Laguna Beach 2010

This year our Laguna trip started out with a stop in Las Vegas. Bret found us a room at the Rio which was perfect because he really wanted to eat at their Seafood Buffet for dinner. This is the kids waiting for Bret to checked us in at the hotel. We couldn't wait to jump in the pool! The second we got to the room, the kids threw on their swimsuits, and we were off to the pool. Much to our dismay, the wind was blowing so hard that we were completely miserable the entire 30? minutes we were at the pool. Kind of a bummer . . . so we went back to change and then headed out to feed the kids before our hot date. The Millers got a room at the same hotel, so we met Kim and Jason (leaving all the kids in the rooms . . . Shh! Don't tell) at the buffet for a night full of all-you-can-eat crap legs and lots of other yummy stuff. It was heavenly!

After dinner we went back to get the kids and then headed out for a little fun in the big city. We piled all 13 of us, Millers and Clarks, into our van and headed to the Bellagio to see the fountains. It was fun to watch the looks we got from people when we all piled in and out of our car.

After a quick walk through the Bellagio gardens inside, we headed out to see the awesome fountains. It was fun to have the Millers with us. The fountains are always a magical thing to see!

The next morning we were up early and out for the rest of the drive. No troubles really. . . other than we ran out of gas right at the top of the Laguna Canyon. There was a ton of traffic headed the same direction we were, so we had to make a detour back up a little ways, on fumes, to get gas before we could head the rest of the way down the canyon. But the second we got there, the kids headed straight for the ocean. I think Jenny was the most excited because she hardly got out of the water the whole time we were there. She loved every second of it!

Tyler was really hesitant to jump waves at first. But after much "force" by Dad, he figured it out and ended up loving it. He ended up having tons of fun in the ocean all week once he realized how much fun it was and that he could do it all by himself.

The tide was really low this year. Lower then we've ever seen it, so there was quite a bit of seaweed in the water. Everyone found a little something to do with it.

Bret loved starting seaweed wars . . .

Bret showed Shawn how to pop the little poppers on the seaweed, which he loved, but he didn't like having it around his neck. That just made him mad!

Shawn played a little in the sand, but he mostly wanted to hang out with Mom and run up to the Hot Tub.

Tyler was one of the cutest cousins for the little boys this year. He dug lots of holes, found sand crabs, caught kids jumping in the pool and babysat. And he loved every second of it.

Katy was so excited about sand crabs this year. She couldn't stop talking about it before the trip even started. She spent lots of time finding them and putting them in the buckets. It was so fun to watch her and see how excited she got when her collection got bigger and bigger.

One little crab to show me. . .

Uncle Jason rigged up these two with their noodles for some fun swimming races. They thought it was pretty funny to have the noodle threaded through their suits.

We were extra lucky this year to have Grandma Clark give Shawn a few swimming lessons. It didn't take long before he was swimming across the pool. He is one funny kid!

Thank you Grandma! Shawn loved every second of swimming with you!

It was so fun to spend some time with our cousins. There is nothing like the love between cousins. But not a second went by without us thinking about the Thompsons. We missed them and wished so badly that they could have been there with us. It just wasn't the same.

By the end of the week, Shawn figured out how fun it was to play in the ocean water. He loved playing with his Dad the most!

Shawn is one lucky boy . . . he is loved!

Bret telling Shawn stories while we waited to get into B.J's for some pizza one night!

All the kids being good sports but one! (and one sexy leg in the corner!)

Inside . . . waiting for our pizza!

We were pretty lucky this year to have 2 nights where we had adult-only dinners. Dax, Jace and Grady came up to our room to play with the kids while we headed out. It was so fun to be with Bret and enjoy a yummy meal. I love being his sweetheart!

We can't let a trip to Laguna go by without a walk down to the bakery for an early morning doughnut. There was a lady spraying off "our" bench outside with a hose so we didn't get to feed the birds with our leftovers. But those doughnuts always taste SO GOOD! Especially with a cold glass of milk on ice!

After we finished our doughnuts, we decided to walk back up the beach to the hotel. We stopped at the playground to let Shawn go down the slides a few times.

He wanted to pose for all the pictures . . .

Tyler ran UP the slide and Jenny was close behind . . . BUT it was so steep and slippery, she couldn't quite get to the top. All we had to do was tease her a little bit, and she wouldn't stop until she did it. Jenny won't go down without a fight! It was funny!

I love each of these little faces! These days couldn't get any better. I would like to push pause and keep everyone exactly as they are today. If only . . .

These days are the best! Thank you Gwen and Jamie for taking these pictures for us. They are ones to treasure forever!

Grandma was so excited to help each of the kids find a treasure to take home this year. Jenny and Emilee found these earrings on the very last day. They came walking up the beach with them on right after they bought them . . . so proud and excited . . . and Bret's first comment to them was, "I see you stopped by the chandelier store on your way back." It was pretty funny. They were so proud and couldn't wait to model them with their sunglasses on for the rest of the day.

It was Shawn's first year to go with all the boys down to the candy store with Grandpa. He didn't really know what was going on, but I can imagine what his face looked like when he walked into that store. They said he spotted this giant lollipop the second he walked in and he wouldn't change his mind . . . no matter what. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the giant sucker and the fun memory. He will remember that forever!

Jenny thought it was pretty awesome too! She couldn't resist taking a picture with it.

On the way home we met up with the Millers for one last shot on the famous giant rocking chair at Dairy Queen in Beaver. Thank you everyone for the fun trip. We love you all! Thank you for the fun memories. Thompsons, we missed you. Matt, we missed you! Heaps, we can't wait to see you again.

We love our family trips to Laguna. We dream each year for the time when we can go back. Thank you all for the memories and the fun times! 'Til next time!

Happy days!

Grandpa Z's 58th Birthday

This year for Grandpa's Birthday, Grandma invited us up for root beer floats. We sat out on the back patio while we ate them and watched the hummingbirds and Blue Jays fly in for a little something to eat themselves. There's nothing better then watching the Blue Jays come in for a peanut and everyone holding really still so we can hear the hummingbird's wings. It reminds me of watching for the birds at my Grandma's (Laurine Zumbrennen) house when I was little. We would sit at the kitchen table and watch for the birds while we ate our breakfast after a little sleepover at Grandma's house.

Dad, you are one cute man! I'm so lucky I have you. I love your bright, happy eyes in this picture.

Thank you, Grandma, for the the yummy treat. It helped us to start the Summer off just right!

We love you Grandpa, Happy 58th!

Memorial Day 2010

We had another fun Memorial Day this year. We road bikes with Grandma and Grandpa Z up to Bridal Veil Falls. Jenny and Tyler road further this year . . . going all the way to Vivian Park.

Tyler was a maniac! It was fun to see him ride with the bigger boys this year and race everyone to the top. He was the first one back home too and showed all the cousins, aunts and uncles which way to go through the neighborhoods.

I got to ride with Katy most of the time, and I loved every second of it. She pedaled those legs just as fast as she could. It wasn't until we were almost home that Grandpa asked, "Does Katy's bike only have one gear?" He couldn't believe how well she kept up with everyone with no gears.

The ride back home is always the funnest because it's mostly all downhill. Katy, Grandpa and I were riding together with Grandpa in the front and I in the back. Grandpa would do fancy tricks on his bike . . . kicking rocks off the path and riding with no hands around corners and everything. Katy was mimicking everything he did. By the time we got home, Katy had almost mastered Grandpa's tricks. No challenge goes unnoticed by Katy.

Shawn and Bret decided they would just drive the car up to the falls and meet us there. But we were surprised several times as we rode our bikes on the trail. We would ride our bikes around a corner and all of a sudden Shawn and Bret would be there on the trail, waving to us and telling us "Good Job!" Then they would jump in the car and drive to a new spot ahead of us and surprise us again. One time they were "incognito" . . . Bret was sitting on a rock, making animal sounds by blowing through two pieces of grass, and Shawn was holding a giant tree branch as if he was hidden behind it. It was hilarious! Once we got to the falls, Shawn couldn't wait to start throwing rocks, and he begged to put his feet in the water. Once we said okay it wasn't 5 seconds before he was running into the water to play with Katy. The only problem was . . . Katy was in water that was pretty deep, and Shawn got a little too deep, too fast. He was a little bummed about that, but it wasn't long before he was dry again. I love this picture because it shows all my kids with my Grandma Robinson. Jenny reminded me that last year on Memorial Day, Grandma Robinson was in the hospital getting ready for a major surgery. She has had a rough year. . . Three major surgeries. But she is doing well now, and we're so glad that she could spend the day with us. Usually we have a water fight with water balloons, buckets and squirt guns, but this year we got to sit in Grandpa's hot tub. Besides the awful smell that made us all cough (ha-ha Dad) it was great to get in the warm water. Once all our relatives left, we hung out for a while and Grandma got out the squirt bottles and guns. We told the kids they could squirt each other, but the grown-ups (especially Grandma Robinson) were off-limits. They did pretty good for awhile but then, as you can see by the picture, Jenny couldn't resist stretching the rules a little bit. But Grandma was a good sport and joined in on the fun. There's nothing funner than a water fight with Grandma!
Grandma Clark asked us for some fun pictures of everyone a few weeks ago, so I spent the day trying to get some good shots. I had so much fun taking the pictures, but even more fun going through them later that day. I love each one of these little faces. I can't believe how blessed I am to be their mom.

I love you guys! Happy Days!