Cali Trip July, 2010

Anny and her kids stayed another week after Cousin's Camp so Zack could go to scout camp here. Monday morning, 5:30 a.m. we dropped Sammy and Zack off. They were gone for the week. We had a fun week with lots of activities etc. Jim came on Friday with his dad to pick Anny up and drive her home on Sunday.

Sam had the next week off, we had no plans yet, so Saturday we finally decided to go to California. We found some decent priced tickets to Las Vegas, so decided to go for it. We purchased the tickets Sat. and left at 5:00 Sunday night. While waiting at the airport in Billings, Sam rented a vehicle for us in Las Vegas so we could drive the 3 1/2 hours to Anaheim.

We got in at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. Got some o.k. sleep, then decided to head for the beach.

It wasn't the best weather, but we didn't care.

(Huntington Beach Pier July 21, 2010)

The second day we were there, we decided to go to Universal Studios. I left my camera in the car, so these are the only pictures we got that day. It was a wonderful day, we purchased front of the line passes, so we had double the fun that day. I however, by the end of the day, was feeling a bit of motion sickness and while waiting for Sam to bring the car to the front threw up in a bag, then three more times on the way home. The kids thought that was pretty gross, sorry kids.

Maren didn't think she would ride any rides, they looked a little scary, but I said, if we bought you these tickets, you're riding. She ended up loving every ride (except the Mummy ride, I didn't make her ride that one) and her favorite was the Simpson ride.

We went to the beach twice, Monday and Wednesday. The rest of these pictures are from both days.

Jackson loved every min. of the beach. He was mostly out in the water riding the waves. I loved how he tried to stand up on the boogie board.

Aliza had a wonderful time as well, she loved being out in the water, but also loved playing in the sand. It was a bit chilly, so when she was out of the water being wet, she had a towel on.

Maren wasn't in the water too much. She loved playing in the sand, collecting tiny little shells with her shovel and bucket. She did try the boogie board a couple times, but as you can see in the lower left picture, she didn't quite get it. No way was she going out in the water to ride the waves.

Sammy was too far out in the water and down the beach to get too many pictures of him. I love how he is walking up the beach in the photo below though.

Sam? Well, he was just like a little kid out there in the water. He never sat down for more than 5 min. I think he loves boogie boarding more than the kids. He loved playing with the kids, and I loved sitting on my little beach chair under the umbrella, wrapped in a towel watching them all have fun and taking pictures.

The kids actually got along well, building castles and burying each other.

After the beach on Wednesday, we ate some dinner at a restaurant near the beach, then headed about an hour or so (depending on traffic) in-land to my brother Aaron and and his wife Brock's house. We didn't get there until 8:00, but we enjoyed talking and playing with them and their two boys for a couple of hours. They were very kind to let us stay at their house that night. We actually had to leave at 3:30 in the morning to drive back to Las Vegas to make our plane.

After a 5 hour delay, we made it home safe. I so enjoyed that whirlwind of a trip. Sam and I have always been a bit spontaneous, which makes life a little exciting.