Friday, July 30, 2010

La Jolla Vacation - Day 10 - When Merrilee And I Cried, But Not About Something The Kids Did

Another visit with Merrilee and kids. This time in La Jolla. Here she is wrangling both at the beach house.

I have a new love. Dane. Her youngest. PURE TODDLER CRAZINESS. Just look at this.....you know it didn't end well when he has a huge chunk of sand that close.

Mer took charge. I like her style of motherhood. Look at him laughing. Little stinker.

Only persistence works with kids like this. I know. I've raised 2 of them and am thinking our sweet daughter is starting to follow the boys' leads.

How could you not love him?

Kids ran wild.

Sweet Ellery.

Jack tended the showers.

Suddenly, we started to see people jumping off their bikes and running to the water. Triathlon, we're thinking.

We watched and wondered.

More people coming......

Instead of swimming some obscene distance, they jump and cheer and celebrate. We didn't know what it was, but we knew it was big. I started to tear up.

Lainey was clearly moved.

Cheers, applause, people running to take pictures of these men and women in the water.

You know I wasn't about to leave it alone.....so I asked. These fine folks started out in Nags Head, North Carolina and rode their bikes for 3 months across the United States. They stayed in churches, camped, etc........and on the way worked with Habitat for Humanity building homes.

Can you imagine? 3543 miles. Website here.

And, we were lucky enough to see them touch the west coast water after starting out on the east coast. Amazing. Inspiring. I'm tearing up right now recalling it all!

While Merrilee and I stood wiping tears and discussing the event, the kids kept on being kids and carried on.

Not exactly the picture I was going for.

Nice booty, Laine.

Goodbyes. Ellery gave Lainey her nightgown while we were in Encinitas. I'm pretty sure that means something big in the 2-4 year old capacity of friendship.

The Libby fam headed back home for naps and we stayed at La Jolla Shores.

My favorite grumpy old man rode his bike down the beach, honking his horn and fussing at people to get out of his way. I love him. Saw him almost every day. Picture Jack in 60 years.

Speaking of, our children got so comfortable with the beach, Jack took a nap one day. "Cubber me, Mom." Done!

The usual spot.

My sweet, little mess of a grumpy old man tied up in a 4 year old's body. Could a Catholic Preschool be ready for this?

Beach food.

Beach kids.

Lots of seaweed this day and those after. Something about the tide. I don't know. I'm a Midwesterner currently.







Our dainty little girl. And, this is NOTHING compared to the sandy mess she becomes in the days after. Stay tuned.

Dinner that evening in San Diego.....



We took a pic in this tree last year. Post here. Tried to re-create it. Nice move, honey. You do look fine, though, forcing our daughter to pose. White polo + khaki shorts + glasses = beautiful Blake.

Can't remember where Jack sat to get his booty wet.

Calling it a night.


Only a few days left, folks! Then, we're back to the day-to-day monotony of our little fam. I'm working all weekend. Blake and kids will be soaking up the pool if the rain stays away.

I'm finally catching up on blogs, but if I've missed something, leave me a comment or email me. I hate writing something and wanting specific people not to miss it and then it goes unread. Let me know!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

La Jolla Vacation - Day 9

We took Caroline to the airport mid-morning (she can only take so much of the Starnes family) and then back home for naps. Headed to the beach for a picnic that late afternoon.....which turned into night.....because the beach in front of the Del Coronado is one of our favorites.

The hotel is one of our favorites, too. Pretty views, good food, and a history like no other. I love Coronado Island.














Family pic? People seem to scatter when we approach them with a camera.

We do our best.

Love Jack in this one. Notice those rocks in the back? The same place we took professional pics last year. Click here to see.

Would you look at that, people?!



I finally acquired a few pieces of a coveted line of girls' clothing. Matilda Jane. (Mae Mae, this is the one I've been telling you about for years.....the one who started the knot dresses.) Fun and funky.

And, this is what happens when Jack holds the camera.

The glorious Del. "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn was filmed here. Presidents and famous peeps from all over the world have walked that lobby. It oozes history. And, scandal!



Our spot. Look at all that room to run before the shore hits. The sand is super soft. It's a fabulous beach.







Working hard. You know there are trains in that bag. They needed a railroad.

Soccer on the beach with the fam. Good stuff.

Notice the amount of sand covering our blanket. Nice.

Swimming.



Why must they drench themselves in sand?

And, that's our cue to go. Another fun day in California!