Showing posts with label adventures in our own backyard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventures in our own backyard. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

It's Calling My Name


We're roasting in the hot Inland Empire sun. We've made our rounds to grandma's pool to cool off. We hardly turn on the stove or oven any more and still the digits don't get below 80 degrees on our thermostat. Indoor hot is not a good thing. So hot!

Once more to the beach. How could we pass it up? Sand between the toes. Moist ocean air. Cool breeze laced with warmth. Sounds of waves crashing on the shore. And delighted children playing in the overcast sun and doused in sunblock.

I think the first time I played in the ocean was a couple of weeks after John & I were married. {being an Arizona girl the only waves I had experienced were the man made waves at Big Surf in Tempe, Arizona} We drove down to a nice beach home in Mexico with John's family for a weekend. That's when I feel in love...with playing in the waves.

And every time we returned to sunny California I begged John to make time on the summer vacation itinerary for a trip to the beach and time to play in the waves. He taught me how to body surf and boogie board. So fun.

Then time went by and the babies came and I remained under the beach umbrella, happily watching the waves and people playing in them with baby in my arms.

As I sat under the beach umbrella this time, with a camera in hand to replace the baby and snapping away at my children trying to capture the sand crabs I noticed something out in the waves. No, not a dorsal fin. A father and son playing together in the waves. And then the look on Peter's face...So I put down the camera and returned to the water. First, I dug for those ever elusive sand crabs. Then, I became obsessed with Addie in collecting the broken shells.

Next, I heard it...Meagan out in the waves and wanting {needing} some company.

Thanks to the stranger who played with his son in the waves. He reminded me how fun life can be, especially while playing with your children.

No more of just sitting and watching. So long beach chair, umbrella, and presentable hair do.

I'll be out in the waves from now on.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

I'm Proud to be An American



I love how Redlands celebrates the 4th. Very festive. The City goes all out with activities all day and long into the night. What a great family day!

Duane and his family came from across the dessert to celebrate with us. And from John's family, Laura, Rob and baby Harry came from Utah.


Our day started at our Ward Breakfast and patriotic program. I loved hearing from Brother Shaw. He fought in WWII. He was stationed in England with the Army working with the planes flying over to Normandy on D-Day. What a hero! I always get emotional watching the young scouts raise our flag. And this year what a treat to have our own ward's 4th of July band. Meagan played her flute. Next year John promises to be ready to play his trombone and Addie her violin.


Then on to Sylvan Park for the kiddie games. This year the children won four gold fish. Grandpa always loves to get the kids to play that game. He's such a sucker for gold fish. I was relieved to hear that he snuck them over to Gary's house and dumped them into his fish tank. It heated up quick at the park so we went swimming at Grandma & Grandpa's all afternoon while the men saved a place on the field at the stadium for the fireworks show.


And what a show it was...First the skydivers came down. Then the fly over from a squad of some kind of planes - I can't remember. Then the next fly over was amazing. It was a huge cargo military plane. It flew slow and low right over our heads. It was so loud. I loved it when the announcer said, "listen for the sound of freedom." Peter was not impressed. He cried most of the night off and on. I should have left him with Grandma.



"Saturday in the Park. I think it was the 4th of July... " and other songs played in perfect sync to the fireworks. What a great show and reminder of the blessings and privilege to be American and to live in the land of the free and home of the brave.


Sunday, June 7, 2009

More on Memorial Day Weekend



Eating breakfast at the Malone's Oak Glen Apple Dumplings Restaurant on Memorial Day is a new family tradition. We took Dad & Corinne up there for a good country, mountain breakfast. So good. And then stopped in at their bakery and couldn't resist the pastries. Yum. Don't you just love that store front picture?

I loved the soft snikerdoodle cookies. We all did.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorable Day {Weekend}

Grandpa & Grandma Dana flew over for a visit. We’re so glad they did.














Where to go? What to do? There’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a year and we finally did it. We went up to Big Bear on Saturday in search of the largest lodge pole pine in the world. We found it and more.


When Cabrillo was sailing through California almost 500 years ago this grand pine was a little sapling.

Then we came upon a nice little postcard’isc scene.

or maybe it’s just the way Meagan posed for this picture. Who knew we had this in our own backyard? The beauty rivaled my childhood memories of camping in Eastern Arizona’s White Mountains.

When grandpa visits there’s always an adventure to be had…


I took that picture of Andrew while we were zooming down the hill on the sled. He was controlling the speed and I was trying to get the perfect picture of him by holding the camera out in front of us. It was a difficult and daring task, only a true mommy blogger would attempt. Then I looked up just in time to see us heading towards a turn and we were going really fast. Scary! I took over the controls. He was laughing all the way. Then I was chastised by the guy running the alpine slide. Dumb mommy moment. I just had to get a picture of it though. So don’t try that at home…

to be continued…