Santa Cruz, CA

Monday we explored Santa Cruz.

We started at the Natural Bridges State Park.

There was a cold wind coming off the ocean.

By the way our kids are dressed you would think we had gone to the Arctic and those were penguins instead of birds behind them.
It was a beautiful day.We checked out the Santa Cruz Lighthouse and the Surfing Museum.

It is not as picturesque as Janet's East Coast Lighthouses she blogs about!

Especially when this guy pulled up.

The things you see at the beach!

We finished with a seafood lunch out on the pier.

Rebecca and Tyler were brave and tried some new things. Meagan ordered pasta off the kid's menu and her plate could have fed four of us.

Grandma's Counter

I don't know how many pictures of our kids we have around this age sitting on Grandma's counter eating something. Its funny how that happens.

Here Erin is eating garlic bread - inspired by our drive through Gilroy, CA.

Good Stuff.

California - Perk Ponds

We drove up on a Friday and spent Saturday morning relaxing.

By the afternoon the kids were ready to explore, so we headed to the perk ponds. Erin began with a nap.

The weather was beautiful.
It's a nice place to get some energy out. This is Erin's favorite way to travel. She will even ask me to ride on my shoulders at church, the grocery store, and even sometimes at home.
Silly kid.
It didn't take long for Erin to warm up to Grandpa Anderson.

Grandpa Hatch's Visit

Grandpa swung by for a visit on his way home from Southern California.

We did our best to torture him with our heat and humidity.

A short hike with snacks and good rocks to climb on.Followed by a trip to the pool . . . where the kids kept him busy throwing torpedoes and rockets.Since that wasn't enough toil and sweat, we drug him to the Stake Pioneer Breakfast.

The kids loved the dunking booth.
They just tried to ignore the muddy, grassy water!

Sorry about the heat Grandpa. Come again - in the winter!

Swim Team

Rebecca and Tyler did Swim Team this summer.

Their team was the Flowing Wells Dolphins.

Tyler's favorite strokes were freestyle and breaststroke. Tyler and his good friend LucasRebecca ready for the backstroke. Rebecca qualified for the finals heat in Freestyle and Butterfly at the County Championship Meat. She ended up placing 5th and 6th! Rebecca and Daelen hanging out in the shade.

4th of July

It's weird when we are actually in town for the 4th.

We almost don't know what to do with ourselves.

We tried to stay inside as much as possible to stay cool.

The kids ventured outside to have a little fun.We watched the fireworks shot off of "A" mountain from the back of the truck.
The long pants and long sleeves were to keep the mosquitoes from biting.

It definitely wasn't cold!

Slip N Slide

The Brentons gave Tyler a Slip N Slide for his birthday.

It has been a big hit.

According to the box the slide is not designed for individuals
over 5" tall and over 110 lbs.

I did not need the box to tell me I'm out!