Sunny California

Nothing like being silly with family!!

This past summer my sister Jill and I decided we would run in the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon together. The race was on Jan. 24th. While looking for tickets to fly out there I came across a deal for 40.00 round trip from Wichita to LA. Needless to say the kids got to go with me. Thank you honey for letting us go have a great time for a week. We really wish you could have been there too!

Pat, Jill, Kayla and Kaili we want to say thank you for being such gracious hosts. We had such a wonderful time spending the week with you!! We love you lots and lots!!

California Fun

Swimming at the YMCA

Pat your Pizza ROCKS!! Pat's parents came over one evening and had pizza.

Decorating Cookies

Uncle Pat & Kacie...I love this picture!

Kaili had a solo at her band concert. She did wonderful!!

More CA Fun!

Shopping at the city maket

Jake with his new Viking friend

Running along the oceanside

Making Smores

Pacific Beach

One of my favorite places to go is the beach. Well...my beach time was flooded out. CA had gotten more rain the week before we were there than it had in 10 years. Because of all the rain the waves washed out the beaches. Nevertheless we still went to Pacific Beach and enjoyed the ocean the best we could.

Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon

What a fun race!! My sister and I ran 13.1 miles together. It was Jill's first 1/2 marathon and she did awesome. I was so proud of her!

Our shirts Jill had made. As we were running people would yell out "go sisters!"


Pat brought the kids down to the finish line along with one of their good friends...didn't the kids make wonderful posters!

Thanks Jill for running with me. I will cherish this memory for a long time to come!

Sea World

The kids and I went to visit Sea World of San Diego. We were there from open to close and we would have stayed longer if we could. I think everyone should go at least once in their lifetime! What a reminder of God's majesty through his creation!!

Petting the sting rays...if you look close you can see Jake's shark tooth necklace. That is the one thing he wanted to buy while we were in CA. He was so pumped about finding one!

This dolphin came right up to Kacie as if it were saying hi just to her :)




Shamu...pure amazement!

Each show was awesome and had the kids enthralled!

PETCO Park

We took a tour of PETCO park, home of the San Diego Padres. It was aweaome! Our guide led us all throughout the stadium while telling us the history of both the team and the stadium. The highlights were going into the dug out, out on the field and into the visitor's locker room.

American Girl

When my sister Jill came to visit us last November she promised Kacie she would take her to the American Girl Doll shop to have lunch with her doll when she came out to CA. A couple of Christmases ago Kacie received Samantha from Aunt Jill and Uncle Pat. Kacie talked about going to the doll store with her own American Girl Doll almost daily.

Her wish came true. Here we are in LA at the store.

But I did have a "horrible mom" moment. I forgot to pack Samantha....I know how could I? Kacie took it in stride and her cousin Kayla let her borrow her doll. Thanks Kayla!!

Kacie and Kaili with their dolls.

Jake was a trooper...he survived the lunch and tea with the dolls...I actually think he had fun :)

Hollywood

We took the kids to Hollywood just to say that we have been there. And when we got there, it happened to be the World premier of the movie When In Rome.

Outside the Wax Museum the cousins struck a "West side" pose.

Hollywood was a fun experience from seeing the stars to eating off the dollar menu at McDonald's to shopping to seeing people in costumes like Barney and Michael Jackson.

Jake told me it was fun but he would never want to live there...I told him, me either!