California here we come!

What is summer without a trip to a beach? Can you really call it summer?

Of course not!  So what did we do?  The day after school got out, we packed up and headed West for a visit to see Grandma and Grandpa Dunyon! 

Of course, our first thing to do there was to hit the beach.  We were lucky that Sarah, Luke and Sam came down from Thousand Oaks to join us for the weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's.  So we headed down to Aliso Creek Beach where the kids played in the waves for hours, it seemed, make sand mermaids, and enjoyed a day away from any electronics and of being in the beautiful ocean.

Luke, Cole, Kate and Lizzie running from the waves

What cute kids - something they all love and where they are all happy, including mommy!

 Kate's mermaid

 What good looking men I have in my life

 Kate and Cole - two peas in a pod

 It's never a dull moment with this one around

 We also planned this weekend to come because some friends of ours from New York were getting married in San Diego - BONUS!  And because I have such an amazing sister and mom who are so great to watch my children, we also got to squeeze in a session at the San Diego Temple before the wedding!

Jared and I took off and headed south only to miss the session by 15 minutes. Shoot!  But we didn't complain just hanging out in the chapel and enjoying being in such a beautiful, peaceful place.  We realized that neither one of us has been back since we were married over 17 years ago. 

 It's hard to believe that we have been married that long, and yet, I can't imagine my life without this amazing man of mine.  

He treats me like a queen and I am realizing how much more I love him with each passing day.

Our friends were married in San Diego, at the La Jolla Bridge Club.  A quaint little building surrounded by a beautiful park right on the ocean front.  It was perfect for the two of them.

Jared, Candice and Will

 After spending most of the afternoon and evening with our friends and celebrating their wedding, we headed a little more further south in search of "The Bear Paw" where they serve A-MAZ-ING homemade cookies and ice cream. 

 I felt a little sick afterwards but I'll tell you, it was so good going down!

 On our way down to the wedding, it also just happened that Dave, my brother, was at a beachhouse not to far from the wedding.  So after much begging and pleading, we dropped Cole to spend the night at the beach house with Dave and the boys there.  I love the fact that he loves to spend time with these boys and get to do boy things.  One of Cole's favorite things was to take pennies and put them on the railroad tracks and the watch the train smash them.  He thought it was pretty cool.

 The next day, we spent the afternoon shopping a little and playing at the Splash Park at Irvine Spectrum.  The kids weren't such a fan of the splash park, but sure enjoyed throwing pennies into the fountain.  I quickly ran out of pennies that day!

 Sunday was a day of rest, and we all enjoyed that!  The girls love to go to Grandma's primary class, and Max REALLY likes their nursery with all the cool toys.

But before we headed back, we had to squeeze in one more day at the beach.  This time it was Dana Point Harbor where the kids could take out the long board.  Unfortunately, when we got there, we were told they had to have life jackets....Bummer that someone was patrolling that day!

But not matter, the kids had a great time just playing in the water, digging in the sand, and enjoying being with each other.

Luke and Lizzie

 Kate and Luke

 

 Oh how I wish these days would last just a little bit longer, and the kids would just stay little.  I will miss this when they get older and no longer want to hang out at the beach with their mom.  I will treasure these moments forever.  There is just something about family.