West Coast

We just got back from spending a month on the west coast visiting family and friends. It was a wonderful time with lots of new fun memories made.  The kids and I flew out to LA and spent the first few days with Joel's parents.  Grandpa went hiking with the boys daily in the nearby hills/mountains (usually stopping off for a cool treat somewhere) and Grandma sang lots of songs to entertain Darya.  We went out to the desert where it was close to 110* (dry heat, thankfully!) and swam in spring fed pools followed by a trip to a children's museum.

We were greeted at the airport with balloons

It's hard to see them, but the boys are at the top with Grandpa

Enjoying the pool in the desert with Grandma

Nate painting a car at the museum

  
After that, we spent the weekend visiting the Franciscos in Oceanside.  It's always great to spend time with their family!  We went to the beach one day where Sam had his first surfing attempt. He actually stood momentarily a couple of times!  Darya loved jumping in the shallow waves, while Nate and Ben spent hours searching for sand crabs.

Sam and Emma

 Darya and Andrew

Ben and Nate searching for sand crabs

Eating In-N-Out in the Franciscos' back yard

We made our way up to Turlock to spend just over a week with my family.  We went rafting at Knights Ferry on the 4th of July.  My mom watched Darya, while the rest of us enjoyed a relaxing (sort of) 5 hours on the river.  It was super hot, yet the water was super cold. My daredevil Sam jumped off the cliff and rope swing, of course.  4 out of 5 of my siblings went rafting, as did my dad and his wife (and their two chihuahuas).  And all but one of my nephews went, too!  I hadn't seen Jack in at least 6 years and now he's a grown man.  Goodness how time flies!   My sister and I also took our boys to pan for gold up in Jamestown and the boys had a blast.  Joel then joined us and we went on a double date with my BFF from high school, Tonia, and her husband Brandon.  It was fun but too short!

Grandma Charlene with some of her grand kids

Cousins! (Simon, Nate, Sam, Ben, and Joey)

Then, for the first time in my life despite having grown up 2 hours away, we went to Yosemite.  It was more beautiful than I imagined!  I would love to go back one day and spend several days there camping and enjoying God's amazing creation.  On our way back down the trail we ran into some old friends of ours, Jeff and Helen.  Joel and Jeff went to seminary together and interned at our church in La Jolla at the same time. Joel was a groomsman in his wedding.

The day after Yosemite, we made the 12 hour drive up to Oregon. We saw Joel's grandparents (Thomas and Violet).  Darya's current favorite song is "If You're Happy and You Know It" and while at their house, she got everyone to sing it for - her including Great-Grandpa (she called him out on it when he wasn't singing along) - while she did the motions.  What a ham!  Great-grandpa let the boys pick out some things from his rock collection.

Our next stop was to Olympia to stay with Brett, Jen, their four girls, and the Naves (minus Erin and Naomi).  It was a wonderful weekend with old friends!  A funny story - Joel's 37th birthday was on our day of departure.  He had been talking with Brett about an iPad mini while we were there and our whole drive back down to Oregon, Joel kept talking about getting one. He considered buying one while in Oregon since there's no sales tax.  At the end of the day, he decided to wait on it. Well, just as I was going to bed, I checked my email on my phone. I got a message saying I won an iPad mini from an adoption fundraiser!  (It arrived the other day and Joel is thrilled).

We drove back down to central Oregon to see Dan's family again (we went blueberry picking), then headed up to Portland for a reunion on Joel's mom's side of the family.  The big outing was to go on a cruise on the Columbia River and some sight-seeing along the way.  I forget how beautiful Oregon is!  It's definitely one of my favorite states.

Sam, Ben, and Nate playing with Joshie on the boat

Joel and Darya at one of the many Oregon falls

After the reunion, we made it to our final destination. We stayed with Joel's best friend, Mark, his wife Heather and their three kids.  We haven't seen them in five years.  It was great spending time with them!  Oh, and while there I won another contest :)  This is another funny story.  In the afternoon, we made a stop at Mark's favorite coffee place (his second time that day - he and Joel went earlier and came home with free mugs in celebration of the shop's anniversary).  Anyway, Mark and I went in and just as we were about to leave, one of the employee's called out my name. Apparently he had drawn my name out of a contest that Joel had put my name in earlier that day.  It wasn't an iPad, but it was still fun! I got a few small things. :)

Darya and Millie eating breakfast - they aren't too thrilled for the interruption of a photo!

Finally, after four weeks we had our long day of travel home.  We had a wonderful time, got to see lots of people, go to lots of fun places, but it's great to be home!