Day 47 ~ Carmel

I think Carmel has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I was unable to upload my pictures today but will tomorrow, because it is truly a majestic place.



I figure with this being our last day, my husband would not be up for going anywhere, but he surprised us by taking the kids and me to Carmel. It had to be 70 degrees and the sky was blue. We walked around the shops and stopped for coffee and treats, and I swear the smile on my face was so big people probably thought I was up to no good. Everyone around on the streets would smile and say hi and comment, "Isn't it a beautiful day?" We would agree because honestly it was the thing that you were saying over and over again in your head, "This is such a beautiful day!" So many were out walking their pets and we happened to run into a horse dog. I call it that because it had to be the biggest dog I have ever seen in my life. White and fluffy and sweet as could be. The girls happily petted the dog and it would just turn and nuzzle them and lick their hands.



After a walk around the town we headed down to the beach and parked and we all played in the sand and chased waves. The waves were so powerful and the crash of them on the beach sand seemed to shake the earth. It was nothing less than beautiful. It had been 7 years since I set foot on that beach and as we drove away I promised myself I would never wait 7 years to return.

Day 46 ~ Santa Cruz

Today my husband and I spent some time looking through the local shops in Santa Cruz. This was my first time and all I can say is I can not wait for summer!!! The weather was outstanding and I was able to wear a T-shirt and shorts. Back home I would be in pants and a sweatshirt. Although I do love Oregon, you can't deny the Cali love. My husband and I both grew up close to the beach, and although he is from NorCal, and I am from SoCal, the beach just brings a smile out in both of us. It is hard to believe tomorrow is our last day.

We also watched a new movie tonight and laughed our butts off. Couples Retreat was hilarious and with my in-laws 60 inch TV, it was just as good as a movie theater. We made popcorn, and had candy, and enjoyed one of our last nights here. I have to say I am pretty lucky to have the in-laws I do. I hear so many horror stories of peoples in-laws being a little on the crazy side, but mine are pretty fabulous.

New shops with a new movie was a pretty great way to spend the day. Tomorrow is our last day and I plan on enjoying it and the sun as much as possible.

Day 45 ~ Lover's Point

Today the family headed out to Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. It was a beautiful, perfect day.

I haven't been to Monterey in 7 years. It is a beautiful place. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and we all just looked around taking in the beauty of the scenery. People from all around the world come to this place for its beauty, and when you get here and just look around, you see why.



After we sucked in as much ocean air as we could, we went and had lunch with the whole crew. Can you come to this place and not have seafood, I think not. I ordered fried calamari with cocktail sauce and it was so good. I wish it was labeled a vegetable so I could have it every day. It was that good. We have been enjoying ourselves so much on this trip, but we only have a few more days and it will come to an end. I am going to make sure theses last few really count!!!

Day 44 ~ A Day of Family

Today was an awesome day. It was not about just me doing something new, it was about all of us doing something new.

My husband got to go mountain biking, something he enjoys more than anything else. He hasn't been able to do this for over a year and a half and not only that, but got to go with his brother and one of his best friends. The girls spent the day with their cousins riding scooters and playing hide and seek on 3 acres of what I like to call Narnia, aka Grandpa's gardens. They were always too little for these things before, but now were able to join in the big kid activities and loved it. I got to spend the day visiting with my sister in law, one of the best sister in laws in the world. She is so inspiring and a go getter, and being around her makes me feel like I can do anything.

Last but not least we got to sit and have dinner with my husbands entire family and eat skirt steak and delicious food, my amazing mother in law cooked.

At the end of the day, I look around and think, how lucky I am. In one day we all did something new, and I wish today was an every day thing.

Day 43 ~ The Beach

My husband and I grew up near the beach, we have spent many summer days laying on the sand. There is nothing like listening to the sound of waves, and feeling the sand between your toes. I haven't been to the beach in 3 years and today we changed that.



Today my family and my brother in law's family headed to the beach. When we first set out it was sprinkling, but by the time we arrived on the sand, the sun was shining. The kids went crazy running back and forth and chasing the waves. We collected sea shells and rocks and played in the sand. This was Kyndall's first time to the beach and she sat and grabbed handfuls of sand at a time and would chuck them. You couldn't help but laugh. The smell of the ocean can be amazing at times, and the sound gives such a sense of comfort and piece of mind. I just sat there for awhile and watched my husband with the girls and smiled. I can honestly say I was so happy and so full of joy, I felt almost overwhelmed. To be there with my all my family was so much fun. The beach is a beautiful place and I am so glad we went.

PS I will be added photos tomorrow, words really can't describe the beauty of the day!

Day 42 ~ 2725

2725 Princeton Court is where it all began. It was my apartment while I attended college and made new friends, it was where my husband asked me to marry him, it is where we spent the first 2 years of our married life, and it is where we brought our oldest daughter home from the hospital. That apartment holds a lot of memories, a lot of very good memories. Our new thing for the day was visiting my old campus and visiting our old place.

I haven't been back to my old campus at CSUMB since I graduated. It was so great to drive around and see the new buildings and see how the campus has changed. It brought back so many wonderful memories. When I graduated and left, I realized I had no memorabilia with my school's logo, and I always planned on going back to change that, so that is what I did. I bought a coffee mug and I sit this morning drinking from it, feeling pretty good. It's almost like it says "Hey, I was there, I graduated, and I rock!" We also took our oldest and showed her where she spent the first year of her life. It brought back so many memories and I couldn't help but tear up, but only because I was so happy to have experienced all that I did. It was a good time a life. It was the first time I was away from home and it really forced me to grow up and experience life as an independent woman. I really grew up those 3 years, and they have helped make me the girl I am today. After touring the campus and our old apartment, we took the kids to a park, and they had the best time climbing trees, laughing and swinging. It was an AWESOME day!

One other amazing thing for the day was after a 4 interview process, my husband was offered a new job. I can not tell you the happiness and relief we feel. It is something he is very excited about and it will allow him to take care of our family. You can imagine the smile on his face. I truly believe this will be one of our best years yet to date!

Day 41 ~ A Road Trip

Today our new thing was a 15 hour road trip, I am half dead, lost 75% of my hearing and am seeing double, but we made it.

This morning we left very early and set out to Monterey. We saw trees, trees, trees, snow, crazy fog, eucalyptus trees, farm land, olive trees, orange trees, and a hitch hiker with a drum. I listened to my husband have conversations with drivers in the comfort of his truck, although they couldn't hear him, he still explained what the were doing wrong and why they need to get the BEEP out of the way. Of course with 3 little girls we made umpteen stops to use the restroom, but over all, the drive went well. At least for the first 13 hours. The last two were almost painful. It went from "When will we get there?" every 30 minutes to, "Are we there yet?" every 5. I thought the two oldest were going to scratch each others eyes out and their screaming came to an all time high. Then I started thinking, maybe a little competition will work, so I challenged them to the good old, quiet contest. Who ever stays quiet the longest wins! That worked for all of about 15 minutes, but those 15 minutes were wonderful. Once we arrived it was so great to see the smiles on every ones faces. The 15 hours of driving was well worth it. I am so excited for the next week and the things we will see and do. Stay tuned in for more adventures in Monterey!

Our new thing for the day was a 15 hour road trip, and I can say I am happy that we arrived!