Southern California Trip Part 1

 

Zoe and Keira after the birthday party.

  In July, we went to Southern California for a week to celebrate the 90th birthday of Kevin's grandmother and attend the first ever family reunion on his mother's side of the family.  We left on  Friday afternoon and headed down to St George where we spent the night.  The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast before going swimming with the kids.  This is a big treat for them as they love the water, but because Zoe has had tubes for the past  few years we have stayed away from most pools except when traveling.

 


I asked what they were doing and I was told

"plotting to do something to Uncle Marty"

 

Afterward we continued our journey to Redlands, California where the birthday festivities were being held that evening.  This was our first real chance to test out the new GPS that Kevin got for Father's Day. It was great!  We had taken it with us to Lake Powell but pretty much knew most of the roads.  In California we had no idea where we were going and having the GPS was awesome!  The birthday party on Saturday night turned out wonderful.  We got to know everyone and had yummy BJ's Pizza and treats.  It was sooooo hot!  I think Redlands was about 105 the day we were there.  It cooled off in the evening but not by very much, so after the party we headed back to the hotel and went swimming with everyone.  

On Sunday, we attended church before heading down to Old Town San Diego to check out the Mormon Battalion Museum with Kevin's sister and her family.  The girls thought it was great to spend the whole day with their cousins, which makes me laugh because these same cousins live only 1/2 mile away from us and we see them all the time, but they were still so excited to be together, it's cute.  

The Museum was really interactive and fun for the kids.  The pictures on the walls talked and you moved from room to room in the presentation, learning all about the people who were part of the battalion.  One room was like a wooded camp area, another was full of soldier gear where we learned that some sayings come from firing a musket such as "flash in the pan" and "lock, stock, and barrel".  Afterward there was out outdoor area where the kids could wash clothes on a washboard, pretend to fire bricks, pump water and pan for gold.  The weather was considerably cooler next to the ocean and it was a perfect way to spend a Sunday.  We headed to San Mateo to set up camp for the next few days and get ready for some time at the beach.