My older brother, Nate, is the head baseball coach at El Camino College and my dad is an assistant coach and their team made it to the Junior College World Series!! We had our California trip all planned and at Daniel's suggestion we moved our trip up a week and went to the tournament in Fresno. It was so much fun!! So much really good baseball and family time... it was wonderful. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures except this one, of Ivy holding her newest cousin, Elsie. We met her for the first time (she was only a few weeks old here!) Jeff and family was there and we really did have such a great time!
We got back to Long Beach and first line of business... seeing Uncle Sam!
While we were all in Fresno, GG passed away. Some say that those here on earth sometimes have a hard time letting go while they still have someone around to hang onto. It seems like this would be the case with GG. Everyone was gone for the weekend, our side in Fresno and Aunt Sandee's side gone as well. I think once she was alone she felt like she could let go. We had a beautiful service for her graveside. A small family service where any of us that wanted to could stand and share their thoughts and feelings about GG. It was so perfect. Both Jackson and Ivy shared their memories. Almost all her grandkids said something, several in-laws too. It was perfect. We are all so happy she is with Grandpa again. But we will realllllly miss her!!!
We all gathered at Aunt Sandee's after the service. It was a good chance to visit with everyone while we were there. The kids enjoyed seeing all their 2nd cousins.
A California treat... Cactus Cooler!!!
We stayed with Nate and Dara and it was like a never-ending slumber party! We enjoyed the pool, the hot tub, the trampoline, the video games! We went to the beach and to Knott's Berry Farm. The boys tried their hand at fishing and we fed the duck's at El Dorado duck pond.
Our vacation didn't end in California. We decided to make a short hop over to Arizona to stay with Jeff and Hannah for a few days before heading home. Originally we planned it thinking we wouldn't see them in California because Elsie was so new but we did see them in Fresno and so we got some double time with them. My kids are professional plane travelers... especially this sleepy guy.
We did a lot of really fun things in Arizona!! Our first stop was a really fun water park!! Good way to beat the heat!!
There is a place there called Amazing Jake's and it was awesome. Sort of like a Chuck E. Cheese but for older kids and a lot more stuff like bowling, laser tag, a few rides and games galore!! Plus a pretty decent buffet that you can eat all the day long, all included!! We stayed all day and all night!
Ivy really loved their dog, Dakota.
One of the days we went to a trampoline park and experienced a Hurricane in AZ!
The cutest 4 year olds you'll ever see!
Jeff took the kids scorpian hunting one night. Would you believe that we brought a scorpian home with us? It stowed away in my suitcase and we discovered it over 2 weeks later!! EEK!!
We went to a really cool candy shop! Every piece of candy you could ever imagine and any piece you could ever remember loving as a child. It was all there. It was fun picking stuff out.
I was worried the trip was going to be too long but our days in Arizona flew by and before we knew it, we were heading home. It was a perfect way to start the summer, though!!! Can't wait for next year!!
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