remembering ...

If I could go anywhere right now, I would pack up my family and go to the beach-
I am revisiting in my mind our adventures this summer, and I am a little bit "homesick" for our vacation.
What is that called?
Post vacation depression?
I am happy to have such fun memories to relive.
Never to early to start planning the next trip.

2008 Adventure-Friday May 30th

FRIDAY NIGHT-MAY 30th

Tom and Karen took us out for a BBQ dinner and boat ride. We loaded up the boat, and took our food to the grill. While it heated up we played statues-
(you can tell that Karen is a fun school teacher & Grandma- she was cute with the kids and had fun stuff to do whenever she was around!)
We then grilled our hotdogs-had yummy watermelon, and the delicious gingersnaps!
We let the kids go play on the play equipment for a bit, then got back in the boat, for a beautiful sunset ride.
It got a little chilly, and Tucker did not feel good-so he wanted to just stay snuggled up. I was glad to not have to look out for him on the boat. Luke was enough for me to worry about!


Savanna and Jack got to take turns steering the boat-

It was such a relaxing evening. Beautiful ride. Beautiful sunset. Wonderful company.

2008 Adventure-getting there & coming home

Part of the blessing that came with our blessing in disguise was this neat little gadget-
A nifty GPS-that became affectionately known as "Barbara."

This thing was amazing.
I do not know how we would have made it through the 2 weeks in totally unfamiliar territory without her! Well actually I do know, it would have been so sad.
We would have been tense, and lost A LOT!

Barbara knew if we took a wrong turn, and how to get us back on track.
Really, there was no reason to take a wrong turn.
If we would have just listened to her step by step instructions and followed what she said.

She knew where EVERYTHING was.
If I wanted a hamburger from IN-N-OUT- I just typed it in, and she would find the nearest one!

I loved using her on the freeways in CA- she was so precise.
If we were at a point where there were a lot of interchanges, she would speak up and say stay to the right and then chime a certain way when we were to NOT get off.
And then chime a different tone, when we were TO get off.

We loved her so much that we want one of our very own.
(and Luke just thinks they are called "Barbara")
Now the kids have taken to announcing things in "Barbars's voice" as we are driving-
like:
"approaching right turn"
or
"you, have arrived."


These are some miscellaneous photos from our drive- which was a really great part of our trip.
As long as it was, it was such a blessing to spend that much time together. Everyone did so great in the car.
And, thankfully, Tucker waited until the last day of the drive home, to figure out how to wriggle out of his carseat!

my view of the family in the carone of our pit stops-playing with gifts from the Mills

no, I did not take this while I was driving-Jay did

driving in the car on one of the beach days

fun decor on the garage door when we got home

what fell out of tuckers car seat after the trip

Tuesday-2008 Adventure

I have no idea where Luke was for this photo!

TUESDAY-JUNE 3 last day at the beach

I wrote about how hard of a time I had with our beach days coming to an end-(here)
It took me so long to get moving this morning so that we could go- I tell ya, it really shocked me that I was having such a hard time with it!

We finally got out of the house and went to IN-N-OUT for one last time.
This time everyone ate inside, and we had the meal "animal style."
It came recommended and it did not disappoint.

We got to the beach a little later than we had the day before, and things were a little chillier. The kids played and played, and we ate sandwiches in the sand.

I was sure to take 1 last photo of everyone at the beach, and with the sunset. new hat

Jack found a new hat. And Savanna found sunglasses.
We lost 1 pair of shoes, and a pair of sunglasses.
We came out about even!
I made sure to point out this time to Luke that the sun was setting!

Our friends the Buhrley's met us right as the sun set, and we stayed until we were just too cold to stay any longer.
A thick fog came in, and everything felt so wet.
We loaded up, and I rode with Pepper Buhrley, and Jay with Mike, back to the Reed's where we said our good-byes, and promised to be better at keeping in touch.
Another happy night, no baths, and kids falling asleep, once again, before they even reached their beds.

Monday-2008 Adventure

MONDAY-JUNE 2
Photo edition-Lots and lots of photos

We had a lovely lazy morning, sleeping in- getting ready slowly. Then we grabbed hamburgers- half from IN-N-OUT burger and half from McDonads (Crazy I know)
and headed to Laguna beach to see the tide pools.
Again- a nice short drive-

Somethings that were interesting to me on the drive were:
Billy goats climbing on the side of the mountain.
The stop on the side of the road with signs for day laborers.

We got to Laguna at low tide and walked out to see the tide pools. We saw lots of fun sea life- crabs mostly and had fun climbing on the rocks. Then we found a nice spot to play for the afternoon.
Savanna and Jack and Jay did a lot of wave jumping, and Jay would take turns between Tucker and Luke,
carrying them out and getting into the surf.
Again I had to keep reigning Luke in, of all the kids he would have been the most brave in the ocean.
He really did good for having such a temptation.
All the kids got into digging and working together.
This was so fun to watch.
And photograph.

After the day I had over 500 photos!

We moved back a little down the beach in the later afternoon.

When Luke got his most bothered with not being able to get wet, I tried distracting him with writing in the sand.
We did shapes, and patterns, and colors. Luke did counting with his hands in the sand.
Tucker really started to enjoy the sand and water today. All the other days he did not want a thing to do with the water, but today-Oh- he did not want to get out.
He kept chasing the water, and getting knocked down, and hoping back up.
Savanna kept a close watchful eye, and Jay got a scolding or two from her.

We packed up, got changed and ran to get a bite to eat, then hurried back to the beach to watch the sunset.

It was hard to not get distracted by all the amazing looking art galleries along the way. I really wish I would have gone into Jack Wylands gallery and studio. But it was not meant for this trip- Jay and I have decided that this is a definite trip destination for the two of us.
We made it to the beach again, and enjoyed another hour or so on the coast.
We stayed until it was dark. As we were heading to the car, Luke started asking to see the sunset. I told him we already saw it. He fell into a heap of tears, and cried and cried. He kept saying he missed it.
I thought our shadows looked so neat- so I was able to get 5 of our family -minus the crying in a heap child- to stand for the shot.
Another beautiful beach day, and another night going to bed without baths, and kids falling asleep before their heads could reach their pillows.