As you can tell from the pictures, we stuck to the old version of Knott's that I knew from when I was a kid--panning for gold, etc. We hate roller coasters.The next part of our California adventure, was a great surprise! The parents of my friend Lorin were so generous and gave us a week at their time-share in San Clemente. I love that place! (the time-share condo and the town). Look at the view we had from our place...
It was such a nice time--every morning I got up and went walking a long the beach. I'm missing some pictures from this part of the trip that I will have to post later, but so many thanks to Mrs. & Mr. Williams (and Lorin and Jill) for letting us stay there!Here's what Atticus did while in San Clemente...
Atticus' friend Ransom got to come and stay the night with us and they skateboarded and boogie boarded all day long!Here's what Chris did all day long while we were there--he went to this beach called "Old Man's" where all the long boarders go.
Here's what Tiare did while we were there...got a feather in her hair!
Of course while in So Cal, we had to eat at Wahoo's Fish and Tacos. Here's Chris eating and watching surf videos (note the cool Paul Frank cup).
My hipster son and husband!! Atticus is wearing a NEFF shirt that we had no idea was SO popular until we started seeing them in every store in Southern California. Sean Neff was one of Chris' former students and he used to give us bags of NEFF shirts and hats--we hadn't realized that the brand had taken off and become so popular. So, turns out Atticus is hipper than he knew. Like his glasses? He bought them with his own money.
Then, the miracle happened and our sweet friend Courtney gave Atticus a surfboard for his birthday...
Do you see the love in his eyes?Atticus had a fun birthday party with all of his little friends in Laguna Nigel...
Then, when we got home to Utah, Atticus had another birthday celebration with a night of dinner, fun, and a movie with Aunt Sole. We played at the new toy store in town too...
While we were home in Utah we got to see Cyra and Lulu which was so much fun! The river of run-off was, perhaps is still with the amount of snow we still have, running at Rock Canyon Park bowl, so we had to go play!
Look at that Utah sky! I tell you, the only other place besides Utah is France if you want to see such beautiful clouds!
The girls loving Tiare...Lulu said, "Tiare, I love you morer!"
I don't have any pictures from the day that Atticus and I took the dogs to the river in the park, but we had so much fun! We met up with some friends there who had brought a little blow-up dingy boat, and so the kids got to float down the river on the dingy. It was fun!Atticus' official Utah birthday party was a blast too! How could it not be with 12 boys, 3 pizzas and crazy bread, soda, drum stick ice cream cones, and playing in the pool?! Oh yeah and great gifts!
Tiare made all of these amazing rings at Achievement Days at church. She really is the craftiest girl I know! I'm telling you she did not get it from me!! I am wearing one of the rings that she made while I am up here in Canada. I have already gotten complements on it and promptly said that my 11 year old daughter made it!
My lovely book club ladies had an amazing Friday Night Lights finale party that was oh so fun even if I was only able to stay a little while. But even a little of Tim Riggins is enough to put me in a good mood for days!!! Texas Forever!!! (If you haven't seen the show you had better just Netflix it right now and get started!!)
Chris went to New York for a conference, and so the kids and I enjoyed all of our naughty food selections for dinner that can only be made while the food snob is out of town...
Cup-a-noodles and ice cream for dinner--oh yeah!So after multiple birthday celebrations, the actual day of Atticus' birth arrived and his Cub Scout leaders gave him a surprise birthday party...
What a lucky little boy!!!
Brother and Sister Christensen are amazing Scout leaders! Sister Christensen should go in to business selling boy scout birthday cakes I think!These past four weeks have been filled with fun, and now I am sitting alone in my dorm room at the University of Alberta, Canada thinking about what a lucky mom and wife I am to have such a fun family life and what a lucky scholar I am to have two weeks to do nothing but learn, write, and think deep thoughts with no interruptions. This is a good balance!
