California or Bust! I say that because i felt like I needed to go to California or I might bust. Ben had Scout camp for a full week and I don’t do well when Ben does’t come home at night. I can handle a night or two but five nights is hard. I get worn out and kids get put to bed early and wake up early and it makes for long days. So the perfect solution – – – go play with friends and family! Then the kids and I have lots of people to play with and missing Dad isn’t quite so bad 🙂 My plan worked perfectly. We played hard the whole week and I just loved spending time with my parents and with Kevin and his family and Michael and Shannon were both home and I got to see lots of friends and the kids Always had someone to play with.

Sunday Dinner at my parents house - nothing quite like going home to the only house you ever lived in as a kid. I love it there.

On Sunday June 10th LaNell and I loaded up the kids and drove to Oroville.

Rose stretching her legs at the gas station.

We only stopped twice! Once in Elko and then in Wells. Raymond was screaming hungry when we rolled up to Lan’s house but we got there. And we got to my parents house right in time to have Sunday dinner with my mom, dad, Michael, Shannon, Kevin and Liz! yum.

Shannon played with all the kids. She's fun.

Our trip could be summed up in 2 words Driving and Swimming. That is what we did. Monday we spent in Oroville swimming at Becky’s with my mom, Shannon, Liz and her kids. We had a BBQ that night and played games. Tuesday we drove to Walnut Creek to play with Erica and Than and kids. They have a pool and a community pool that we went to everyday.

Than and Erica's pool! the big kids swam non stop - and the gate was wonderful for keeping the little ones out.

Rose and I in the community pool. She is a Water Lover.

Packer jumping in. Erica convinced them all to go off the diving board!!

Cali, Camry, the snorkel and the baby pool - this is where I spent most of my time.

We played in the mornings, went to the pool all afternoon and crashed at night. I loved it. The kids always jump right back into their best friends status and just play hard. I told Erica that I came to her for three things: Swimming, Boggle, and Delicious Food. We were successful on all three.

Boggle is fun! I don't know why Than didn't want to play with us??

tired kids

Rose and Gentry are such cuties.

Angelee and LaNell drove down and played with us on Thursday. It was fun to see them.

Raymond and Liam got to be friends

I packed up and drove back to my parents house on Thursday Evening. The kids fell asleep as soon as we got on the road. I got home before 10pm and stayed up super late laughing and playing with my mom, dad, Shan and Mike.

RACKO! i did not win

Then on Friday we went swimming again – that IS what you do when it is 90+ in The Ville. Some friends came to swim in the morning and then that evening after dinner the Barth’s and Ford’s and Mikila all came for more games.

Anika came swimming so Ray and Thomas got to play with the other Rosie!

8 man Nertz is intense. Kevin and Mikila and the same game table is also intense!

It was a whirlwind trip and I came home exhausted. Exhausted but Happy. We drove all day Saturday. This time we had 4 stops including Rose throwing up and a McDonalds meal. LaNell talked the entire time to California and back – she really was super fun to drive with. I had to give my computer a bath before I could blog because Rose watched Blues Clues on it for a good 5 hours on the drive home : I think Benji is only in 1 picture – He is always on the go so I never catch him with the camera anymore. We Got to see Ben/Dad when we got home and all was right in my world.