We made it to LA early Friday morning after driving all night. We camped in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains, at Point Mugu State Park, just west of Malibu. It's a perfect Mediterranean climate that can't be beat (while LA was a stifling 95 to 100 the whole time, we never saw it go up past 80). A first for me--I never woke up cold.
Our first stop, our one living relative in the area. It took us a while to find his house only to discover he left the night before for his own road trip. This is Mikie's house.
Oey throwing sand and loving it
Soaking up the rays with my 60 SPF on. Oey was my shadow.
Our water baby
The shell collector
We always like Huntington Beach
Peanut butter and jelly was our lunch for the next three days. And we never got sick of it.
Our campsite. Jarom's off to the side, studying a chipmunk hole. He stood there like a statue, waiting for it to come out.
Camarillo's farmers market, bright and early
Oey downing strawberries
Stocking up on real food
Sycamore Cove, the beach directly across from our campsite
Just getting our feet wet before moving on to LA
Outside the California Science Center
Inside
Scientist at work.
Monkey
Oey whispering sweet nothings in his daddy's ear -- datchee
Outside the LA temple
Part II
Speaks for itself
This is the ride they picked out (Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier). They paid for it with their own money. Jarom had a hard time finding a ride within his budget. Bella loaned him 50 cents.
Leaving. We had a lovely parking ticket waiting for us (meter had been expired for 10 minutes).
Oey says "tree"
The campground host made Bella a pipe-cleaner panda for her birthday. He was very entertaining, to say the least.
He was the Mary Poppins of the campground.
Jarom and Matt dancing on the sycamore tree
Digging in our roly-poly farm
Oey being cute
The best smores ever. Makes my mouth water.
Crazy kids. Jarom's marshmallow's on fire.
Oey taking a break from being held, on our hike to the fire trail overlook.
Birthday girl in all her glory
Bella needed a hand to hold the whole way
At the overlook. Matt rigged the camera to hang from a tree branch. Worked out pretty good.
Point Mugu.
At Point Mugu.
My lover. I imagine this could be on the back of his first novel.
Cool murals under the bridge, on the way to Leo Carrillo beach.
It says "Happy 4th" because she turned four today.
Digging for baby sandcrabs.
A hidden cave we found. Little scary.
My boys
Vegas for Bella's birthday dinner. Bella wanted to eat at the castle behind us, but it was gross so we left. We went across the street to the MGM Grand to eat in the Rainforest Cafe. A first for all of us.
Making a wish on an ice cream brownie volcano
Kisses for daddy
The balloon guy earned his tip
Back home, Monday morning, 5:30 am. One wild weekend.
10 comments:
Oh my gosh, that was one of the most entertaining blogs I've ever seen! I laughed and cried when Oey was throwing the sand and giggling to beat the band. I loved him saying tree and daddy. The pictures of sweet Bella on her birthday choke me up so to see her already four years old! And Jarom and the chipmunk hole, what an adventurous angel boy, exploring all the time. So curious. Those grandbabies of mine have to be the most fabulous in the whole wide world. I am so lucky. I can't believe I will be seeing them finally tomorrow night. I can't wait. I love you all and am so glad you had such a wonderful time in L.A. You couldn't have picked a more beautiful camp spot or beaches. Love you, Nana
yeah, ditto what nana said! this blog was amazing! i could look up close at each pictures for hours. i totally LOVE the hike you took, and bella's gorgeous birthday picture in such a setting! amy i like those hiking sandals you have on...i think that's what joey and emily got for the g.c. should i get some? are they super comfy? anyway this blog just MADE MY DAY!!! i love the beach, what a beautiful place to camp, with that little painted underpass to the shore, so fun! i will have to hear more about the science museums when i arrive to see you guys. what an amazing birthday weekend bella got...seriously. these kids are smart as whippersnappers!
jarom standing sentinel by the chipmunk hole is my fave! so solemn and cautious!
by the way, you guys really do run rampant.
Looks like you guys had a great trip! YOu guys are such good parents!
Where was our invite... We were waiting...We love our road camping trips with the Beattys!!! Let us know when the next one is. Brandon is sick with jealousy.
Your trip looked like so much fun! Amy, I wish you would have taken more pictures ;) I love them all! You look adorable in all of them! Don't you just love the beach, what a perfect vacation. I love how spontaneous y'all are. Your kids looked like they were in heaven on the beach. The brownie at Rain Forest Cafe looked so yummy, was it as good as it looks? Can't wait to hear about the next family adventure (I'm crossing my fingers that it will be to Austin Texas) I can wish can't I? love you like crazy!!
Holy cow you guys were busy!!!! What an amazing camping spot...huntington beach rocks...and the farmers market looked tasty! Good times & good memories!
Matt you must be insane. Does that mean you went to work after getting home at 5:30 am? Howly moly!
Oh this is the best blog ever Amy! How can Oey have a hairline THAT cute? And does he say "datchee"? Oh my gosh, the brownie volcano, the rides, the science museum, the ocean.... the smores. It looks so fun.
Thank you!
I love the happy 4th written in the sand. I cannot believe Bella is 4!!!!!!!
I love you all to death and can't wait to see you.
Oh and Amy, I went and bought comfy running shorts to sleep in, and a new pink sports bra. I am gonna start getting my run on. I am making a jogging playlist right now!
Wow, what a fun filled trip! glad you had so much fun! You guys were busy! I wish it was my birthday...I want that brownie volcano:) Ha!!
Wow! What cute pictures. Such fun memories! My favorite was Oey laughing in the sand. I wanted to watch that over and over. SO CUTE. What a contageous laugh. You guys are such great parents and your kids are all so beautiful!
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