Camping 2009

Our camping trip was awesome! Besides a 6 hour drive, it was at the most amazing, lush, green, huge tree-filled park. We stayed at Big Basin State Park, and I would totally recommend it, although we will probably not go back.
Monday, we loaded up the car, and made good time down to Pacifica to see Rich's g-pa and have lunch with him. Pulling the trailer, we made it in 2 hours, and the lunch break was appreciated by all.


After a quick (2hour) lunch, we potty-ied up, and piled in the van. We made it to Santa Cruz 2 hours later, and then to our campsite about an hour after that. The kids were wiped out, and I was pretty tired of sitting as well.

(This is what we call "Kid-Land". All their toys, some books, etc set up in a cute little play tent.)
We set up camp, enjoyed a yummy dinner of hamburgers grilled over the campfire, and took a walk. The place was amazing. So quiet, and still, and just filled with old growth redwood. Such a work of God's art!
Tuesday the kids started the day off right with a breakfast of champions. Toasted Marshmallows!
Daddy was pretty nice to let them do that so early in the morning. Mommy was still hiding in the sleeping bag, so that is why he got away with it, I think. We hung out all day at the site, riding bikes, taking walks, reading magazines (that would be me) and just really enjoying being out in nature. We had the entire campground almost all to ourselves.

The "pets" that the kids found on one of the walks. I allowed them to keep them for one day, and after the kids went to bed, I set them both free.

Wednesday we got back in the car, and took the dreaded one hour drive back down the windy road to Santa Cruz. We hung out at the beach and boardwalk all day, and the kids loved it.


Cannon had a minor freak out on the beach when a piece of seaweed wrapped around his little foot, but other than that, there were no tears all day! I was so proud of them! They got to go on the kiddie rides that were open, and they loved the speed and thrill of them. Brynn even got to go on the pirate ship ride, and although Cannon was super disappointed to not be tall enough to ride it, he cheered her on from the side! Brynn said that it made her tummy feel like it was dancing in her throat. Rich said that she had nervous laughter the entire time the were moving! I can't wait until we all get to do the roller coasters together!

We had a yummy dinner at the Fosters Freeze on our way back up the hill to the campground, showered up, and watched a movie together in our jammies.
Thursday, Rich took the kids to the little creek that ran right behind our campsite. They played in the mud, fed the ducks, and splashed in the water while I packed up the campsite.

It worked out perfectly! We got back in the car, and took off on our 5 hour journey home.

Our tradition when we go on trips with just our family is to pick out a rock, and paint it when we get home. I just got the one from last year done, and now I have to add this one to my "to-do" list. The rocks go out in our backyard, and help remind us of the time that we spent together enjoying God's creation.