Okay so this trip, had been in the works for months... so much excitement, so much anticipation, and maybe a little bit of anxiety thinking about those MILES in the car. I have to say it really couldn't have gone smoother... okay well of course it wasn't all perfect but as close as it gets with a family packed in a car for days! So on our first attempt at planning our trip... Jeromy's work denied our vacation time... SAD FACE! Plans were all called off and we were feeling a little defeated as we weren't sure when we could reschedule... a few days went by and a window of time came up and it looked like we'd only have to wait another couple weeks... we were thrilled! It really just gave us more time to plan and pack. I stayed up late late a couple nights making snacks and baking muffins so we'd have plenty of homemade goodies on the road so we could avoid stopping. On the morning of April 8th we woke bright and early... (like 4 kind of yearly) Totally painful for me... just another day for Jeromy. Showers and final ice chest and pillow packing and we were on the road about 5:45 (how did it take so long... probably because I travel at the speed of snail at O'Dark Thirty!!
My first entry in my road trip journal reads - We finally left the house around 5:45am. The drive down the canal was beautiful and uneventful. And so the journey begins- memories to be made and fun to be had. Traveling long miles with kids though has me not holding the bar too high... I'd rather be pleasantly surprised! ~P.s. Road trips feed my SOUL!
I snuck into the back with my Coco for a bit, we did a little writing and language and I felt like even if this is the only official school work we did on the trip that at least we did some... haha
This dollar store cookie sheet was a total life SAVA! I bought two and a bunch of magnetic letters and numbers... this bought us at least 15 minutes a couple of times.
Thankfully someone told the Easter bunny we were going on a road trip so he loaded our basket with some pretty cool school road trip games... what a guy!
Hello Ben...
Our first stop was in Kelso, WA for some Starbucks and Stretching... (its a thing)
Jeromy ordered his new usual a black eye.. (hilarious to order... by the way)
and Mama got her Dirty Chai and we all shared the family restroom where we did leg stretches... it was quite the sight!
The sweetest covered bridge...this is where Jeromy shrieks "Look Look a log truck just went into it!"
Only for us to get closer to see...... there's another bridge on the other side of it... bahaha! We were rolling! (it's not even a working bridge anymore)
SOOOOO many SHEEP!
We decided on a more scenic route and we're so glad we did!!
HWY 58 toward Kalamath Falls instead of I-5
Thank you modern technology!!!
"Do not pass snowplows on the right"
The route is so beautiful we were at about 3000ft and climbing... really crossing our fingers that we didn't get into a "Chain Only" area... cuz we didn't have any!
A TUNNEL! Everyone hold your breath!
Nap time.... ahhhh
It's so quiet...
We stopped at Salt Creek Falls observation point... road was closed but gave us a chance to stretch and use the potty.
Now it's snowing.... thankfully only flurries
Crested the top at 5000ft
Ok what is this? Jury's still out...
A lake Jeromy remembers (Upper Kalamath Lake) walking out on with his Grandparents when it was a sheet of ice! Wow what a story!
We came up to the CA inspection station...
As we're pulling away Colten asks..."Did he just ask you if we are afraid of vegetables?"
Hysterical!
Wow don't look too happy to see me.... Mr. Grumpy Britches
Ok it's bubble time....
Best .98 I've spent in a while!
Oy-vey Mama looks well traveled... this is just proof that he LET me drive... and of all places Mt.Shasta... yeah so high speed mountain highway weaving in and out of traffic... I had Jeromy almost reaching for a barf bag... I only got 30 miles or so.... what can I say... he's always happily been the driver and me, always happily the co-pilot!
The very low Shasta lake... wish I could have brought some rain with me... they need it
Our first destination was just outside San Francisco..
Over the moon.... a couple days with my bestie of besties!
Melted my heart to see our boys together...
Her little one calls Colten his "boy"
We arrived late and visited and enjoyed that chaos that is now called our life unfold in her living room. The moment when your face hurts from smiling and laughing SOOOO much, the moment when you are totally reminded of how much your missing somebody, how their very presence makes you feel like sweet red plums and grilled cheese sandwiches!
(ok weird I know, but she'll get it... she get's me!)
The following morning we were off on an adventure... here we are getting our tickets to ride "BART" a everyday sorta thing for Sarah... pretty neat to learn the ropes
There's our favorite little pirate buddy!...
At Fairyland... this amazing kids theme park based on childrens stories... boys loved it!
The piece of my heart that resides in beautiful Lafayette CA...
We shared some amazing life journeys together... the miles between us are rough, I'd give just about anything to have her little family right next door...
Ok flashback moment....
These gems were takin back in 2002 (I think)
Ok ok... we'll get back to fairyland
Man what's over there... must be awesome...
Boys in a shoe...
Cort climbin 'me riggin.... arrrrhh
A moment in the city... Oakland to be exact
Cort napped on the Bart ride back...
While this magical moment unfolded... I'm across the isle...silently sobbing, as she instantly finds little compartments in her heart for my boys. They are completely in awe of her and think she's pretty much the coolest since baby bell cheese... (don't you love those?!)
Somehow she's balancing motherhood and a busy career... so much more of a wonder woman than I... she puts me to shame... well she does! Did you know she reads upwards of 10 bedtime stories every night... yeah TEN! Pshhh just shush your mouth!
Yep Sarah's outgoing nature got us... a big surprise at the end of our BART ride...
Our BART conductor taught us that each BART train has it's own horn... then he blasted it!
Thanks "BART" dude!
We stopped home for a clothes change... it was getting WARM! Then headed to a sweet little Mexican place down the street... the food was AMAZING! and we had a whole section of the patio to ourselves, kids flying little foam airplanes into the side of your head, Ben unloading a salt shaker on our chips, some top notch margaritas, and so much food I nearly had to be wheeled out of the place..
Next we were whisked away on yet another adventure... this time we headed towards an undisclosed location... arriving...
Here... at Grizzly Point!
Ben and Cortland were napping so it was a short visit...
So amazing! There's Alcatraz in the background and San Francisco!
But wait.. there's more... we headed into the College district in Berkeley and found a parking spot... all the while during the car ride, Sarah gave Colten clues to what we were going to be doing... Colten was so lit up... he was really stumped as to what we would be doing with pieces of cardboard.... We got out of the car and Sarah grabbed his hand and they ran full speed up ahead of all of us! So fast I wasn't even able to get a picture of their first slides down...
Kyle had all the moves... he was attempting to perfect surfing down! Which according to Facebook he's finally accomplished! GO KYLE!
There's Sarah and Cort... geez their movin!
Colten left some of his knee on the slide... pants would have been a better stone slide choice! Oh well he's loved telling people he crashed on a stone slide... wouldn't you?
Ben says I'll stick with this one!
The same park had an amazing rose garden...
We spent much of it chasing kids... (in the fun way)
Yep all roses!
Next we parked back at Sarah's and walked to an amazing ice cream place... they actually make up your ice cream with liquid nitrogen! Local ingredients and no funny business just deliciousness in a cup or cone!
It's amazing... here's a link if you wanna learn more ~ smitten ice cream
Cort and his "Boy"
Heart Melting...
Next, I know you're thinking how could you possible fit any more into this day...
Jeromy and I got to visit one of Sarah's stores... She manages the Crate and Barrel in San Francisco and well there was no way we were making it into the city before they closed, so since I'd never been she took us to her old store in Lafayette! Talk about amazing! I was like a kiddo in a candy store... Jeromy was next to me telling me to breathe... So I start to kind of pick out a few items, then a few more and a couple more... just some little stuff to kind of remind me of my bff you know...my favorites are a beautiful metal red watering can (that matches her',s that's yellow), and an adorable mug that will be filled every morning with the nectar of the gods...thinking about how I should be sharing my morning cup of "nectar" with HER! Oh and all those goodies... yeah she insisted on spoiling me!! Could I love her more... nahh! WHAT A TREAT!
We tried to get to bed at a decent time because at O'Dark Thirty we'd be leaving again... we'd also be giving Sarah a ride into the city to work. We pulled up in front of her GIANT store downtown and I couldn't help but feel so proud! There's no doubt she's running that store like a BOSS! Her in her little black pencil skirt and black cardigan with her vintage hair and stunning makeup... golly what I wouldn't give SOME days to be a part of the corporate world... she makes it look good! It was a rough goodbye... I'm sobbing now as I write this... I love that I still have her after all these years, that miles cant erase time, that our littles need each other, and that I'm pretty sure we can do that drive in 14 hours...
Ok so after sobbing for many miles I started getting excited about the beach!
I love this shot... Colten's goin for it!!
Ahhh a real beach, with real sand, and a pier and pelicans, and tons of people more focused on getting a good self-ie than actually enjoying the beach!
We played for hours!
and burned a little! Not the kids- no burning kids!
Just my piggies!
Ahhh.... ok so my kids are nuts! the water is still pretty stinkin chilly and well as you can see I'm in long sleeves still... haha! it was still a sunny beach, I'm far from complaining!
After a few blissful hours at the beach we headed to Norco where Aunt Cathy lives...
The cutest horse town you've ever seen, complete with horse trails (instead of sidewalks) and hitching posts at the local restaurants and stores... even the local Starbucks has hitchin posts!
This happens everywhere.... here we are at Aunt Cathy's and I hear Colten in the backyard and find him way up yonder...
Sweet old man Chester...
We were invited to an awesome animal event my Aunt was working at... boys thought this was amazing!
Hello there Mr. Tortoise
Bunny Loves
A desert iguana....rad
A police dog demonstration... I love him!!
Rooooaaar
Grrrr
We left this fun event and headed to Aunt Cheryl's house in Anaheim Hills... did some shopping and then made a delicious soup and salad together for dinner. Soooo fun! WHY didn't we take any pictures!?
Back in Norco that evening we went out for a walk at a Nature Sanctuary right up the street from Cathy's house.
Pretty!
It was a little breezy... haha!
My cousin Amanda and Aunt Cathy...with a couple of their pups!
Whooaaa what's in there?
Yes that's a saddle stand in Cathy's dinning room... it's don't get much more country than that!
Cathy's sweet horses...
Katrina on the left and Kanga on the right
Kanga is an amazing 34 years old... I used to ride her when I was little... and you'd never now it she looks like she did 20 years ago!
Katrina is a one eyed horse... amazing!
The boys thought this was bizarre and they both took a few steps back when she turned her head and they saw her missing eye... but after giving her some loves they realized she's a pretty special girl.
Awww geez! The boys found some helmets Aunt Cathy was going to get rid of...
Yep they had to come home with us.
Super happy boys!
I love family get-togethers... My uncle David and his fiance hosted this fabulous shin-dig!
With so much amazing food!
Only like the BEST hotdog EVER!
Golly... to have lemons growing in your backyard... and avocados, and guava, and papaya, and a bazillion other exotic things... AMAZING!
Awww...
Love this! Great Grandpa's such the
comedian... he keeps calling Ben... George (just to be funny)
Thank goodness for cousins with a back pocket full of balloons!
and uncles with squirt guns!
"Happy Together"
YES INDEED!
UGH!
Bahaha!
Hands on love... nothing better!
SO much to catch up on...
Not everybody... but an amazing group of love right here!
Of course you have to keep it real...
and YES Colten is related.... obviously!
This sums things up much better than the first shot....
I love these people to the moon and back.... they complete me!
Now just to convince them that the Pacific Northwest is the place to be....
Sooo tiny!
Great Grandpa loves!
Leaving this gathering was so hard...
To have the love from people that have watched you grow, watched you make vows and promises to the man you love, watched your kids grow, it's just priceless...
These are MY people and I'm beyond blessed to call them family.
Heading North next on our journey...
North Fork was our next destination...
Friends that have made such an enormous impact in our lives...
Friends that told us.... "The best investment you can make in life is in your friends"
Not a day goes by that we aren't thanking them for their friendship, caring hearts, and generous souls!
We arrived super late to the little town of North Fork... settled in the mountains about 40 minutes outside Yosemite National Park.
A windy twisty confusing labyrinth of duplicated street names...led us to the top of a mountain which at night was stunning, I couldn't wait to see what morning had in store for us.
We were guided up the stairs to a flat above the garage... although I was exhausted, a sudden second wind raced through my veins... this sweet hideaway was stunning... twinkly white lights strung the walls in the sleeping room, which was obviously put together like only a mothers heart would set it up... a queen bed with two twins on either side.. flannel everything and sweet little quilts. The walls cloaked in the beautiful wood that reminds me of home...and special momentous collected from life's journey... it was the kind of place I could easily find peace in... the kind of place you dream of when you just want to GET AWAY...
Ahhhhh
Mia and the kids delivered breakfast right to the door... like we were at a luxurious B&B
Fresh Goat Milk Yogurt from a neighboring farm and a positively delightful fruit salad...
Yep this could work...
The pups were just too sweet for words...
well their names suited them that's for sure.... Brownie and Licorice
Colten says we can stay!
and Ben... well he found a new best friend!
A trip to the family's amazing mill...
Jeromy was in awe... he's always had a passion for woodworking...
After our tour we hopped in the car and headed off to the Mariposa Grove... which is just outside Yosemite.
Impressive!
Colten was our guide...
This was so fun to experience with Mia and Zev, we're so glad they were a part of our day!
Boys were total boys....what do you mean I have to stay on the trail?
Wowza... talk about feeling tiny
Leave it to boys to find secret caves!
Snow Plant... pretty fascinating
We once named a squirrel at our previous house Harvey.... well we see "Harvey" everywhere... he's even at the giant redwood forest!
Too cool for his shirt I guess!
We said goodbye to Mia and Zev and we headed into the park... both boys passed out on the winding road heading into the heart of Yosemite... So Mama was free to take in all the sights!
We came around a corner... and there she was.....in all her glory
the breathtaking Half Dome...
I was here when I was little... but really it seems so different to me
Amazing how nature is so captivating...
Tunnels are pretty awesome too!
Popsicle's!
Colten and I enjoyed learning about John Muir before leaving for our trip... so it was fun to find a whole exhibit in the park about him. We even had a great photo op!
As you can see Ben has lost his couth...
I really couldn't choose which was my favorite... they both make me giggle!
The boys showing off their souvenirs...
(the souvenir shopping was torturous...we'll skip this part next time I think!)
Ahhh tram rides are the best!
Yep it's been a long day... we're loosin it!
We took a short trail to another waterfall...
I'm sorry...I've seen a lot of waterfalls, but the waterfalls at Yosemite were straight out of a Hollywood movie set... For real!
Like nature couldn't have possibly made this that perfect!
Aww there's Colten... yeah it's been a long day! We're really pushin it at this point...
Oh but thankfully he found his happy place and we were able to pull off a great picture!
This was just cracking me up...
Sign reads... Restrooms Closed For Cleaning...
Boy I'll say...
Magnificent!
We stopped for snacks before leaving the park.... big mistake! Full bellies and twisty roads meant mom was passing out barf bags... poor guys! We felt awful.... thankfully nobody actually got sick.
We made it back to our getaway cabin and had a fantastic little visit with our friends...it got late and we knew 4am was going to come quick so we said our goodbyes and thank yous for such an amazing couple of days and headed to bed.
The drive home was mostly uneventful...except for the inclement weather...
Snow, RAGING hail, blowing wind...
Yep looks like home!
My expectations for this trip were far surpassed... the boys did so great, and my heart returned home full and grateful. The last hour of our drive was the longest and pulling into our driveway was slightly bittersweet... was it all really over, does "life" really have to happen come tomorrow... really though I'm renewed, I'm restored and I'm ready for "life" more than ever! Vacation highs are the best and I plan to reflect on this trip often. On those dark gloomy days, I'll think of my loved ones basking in the California sun... yeah that'll make me feel better! haha
I love a good adventure....
I love sharing these adventures with my babies...
I love that...this was such a trip of togetherness... in every sense of the word...
Together forever, never apart
Maybe in distance
but never in heart...
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