We came, we saw, we boogie-boarded!

So, roughly 13 of us traveled to beautiful Carlsbad State Beach where for a week, the ocean and all its splendor was our home. We camped in tents, bathed in coin operated showers, shared restrooms with about 100 different campers, and lived off of turkey sandwiches and whatever grub that could be prepared on our portable Coleman grill. Most of our sand covered days were spent at the beach swimming, boogie-boarding, "boating", making sand castles, lathering ourselves in sunscreen, playing Smash Ball, throwing the Frisbee, eating all of the M&M's out of the Costco trail mix, and chasing toddlers. A good time was had by all. I can't wait for next year!
The castaways: Riley, Olive, Eli, and Jackson

Fishing with grandpa

Olive's 1st catch: a shoe.
I'm selling it on ebay.

Everyone building sand castles and trenches

Olive's 1st drip castle (lessons courtesy of Kasey)

"Flamingo"


Dancing to the Surf Gods

Me and my Sue

Professional surfers-in-training

Kasey and Jackson back from their boating trip to Tijuana

Christmas card alert!
Riley, Ryan, Kasey, and Jackson
I gave the cue to "smile".
It looks as though Jackson misinterpreted what I said to be, " lay down on the boat and bury your face until I tell you it's o.k. to get up".

Eli, Derek, and Jennica
The sane ones on the trip

I'm being held captive by anti-bloggers!

Once I escape from the evils of my non-blogging captors, I will update everyone on all my vacations, fun times, housework, book reading, ice cream devouring, girls-night-outs, etc.

Carlbad State Beach here we come!!!

We're off for our 30th year of camping on the beach in beautiful South Carlsbad. I hope everyone has a great week!

Sincerest apologies for my neglected blog

Here are my excuses:

Swimming at my mom's house
It's been consistently 199 degrees in Lakewood!

My sister and the boys are in town! Need I say more...

Disneyland!



"Who needs a double stroller"- Kasey, on her boys stuffed in an infant stroller after a long day with Mickey.

Now to the present....

Consequences for neglecting my life:
Countless messes and piles to pick up.
And yes, that there to the right is a wheel to my stroller.
Your guess is as good as mine.

CLEAN laundry. Who needs closets and dressers?

One more thing...
Olive and I leave tomorrow morning for a weeks worth of tent camping on the beach in Carlsbad.
Oh my.

Simply Irresistible

Why are these cheesy , particle board cut-outs so hard to resist? Whether it be county fairs, amusement parks, malls, etc., these germ ridden photo opts are sure to be there screaming out "put your face in me!". And no matter what I am doing at the time of visual contact, the camera is dug out of my stuffed purse, the delicate faces of my loved ones are ordered into the splintered holes and I snap away. But, why? What is it with these things?

Are they flattering?

Absolutely not.

Will I blow this up and proudly hang it in my living room?

I don't think so.

Will this be used for our annual Christmas card?

There's a good chance.

Megan, you're swell!

This morning I received a phone call from my good buddy Megan asking me what my blog password was (is that even legal?) and then told me to check my blog "in 20 minutes". I did so and was breathless when I logged on. She completely redesigned my page and added the cute Disney Shag prints that we are both fans of. What a special gal to do such a nice thing for me and my once struggling blog spot. Kudos to you Megan for all that you have do for me...sassy haircuts, In and Out delivery, and now blog design. Although I do not have a photo of Megan for all to admire, I do have an adorable one of her cute-as-can-be daughter, Collin Mae. Thanks again Megan! You're swell!

Happy Birthday Olive!