Sorensen-Clarke Surf Camp 2012

 The Surfboard. Looks light and easy to carry.....not so much and even more difficult when the wind blows - you get pictures like this.

He's a good sport :)

 So my mom's brother and family have lived in California forever. My cousins are surfers - your typical California surfer Dudes. :) When I told them we were coming, they offered to come teach us a few surfing techniques and cook us dinner. Well it turned into this: a surfing quiz, awesome shirts made and a few more highlights to come - you gotta keep reading. Don't worry I didn't post the 200 pictures I took of everyone surfing.

 Back: Cammy, Kraig, Jeff, Dad, Jim

Larson, Uncle Dennis, Larson (holding one twin), Mom (holding the other twin), Jonathan, Kristin, me, Steven, Rozann, Ryan, Rustin, Matt (holding the twins older sister), Aunt Suzie

 switching out photographers - Rozann for Micah on the end.

 Steven is ready and was easy to spot in the ocean and mass of black wetsuits

 just funny.

Sorensens are good in the river, the lake or somewhere where we can waterski. The ocean is a whole other world! The 'waves' were not great and came quickly. Micah caught a 'wave' and showed us how it's done, then he came to help us to at least stand up. :) First group out - Kraig, Jim, Jeff, Steven, Rustin, Ryan, Micah, Lyric and Larson (2nd cousins - also amazing surfers!).

 Kraig came in and I went out - very nervous. I don't like to get my face wet and well the salt water was less than appealing to get in my face. It looked so easy and I barely made it out there before Micah came over to help me get past the first set of waves. Seriously so much harder than I thought!! While I was out, someone was supposed to be taking pictures and this is what happened. I almost got up at least 3 times - Micah was helpful giving the board a shove so we could get going. It's hard to paddle. 

So no pictures of me 'surfing' instead we have:

 Steven's toe - stung by a sting ray

 my beautiful cousin Cammy and her 4 beautiful babies under the age of 4!

Then there's this series where I look like I'm getting the lecture of a lifetime from Rustin with Jeff coming to my rescue. While Kristin, Micah and Kraig head back out. (btw - wetsuits are SOOOOO not flattering - on anyone!)

 Why am I being lectured - well I'm not at least I don't remember that part. Here's the story: Micah and I were headed out to catch a wave and we stopped to watch Rustin 'surf' by. Well I wasn't holding on to the board and didn't think much of it - we'd just go up and back down. It was like the scene from a cartoon or really bad family home video where the person is tied to the rope and the boat speeds off while the rope quickly unwinds and that person gets yanked off the dock! The board went and because I was tethered to it, I followed - I was scared! I thought for sure I was going to die in 2 feet of water. Before we had gone out, Matt (older cousin) said (in jest of course) 'If you feel like you're drowning, STAND UP!' That thought came to me and I struggled to get my feet under me as I was still tethered to this stupid surfboard. I finally come up to hear Micah ask me if I'm okay and then say 'your board is broken'. Ow.....no wonder my head hurts. The combination of the waves and being a little out of it, I was very unstable. Micah picked me up and carried me out of the water - he's always been one my favorites. :) I finally made it out and this is where the pictures come in. Rustin was telling me I should go sit down.....I think.

 Kristin was the one who stood up the longest - there she goes!!

 I have no idea who that is, but it looks fun!

 Here comes Rustin and Micah because......

 Rustin got stung by another sting-ray

'Hang ten'

 Me and the broken board - a rental mind you and the guy didn't charge us for breaking it...thanks.

 And thank heavens for google and phones with that capability: Rustin, Larson and Steven soaking their stung feet (all 3 stung by sting-rays!!) in as hot of water as they could stand as Rozann went back and forth getting more water for them. Crazy!!!
Oh and this sister was there too - some how she manages to never get in the water......

End of the tour

 This little guy is in the back room - called a Flamboyant something-or-other. It changes colors and like a scrolling billboard, the colors scroll along it's body. It 'walks' on those 'gorilla' looking front feet. Anywho - no flash photography around it or it will die.....bizarre.

 Is it a weed or a fish??? Awesome camouflage!

 Waiting for the rest of our group - Arlo was telling a great story. :) Arlo, Caryn, Dad, me, Ryan.

 This is the entrance to the Aquarium - a LIFE-size replica of a blue whale and it's 1-2 month old baby!

 Crab legs anyone???

 The otters - chillin' on a pile of ice

 'Just bounce on the top and you won't get stung' - Dory, Finding Nemo

 Translucent jelly-fish

 Petting the sharks and devilrays

 Here's me - the water is deeper than it looks - had to put my arm in up to my elbow. I thought to myself 'I don't really want to touch one of these sharks all hanging out by the edge. I'll just reach in and pretend......Fine, I'll touch it, ew!!'

 Laughing because I actually touched it and was totally grossed out and a little terrified. :)

 We did NOT pet these guys, but they were in the neighboring tank. Look to the bottom left and see that chainsaw looking thing....now look at the next picture - that chainsaw belongs to this guy.

End of the tour: Arlo, Jonathan, Rustin and me

 There was one more exhibit by the front we checked out before leaving - touch a jellyfish?? okay why not. :) This place is so AMAZING! Great for kids of all ages - educational and fun! All around there are young teenagers in green shirts standing by some hands-on experiments. We talked to one girl who was 14, she gave us a quiz and answered several questions for us. She was so confident and was looking forward to volunteering more as she got older. A great place for kids to volunteer and get a head start on their future careers. Truly a once in a life-time opportunity and each sea creature we saw, we'd turn and say 'oh the kids would love this, we've got to come back!'

 Thank you Uncle Arlo and thank you to the Aquarium of the Pacific!!