Halifornia

Day 14 - Tuesday

No pics, but we spent the morning sitting in traffic for longer than was necessary. Even when we tried to detour from the traffic, it found us again.  Fortunately it did not keep us from the beach.  We met up with Nicole and kids, played, picnicked, splashed, and walked up the coast, finding treasures in the sand as we went.  And we watched the Jr. Lifeguards and Surf Camps practice.

Then to the local library, because it just feels so good to be in a library.  And this one was so nice.  Up on a hill with big windows and an outside reading area overlooking the ocean.

Then to a Turkish shop we've always wanted to stop in.  And this is the part where I feel stupid and think, "What was I thinking?"  And, still, I don't know what came over me.  We peeked in the windows of the closed Turkish shop until the owner came by and offered to open it for us.  We were mostly in browsing mode, but the owner was in high selling mode.  I left the store with 2 shirts, a skirt, and a necklace/earring set and a sick feeling in my stomach.  I am not one to shop for entertainment, but usually only out of necessity, and I did not need any of these items.  I don't even like all of them.  I think I felt a sense of obligation since she opened the shop for us, and she really wanted to sell some things, and we like building relationships with Turks.  Even now I feel lame and don't want to keep any of the things I bought.  Bleh.

Onward to Golden Spoon because it is on Peter's list of things to do in California.

Then home to swim for hours, watch a movie, and go to bed whereupon we all slept soundly.


Day 15 - yesterday

Seriously.  Who goes to libraries on their vacations?  Apparently we do.  A lot.  And that's how we started our morning yesterday.  Must. be. surrounded. by. books.

Then, to check another item off Peter's list (there's only one more now) we picked up In-n-Out for lunch and went to visit my parents.

 Leaving In-n-Out

 At Granny's

 Peter got a hat too, but he's saving it to bring back to a friend.

Sweet boy.

 At my parents' Charlie found a musical birthday card that his Nana sent to him.

He had a lot of fun opening and closing it to hear the music.

Cute card.

We had a 2:30 appointment at my parents' church to speak with their outreach leader who listened, questioned, and counseled us.  Then he invited us to apply to their outreach team as step #2 of their process of selecting overseas workers with whom to partner.  This would be a wonderful church to partner with.  They love and care for their overseas workers and have a very active interest in what God is doing around the world.  So we shall pray and follow God's lead.

Back to my parents' for my Mom's Taco Salad and the Blasting of the Missiles.

 Charlie too.

He's a keen observer and a quick learner.

Where did it go?

Today?  I don't know yet.

Galifornia

Day 11 - July 14th - Charlie's Birthday

While Charlie took a three-hour nap...

 ...we played Sorry.

As in, "Sorry you're missing out on your birthday fun,

but you were crazy with attitude this morning

and you know you'd be relocating all our pieces

and we'll all be much happier if you soundly sleep and join us later."

 I think it was the first time we four sat down like a family on a commercial and played a board game together.

I think I had three of my pieces still in the start circle when somebody won.

In the afternoon, when everyone was properly rested, ahem,

my parents and brother's family joined us for swimming, dinner, and presents.

 ice cream

 My three boys

with Granny's chocolate sheet cake.

 The brother and I

 Nicole and Miss Hallee

 Never mind the cake.

Just the icing, please.

 And I'll take your icing too.

And all your utensils.

 And I'm going to stay until I eat it all.

Even if everyone else leaves.

 2 families, 6 kids

Charlie, Peter, Reuben, Brody, Gigi, and Hallee

Charlie and Brody are both two.

Reuben and Gigi are both five.

 Trucks and trains from Granny and Granpa

and sweet ballerina necessities for Gigi in the background.

Day 12 - Sunday
We spent the day with my parents.  Church and lunch with Aunts Jo and Jann.  Lots of lovely conversation with family we don't get to see often.  A trip to the park to launch missiles.  There's a great pic on my Dad's phone of Reuben in mid air just before he jumps on the shooter thing to launch the missile.  I forgot my camera that day.  Dinner and popcicles (I think it was actually popcicles then dinner) and a resetting of the gopher/mole trap in my parents' backyard.  This time with peanut butter.  And I think there was mention of billiards, horse racing, and the Dodgers.  Superb day.


Day 13 - Today
Paul was (still is) off galavanting around southern california meeting with folks.  So naturally the boys and I went... to the beach!

 3 boys with 3 chocolate long johns

Reuben requested a donut stop

and it's vacation so we got donuts.

Again.

 He's waving "hi".

 Trying to eat just the chocolate icing.

 "Here Mom, I got all the icing off that I wanted."

 I was trying to get an action shot of them wrestling and pushing each other off the rocks,

but I got Love instead.

 Ah!  He's so cute.

 More cheese.

But cute cheese.

 Here we go.

This is what they were really doing.

 King of the Hill type action

that was fun for them and passersby, until...

...someone got more scraped up than he wanted to be.

Coincidently, Charlie started yawning,

cuing our departure.

Donuts and physical exertion at the beach- a perfect morning.

We went home.  Charlie napped.  Lessons were performed.  The pool was swam.  Or swum.  Or swimmed upon.  Whatever you like.

The point is, the boys have been super active and soaking in tons of sun and now they're asleep.

And Paul just arrived.

To the beach again tomorrow.

It's true.

Falifornia

Instead of titling every post 'California' I'm going through the alphabet.  We're on F today.  Falifornia.  Fun.

Day 10 - Friday

We checked out the local library and totally scored a library card, much to our great surprise.  Despite not being residents, we were able to get an 'unauthorized' card.  No, that's not what they called it.  Something like that.  Um... unvalidated maybe.  Or intoxicated.  It lets us check out 5 items at a time, which is really hard to do.   Five items?  That will last us like five minutes.  But, how great still.

The boys pool-swam then we went into San Diego to meet up with oldtime friends.

In college, Paul did an internship in innercity SD.  As in, the pizza guy would not deliver to their house.  And one time when I visited we hovered in the house and peeked out the front window as flashing police cars and their policemen went to work a few yards away.  AND, this one time... ha, ha, ha... a woman on a street corner... hahaha... waved Paul down and asked for a ride then offered him her services as they drove off together.  He was so nieve, and surprised.  And I got to hear that story told several times last night.

Pine and Paul.

Pine is a game tester.

He plays video games for a living.

And he's a super witness for Christ.

He was in our wedding, you may remember.

I'm bummed this is blurry.

We are with Rick and Nicki and their daughter.

Rick was in charge of the Lighthouse in SD where Paul did his internship.

 The highlight of the night for the kids was ice cream before dinner.

Although he didn't say anything, I thought it was a fab experience for Peter to be the minority.

Most of the people there were from Cambodia and Laos.

 Day 11 - Today

Reuben, Peter, and Paul juiced oranges for breakfast

while Charlie started his BIRTHDAY by screaming and throwing fits.

Welcome to being two.

I'm banking on these special birthday outbursts being due to him feeling out of control
with all the traveling, new places, and new people he's experiencing.

Two is really going to be great.

It is.

It must be.

Hear that, Charlie?

Let's just all get along.
'K?

Dalifornia

Day 8 - yesterday

On Peter's list of Things To Do While in California is go to Henry's a pick a treat from their bulk bins.  So here we are at Sprouts, because they bought Henry's, scanning the 'buckets' for just the right treat.

 The chocolate aisle.

Reuben chose malt balls.

 Peter picked double dipped chocolate peanuts

which ended up being too chocolatey,

as if that was a possible phenomenom.

 Charlie grabbed Sprout's version of peanut M&Ms.

 And then we went to beach.

 We started at the Stone Steps and went south.

No, north.

To Beacon's where we watched the surfers.

 Some rocks Peter deemed worthy of collecting.

 A nice man who was jogging up and down the Stone Steps offered to take our picture.

On our way home we stopped at my brother's to say hi

and unintentionally completely interrupt their bedtime routine.

Day 9 - Today

 I don't know how this tradition started,

but we must go to Leucadia Donut Shoppe,

pick out donuts and then take them to the beach to eat.

 Charlie chose an old fashion with chocolate icing.

Me too.

 See how fun this is?

 So early in the morning that we got the closest possible parking spot

and had the whole beach to ourselves

until the lifeguards starting setting up for the day.

Then we came home for lessons and pool swimming and lunch.

Then dinner, playtime, and conversation with my brother's family

including story time before bed.