California Dreamin'

California.  

It was where it was at this summer for our Big Vacation.

Lots of fun in Grandma's Backyard in Bakersfield...

A Baseball Game on the Fourth of July in LA... 

Playing in the sand and chasing waves on the beaches of Santa Barbara...

And snoozing too, on the beach in Daddy's arms...

Not to mention, Visiting Time at the Mouse House 

(the boys' first time at Disneyland ever!)

Summer Fun. 

California. 

Linking up with Shell at Things I Can't Say at her Summer Fun Show Off.  Join in and possibly win some cool prizes, not to mention checking out some other blogs and other fun photos of summer. 

It's A Vacation...

California.

So we're here...

which is kind of distracting me from my blogging moments.  Well, not entirely, as I am sneaking in a few moments to write.

 But it's a vacation, right?  And who could resist time with these little faces?

Though in moments, with the noise level, it seems like the Husband's and I's ears are going to explode.  And the several meltdowns can be overwhelming in moments...



But California, here we are, after all the waiting...

Time exclusively with just the Husband/Daddy all day is precious...

and time hanging on the beach is the coolest...

Not to mention baby's first waves...

Priceless.


So far, so good...

PYHO: California

California.

Here I come.  I can't wait to see you...to go on this road trip with my four fellows (the husband and three boys).

To see your sunshine.  To feel the sand between my toes as we walk on the beach. To breathe in the salty air.  To watch the ocean tide come in and go out as the water slaps against the shore.  To just look out at the endless, endless ocean.

To see the amazement on my three little boys' faces as they plunge their hands in the sand again and watch the waves roll over their feet.

To see family that we only get to see a couple of times a year.

You give this to me, California.


No offense, Colorado.  You are beautiful too.  But you are home, and right now home is filled with stress, and bills, and things that need to get done before a certain time.  The busyness of life.

I love our life here in Colorado.  I just need a mental break.

And with California - as we visit L.A. and Bakersfield and Santa Barbara - my brain will be free of bills and deadlines and appointments and messy houses.

My brain and body will be free to just relax and meditate and take in the pleasures of a good baseball game on 4th of July weekend and a calm, quiet night on the beach with just my hubby as we continue to celebrate 10 years together, along with the happy hugs from family and the visit with our boys' fiesty great-grandma.

I'm brimming with excitement to be heading out, which is tempered of course, by all the prepping I have to do to get this family ready for our road trip.

Sigh.

But California, we'll be on our way soon, to see you.  Yes!  My eye is on the prize and that keeps me pushing through the tediousness of preparation.

In-N-Out Burger here we come.

Beach Time...

One of my favorite places on Earth.  The beach.  We don't get to go often but when we do, it's special.

My oldest son - 5 years old at the time - staring in awe at the ocean.

This was the last time we were at the beach.  Almost a year ago.  In Cambria, California.

My 3 year old son, my 5 year old, my husband and Grandma, holding the 4 month old.

Sand. Ocean. Family.

The baby's first time being on sand.

We live in Colorado, you see.  Lots of beautiful, majestic mountains but very little sand and ocean.

There was lots of digging and making sand trucks and playtime.

I made these three trucks - so proud was I.

And then we saved the best for last - feet in water, letting waves rush over toes.  Cool and nice.

Looking forward to going again this summer...


This is in response to a writing prompt from Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop which asks you to share photos of your most recent trip to the beach.