Cali vacation!

Our last hurrah of the summer & first big vacation as a family of five was during the week of September 3rd. We drove through the night all the way down to southern California for my cousin Kellie's 9-10-11 wedding day!  

We spent the first two days at the Gregory's house in Huntington Beach.  It was such a treat to get to spend time with Jaimi (and her parents, whom I hadn't seen in ten years?!?).

Gerry & Sally's beautiful backyard!

Ronan & Griffin loved getting to swim morning, noon, & night. (:

Tate getting acquainted with "auntie Jaimers" (:

(:

Sally barbecued hamburgers and corn on the cob for us. (:

Hungry boys:

We gave Jaimi a necklace for her birthday which was on Sept. 2nd.  

The next morning we swam until it was time to go to the beach.  The boys worked on their tricks:

Ahhh, it was so nice to be in the warm ocean water!

Best Buds

This boy LOVES the water!

We found so many huge shells!

Palm Trees (:

Self-portrait with Tate. (:  I remember having Ronan in the front pack on a California beach when he was around Tate's age.

We walked to a sushi restaurant for dinner, then headed back to the Gregory's to say our goodbyes.

On to Glendora...

Tate, meet Mathea.

Our good friends, Ashley & Camilla, came to visit all the way from Norway for a few weeks at the end of the summer.  It was SO good to see them!!  We used to get together at least once a week when they lived here, and we have really missed that!  We were especially excited to meet their baby girl who was born just two months after Tate! ( I never thought we would have kids this close in age.) (: 

It was fun watching Tate & Mathea interact.

(:

Katrina & Camilla

Getting acquainted (:

Sadie loves babies

Camilla, Mathea,  Ashley

We went out to the Stubbert's house one afternoon to swim & hang out.  McKenzie and Tiffany were down from Portland, so it was great to get to catch up with them also. (we have missed having them in town, too!)

Griffin checking out their cool pool toys.

Goofy boy (;

Ronan and Griffin were interested in Loren's swords and he was kind enough to give them a demonstration.  They loved it and still talk about it all the time. (:

(:

Griffin's turn:

All by himself: