Ski Week??

In February in Park City, the schools (and our daycare) take a week off.  It is called "Ski Week".  We decided to take a break from skiing and...go to the beach!!  Pedro (our new camper) heard Trey (Renae and Kaya's WV camper van) was willing to make the trip to San Diego for the week, so we hopped in!

It is about a 13 hour drive...which sounds and could easily be, daunting with three kids under ten and three adults who really don't love to sit.  However, it felt pretty easy with all the distractions of friends, changing cars, and the plentiful stops for treats, the bathroom, and meals.

After a quick stop for some shut-eye in the Mojave, we made it!!  I LOVE arriving on the coast.

Got right into the treasure hunting.  Found 4 types of kelp.  Aren't they beautiful?

A family that wears wet suits together...

Ruby is getting barreled! Oh my!

I love you, California.

Cool photo credit to Renae here.

Sunset at Swami's

Morning walk to VG doughnuts.  VG stands for....Very Good.  They were a hit.

Pedro lookin beachy with his surf board accessories. 

We went to La Jolla for the day.  Were going to rent kayaks and snorkel, but things kinda fell through- cold weather/water, waning desires, whatever.  

These two.  Like sisters.  SO sweet and cute all week- like two peas in a pod.

And really, if you aren't  going to kayak, why not have a macchiato.  I think that is what that thing is.

And then we found the sea lions!

They were everywhere!  And you could walk right up to them!

Our only group shot.  Would travel with this group again in a heartbeat. 

My little man.

More kelp.

Back at camp.  The view aint bad.

REALLY aint bad!  Amazing in fact.

One morning Renae and I got a turn to go out surfing.  I did not do any surfing.  In fact, I felt lucky to make it back to shore alive.  Chip and Kyle got a few good laughs watching us try to not die out there.

I wish I looked like this guy. Butter.

Camp.

Shaka.  These homies are for reals.

Dad took Ruby and Owen Surfing.  They still like to tell the story about when they went "down and under" the wave.  "It was scary, but okay".

Kids in wetsuits are the cutest thing ever!

Sweet.

Kyle, our new friend in Encinitas, showed us around town, surfed (body surfed actually) with Chip a few times, and even gave us a tour of the night sky with his incredible telescope at his house.  We saw the stripes on Jupiter!  Pretty special.

Ahhh!  Look out, Owen!

Friends.

Ruby and Kaya could not get enough of playing in the waves.  They could have jumped, blocked, and  floated over and through waves for hours if Ruby's lips would only have remained red instead of blue after about 20 minutes.  I had to drag her chattering jaw out of there to prevent hypothermia.  And Kaya was never cold.  I have never met a kid who is as warm blooded as Kaya.  I am envious.

Pacific Beach for our last day.  Fed the birds, had ice cream on the board walk, and checked out the pier.  Next time, surf camp for mom here.  I need it!

Kaya mentioned on the way out that she really loves IHOP, pronounced IHOPY.  So after another quick night of rest in the Mojave on our way home, we stopped in Barstow for breakfast.  We had a LONG day in the car ahead of us, but Chip didn't care.  He just knew it would make Kaya's day, which it did, and I am sure we all survived the rest of our trek home because of the sugar and carbs ingested first thing on this day.  Thanks, Chip!  And, thanks Renae for being such a rock star!  She drove the whole way home without a break from staring at the road.  Incredible.  This was an adventure we hope to repeat often....like twice a year.  

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."