CALIFORNIA TRIP 2010!!!

We finally made it back to California to visit family and friends. It had been too long! This is a pretty long post...too many pictures and too many fun times!

We first spent a few days with Bobba and Zaida. They took us to the beach. Owen was fascinated and enjoyed walking in the sand.


Dylan and Colin worked on a huge sand structure complete with two moats connected by a bridge.


The next day we went to Tannaka Farms where we went on a farm tour and strawberry picking. Owen ate his weight in strawberries for sure! What a fun day!


Then it was off to Renee's graduation...the whole reason for our trip! In August, Renee will be coming to Lexington to go to college at University of Kentucky!!! YAY!


We went out to dinner after the ceremony and it was a late night at Dave and Busters. A bit too late for Colin. :)


On out last day there, Bobba took us to the Irvine Park and railroad. We took a train ride through the park and got to learn a lot of history about the place. It was really fun!


We then went down to spend a few days at Chris and Vicki's house with their 4 boys Tyler, Blake, Grant and Chase. The 7 boys got along really well and had a great time together! The first morning we were there, Grant had a track meet. We went to cheer him on...he won a first place medal, 2 seconds, a third and 2 fourths! Not a bad job Grant!!!


We went to visit Amir and Deb and their 2 kids Nate and Lily. We had a really nice evening with them. Owen was rather taken with Lily and kept hugging her. It was cute.


While we were eating dinner at Amir and Deb's, Amir asked if we had heard of a show called Ben 10 Alien Force. Of course we have! It is only Dylan and Colin's favorite show! Well, an artist for the show lives 2 houses down from them and he actually came over to meet us. He signed some pictures and answered some questions Dylan and Colin had. He was a really nice guy and the kids were thrilled to meet him!


Owen discovered the iPod at Aunt Vicki and Uncle Chris' house!


Even though Vicki's kids were still in school, they had 2 furlough days. We spent "Furlough Fun Day" (as we called it) in the pool and hanging out together!


We are not too sure of Owen's new piano teacher. Something tells us he is not totally legit.


In the morning, Vicki came downstairs dressed in a sundress. Colin said "Aunt Vicki, you look so beautiful." Her heart melted. Then, after he was done swimming, Colin got dressed up in a blue plaid shirt, blue plaid shorts (in a slightly different pattern), and a tie "all for Aunt Vicki".


The trampoline was a big hit with the kids. Even Owen had a lot of fun on it. His cousins were so gentle and careful with him on it. It was really sweet!


These kids were so amazing on the trampoline! Grant could do a flip and land on his feet. Tyler got so high in the air! Tyler really reminds me of Chris when he was that age.


Jonny went to a work conference in Vegas (Chris, Jonny, Vicki and I watched The Hangover the night before he left...that did not inspire confidence). While he was gone, Andrea and Renee went to Sea World with the boys and I.


We had a great time at Sea World. The boys were really good and enjoyed all of the shows! Here they are petting manta rays and sharks!


Owen was a bit clingy to me which was to be expected. Blake was one person he would regularly go to though!


We also visited Auntie Dee and Uncle Craig! The boys were in awe of their 4 pinball machines and arcade game and pool table! It was a fun evening.


I also got to visit with some high school friends who I have not seen in over 15 years!!! Nina, Lori, Suzanne and Stephanie brought their kids to a fun play place in Torrance. It was like old times! We did not skip a beat.


Colin with Chase and Grant.


Our last day in California was Fathers' Day. The whole family got together with Vicki's family and we had a BBQ. Such a fun day! Here is Jonny relaxing in the pool with Owen.


All of the cousins! I may be biased but aren't they a good-looking bunch?


Owen with Vicki's Dad, Papa Chuck! This was a picture of the oldest and youngest people at the BBQ! Pretty amazing! A 90 year difference!


A family picture. There are 2 very important people missing....Mom and Dad were certainly missed but it was really nice to have the whole family together again.