Summer trip part 2

This is just one of the star fishes we found in the tide pools near Morror Bay. Isn't this just so beautiful? I could live here forever! If God can create this on earth just think how amazing heaven will be!

We headed up Highway 1 coastal view... let me tell you this is an awesome drive to do at least once in your life!

This is the famous Pebble Beach golf course and the 17 mile drive that takes about 2 hours. We couldn't figure out how to escape to the exit. We were kinda done looking at the beach by this time. The car got a little cranky. We were headed to the redwoods in Santa Cruz area to camp for one night. Again more amazing sites... this time trees. We left the tent top off just to sleep. Waking up to the tall trees was breath taking. I just love this about camping.

We had to drop our oldest to the Oakland airport for band camp so we did a drive through trip of San Francisco, literally we went over the Golden Gate Bridge two times, drove past the Warf, and then over the Oakland Bridge. We saw Alcatraz through the window and saw a trolley car. Guess it just wasn't our thing so we headed out to Yosemite.

Part 3 Yosemite, the final leg.

Part 1- Coastal Trip

This summer we threw abandon in the air and took a family trip which I had planned in January. (The trip was scheduled for July in which we ran out of funds, but decided what the heck let's just eat ramen for the next 3 months.) So we camped in a tent for 13 glorious days (except for the 103 degree in/un (?)glorious day in nowhere California.) We started our trip in Malibu Creek State Park. The opening scene of Mash was filmed here.

It was so cool visiting Muscle Beach. And yes we ate ice cream while watching all the people working out. What can I say, it was hot and a loooong walk to the actual beach.

2. Camping stop...MY FAVORITE OF THE WHOLE TRIP!!! Morror Bay state park. This was a beautiful place that we did not get enough time to explore. I want to go back and stay at least 10 days!! We did go to a farmers market in SLOW, to THE ROCK, museum, salt water taffy candy place, see otters and amazing jelly fish, beach with tons of sand dollars, and tide pool exploring. OH, and the sunsets were out of magazine to die for!

And we are OFF!!

That's right we are back to school and everyone is ready for the new year. (Well except Mom because she wants to keep the kids home to play!) That's right, I'm one of those crazy Mom's who HATE when school starts. Two reasons: 1. My kids are gone all day and usually come home to work on homework! 2. My hubby has to return to school too so our afternoon naps fly out the window. Exciting changes though for the Dumi kids... Peyton is in KINDERGARTEN and absolutely loves every minute of it. I asked her secretly whispering... do you miss Mom just a little? "No Mom, not at all, I love school!" Ya my heart broke just a little with that comment, but I smiled and gave her a big hug and said I was so proud of her and that Mommy missed her!

Now my 5th grader, who is ALMOST AS TALL AS I AM, was a little nervous to start school. It might of had something to do with her class being made up of 25 BOYS and 10 GIRLS! She is such a worrier and hates to have her class misbehave. Which has seemed to be the last two years. Her two best buds were also put into the same class.... NEXT DOOR! So in her mind she would now be kicked out of the best friend club. She has had such a great attitude and looking at it with excitement. I think she is really a half full kind of girl. The other exciting thing with her is her transition in to honors classes. Which when she is testing we are telling her it is for students who learn a little different than the average student. She has come close to making this class 3 times. In fact the teachers keep testing her because they feel she would really benefit from it. (Not that I would know because her father and I didn't have those kinds of classes.) Well she made the cut and not only in one class but both! HE HAW!! Kylie is also starting an instrument.... percussion!

This year will also be bringing lots of driving because our children are at 3 different schools. (Who thought about that when spacing out the kids?) Tanner is a big 8th grader. When I say big, I mean he is working on trying to pass up his Dad. We now don't have to ask who answered the phone when Tanner answers because he is defiantly an alto. He is setting a goal of straight A's again this year. (His goal not ours.) This kid is just awesome!

And finally the reason Mom and Dad started drinking again... our beautiful daughter has reached high school. She is marching in band and playing basketball. She has the boys already calling and managed to get her Dad to allow this. (WTH)... So as Mom lays awake thinking of all the things to stress about, she is one happy young lady. (SERIOUSLY THREE GIRLS< oh my I might not make it through one!)

I pray we can keep our heads above water and survive this year! I might need a life preserver thrown to me every once in awhile.

Yes, I have the High School Musical song... SUMMER in my head. We are at the half way mark of summer. So far we have had a wonderful summer of swimming lessons, basketball camp, California trip (basketball camp), FCA camp in Flagstaff, and 4th of July fireworks on the canal.

We have two little ones who are getting ready to enter this big world. KINDERGARTEN.... this will be the last summer of freedom for my youngest and my niece. They are completely ready (wish I could say the same).