More Labor Day Weekend - Family & Fun

Sunday evening we drove down to Camp Pendleton, the USMC base about 40 minutes south of where we live.  My cousin, Kim's, oldest son, KC, is stationed there and awaiting his next deployment.  My cousins, Carrie and Joanna, had driven from Missouri and Arizona to spend some time with KC and his wife and enjoy the beach.  We had just a few hours, but we made the quick trip.  Jenna and Brooke (Carrie's daughter), and Heather and Kasey (Joanna's daughter) had fun hanging out, and I had a great time visiting with Carrie and Jo and my Aunt Marge.  My Aunt Marge is my mom's older sister, and along with their younger sister, my Aunt Kathy, they kept their kids in contact growing up.  We cousins appreciated this a lot, and we have tried to do the same with our kids, so chances to visit like this one are really cherished moments.

Kelly was supposed to be gone on his hike until Monday afternoon, so I was surprised to hear that he was headed home Sunday night and would be driving in around 1:00AM.  This meant that he and Heather could spend the day at Disneyland, which they did.  They opened the park at 8:00AM and stayed until dinner time.  Their passes expire next week, so they are getting in every last moment they can.  When you look at Heather's face, you kind of wonder if she's really going to be okay without a pass...

While Dad and sis were at the Magic Kingdom, Jenna and I went to early soccer practice at 9:00AM.  It was good to beat the heat, and it left the rest of the day open for shopping.  Jenna was even game to model some items for Heather to get Heather's approval before purchase.  The girl loves to shop.  Where did she get that from???

After The War...

So did I mention it was really hot today?  I had one water bottle at the Civil War reenactment which didn't cut the mustard.  We left the park and drove over to get frozen yogurt.  It was heavenly coolness in a cup! The store was air conditioned which is always a bonus.  We drove from yogurt to the movie theater where we sat in another air conditioned room and watched Despicable Me 2.  It was very funny, and cool (did I mention the air?).

At home that evening, I sat in the pool in my clothes and then sat on the patio watching Jenna swim.  It had cooled off outside, but our house was still so warm.  We love these inflatible pools we've had over the years.  Not the same as in-ground, but cool nonetheless.  Along with the cool factor, I was really savoring the time with my girls.  Jenna hasn't started school yet, and Heather has not had a full homework load yet.  Kelly was gone on his outing with the guys, and it was just a great time to do whatever we wanted to on our own schedule.  I absolutely loved it.

Civil War Reenactment

We took Heather to see the Civil War Reenactment a few years ago just before she started fifth grade, and it was so spectacular that I've been looking for the opportunity to take Jenna.  We didn't make it before Jenna's 5th grade year, so we made sure to block out time for it this summer.  Jenna was not super thrilled to go especially in the heat, but Heather was excited to go back as she just finished more Civil War studies in 8th grade.  It was SO hot that we literally became dehydrated watching the battle.  Heather told us a few interesting things about the battle field and even answered an Asian-American woman's question about who was in which uniform (the Union could afford the Blue uniforms while the Confederates were less organized and had less money which is why they kind of wore whatever they could).  I was especially impressed when Heather noted both the Union and Confederate medical personnel who administered to anyone on the battle field regardless of which side they were fighting for because of the compassion they had for all men.

We didn't stay for the whole battle because of the heat, and on the way out we bumped into President Lincoln who was getting ready to deliver the Gettysburg address.  I don't know how much of an impression the experience made on Jenna (I think she was too hot to really care which is understandable), but I am still very happy we went.

Vernon, Arizona

It's been two years since we made a visit to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Chuck in Vernon.  As we finished our hiking and beach camping this summer, the girls said, "Can we please make trip to see Aunt Kathy and Uncle Chuck?"  We did some thinking and planning, and we were able to plan a long weekend from Friday to Monday night.  We rented a Hyundai Santa Fe (a free upgrade from the standard size we reserved) and made the eleven-hour drive on Friday.  Oh yes, it's a ten-hour drive when you don't travel with a dog.  But we took Winston, and he did great.  Aunt Michelle, Joanna and Kasey and Cole met us on Saturday.  Thanks to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Chuck for their hospitality, their patience and most of all, their love.

Here are some photos of our trip...

The scenery and weather on the way

Walking Winston out in the open (he didn't make it very far on the rocky road and high elevation)

Homemade pizza without sauce, and accident that turned into a tradition

View from the front porch

The girls and Kasey playing with the dogs

The sky after a monsoon

Yummy barbecue

Winston doing his thing

Picnicking with Aunt Michelle

One of many sunsets

Cousins - Michelle, Joanna and I

Quad rides, a favorite activity with all the land available for riding

Mountain sunflowers

Aunt Kathy's roses

The gang

The gorgeous sky on the trip home (which was scary at times with rain and lightening)

Kelly's Weekend Away

While the girls and I were in Arizona, Kelly and his friends, Smith and Seth, took a backpacking trip to Kings Canyon.  The weather was beautiful, and the lake they camped by was amazingly beautiful.  The fishing was fantastic, and although there was evidence of bear habitation all around them, they managed not to see a bear.  Good thing!

General Grant

Seth and Kelly at their campsite

Smith and Seth on the trail

Bear scratching post near the campground

 The mirror effect on the lake during sunrise