California

Two days after we returned from Chicago, we packed up the van and headed to California.

ALL of us this time!

It was a long drive, as usual, but so worth it in the end. 

Two of Mark's siblings headed "home" the same day so it was a happy reunion for all of us.

There were a lot of a new cousins to play with for the girls and they enjoyed playing with every one of them.

It was great for us adults to get caught up too!!!

All of us were pretty tired of driving (one family came from Portland and the other from Colombus, Ohio!) 

so we mostly stuck around home for entertainment.

Of which we did not mind.  None of us wanted to go out in the record breaking heat of CA!!!  Unless it was to a pool!

However, one day we did venture off to the coast to see Muir Woods and to the San Francisco Bay.

It was a great break from the heat!

Muir Woods

Ever since we have been married Mark has always wanted to take me to see Muir Woods.

It's a forest of super tall Redwood trees.  

Not the famous ones you can drive through, but some pretty tall ones none-the-less.

There was a short little nature walk through the trees, perfect for the kids.  And it was much cooler here for us adults!!!

I think Lucy got the best seat in the house!

San Francisco

After trekking through the redwoods, we loaded up the cars and headed into San Francisco.

I have been there several times but have never driven across the Golden Gate Bridge.

What an amazing structure!

Once we got to the Bay, Grandpa pulled out his crabbing equipment and we headed off to the pier.

 Our first catch of the day!

 It was SUPER windy out on the pier and a bit nerve racking with all the little kids, so we left the men to finish catching dinner and took the kids to the beach.  It was less windy and much less dangerous.

In the end, the men caught 4 crabs.  They cooked them up that night and everyone got a taste!

The rest of the time we spent at home was pretty low key.

Like I said CA was having record breaking temps (or at least it felt like it), 

so there were a few afternoons we took the kids swimming to cool off..

Thanks to some VERY gracious friends and neighbors!

We did get to celebrate the 4th of July while we were there too.

It started out with the ward 4th of July breakfast and softball game!

Breakfast was FANTASTIC (seriously we are talking gourmet) and the girls were excited to cheer at the game.

It was seriously like 1000 degrees by 8:00 in the morning.  

The girls were wiped out by the time they finished their pancakes.

 But they were troopers and stuck it out until the bitter end with me!

 After breakfast we headed to the pool again.

To refresh ourselves before the evening festivities.

And that afternoon Grandma made some homemade popcorn.  It was delicious!

 That evening we headed up to Auburn for the firework show.

We found a park across the street from the fairgrounds, and decided that was as perfect a location as any.

 While waiting for the fireworks to start the kids enjoyed playing in the sand.

 The show started right on time and lasted long enough that the kids still enjoyed it.

It was then home again and showers for everyone!

The Ohio family departed the next day.

A few days later the Portland Family left.

And then us! :(

It was so great to spend time with everyone and get caught up with life. 

We love and miss you already!!!