California

We went on a fun family vacation to visit Heather and her family in Santa Rosa, California July 9 to July 18. Shay, me, and the kids rode with Grandma and Grandpa Harper in their Suburban, and the Busenbarks drove their Suburban. Lots a family means lots of fun. The trip went as follows:

DAY 1:
Day 1 was filled with driving. We all met at my parent's house Friday morning and then headed on our way. Our destination was Reno, Nevada. Our goal was to keep kids happy for 8+ hours. We made our destination! Cayben travels very well, but Embrie...well not so much.

When we got to Reno we rested, then went to Circus Circus to play. Elyse and Cayben each won a teddy bear!

DAY 2:
We got in the car early for another day of driving. We drove and stopped (mostly for Embrie's sake) and drove and stopped until we finally arrived at Heathers. Woohoo! It felt nice to be done with the drive for awhile and good to see everyone! Later, a few of us went to Grocery Outlet, which was one of the highlights of my trip.  I love that store! I found a pair of Old Navy jeans for $6 and a slip-and-slide for $5. We spent the rest of the evening winding down by Heather's amazing pool.

DAY 3:
Sunday morning Grandma, Grandpa, Shay, Cayben, Embrie, and I walked to church. We attended sacrament meeting, which was excellent. My kids slept through most of it which I'm sure had a little something to do with its enjoyability. 

After church we chilled at Heather's house. We sat around enjoying the nice weather and Heather's cozy backyard.

DAY 4:
Day 4 we went shopping. We were with my mother...of course we were going to be shopping.

DAY 5:
The fifth day was a sightseeing adventure. Our first stop was a petrified forest, which turned out to be an expense we didn't want to ensue. So we headed on our merry way.

 Heather & Cayben touching petrified wood

Cassie, Embrie, Cayben, & Shay

Next stop...the Redwood forest, which was free and delightful. We hiked around and looked at huge trees for awhile. Cayben climbed on as many as he could before it was time to depart and head for the beach.

Cassie, Shay, Embrie & Cayben

Cayben & Elyse

Embrie

Embrie, Grandma Elyse, Jamie, Kinley & Wyett

Elyse & Cayben

Cayben

Embrie, Cayben, Cassie & Shay

Embrie & Cassie

Cayben

Cayben

Cassie, Embrie, Cayben & Shay

The final stop, the ocean, was highly anticipated by Shay and myself. There is not much I enjoy more than sitting in sand at the edge of the continent, watching and listing to the waves coming in. Unfortunately everyone was worn out by the time we got to the beach, so we only spent an hour or so there. It was fun nonetheless.

Shay & Cassie

Jamie, Kinley & Heather

Heather, Embrie & Shay

Elyse, Cayben, Grandpa Jim & Grandma Elyse

Elyse

Cayben & Shay with a jellyfish

Shay & Cassie

Cayben

Enjoying the warm sand

Embrie

DAY 6:
Wednesday we went to Six Flags! Cayben enjoyed Thomas Town and walking under the sharks. Shay and I went on a couple of roller-coasters that were fun! Embrie just rolled around in the stroller most of the day, but enjoyed being outside surrounded by people.

Embrie & Shay riding the tram

Cayben & Elyse

Shark

Cayben riding Thomas the Train

Cassie & Embrie

Cayben & Elyse anxiously awaiting the ride

Cayben riding Bertie Bus

Cayben

Shay & Cayben

Cayben & Shay riding a roller-coaster

 

Cayben just after riding the roller-coaster. I think he's all hopped up on adrenaline.

Embrie

Cayben

Cayben

DAY 7:
By this point Shay and I were sick of driving all around California, so we opted out of going on castle tours and shopping. We spent the day by the pool instead!

Cayben

Embrie

Embrie & Shay

DAY 8:
"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair"

San Francisco greeted us on Day 8. Heather took our little family to see the steep streets, walk along the pier, and see all the fun people on the street.

Cassie, Cayben, Shay & Embrie

Cayben & Embrie checking out the sea lions

Cayben on Pier 39

Shay, Silver Man, Cayben & Cassie

Cassie & Heather

Read

San Francisco Lyrics

here.

DAY 9:
Saturday we said our goodbyes and headed toward home. We drove all day. This time Embrie did much better! We stopped and stayed in Elko, Nevada. In Elko Cayben enjoyed swimming in the hotel pool!

DAY 10:
We woke and got into the car again. We rode the final jaunt home and were much too excited to be home and out of the car.

We had a fun, fun trip!