And so it goes. . .

Pictures from our last vacation of the summer

Grab a treat and settle in...this goes on and on and on!

This family trip to California is late in getting posted but it was WONDERFUL none the less. We met up with the Brown family and headed for the beach.

There is a great campground straight up the bluff from the beach that has seen Brent and his little sisters romping and playing for nearly 40 years. We take our kids back often to keep the tradition thriving. As a matter of fact, some little camping neighbors came to play in this GIGANTIC tree that sits in our campsite. They told our kids in a very "in your face" kind of way that they have been playing in this tree for 10 years, almost daring them to enter their space. Grandpa Brown would have none of that...

He wandered over to the tree and informed the little invaders that he trumped them by 30 years! Word spread quickly among the little campers and whenever they came to climb, they did so very politely ~ and our kids were very good about sharing the adventurous branches.

The Brown cousins...

Bottom: Davis~10; Maddison~14; Burk~12; Kate~10

Middle: Chelsea~10; Sam~8; Cooper~6

Top: Peter~3

Our first night at the beach...

...we headed to Santa Cruz to enjoy the Boardwalk.

I love that it sits right on the beach. If we had waited until the following day to visit, we could have heard Eddie Money perform live with the ocean waves crashing behind him. Come on everybody! Put your hands together!

"I've got two tickets to paradise!"

The kids were so excited to ride this coaster. Cooper has been working real hard on growing just so he could make the height requirement. He made it ~ barely.

You gotta love history!

Our first ride was the one that promised to get us wet. The kids were excited and the adults were glad it was sunny and there would be time to dry and warm up before the cold beach air overtook the Boardwalk.

Even Grandpa, Brent and his little sis were in on the action. I so wish I would have gotten an "after" picture of these three.

S O A K E D was an understatement and we all laughed.

I love laughing with the family.

Waiting for dad to track down dinner and feed this hungry bunch.

Goodness, I love this bunch.

The littlest cousin

Smile with me as Peter makes short work of his hot dog.

Gotta love a boy who knows what he likes!

While the dads were waiting in line for a bigger, faster ride, they let the kids go ride some little rides where the lines were short and fast.

Burk and Cooper

(Burk was so good to let Cooper hang on him and walk in his shadow. I even saw him take Cooper's hand on several occasions. Thanks for being so good to Coop, Burk!)

Davis and Sam

Pulling the rings on the Carousel. The kids can hardly wait until they are old enough and tall enough to finally reach the rings.

This was Davis' year.

Cooper will have to wait another year or two. He's very disappointed.

And what's a visit to the Boardwalk without a ride on the Ferris Wheel??

No thanks for me though. I gladly stayed on the ground and took pictures.

It was just about time for the park to close but the kids jumped on the BUMPER CARS for a couple of last rides.

And of course...
Uncle Tom won't let the kids have all the fun!!

Beach fun...

On our first trip down to the beach, we had to walk around this group of ballet practicing young ladies. I think they have a very bright and intelligent instructor. Who wouldn't want to take a field trip to have class on the beach? I wanted to join them.

We spent a lot of time enjoying the sand and waves. There is just something so free and easy about it.

And my picture clicking finger was just getting warmed up.

Waves

Sand

Sun

resting

digging

flying

clicking :)

We spent a lot of time digging for sandcrabs. Poor little fellas. They really have no hope of escaping the expert hands of these

MASTERS OF THE SAND!

Lunch at Moss Landing

If you are ever out near Sunset Beach, please stop in at Moss Landing for the yummiest seafood to melt in your mouth. Phil's has been featured on Food Network. Bobby Flay challenged him to a "Throwdown" and Phil won. The Halibut & Chips, the fresh crunchy coleslaw, the smooth and creamy clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. All taken in surrounded by the sea air.

Phil...I hear you...I'm coming!!