California Trip pt.#2

Spring break is over and tomorrow we go back to our normal routine. This week we drove to California and spent time with friends and family. It's been fun, but I think we are all ready to get back on schedule.

This trip home was our first since moving, and it was a busy one.

We arrived in California around midnight Wednesday night. Thursday was packed tight with a breakfast brunch, play dates and a visit from my sister. Friday we spent the day at the Safari Park and in the evening I had a friend come over. Sabbath morning we went to church, then drove out to see my parents.  Sunday my husband had a few things to do while I enjoyed a quiet morning at Dadi and Dada's before packing up and driving home to Arizona.

It was good to be back. I think it was just what our family needed, time together, in a familiar place surrounded by loving family and friends.

On Friday, Dadi and Dada treated our family with a trip to the Safari Park. The weather was perfect and it was a fun day. I loved watching the kiddos play with their Grandparents. In this picture, Alara was soaking up the attention chatting away with her two favorite people. I think Lucas had already run ahead with his Daddy. The kiddos wore themselves out!

My mom and brothers joined us for part of the day. My kiddos had a blast playing with the boys. Lucas is right smack in the middle age-wise between my Mom's middle and youngest. It is fun watching the boys grow up together.

The Safari Park's annual butterfly exhibit was in full swing during our visit. I love this exhibit. Lucas was so happy that a butterfly landed on his shoulder. He stood very still for as long as possible until the butterfly flew off. Alara on the other hand did not like having butterflies land on her. When one finally did she shirked and shook it off. Ice cream seemed to help her recover from the experience. 

I loved watching these two play. After a busy day, we drove home with two tired but happy kiddos and four tired but happy adults. 

And the week isn't even over yet...

California Trip pt#1

Documenting our family adventures is one of my favorite things to do. 

*sigh* 

These two are growing up too fast. 

Sabbath afternoon we celebrated an early Easter with my parents. In my humble opinion, there is nothing cuter than a baby on an Easter egg hunt. Watching Alara hunt for her Easter eggs was adorable. She was so excited to find those colorful eggs.

I'm so glad that Lucas still enjoys hunting Easter eggs as well. His egg hunt went a little faster than Alara's, but he too enjoyed searching high and low for those small colorful eggs.

In addition to the egg hunt, my Mom always includes a treasure hunt for each child. Lucas was so excited that this year he could actually read most of his clues. He asked to keep the clues as part of the treasure.

I'm thankful that we got to spent today with my parents. My mom really went out of her way to create a fun Easter party for the kiddos and she did an amazing job.

This ends our California vacation. It was good to visit home, but even better to go back to our new home in Arizona.

Till next time.