in Ephraim Pictures

Twin Falls

So, I'm a little behind on posting, but we have been enjoying family, and a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

Last Friday we set off on our journey.  It was a beautiful travel day, and the sun was shining.  All of the areas of concern were not to be worried about due to the great weather.

We arrived at my friend Tamara's house late in the evening.  Her kids were up, and mine were ready to play.  Dave and I went to high school with Tamara, and haven't seen her in over 17 years. Ok, I did see her at her wedding, so for me it was only 14 years.  Tamara was an amazing friend in high school, she introduced me to the church, she took me to every stake dance, and activity.  She even drove me to early morning seminary for almost two years.  Her fiesty personality, and zest for life were so infectious.  OK, I loved this girl, and still do. 

We chatted with her and her hubby late into the night, and the kiddos didn't go to bed till after 2am I am told.  During the night it snowed, and we woke up to a winter wonderland.  After assembling all the snow clothes, and gear for 9 kiddos and 4 adults we made our way up the mountain for some sledding.  The kids had a blast, and I enjoyed some picture taking, and some tubing myself.

We had another great night full of laughs, stories, and fun, and we left the next morning to finish our trek to Utah for Christmas.

Thank you so much Tamara for opening your home to us, and for your kindness and generosity.  I hope you'll let us return the favor when you come to visit us in Seattle!! pretty please!!

Click here for all the pics!!

busy week

Dave left last Friday for a celebratory weekend in Vegas for the release of their product.  He spent the weekend at fancy dinners and clubs, and realized that he dislikes Vegas as much as I do :) I guess it's just no fun, if you don't drink or gamble, and are under the weather..


After the weekend he flew straight to New York to set up an appliance at the MTC (Micros0ft Tech Ctr) in Manhattan.  All these set-ups are vital to the success of the product, because potential customers can come and use them, and see if they will fit their potential business needs.  After three and half long days and nights, he was able to do some touristy things and enjoy the city.  I can't wait to see his pictures.


While Daddy was away we kept a pretty busy schedule.  Friday the kiddos had school, and then pizza/movie night at home.  Saturday, I started in on projects that I hadn't tackled since the move, namely our bedroom closet, where there were still boxes, half opened and constantly rifled through.  It is now a pretty place, that I enjoy walking into.  We finished up the day with college football, and homemade soup.


Sunday was insane.  We ended up being about ten minutes late for church, and as soon as we sat down Caleb loudly announced, "I don't want to be here, I want to go in the gym!" He gave me a dirty look for the next ten minutes, until he became preoccupied with the "church bag" and drawing.  Natalie wanted to eat the snacks we had brough for nursery, so he stuck out her bottom lip, and pouted, until again the stickers and colored pencils drew her attention.  We made it through, and I said the closing prayer, and surprisingly no one followed me to the pulpit.  I am now in the Primary Presidency, and finding ourselves without a chorister, I offered. I found myself in the hot seat yet again, when I didn't choose any of my own children to choose songs.  The older boys were OK with it, but that glare from Caleb,  followed by angry words, "you..didn't..pick..me" then followed by tears.  He sat on my lap for the remainder of primary, and then Natalie was brough in having had an accident, awesome-ness! Evidently two other kids had had accidents, and she couldn't get to the bathroom.  When we drove out of the church parking lot, I gave a huge sigh of relief, we did it.  Home to jammies, naps, and football.


Monday - Thursday are a blur.  Filled with school, playdates, helping a friend build a bench, gymnastics, birthday parties, helping in class, scouts, primary duties, and last night I even took the kids swimming.


Today, Natalie and I are going to a cupcake play date, followed by a desperately needed oil change (I'm done to 5%, oops).  Then home to clean up this house, so we can relax with daddy this weekend, and all next week.  It may even snow this weekend.  If it does it would be a very light dusting, but we are still super excited to see any white stuff fall near our area of residence.


Enjoy your weekend, I most certainly will enjoy mine, cuddling with my hubby and kiddos.

girls weekend with my trish