Asilomar Beach

Even though it was chilly, we had a blast playing at the beach.

The kids collected treasures...

An abalone shell

Hermit crabs.  Lots of hermit crabs.

Rocks.

Old fishing weight

Sand crabs.

Memories.

Sea Otters

My first mother's day (I was pregnant with Kayla) we were still living in Monterey.  Robert gave me a sweatshirt with a mama and baby sea otter.  I LOVED it and pretty much wore it out.  We were hoping to see at least one sea otter on this trip, but didn't think we would.

Ann kept saying she thought there was more in the water than seaweed, but none of us believed her.  Finally, I went up over a bunch of rocks and used my tele-photo lens (you know - the one I like more than my children on some days) and there they were! 

Then I cropped in on a few of the photos and they turned out great....

Dennis the Menace Park

24 years ago, Robert and I lived in Montery while Robert went through the Defense Language Institute for Russian.  We were there a year and LOVED it!  We had an apartment near Lake El Estero and Dennis the Menace Park.  We had wonderful times walking around the lake and feeding the ducks.

11 years ago, we took all the kids on a big trip to CA (shea was still in my tummy so I told she was there before too!)  Andrew still remembers this park and how much fun it was.  The day had warmed up a bit and we had a blast!

Seals!

Down at Fishman's Wharf there are loads of seals.

The kids loved watching them and

Shea took great pictures!

Monterey, CA

You know it's a busy day when it takes FIVE posts to tell the story :)

We wanted to go south to a beach for a day in the sun, but it was COLD.
We decided to head up to Monterey to see the sights.

Jillian & Shea

staying warm

Grandma and the kids

Ann & Sterling

Shea dreaming of candy.

only $5 for an itty-bitty bag of taffy.

Swimming at Aunt Nix's

Heading down to the pool...

Aunt Ann and Aunt Ann

All the kids!

Sterling & Ann

Family!!

This is now my second-favorite picture of my mom and I.

(see the other one here)

Going to church

Greenfield, CA

Back:  Ann, Mom, Bliss, Braden, Ann, Sterling

Front:  Emily, Jillian, Zachary & Shea

Grandma Zee's place. Beautiful

My mom lives south of Monterey, CA in the Bitterwater Valley

The first two photos were taken this morning when there was a bit of fog...

This afternoon the cows and wild turkeys were out...

Grandma & Grandpa Sawyer

Bear Lake... again!

Shea and I went up to Bear Lake to spend time with friends from Lubbock that have a cabin up there.  We had a blast!!  Here are a few pictures from Wednesday evening.  Thursday we spent the day at the lake, but I forgot my camera. 

Kolene and I sitting and watching the kids

Shea and Hayley swinging

Kamie and Kade up high

All the kids on the top of the world

Kolene and Kamie

A beautiful rainbow... as the sun was setting,

there was a storm crossing the sky.

Beautiful!

Shea, Hayley & Kamie

All the kids.

wet.

of course.