Last Summer Hurr-ah!

The girls had been anxiously awaiting this trip all summer.  They'd approach random people and tell them, "We get to go to California on a plane and visit Baby Callen."  So when it was finally here they were ecstatic to get on that plane and go!  Steve and I were a little nervous traveling on our first trip as a family of 5.  The big girls were awesome on the plane, but Adaley just wanted to run up and down the aisle.  She's just at the toughest age to fly!  Our only argument was who was going to hold our new cousin first!

Such cuties!

 The first day we took it easy at a nearby park, but the kids had fun, and the weather in San Jose is so mild compared to Denver, so we could actually play and not worrying about burning our butts!

 The girls had a blast playing "hot lava" in Carrie and Josh's backyard with the sprinkler.

 Finally we get to meet our nephew/cousin!

 Friday we drove to Big Basin Redwoods park outside San Jose.  I can never get enough of the redwoods, but we were thinking the girls would hate the hike and just complain.  To our surprise they loved it - climbing the trees, finding sticks, and even exploring the insides of the trees.  Success!  Adaley even walked the entire 2/3 mile hike on her own.  Guess we'll work on a 14er with them soon........

 She's at it again!

 Our little walker

 They have high hopes they'll make it to the top

 Even Callen enjoyed the hike

 Family pic

Group pic (Josh was working)

 Saturday morning we headed out early to Half Moon Bay.  On the way they have this cute farm for kids that we just had to stop at.  The girls loved it!

So happy we can finally get all 3 in some pics

 Got their pony rides (even though we waited for a long time)

 She doesn't know what to think of those begging goats

 Look at that hat - doesn't get much cuter than that!

After exhausting ourselves at the farm we drove over to the beach.  Our girls absolutely LOVE the beach (thinking we probably live in the wrong area).  Even though it was a balmy 60 degrees outside with wind, that didn't stop them from soaking up the fun.  

 It's a requirement to hula dance on a beach, right?

 Adaley's first beach!

 Daddy and the beach babes

 She wanted to recreate her Virginia Beach mermaid

 Always missing out on the fun

Sunday morning the girls helped Josh make breakfast.  It was too cute!

 I was really bad at getting pics of the girls holding Callen, but they were always asking.  Chandler was obsessed with him!  She wanted to hold him every chance she got.  You can see how much he actually enjoyed it.

 Sunday morning we met my aunts Peg and Sandy in Fremont at another farm, but this one was an actual farm not an amusement park.  It was so cute, and we all had a great time.

Chandler showing Sandy how to pump the water

 Panning for real gold

 Aunt Peg and the girls trying to find Snow White in the dwarf cottage

 Riding the horse-drawn train back.  Aunt Peg and Chandler quickly became best buds!

 Monday we drove into Santa Cruz for some Jersey-style boardwalk fun and more beach time.  This time it was actually warm.  The girls had their heads on swivels just checking out all the junk food and rides.  So much to take it, but they loved it.

 Sand castle time

 Uncle Steve tanning Callen

 He babysit while Carrie and I went to the bar!

 Missing out again!

 Adaley's first cotton candy - not sure what to think of it!

 Visiting the sea lions off the pier.

 We had a fabulous time seeing California but most of all visiting with Carrie, Josh, and Callen.  Of course I don't know if you can call it a "vacation" when you have 3 kids, but the trip was fun.  We came back exhausted and missing them tremendously!  What a way to end our fun-filled summer!