Spring Break 2015

I flew to Oakland with the girls on April 2nd.  They had two days of parent/teacher conferences before spring break so I took full advantage of the week and a half off.  We left on the 6am flight to Oakland and by the time we walked into grandma's house at 9am they wanted to go to the park.  I wanted a nap.  So after lunch with grandma, grandpa and Johnny at the Shark Shack we walked to Carlos Bee Park.  We also walked over to the Japanese Gardens. 

Carlos Bee Park.  Gilly so happy

Later on grandpa had to go to Schucks to get some brake fluid and he let Drew drive the Cadillac part way there.  She was sooooo happy.  She just loves old cars. 

Starting off vacation right at the Ice Creamery on the Boulevard

The next morning we took grandma's car and drove to Huntington Beach.  And of course we stopped at In N Out Burger on the way. 

So tired at In N Out from sleeping in the back seat.

Finally arrived at Suzy's at around 3:30pm.  Of course the girls wanted to go right to the beach.  And of course they went in the cold water even though it was almost evening.

The Next morning we headed to HSS to see Bethany Hamilton.  The girls were so excited.  Drew did a report on her this year.  They got front row seats and got autographed posters. 

The girls got their Easter baskets Sunday morning then we watched General Conference.  Mike fried up some Spam for breakfast and the girls made pancakes. 

Drew was also excited for Easter.  And for bunny ears

Sunday night we headed to San Diego to stay with Rebecca and her family at their beach house.  They have a vacation rental just blocks from Moonlight Beach in Escondido.  We all had a wonderful time.  Kids had so much fun getting to know their second cousins. 

Leah (friend of Marnie's), Marnie, and Drew.

Ross drove all the girls to the beach in the Cruiser.  Glad he didn't get pulled over

We tried and tried to get a normal picture on the beach.  I think it turned out pretty good. 

cousins in a hot tub

Selfie at Heber's house

Alice at Heber's house

Darby, Ava, Gillian, Mary, Marnie, Georgia, Drew and William

Gilly the unicorn

Jumping for joy at Moonlight Beach

Drew and Ava

Alice and Drew

Drew briefly reunited with "her" Land Cruiser

In her happy place

 

 

 

 

Dinner at Don Ramon's with Rob and Suzy

 

 

Sophie met up with us at Crystal Cove.  Kevil's were staying in Newport

Drew makes friends wherever she goes.  She met a girl last year named Kristy, who goes to Suzy's ward.  She came with us to Crystal Cove.  

Drew, Kristy, and Georgia

Ava, Ben, Anders, Gillian, Drew

Our very last stop was Pacific Palisades to see Tricia and her family.  We took the kids to the Santa Monica pier to ride the rides. 

The Great Flood

Last week Darren and his office staff were in the office on Monday cleaning and getting ready for the new year.  Suddenly Darren noticed a river gushing down the hallway.  One of the sprinkler heads blew from inside the compressor closet.  Bad news.  They flow 55 gallons per minute and it was going at least 10 minutes before the firemen got there to turn it off.  By then the water had gone throughout half the office.  The restaurant downstairs was flooded as well as the water poured through the ceiling.  So Servpro came that evening to rip up carpet and cut out drywall to dry things out.  

Poor Dear Deer

I think that living out here in the sticks has turned Darren into a verified redneck. 
He hit a deer on his way home from work.  Why the heck leave it on the side of the road?  (Other than it's illegal to collect roadkill here).  So the first thing he says to me when he gets home is "want to get bloody?'   Ummmm.... no.  I don't.  But I will take pictures.  I guess if I didn't have 1,000 other things to do in the house maybe I would help cut up the poor creature. 

A weekend of no work

I have been working nonstop around here lately.  With 10 acres I have plenty to do and I like to take advantage of the nice weather and long daylight hours.  Last Friday night Drew had her 8th grade dance.  It almost made me panic because I wanted to work outside and she said that dad and I were supposed to go to her friend Julia's house for dinner and to take pictures before the dance.  She chose my clothes that I was to wear (she's always afraid I'll show up places in sweats or overalls).  I obliged and had a very nice time.  Her friend's parents own 1,200 acres and do farming and other ventures with their land.  It was a beautiful night and they have an amazing view.  Drew went with a big group of friends, including a boy named Jordan, who she assured me was NOT a date.... just a friend.  She looked absolutely stunning and had a great time.  

Emma, Jacob, Gillian, Drew

Isabelle, Drew, Bethany

Jordan and Drew

Then on Saturday I didn't get to work outside either.  Our ward's mutual volunteered at the Special Olympics at Fort Lewis.  It was a great day.  Gavin met a guy named Jeff (one of the athletes) and ended up hanging out with him most of the day after he escorted him to the first aid tent after he fell and skinned his elbows.  Gavin went to his races and cheered him on.  They also exchanged phone numbers and became Facebook friends.  

Gillian and Drew worked some other booths and enjoyed helping the athletes as well.  Darren and I were on the basketball court all day and it was hot.  We pretty much baked in the sun for 4 hours. I also threw a basketball to a little kid and hit him in the face, making him cry.  Not cool.  Darren will never let me live that one down. 

 On the way home the kids were exhausted.  But we were all happy that we got to participate in something so awesome.