Click for Part 1: here

*Crab cakes, ceaser salad, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi and coconut cream filled cake ~ at The Beach House Restaurant on Mikes birthday

The Beach House - across the street from our condo

*Sunsets on the beach across the street sipping pineapple wine (surprisingly good) and attempting to take a picture of the two of us using the timer setting on the camera before the sun went down.

It got funny.

Running on rocks is a challenge

Eyes closed and laughing

Missing Mike

Hurry!

Memories made.

Lastly,

A classic moment:

We’re driving back to our condo and Mike is supposed to take a left at the tree tunnel. As we approach the turn, I’m sensing he’s not paying attention, and I remind him to take a left.

His response, “Whoa, thanks. I was checking out that tractor.” 

Good Times!

Aloha!

Home~We all slept in this morning, after getting in around midnight last night. The kids and I sat for a long while chatting, talking about our week and just enjoying each other. Like I said before, Mike and I weren’t the only ones on vacation. My mom kept them wrapped in good times. The hugs and the gentle touches to make sure we are really here choke me up every time.

I’m completely refreshed. And I’m fairly confident Mike would say the same.

If you care to know, here are our 

15^th Anniversary trip to Kauai ~ highlight’s:

*Early morning breakfasts of all things Hawaiian or Kauaian grown/made, on the lanai (balcony).

It's intoxicating ......

Celebrating 15 years of marriage on the Garden Island,

and my man turned an awesome 38 yesterday.

and there is something even sweeter when this all happens after a crazy, busy walnut harvest.

The kids are being well taken care of by my incredible mother and thinking they are on vacation too.

Mahalo Mom!

Aloha my friends!

It's been a super two weeks of fishing, hiking and church family camp. But as always its good to be home.

Saddlebag Lake was our fishing, hiking destination. The weather was gorgeous and beat the valley's 100+ degree heat.

Many fish were talked into giving up.

Little Miss stayed behind in the cafe with Grandma, while Mike, me and the boys hicked up to upper Coness Lakes. Then while J, C & Mike fished, Z and I continued to hike a rock covered mountian to see what was on the other side. For perspective, as I snapped the above picture from the top of the mountain, Mike, J & C were fishing the pictured lake. Cool huh?

After a few days home, we headed to our church family camp which was by far the best we've ever attended. My Dad and Stepmom are now here for a week's visit.

And school? I'll have to get back to you on that.

Upon returning from Reno, the boys and Mike promptly pulled out the backpacking equipment and began preparing for a 2 night Father-Son backpacking trip in Kennedy Meadows/ Immigrant Forest.

They were invited by a college friend of ours Gary, who was also in our wedding (for those of you who remember, he was the tenor voice that sung ‘My Love is Deeper than a Holler, at the reception. Good Times!). They backpacked with a group of men with young children, J being the oldest one there. From what I am told, it was a good time, with only one incident of C getting a fish hook stuck in his finger,”past the barb Mom.”

After a good numbing soak in the ice chest, Mike was able to pull the hook from C’s finger. To his credit, C was setting down his pole to help a younger fisherman when the barb slipped into his finger. 

They returned home happy and smelly with lots of stories to tell; one of which  started with, "Mom, you won't believe what we ate!"

Good Times!

We're still here, playing hard and working hard.

We did a week at my parents. Skiing, eating and relaxing.

Anyone recognize this hot dogger?

These two just wouldn't give up ..... they're the two eldest of the guy in the above pic.

And here's my sweet 8 year old, shown' his stuff on the boogie board.

Captain No-Hands was darin' the driver with this move but ....

his wife was out there on a tube with him and there was no way the driver was going to pull one on her if he knew what was good for him.

And Little MIss slept through it all....

Some days just seem more serene than others. The kids generally dictate that flowing feeling when they move easily from one thing to the next. No bickering. Today is one of those days when I think, “Aahhhh, that’s nice.” Yes, I know it’s only 9:00 AM, but I’m thinking positive. I am thinking this will last. Hopeful thinking.

Generally this feeling follows a trip to my parent’s home in Reno, some time off from the usual.

Yesterday, we drove home from there in record time. Good traffic and only one pit stop made the time fly, as well as a good book on CD.

Mom & I worked on making a dress for Little Miss. C said he thought I already knew how to sew. I explained my lack of skill in a language I knew he’d understand, that of baseball. “It’s like this. I can play t-ball, I can play farm division. But I’m not yet good enough for minors. I need more coaching.” He smiled and nodded. He got it. Z grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures and left his little print on the corner.

My sister was there with her 5 year old and 9 month old. My kids love playing hard with their cousins.

About a half an hour from my parent's home, on our way home is a store my kids think is the happiest place on earth next to being in the great outdoors itself.

Little Miss works on her fish whispering at the tank, while her brothers look to replace some of their favorite fishing lures.

And of course, my meat lover begs to order up a sandwich at the deli. What will it be today? Bison? Elk? Ostrich? No, this day called for the familiar. Prime rib!

We're back! (Yes, we were gone. Again.) We vacationed at my parents house while they were on vacation themselves. Thanks Dad & Mom for another fabulous time in your very spacious, beautiful, accomidating home!

 Our friends Eric & Lisa carted their clan up to enjoy the snow with us.

I filled my shopping cup with a kindred spirit at the Mecca outdoor mall. (see top row, second from the left)

And relaxed, sipped coffee and discussed books, babies and boys with my friend.

We all got some baby love

 And a few left with sore muscles from climbing hills and sliding down them

The Dad's and Mom's got a Valentine's night dinner out including table side Caesar salad that I often dream about and then wake up and have to change the pillow case because I was drooling. Oh and we can't forget the Crème Brule. Love the Crème Brule.

Thanks EK family for a fabulous time! Good Times!

But that will be the last of our vacation's for a bit. Baseball practices start this week. Mike is once again coaching, but only one team.

Why only one team?

Why not Z's team and J & C's team?

Because ALL THREE BOY'S WILL BE ON THE SAME TEAM THIS SEASON! I am without a doubt the luckiest (and loudest) Mom/Scorekeeper ever. Ever.

We drove down south to redeem the kids’ Christmas presents, a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure. This trip was one for the memory books. The kids are cake to travel with and at a perfect age to enjoy all the rides. We had a blast with them, running from ride to ride. Not a moment was wasted.

We purchased 5 day passes for the price of the 3 day. The irony is we had the opportunity to go all five day’s but after 3 day’s of waiting in lines less than 10 minutes a ride, we rode everything we wanted to at least 2 -3 times, sometimes 4, sometimes 5. There was plenty of time to stop and chat with the Disney characters that were out and about and snap pictures, which was the most I have ever seen at one time.

Little Miss rode her first roller coaster. She was tall enough to ride just about everything. After going on space mountain, she jumped out, and took off running while yelling, "Let's go again!!" And of course, we all followed. 

 Food is always a wallet buster on these kind of trips. We tried to pack a filling lunch of foods that the kids don’t normally get to eat and save our money for one fun meal a day. We made deli meat and salami sandwiches on wheat rolls, cheese on bagel chips, fruit  and applesauce cups and for snacks bottled smoothies. I made two reservation's prior to our trip. One was to Ariels Grotto and the other for the Blue Bayou in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Both reservations were for 3 PM when our 11:30 AM lunch was wearing off. This left the dinner hour to ride rides when others were stopping to eat.

Ariels Grotto was the place to meet the Princess'.

Little Miss had a blast and the brother's obliged her for pictures with the Princess', one at a time.

The next day lunch at the Blue Bayou

On our day's off we spent time at the beach ......

We stayed in Carlsbad just outside San Diego, off the same exit as Legoland, 62 miles from Disneyland. Our place had a full kitchen and slept 7. There was an activity center that provided pool toys, beach toys and towels. The beach was just across the street within walking distance. On our days off from amusement parking, we swam, boogie boarded, body surfed, played pool and ping pong and putted on the putting green. We would without hesitation stay there again.

Now it's back to the books, day's below 60 degree's and time to talk about and scrapbook all of the good times we had!

Be back soon!

Home.

We made it. In spite, of the 8 bathroom stops we made in the last fours of the drive.

We didn't even unload. Seeing Grandma and Grandpa and decorating for Christmas were the first priority. And decorating is so much easier without all the stuff from vaction laying around. I was going to keep it simple. But I failed to realize just how helpful the boy's have become. They put out the villiage, decorated the tree and talked their Dad into letting them climb on the roof to put up lights.

It feels so good to be back in a king size bed (instead of a full), cooking over a 4 burner stove, building fires in the wood burning stove ….. home.

I didn’t have internet the last week and still want to post the last leg of our trip. We made the trip home in 3 day’s. 3.long.days. A 400 mile day, a 700 mile day and a 500 mile day.

The kids were great. Really great. Mike was great when he stopped on our way to Bandera at a Barnes and Noble to pick up the next 2 volumes of Louise L’Amore on CD.

 It made the drive all the more bearable.

This trip was a dream. A gift. I’m not a dreamer. It’s a bummer, I know. But this just means I am easily surprised and very grateful for small things which are big moments. Cotton growing beside the rode, dolphins riding the wake of a boat, snuggling up to hear Dad read to the kids, great weather, my brother and family, peace in the kids, southern food, simple living, and life together in a small cozy space.

God was so gracious to show us his beauty and strength in the country and the people. He  kept us safe and provided the means to make this trip possible. We didn’t stop, couldn’t stop thanking Him. Mike, in his prayers apologized for sounding repetitious.

Thank you Jesus for the memories, the means, the time and the safe travel. We are so grateful. So very grateful.

Bandera

 From Seguin we drove North West to Bandera, the Texas hill country.

Along a loud stretch of rode.

with intersting food choices. Puffy Taco's? What's a Puffy Taco? 

It seems towns like to call themselves the “Cowboy Capitol of the World”. Bandera, from our experience has come the closest to the truth of the title. The town attracts snowbirds and summer travelers. The dude and guest ranches keep the economy booming. In the good ol'days, Bandera was a stop for cowboy’s driving cattle up the Chisolm trial.  

We booked 2 day’s at Rancho Cortez, a dude ranch and fitness camp. This is the slow season for the area, and we were the only ones there for the dude ranch. There were two other people there for the fitness camp. One gentleman has been there for 9 weeks and lost 78 pounds. Impressive. All we lost was a sense of time and feeling in our backsides.

We hung out with the owner Larry, who gave us lessons in the arena, took us out to feed cattle and sang silly songs with us at the campfire.  Chris the ranch hand, led us on hour long trail rides. Jose, the cook, served up delicious cowboy meals, but for yours truly,  the non- beef/chicken eater, it was the fitness food. Beautiful, colorful scrumptious food.

Little Miss spent much of her free moments in the goat pen.

but her favorite, was riding Biggin'.

And Biggin' loved Little Miss

Cowboy in training

Trail riding

Saddle Class

Larry told us to hop in the back of the pick up, we were driving out to feed the cows. As we came through the gate, Larry started honking his horn and this mad rush of cattle comes running, Big monsterous horns and all.

Remembering the Alamo

The weather turned on us over night. The heater came on about 2 AM. This didn’t stop the die hard fisherman from suiting up for an early morning drop in the river.

No catch to brag about, but beauty to breathe in.

We spent the day in San Antonio in the Riverwalk and Alamo area. We saw the Alamo, ate, and did some Christmas shopping.

Little Miss was doing fine riding in the stroller, but by evening she began to feel feverish and started a seal like cough. Croup. I rubbed oils on her chest and back, diffused them into the air, gave her some ib prophin and prayed her air way stayed open. Except for some occasional coughing, she slept well. Thank you Jesus!

Lunch at the County Line on the Riverwalk. 

Horse drawn carriages sitting on a side street next to the Alamo.

Good-bye Galveston. You are much too far away. Your shell decorated beaches are breathtaking. Strange how the sun rises from the ocean horizon, unlike what we know at home on the West Coast. It’ll be awhile ‘til we see you again. But we will be back.

We followed the coast west, off the island, crossed a bridge to the main land and took the roads less traveled to Seguin. This may have taken us a little longer, or a lot longer considering the number of times we stopped. The countryside was speckled with small towns decorated for the season. Oak, palm and pecan trees scattered themselves on farms inhabited by cows, horses and plantation type homes.  We crossed over bayous like we’ve never seen before and breathed warm humid air.

Leaving one beauty for another. 

On the Guadelupe River in Seguin.

The RV park was a beauty, as long as you faced the river and didn’t need to use the shower/bathrooms. We did have full hook-ups, a very good thing.

Stats:

Gas:  $2.84 Yoakum, TX  

Miles traveled today: 266

Total miles traveled: 2801

Hours traveled: 4 hours 20 minutes

Average miles traveled per hour:  40. 82

# of times stopped: READ - 8 times!!!! Very unwise parents agreed to Icee’s early into the drive.

Turning 9 in Galveston

This is a little ceramic birthday cake we keep in the trailer. Perfect for an early morning wish. This boy has always seemed older than he actually is.  Smart and capable he's a worker by nature with a big heart. And an eater. In fact, the t-shirt he's wearing say's - Top of the Food Chain.

We brought gift's, "Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the pocket knife!"

We left the dock at 8 AM on a 4 hour charted fishing boat. No fish caught, bummer. The squid and sardine breakfast wasn't enticing enough. We were fishing for red & black drum and shark. There were lots of dolphins,  a sunken ship and cargo vessles to entertain us. The weather was cool but not cold. It was beautiful out on the bay.

Little Miss brought her own entertainment.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on the beach.

It was a great birthday day.

The kinda of fun that makes a 4 year old fall asleep at the Mexican Restaurant where we had appitizers for dinner, because we knew we'd be making a run for Ben & Jerry's ice cream. There is a store right on the beach front. We had never been to one before.

She did wake up for that. Smart girl.

Galveston

I know it's early, but come with me. I want to show you something, just outside.

This way.

Isn't it beautiful?

How about some football? The kids drew a field for us.

Where are the EK's when we need them?

Uncle Adam? Uncle Dan? Vander Veen's? Britton's? We miss you!

Wave jumping is fun!

Really fun!

No more museums. Can't.take.any.more.

We peeled ourselves away from the beach RV park we are staying at to get ourselves over to Space Center Houston. How can we be this close and not go?

So worth it. Kid friendly. We played and played and played.

We did learn about the space program.

And what it would be like to try and dock the shuttle onto the space station. Not so easy.

And a little bit about what it would be like to be an astronaunt.

J was choosen to be a stand-in-astronaut for the demonstration.

And look like one.

In the center area, just as we walked in they have an ever changing exhibit. This one was all about the circus and some of the science that can be learned from exploring it.

There was a bungy belt thing the boy's tried their acrobatic skills on.

J being hoisted up.

C is flippin' like a crazy boy

We ended our day with dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

Where the clowning around never ended.

*Please excuse the blury pics. My camera is starting to give out.

It’s a long drive from Arlington to Galveston. But it sure didn’t seem like it. We picked up some Louis Lamoure CD’s to listen to, featuring Chick Browdie the Texas Ranger. That made the time fly, listening and imagining cattle thieves, angry ranchers and Chick out there riding the range keepin’ the peace.

We drove through the cute town of Huntsville, home of the largest statue in the world erected for a political figure.

 Ol’ Sam Houston at 62 feet tall.

The town is quaint and at least has some classy people living in it.

Then there’s the not so classy – considering this is also where the hub of the TX prison system. They have a museum in case your interested. Oh and if you plan on quitting your day job you might want to check this out.

We stopped to fish in the Huntsville State Park.

 Just a warning, but we highly advise you keep your small pets leashed and away from the waters edge.

And if you’re trying to cast with a princess pole, hold on to it tight. Fishing a fishing pole out of the water in alligator territory is a little nerve racking, and embarrassing.

Stats:

Gas: High: $2.89 Arlington @ the race track

          Low: $2.89 Huntsville

Miles traveled today:  352

Total miles traveled: 2543

Hours traveled: 10 hours 30 minutes

Average miles traveled per hour:  we had priorites: fishing

# of times stopped: 4

 Texas Rangers baseball stadium

and the Legends of Baseball Museum and Learning Center, Arlington

For this baseball loving family it was a  ....... ball! We took a guided tour and then explored the museum and learning center.

In the Rangers' dugout

Press Box

"Dad"

"Ya?"

"How come the car's aren't pulling anything in the car pull lane?" (Carpool)

"Dad"

"Ya?"

"How come you don't cut your toenails?"

"Because I get better grip when I run barefoot."