Beach Vacation part 2

Sunday July 6, Josie and I drove from SB to Orange County to visit some dear friends from Chicago. Sandy, Brian, Emma & Catherine did a house swap with Brian's cousins for a month. Last time we saw them was a trip to Chicago when Josie was about 7 months old. Sandy and I were best friends growing up and lived one house apart. She now lives two blocks away from that house. So fun to see them. Emma & Catherine are now Freshman in high school. Brian's cousins have kids around Josie's age so there were plenty of toys for her to play with. We borrowed a stroller which was so handy for SD Zoo and Laguna Beach. They conveniently had a mini van which was perfect. There was a community pool we enjoyed twice. They had season passes to Long Beach Aquarium and discount tix to the SD Zoo. Weather was gorgeous. We had a great 5 days of on-the-go fun mixed in with relaxing at the pool, watching World Cup, and reading. Oh yeah, great food and drink to accompany us along the way. Josie and I were with them for their first taste of In-N-Out.

We ate dinners outside each evening. Josie thought she might sleep in one of the kid's beds upstairs but then opted to sleep with me in the double bed downstairs. One night she rolled out of bed onto the floor and cried but didn't remember it the next morning. Luckily no bruises from landing on the hardwood floor. Emma reading Josie a bedtime story.

 A visit to Long Beach Aquarium

 Awesome Jellies

 Can't remember the name of these very unusual Seahorses

 We walked out to the end of the Long Beach pier. The waves were huge.

 The next day we drove to Laguna Beach and spent a good chunk of the day at the Beach of One Thoursand Steps. It was obvious where it got it's name.

 This gives you a peak at part of the stairs. Josie counted on the way up and I think it was around 270+. Not quite 1000 but it might as well have been. Catherine & Emma bring a volleyball where ever they go. I got to practice with the at the beach and in the backyard. Sandy practiced on the beach with us too. We played on the team together in high school. C & E both made their high school team.

 Josie enjoying playing with Catherine then eating her sandy sandwich.

 It was a red flag day b/c the waves were huge and undertow powerful. We were playing on the edge and one wave still managed to get Josie and sweep her off her feet. Sandy was right with her and grabbed her before the wave pulled her back towards the sea. That was enough to keep Josie safe and sound by the towels and sand toys.

 

 

We drove to the main area of Laguna Beach to grab a snack. It was pretty hot out. Beautiful views.

 Back at the house for dinner after showers and baths. Josie and I planned the appetizer of grilled artichokes. Yum! Josie showing Sandy how to make a rubber band bracelet. Brian and Josie being silly.

 We spent the next day at home watching World Cup. Josie was in heaven just playing with the toys at the house. We walked over to the pool and Josie met a friend to play with. I got a lot of reading done. 

The next day, Thursday, we drove to San Diego Zoo. LOVED it!

 We stood in line for a chunk of time to see the Panda Bears. Along the way were Red Pandas and a few other things to see so the long wait wasn't too bad.

 The trees and flowers and hilly terrain through out made for quite the spectacular setting.

 Josie had fun climbing on the sculptures.

 Josie and I rode the sky tram with C & E.

Such a fun trip and sad to say goodbye. When we got home from the zoo after eating dinner at In-N-Out, Josie and I quickly packed up and zipped out the door to head back to SB to avoid the morning traffic through LA.

Beach Vacation part 1

Thursday July 3rd Josie and I drove down to SB after work and got in late. 

Josie always so happy to be with cousin Katie. Love their sweet hands.

Love these sweet hands busy at work making rubber band jewelry.

On our way to the 4th of July parade.

We found out a parade tradition is cracking confetti eggs on people's heads. Josie loved sneaking up on people and cracking an egg on their head.

 Josie and Papa buying more eggs

 Fireworks at the beach

 The next day on our way to the beach

Sunday morning we headed to Orange County to visit friends. Returned Thursday night late.

Woke up the next morning and Josie got to snuggle with Aunt Karen and then a Spa treatment from Katie.

Taking a break to watch some World Cup

Josie said, "Gram is going to freak out when she hears this song". Video singing to Gram Re"joice" in the Lord Always.....

Video singing a song "about" Papa....

 

Katie is a budding clothes designer and sewer

 

Saturday we said goodbye to get home to Daddy. 

4 years, 6 months, 8 days

 I'm late posting this blog. It's only covering the last few days of the month because we had a trip that will have to be it's own blog entry.

The three of us enjoyed an Anniversary breakfast July 26 at a Danish restaurant. Josie and I spent the afternoon with cousin Lori and Sophia and then we all had dinner together with Eric and Uncle Bill.

Lori and I took the girls to see Annie put on by the San Carlos Children's Theatre (SCCT). We were both so impressed. It was over 2-hrs and the sets were great and the talent of the kids was pretty outstanding for community theatre. They both enjoyed it. Josie loved it! She knew a bunch of the songs from listening on Pandora. My first cassette tape I ever remembering getting was of Annie after my parents took me to see it in Chicago. It's been fun singing all the songs again. After a show Josie always likes to meet the main characters. They grabbed hands and made their way through the crowd to first find Annie. Then Ms Hannigan and then they saw some of the orphans.

After the show they were eating their "Annie" cookies and having fun singing the songs and putting on their own little show. Josie is wearing a hand-me-down dress from Sophia which she insisted on wearing. She got it last summer. It is a little too short. Notice her miss-matched shoes. That's been her shoe theme this month.

 Video of silly girls

 

We walked over to Burton Park to cool off in the sprinklers. After playing in the playground for about 3 hrs Eric and Uncle Bill met us and we all went out for dinner. Josie and I dashed off from dinner to go back to SCCT to see Foot Loose put on by the teenagers. We had free tickets. I thought she would enjoy the singing and dancing. It was ok. The younger kids I thought did a better job in Annie. At intermission I asked Josie if she wanted to leave but she didn't. It was over after 10pm and Josie kept wanting to stay. We've watched different Youtube videos of Annie and even a hour long PBS documentary called "The Hard Knock Life - Auditions to Opening Night". It was really fun seeing these young girls go through the whole process. Josie said she wants to be Annie some day.

 These cousins only get to see each other only once a year but sure have fun together when they do. Since Lori and Sophia usually stay for 3 or 4 weeks they get to see each other quite a few times when they're in town.

The next day Josie and I met Lorraine and Gaya in Saratoga to have a picnic in the park. Josie had a chance to sing a bunch of songs to show off her singing talent.

July 28 Gahuas turns 70

Rich planned a surprise party for Shirley at the restaurant Town in San Carlos. Josie picked out her outfit.

 Cousin Paige and Sophia were there along with big cousins Matthew, Kirsten, & Allison. Waiting for Gahuas to arrive.

 Here she comes

The room was decorated very pretty with beautiful flowers and Jody, Allison & Kirsten found old photos of Shirley to decorate the tables with. The food was outstanding.

 The little girls eating their carrot and seawood salad appetizers while playing with princesses and fairies. They kept asking for more seaweed. Cousin Paige is expecting her baby brothers by the end of August.

Josie loves her Gahuas and Grandpa Rich

July 28th is also Gram's birthday.

Katie, Karen & Luke came up for the weekend and dropped Katie off at camp at Mission Springs. 

We walked around Stanford and went to the top of Hoover Tower. It was a gorgeous sunny day. After dinner at home one night Luke, Eric, Katie and I went downtown to get frozen yogurt. Josie and Karen wanted to stay at home.  Josie loves to snuggle with Katie in the morning while they watch a show. Saturday night we all went to Uncle Bill's b/c cousin Rebecca was in town and planned a BBQ for the family and some of their friends. It was sad not having Aunt Gaylynne there.