California wrap-up

 a sweet note from Lucas so we'd remember him.

 this guy caught a couple small sharks - one stuck him in the hand with it's tail - ouch!!

 Surfers waiting for the perfect wave. They'd sit out there for a long time waiting, then surf a little way, then paddle back out and wait some more.

 playing the train game

 looks like trouble with fire....caryn, jeff, rustin and ryan

 breakfast one morning....I was still sleeping. :)

 oh there I am - no room at the table if you're late.

 kraig, stephanie, rozann, rustin, steven, caryn, jim

kristin, jonathan, jeff and I were the last ones to leave. We were their taxi, so we at at Ruby's on the pier, then walked around some of the local shops and headed to the airport.

 Couldn't pass up the chance to pick up some new moves form these guys - see the camera on the other end of the court - they're recording themselves to check their form!

 a peaceful and relaxing drive home. A great trip and can't wait for the next one.

Dinner with the Clarkes

The same cousins who 'taught' us how to surf were kind enough to invite us to church, then dinner afterwards with all the fam. They were late for church because Micah (the one who was helping us in the water) - his wife had baby #2!

Micah also found a lovely gem of a video from a Clarke family reunion (my mom's family) from 1984!! I was 5 years old. The fashion and the personality was all there - hilarious!

We enjoyed a delicious meal and the solar eclipse.

 Taking pictures of the eclipse:

 I got it, did you get it??

 This little one is hilarious and extremely feisty for a 4 year old. :) She'd go to take a picture and if she didn't approve your spot or look on your face, she'd move the camera, frown at you, tell you to move or smile. Too funny. Scroll down for more of her photography.

 Suzie, Dennis, Mom, Dad

 Stephanie, Kraig, Matt, Dad, Ryan. Matt was explaining some his tattoos and how he had put his first wife's name on there, then they got divorced, so he got it covered up. They got back together, he put her name above the one he had covered, separated and again and now has 2 'cover-up' tattoos....lesson learned there.

 Not amused by the above group - she chose Rustin to take a picture of.

 then her mom who quickly redirected her to everyone else again.

 she loved Ryan

 Me and Cammie

Dodgers v. Cardinals (St.Louis)

 A beautiful view of downtown LA - Jeff's mission days were spent here - view from Dodger Stadium parking lot (Jeff took a lot of the photos on our trip)

 OUT! We were so close - brought my glove to catch a foul ball....no such luck.

 A family that poses together, stays together?? We have a lot of camera happy people in this family - with their phones too. I love this next photo. This is my cousin Mandy's son - Connor. He's a BIG baseball fan and was patiently waiting for that foul ball to come. Can you see the visions in his head of him one day playing out there?! Just like his Grandpa Arlo - he's a natural athlete.

 who knows what she's showing him - most likely something on facebook.

 Steven, Rozann, Stephanie, Kraig, Jim

 Derek, his son and friend, Uncle Arlo, Mandy, Sydney - bring on the Dodgers!! Thanks Arlo for the amazing seats!

 Rozann had big dreams of being on the jumbo tron - Stephanie was giving out pointers for how to do the 'sprinkler'......alas no screen time, but there may be a video out there - haha!

 DODGERS with the W!!

 

It then took us about 30 minutes to figure out how to get out of the stadium, through the parking lot to get to the car - we had to go up the stairs to get out....it's was perfect weather with perfect company!