California Vacation

The Sunday after the 4th, the kiddos and I drove out to California for a mini vacation. This trip was my first semi-solo Arizona to California trip. I wasn't nervous about the drive itself,  but I wasn't looking forward to dealing with bathrooms breaks alone with two kiddos and our dog.  And I knew that it would be hot, possibly windy with a high chance of thunderstorms across the desert. 

The drive was uneventful, and we arrived safely. 

This trip coincided with our home church's VBS week. Prior to driving out, I did register and plan on attending VBS. My kids love attending VBS and were excited to go. VBS this year did not disappoint. I was a little worried that my kids would feel out of the loop being gone for six months, but nope...they both jumped in and loved every minute of being back at our home church. 

We've been home for about a week and the kids are still singing VBS songs and sharing what they learned with everyone. 

Tuesday we spent the morning with my parents. 

Lucas has been reading the "Billy and Blaze" books and was looking forward to riding a "pracing pony." My Mom gently suggested that maybe we should start with less pacing and more basic riding skills...not as exciting...but safer. After having a mini riding lesson Lucas did work his way up to a trot. He was smiling from ear to ear. 

I'm not sure what Alara enjoyed more...horseback riding or riding the quads. Alara loves horseback riding. I think she would have stayed on Rembrandt (the pony) all afternoon. While riding, she talked the whole time...I'm not sure if my mom could follow everything Alara said...there was a lot of happy chatter going on. 

My parents have push quads...the kind that only good when pushed or by using gravity. 

After a fun, but exhausting morning we said our good-byes and heading back to VBS. I wasn't sure if the kiddos would make it through the program, but they got a second wind.  Needless to say, after such a busy day we got home from church and both kids went right to sleep.