California

We met up with my family in Newport Beach, California.  It was nice to get everyone together again!  The weather was beautiful.  There is something that feels like home about the west coast.  Everyone is so friendly and everyone speaks English and no one stares at you for being white :).   We spent a lot of time at the beach (California beaches are so different than Florida beaches), went to Knott's Berry Farm (which my kids LOVED), and rented bikes.

Somehow on every family trip my kids and/or my husband get sick.  This trip was no exception.  Jackson had a fever for several days, Hannah got a tooth abscess, Jackson got stung by a bee, Jack had a nasty cold.  And somehow my dad always ends up catching whatever disease we bring along.  Sorry Dad!

Jackson and Hannah were terrified of the rides at Knott's Berry Farm at first.  But Jane loved them right away and asked "One more time?" after each ride.  She could not get enough!  Eventually the kids were convinced that if Jane could do it so could they, and they ended up loving all the rides.  There were no crowds and the weather was perfect too.

We were all dying to get our hands on baby Ella.  She is SO chubby and cute.

This kid is obsessed with games.

We have to go to Spaghetti Factory when we are out west, it is my kids' favorite (and maybe mine too).

Jane told some pretty good scary stories.

Campfire.  

Ice cream in Balboa.