California Part 4: The Beach

As a child and teenager we went to the beach often in the summer. We would spend all day there, playing in the water and lathering on the sunscreen. Then we would find a fire pit and roast hotdogs for dinner and marshmellows for smores. I wanted to share that with Jeff and Jacob...

Waiting for the waves with Papa and Daddy...

Loving the waves and the COLD water!!!


"Here comes the wave Jacob! Get Ready!!!"

"...and JUMP..."

We played in the sand, even though this was not Jacob's favorite part...he did it anyways.

GJo and Jacob saying "Cheese" and trying to get Jacob warm. These are the exact same umbrellas we would use when I was a kid...great investment! Ha!

Getting ready to eat Smores. Yummy! GJo is trying to block the wind and keep Jacob warm. He was SO cold...

A family shot as the sun was going down. As you can tell from the picture the beach was SUPER crowded. We weren't sure we would find a fire pit, but we got one and everything worked out great!

I love this guy! He's the greatest!

California Part 3: Queen Mary and Fun with Papa and GJo

For our birthdays (Jeff's is May 23 and mine is June 23), my parents got us a package deal on the Queen Mary, including a night on the boat, a meal voucher for their restaurants, and breakfast at the cafe as well. What a treat! It was our first time to leave Jacob overnight, and it was wonderful! Here's a few pictures of us on the Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, CA.

That night we got a little dressed up and went to a nice dinner at Sir Winston's on the Queen Mary. Here's a picture after dinner with the Long Beach skyline in the background.

A view of part of the boat. It couldn't all fit in the picture!

Jeff and I left the Queen Mary and drove down the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway toward Dana Point. We rolled the windows down and enjoyed the sea air and looked at the fabulous views of the ocean. God created such an amazing world. Beautiful!

Of course, Jacob had alot of fun while we were gone...he didn't even know we were gone! He got to play with his cousins...

He got a fort built for him in the kitchen...

...and this is where we found him when we got home! He did a double take and when he realized we were back he came running toward us! Papa and GJo said he slept great, and didn't ask for us at all!

Successful time away for Jacob and for Mommy and Daddy! Yay!

California Part 2: March AFB and Birthday Fun!

After our big day at the zoo and observatory, we decided to keep it more low key and visit a local aviation museum at March Air Force Base and celebrate my birthday by hanging out with friends and family at the pool and having steak dinner. What a great way to celebrate my Birthday! :)

While Papa and Jeff were deciding which airplanes to see, Jacob was following the lines on the ground toward all the planes...

Jacob and Mommy in the Airplane Museum

Jacob and Daddy in front of a PT-19. Jeff's "Poppy" trained cadets in these airplanes during World War II.

Papa and Jacob climbing down the stairs after looking at a bomber used in Strategic Air Command, the Jimmy Stewart movie.

The Cutest Astronaut in the World. Jacob climbed into a miniature Endeavor.

After being inside the museum, we walked outside to look at some airplanes. Here's Jacob in front of a SR-71.

Looking at the B-29. Jacob really enjoyed kicking the dirt and watching it fly into the air. He just laughed and laughed at that! So silly!

This is a picture of a B-17 that is being restored. There are only a few of these left in the world. There happened to be a volunteer there, working on the plane, so we were able to take a look at the plane, and Papa and Jeff went inside to look around.

Jacob and Mommy at the back of the B-17. Can you imagine being in the war and in that position of the plane? Those men were so brave!

While Papa and Daddy were inside the plane, we ate some snacks under the wing of the plane.

Jeff inside the plane!

Papa in front of a Cobra Helicopter

We left the museum and went back to the house to hang out by the pool. My best friend from childhood came over to hang out. Hanging out with Alisa is so easy, she just blends right into our family conversations. Although many of the conversations involve memories we have with each other, like eating at Sizzlers, going to the lake, spending time at the beach, and going to Bible camps etc., it's always full of laughs. We've known each other since 3rd grade, and it's so fun to be together! Love you Alisa!

Here we are hanging out by the pool around the fire ring and eating chips and salsa. Jacob loves chips and salsa, he calls chips "pips" and likes to "bip, bip, bip" them in the salsa. Hee hee!

GJo and Jacob smiling for the camera!

Some pool time with Mommy and Alisa!

When we're in the water, Papa is always right there too! Jacob learned to kick his feet and lean forward to "swim" and get the ball in the water. He loved pushing and throwing this ball around the pool!

Neither of the boys look interested in the camera! HA!

Happy Birthday to me! What a happy day it was!

California Part 1: LA Zoo and Griffith Observatory

Our first full day in California was spent at the LA Zoo and Griffith Observatory. It was a fun filled day! The weather in California was great in the morning and evening, but during the day it got pretty hot. We loaded on the suncreen and packed our lunches and we were ready to go! Here we are at the entrance to the zoo.

Inside the Zoo we saw lots of animals...This is the VERY LARGE orangatan that decided to climb up the fence while we were there.

A great picture of some silly monkeys in front of some real monkeys. :)


Papa showing Jacob the Hippopotomus. It was HUGE, and it's body was just barely 3 inches off the ground!

The hippo in the water. By this time, the heat had kicked in and I was thinking that if I was that Hippo I would be in the water too...

Such a sweet picture! Cheese! See the Black Bear in the background?

By the time we had gone through the whole Zoo, Jacob was tuckered out! We found a spot to eat lunch under some umbrellas with misters. They brought the temperature down quite a bit!

After lunch we drove over to the Griffith Observatory. From the top of the hill we could see the Hollywood sign, so we snapped a few pictures of Jacob with Papa and GJo, and a family portrait as well. You can barely see the Hollywood sign, but it is there! ;)

The Observatory

Jacob loved running around on the top part of the observatory. He thought he was so cool!

Papa, GJo and Jacob. What great smiles!!!

We had a great time seeing animals and also learning about the sun and moon from the observatory. And...even though it took us 3 hours to get home because of LA traffic, we still had a great time. On the way back to GJo's house Jacob had been asking for water and we were out of water. So Jeff said that we would have the best water when we got to GJo's house. So Jacob began repeating that phrase over and over until we got home. So...when we got home, we had "the BEST water" at "GJo's house" and it was refreshing!