California Trip 2011 ~ Tuesday

Tuesday - We originally were going to go to a breakfast in San Luis Obispo, so we set our alarm clocks to wake us up at 7 and not long after we got a call from Dad that the breakfast was cancelled. So we hung around the hotel then got up and got ready. 

Jack & Dad hanging out

Abigail passed out, no she wasn't partying all night

Abigail & Mommy

Abi still tired but ready to go

Jack and Abi actually playing and not fighting. As we got ready to head to Dad's we decided to stop at the corner bakery to pick up some danishes.

http://www.frenchcornerbakery.com/

We had breafast at Dad's then got ready and headed to Morro Bay

Our first stop in Morro Bay was the Museum of Natural History

It was pretty cool. The museum had a lot of information about the ocean and you were able to play with certain learning sections that kept the kids entertained.

From the Museum you can see the Morro Bay Rock -

The town's most striking feature is Morro Rock, a 576 foot high volcanic plug. Morro Rock stands at the entrance to the harbor, and a causeway connects it with the shore. Previously, it was surrounded by water, but the northern channel was filled in to make the harbor. The Rock, as locals call it, was quarried from 1889 to 1969. There is no public access to the rock itself because it is a reserve for the locally endangered peregrine falcon. However, the area around the base of Morro Rock can be visited. Every few years, someone is caught trying to climb the rock. Climbers risk more than fines or jail time as the rocks that form Morro Rock are loose and fall down regularly. The base of Morro Rock is littered with fallen boulders.
Morro Rock is one in a series of similar plugs that stretch in a line inland called the Nine Sisters. It is possible that the landscape moved over a volcanic hot spot through the ages.

Which after the museum that is where we headed

The built a boardwalk that heads straight to the rock.

You could either go south toward the rock wall on the south side of the rock or head north to the beach, we headed north.

The water was cold so we only put our feet in.

Jeremy & Abigail

Jack, Jeremy & Abigail - look at those waves

Jack teasing the waves

Abigail and Me

To the north of where we were at a dog owner was teaching their dog how to surf

Abigail playing in the sand. After we had our fun in the sun and sand we needed food so we walked back down the boardwalk and headed to the Harbor Hut for Fish and Chips.

Jack & Abi trying to copy us as we are trying to get them to smile for the picture

What a cute family!

Jack and Abigail with Grandpa & Grandma

The delicious Fish and Chips, Yum!

After we had lunch we headed to the Marine Mammal Center where Dad and Christine donate their time rescuing animals that get stranded on the beach. That day they had rescued a sea lion that was found on the beach.

After the tour we went our separate ways to then meet up for dinner at Dad's.

As we were driving home Abi fell asleep, we thought it was so cute we had to take a picture. Of coarse Jeremy says its her impression of a hot dog.

For our trip we had to take a picture - Cambria is a seaside village located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the California State Route 1 (Highway 1). The name Cambria was settled upon in 1869 (previously the town had gone by the names of Slabtown, Rosaville, San Simeon and Santa Rosa).

This is where we stayed and it was really nice. We kind of feeled like we were camping due to the rooms being in cabin houses. It has an outdoor pool & hot tub which we did use the pool for only for a few minutes when we would then jump into the hot tub to get warm.

After relaxing and cleaning up we headed to Dad's for dinner. As we were driving we saw Turkey's roaming around the huge trees.

The kids enjoyed the turkeys but in the end LOVED the chickens

Blondie the chicken, Abi & Jack

Blondie the chicken

After dinner Jack started chasing Abi around the house it brought a lot of laughter to the room.

To be continued...

California Trip 2011 ~ Saturday, Sunday, Monday

This year for our annual vacation we decided to head out to California and visit my Dad and his wife Christine. Arranging dates, times and lodging it was finally put together and we headed out Saturday August 27. We left around 1:00 pm and made our way down south.

We stopped at a rest stop just outside of Cedar City to give the kids a rest.

Once we got our legs stretched and got some energy out we continued heading south and stopped in St George and met up with Aspen and the girls. It was nice seeing them we saw Aspen's house and then went to Subway to pick up dinner and then headed to a park to let the kids play.

We left St George and continued on our journey south. After going through the gorge Jason, Tawnie and Lou let us stay at their little "Nut House" that is their get away. It was 90 degrees when we got there and it was very warm in the house. We put on the fans, got air circulating and as Jeremy went to put the milk in the fridge we then found out that the condensor in the fridge had gone out. As I got the kids cooled down Jeremy (poor guy) worked on the fridge pulling out the cooked food that was supposed to stay cold. About four the next morning we went from hot to needing to get underneath the covers due to it cooling down.

Sunday - We got up the next morning cleaned up, got ready and was back on the road by 10:00 am.

We passed through Mesquite then Vegas with as we were passing through Vegas both kids were out cold (sleeping) it wasn't until we hit Primm, NV where Buffalo Bills Casino is located that both of them were awake and hungry. So we stopped at Carl's Jr to let the kids play and to get early lunch.

I decided to get into the play gym to help Jack and Abi climb up high and as I was crawling through a section I noticed my pant knee was sticky. I lifted my knee up and sure enough my knee had stepped in gum.

After being bugged by kneeing in some gum we decided it was time to go after all looking at the traffic it was going to be a very long drive and sure enough, it was stop and go and drive then stop and go then drive all the way to I-5. Then from 1-5 to Lost Hills/Paso Robles exit it they are widening I-5 which then took our lane down from two to one and it was a long drive.

After getting through that traffic mess, getting off at the exit needed we decided to stop, rest, fill up, eat and stretch our legs.

Letting the kids play and stretch their legs.

Me just wanting to take a picture of myself.

So after resting, filling up, eating and stretching our legs we continued heading West toward Cambria and towards the coast.

We finally arrived at our hotel about 8:30/8:45. We had just barely got to our hotel room when the phone rang. Dad and Christine were in the lobby. We headed to the lobby and found some people we knew. After chatting for a while we headed to the "Beach House" now known as Dad's Residence.

I remember when we would go to the "Beach House" the smells that would infiltrate my nose such as dust, vacancy, and the oldness of the place, smells that you don't normally like but they only register to this home. As we entered I was expecting these reminiscent smells and they weren't there. We talked with Dad & Christine for a while then headed back to the hotel.

Since both of our little ones are still in cribs we didn't really know or trust how they would do in sharing a bed, so Jeremy and I each took a bed and slept by each of our little ones.

Monday - We woke up and headed to Dad & Christine's for breakfast.

Jack looking handsome as we make our way to Dad & Christines.

Abigail playing with her baby and looking cute as always.

As we arrived the kids noticed these feathery creatures in the backyard...Chickens. Christine took the kids out there to feed and to see them and every morning there after they always had to say good morning to the Chickens.

Kids getting ready for breakfast.

As we were looking and admiring the chickens there was this huge spider web, had to take a snap shot of it. After breakfast Christine had to do some things so Dad, Jeremy, the kids and I all got in the car to head to the Shamel Community Park which also borders the beach and is only a few miles from the "Beach House".

The Beach! I love it. Especially the waves. Now you can't swim in this part of the beach do to the under current, but it is a nice beach to just walk along the sand.

Jeremy and I at the park, while we let Jack and Abi play. They even met a friend and exchanged trains for cars, it was quite cute.

Dad & Me

Jack chasing after a bird.

After the park we drove through town, stopped at the grocery store and headed back to the Beach House.

Dad, Abigail & Christine

After we met back up with Christine we decided to go see the elephant seals that were beaching. Dad & Christine donate their time to tell the community about them.

Elephant Seals

Abigail & Jeremy

Me & Jack

Jack checking out the Elephant Seals

Daddy & Abigail checking out the Elephant Seals

The South Family

Before you entered for the boardwalk to look at the Elephant Seals there is a table that has information, stuffed animals and other trinkets. Grandpa ended up buying Abi one of the stuffed Elephant Seals which she absolutely loved and carried it around with her the rest of the trip.

Abigail, Elephant Seal & Grandpa

Abi and her new Elephant Seal

After looking at the Elephant Seals we went to go look at the Zebra's

The Zebra's are located on private property that is protected by the Hearst Corporation so while looking at the Zebra's you can see on the top of the mountain Hearst Castle.

After seeing the Zebra's we headed to the William R Hearst State Beach which is located in San Simeon.

Abigails first feel of the sand between her toes.

Jack not quite sure, but loved every minute of it, even got sand everywhere

Pier you can walk on and over look the beach

Love digging my feet in the sand

After the beach we were starving so we headed to the Main Street Grill

Jack playing with his juice and a little too much energy

Abi quenching her thirst

Dad & Christine

Abigail worn out. After dinner we headed back to Dad & Christine's to hang out and chat. After a few hours we headed back to our hotel to get ready for bed and gor the next big day.

To be continued...