The Long Trip Part II

Finally, catching up again...but it must be recorded for me. We left for my California the beginning of June when Mike flew out of town for another scouting engagement. Quickly into our trip we pulled over at a rest stop because we needed too. The kids walked out onto the salt for the second time in their lives. They were very intrigued. I had to hose them off before they got back in the car or else it would have been a mess and made them really itchy.
The day after we got there we first went to the library (one of my favorite places) with the kids to pick out some books before we went shopping. As you can see, that idea was worth its weight in gold.

We just kept shuffling them along to other areas so they could sit and read.

We spent time at the park while we were there. And I must say, this little contraption is harder than it looks. They jump off while holding it and try to make it all the way back around to the other side of the platform.

They were very determined.

My cutie Katie. Loving the weather and being with the grandparents.

My Aunt Jean lives in the same town, which is where my parents are doing their square foot gardening. We got to see her a lot on this trip and Christian loved to tease her and then get tickled.

Christian had his actual birthday in California. Katie loves her brother very much as you can see and I was really touched by the card.

Christian and Katie looked forward to the times that they actually got to talk to their dad. With his schedule and ability to get to a working phone, it was not as much as they wanted. The talks were treasured and after three weeks they couldn't wait to see him again. I didn't realize how much they would miss him. It was hard on all of us, but I was so glad to be with my parents and other family to wait it out!

While we waited we went paddle boating...

on a green lake...(you can't tell from the pictures, but I warned the kids they wouldn't like it if they fell in :) ).

Aunt Melissa was really sweet and on Christian's birthday brought over a mylar balloon, bubbles and a jump rope for him (and some stuff for Katie too). She was so sweet!

The kids loved to go and garden in the backyard with Grandma and Grandpa. Christian had been helping cut off the dead flowers seconds before, I just wasn't fast enough.

Christian sat with Grandpa as he spliced an extension cord and expounded on the virtues of fixing and saving your money instead of just running out and buying new stuff. As you can also tell...Christian knew I had a camera. What a goof!

This is where Katie would go every morning as we all would be getting ready. She would sit and talk to my mom as she did her hair. I remember doing the same thing and still do sometimes, if I actually get ready before her.

We enjoyed visiting cousins which this is really the only picture of the three family of cousins that we saw while we were there. We had such a good time with all of them. Christian and Katie were so excited to see little cousins that they nearly smothered them the first time they were together and Amy fought back. So this was after the second of third time and she actually kissed Christian first. They made peace.

Grandpa with the kiddos...acting a little silly. Notice he is giving the grand kids bunny ears.

My mom was going to get her hair cut this day so her hair wasn't the way she wanted, but she was a good sport anyway. Because we had to get a picture. :)

Being with my parents for almost a month was really nice. We tried to be helpful and not be in the way, while also soaking up the grandparent time we got. We did errands with them, went and worked on their square-foot-gardening with them, and just generally enjoyed being there. I loved it! The only thing that made it not so sad to go was that I was finally returning home to my husband. Thanks Mom and Dad! We love and miss you!