we loaded up two cars and tried to get out of town.
a drug store…
a gas station…
a starbucks…
back into starbucks for a bathroom….
then a fruit stand and THEN we were out.
we drove up moms in one car…dads in the other.
more time to chat.
walking through a tree.
being up in these amazing mountains was beautiful and so very quiet.
until annie had a meltdown.
it smelled like christmas.
this was a great place for the kids to run and jump and climb.
do you want to play one of my favorite games?
it's been awhile since we've played….
find-the-teenager-who-doesn't-want-anyone-to-know-that-she-is-with-us.
ha.
we loaded up again and drove on to a spot for lunch.
this time only the dad's drove.
i am sure annie is telling him what to do…she is good at that.
we fed everyone by the water.
craig got to eat his fresh nectarines.
tonya brought rice krispie treats.
we had 2 coolers.
i looked around while we ate and felt like a REAL mom.
i was trying to soak in all in…be in the moment.
so happy to be able to be there with tonya.
we've known each other 20 years…and look how far we've come.
8.5 kids later vacationing half a country apart.
i love her.
then we headed up to the cave….had our own personal tour.
it was very dark in there…hence the blurry photo.
all i could think of was Goonies.
i kept saying in a whisper voice "chester copperpot"
only craig got it. :)
after being there i decide i don't need to ever do that again.
my mind kept racing thinking…what if we got stuck in here?
what if the lights go out?
yuck.
i realize i am sounding more and more crazy each california post…..
i am not.
at least i don't think i am.
(but do most crazy people really think they are crazy? hmmm )
Suzanne - I NEED to have your camera. Your photos are really amazing.
You are so fun and honest, I really enjoy your blog a lot. Your kids are adorable and I laugh at how teenager-ish your oldest daughter is and that you are capturing it all on film is awesome!
Cate O'Malley - Love the last photo especially – too sweet!
CherryTreeLane - I have very fond memories of visiting there when I was a little girl. What a great trip down that lane. Wonderful pics!
renee - beautiful, i just love your blog
purejoy - bee YOU tee ful!!
whatintheworld!! amazing! and i sniffed my screen to see if it smelled like christmas, too. i was sure it would!
and p.s. the peaches looked amazingly delicious!! i wanted to grab one right from the picture.
too bad.
no smellivision!
Staci - I think once would be enough for me too…. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my mind from wondering about what little (OR BIG) creatures might eat my family and make the 5 o’clock news 🙁 YIKES! Love Annie’s meltdown pic 🙂 Bless her little bones 🙂
Laura Phelps - I often believe I am NOT crazy because I am so aware of the fact that I AM crazy.
Must be California. People here are crazy.
And your photos are crazy good.
Vera - Beautiful pictures! I just love Annie – I think I would give her whatever in the whole wide world she might want, seeing her curled up and crying on that bench (since she’s not MY child ha ha!) She just SO CUTE!
Carrie - Best of both worlds…Find the teenager, followed by a picture with a smile.:)
I loved the goonies reference. Every once in a while my girlfriend will look at me and go “Ruth Ruth, Baby Ruth” People just shake their head and walk away.
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh I just got Goonies at a garage sale for my girls. I can’t remember how scary it is or if it’s age appropriate…I remember seeing it as a kid but that’s not saying much;)
Anyway your pictures were gorgeous. That is on my lists of places to see someday. The cliffs by the ocean…breathtaking. You really captured it.
jsbutterfly - Is that an iguana in the sequoia? Take a look at the second picture in this post. At the top of the tree everone is walking into, there is a perfectly detailed and fossilized-looking iguana perched up there. It even has its leg hanging down the side in perfect iguana style!
Kyleigh - Lions and tiger and bears oh my!
LOVE your pictures… again!
Wow, we don’t have trees or ANYTHING that big over here. You make me want to see the big ole U,S and A (Borat..)
I’ve just introduce my girls to the Goonies… well, they watched it, but I don’t think they LOVED it like I did as a kid in the 80’s eh? You too, obviously. Man I had such a crush on Mikey *sigh*
Melissa - Wow, those are some massive trees.. How cool to walk through one. I agree with you about the cave though – since I became a mom I am a little “crazy” myself. 🙂 SUCH a great vacation!
Loudonland.blogspot.com
Darby - Meg, I love it! If you’re crazy, I’m crazy too! 🙂 Love all the pictures… you’re making me want to go to CA tomorrow!
Laura - Oh wow… seriously… wow. Thanks for sharing.
Starnes Fam - We love state parks and practically lived at them in Colorado. Will explore more of KS and MO once the weather cools off. A state park pass is money well spent in this family. Quick walks, long nature hunts, easy picnics…..being outside and enjoying some good old fashioned family fun. So many people are missing that these days!
Erica - I knew the tress were big but I didn’t know they were THAT big!! WOW!! very cool! The coolest is vacationing with friends. LOVE THAT!!
Joni - This is on my bucket list…so, it was fun going with you! I love all your shots, especially the meltdown and the draggin’ behind all the rest teen shot! Hehehe! Been there, done that, two teenagers all through it, one to go!
XOXO
Joni
rachel - Wow what an amazing place. You’ve taken some fantastic pictures. I’d love to go there…..may I will someday!! 😀
katherine - oh, don’t you love CA? My hubbie I lived in Los Altos pre-kid days. 🙂 I miss those trees and all the yummy fruit stands.
Love the pillow (cora sale), by the way. Still trying to get geared up to organizing a craft room. Too lazy so far… maybe soon!
erica - beautiful pictures! wow! i love the sequoias! there’s nothing like them is there???
Anna@Boogers,Bibs,Books&Bubbles - I love The Goonies!!! Ruth, Baby Ruth!
I have always wanted to see those huge trees. Thanks for sharing! :o)
Anna@Boogers,Bibs,Books&Bubbles - I love The Goonies!!! Ruth, Baby Ruth!
I have always wanted to see those huge trees. Thanks for sharing! :o)