This year for our family vacation we didn't travel far; we spent a week at Tim's parents house in Oxnard. It was the perfect getaway now that we have Terra. I think it would have been a nightmare if we had to travel by plane somewhere. When we went to Seattle in May she was 6 months old and I could still rock her to sleep. Now, at 8 months I can't do that so easily and she is now crawling, so traveling by plane would have been interesting.
We headed out to Oxnard on Sunday afternoon. Tim was driving down from Tahoe where he had spent all day on Saturday cycling 100 miles and completing the Death ride with his good friend Eric. All their hard work paid off and I am so proud of them and what they accomplished. So, the whole family (13 people including 2 babies) met up in Oxnard to start the vacation off right by celebrating Cindy's birthday.
On Monday, some started the day off by kayaking around the harbor and some after working out at the gym went to get pedicures (that's me!).
Tim dipping his toes in the water.
Tim getting in some much needed relaxin'.
On the first ride around the harbor Tim took Madison and Trent in his kayak.
Things were going smoothly...
And then Scott fell out of the kayak.
Tim said that he did ask Scott if he was ok before taking pictures of him.
Tim riding solo on the next adventure around the harbor.
Jeff and April went kayaking on the second trip.
When they came back from one of the rides John's chair had blown into the water. Tim thankfully rescued it.
After kayaking, we relaxed by the pool.
Tim relaxing.
In the evening, we went to Topper's Pizza and then some went miniature golfing.
Jeff trying to get a hole in one.
Cool guy Zach!
John's turn.
Trent so excited about his hole in one!!
Some said it was the longest round of miniature golf they have ever played...I am pretty sure a good time was had by all.
On Tuesday, we lounged around the house and some went to the beach. It was a beautiful day for the beach, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Madison and Trent braving the choppy sea.
Trent and Papa digging a hole and making a sand castle.
Cuties!
Trent just watching the waves.
On Wednesday, we packed up 3 cars of people and things and headed up to Santa Barbara for the day. We had so much fun! We walked the main strip down to the pier where we had lunch. Then we went to the Sea Center to explore the sea life. From the Sea Center we rented a few surryes and rode (and raced eachother) around the beach. On the way back to the cars, we found a Claire's and had Terra's ears pierced. All in all is was a great day!
Terra trying on Auntie April's hat before we leave for Santa Barbara.
Tim and Trent on the pier.
Cool kids!
Not so cool Trent!
Trent petting a leopard shark.
Tim's turn.
Everyone petting the sea life.
Trent and Madison seeing what they can find from the sand that was brought up from the ocean.
And then the silliness began at the Marine Puppet Theater. I love how much he loves and enjoys life.
All 13 of us on 3 surrey bikes...let the adventure begin.
This was just for picture taking purposes...I held Terra during the bike ride.
Terra before getting her ears pierced...all smiles...and then after...she was screaming her head off, but it didn't last too long.
Madison got a second hole pierced in her ears.
After a long day in Santa Barbara we headed back to Oxnard for dinner at Fisherman's Catch.
On Thursday, Terra decided to wake up extra early. We walked to Coffee Bean and then around the neighborhood. Tim was up early to and went for a bike ride with John. Some went to see a movie in the afternoon and others just relaxed at the pool or house.
On Friday, everyone except me, Terra, Scott, Fiona and Zinnia went deep sea fishing. The fishing group was up and out by 6 a.m.
Ready for their adventure.
Heading out of the harbor in the early morning.
Dolphins swimming by.
Jeff fishing.
Madison.
April happy about what she caught.
Trent's big catch!
Jeff's catch!
Zach was the first one to catch a fish.
Cruising around the Channel Islands.
Trent enjoying the view.
Tim and Cindy
Cleaning the fish for Zach and Tim to try.
Yummy!
That is one weird looking fish.
From the stories of the day it seemed everyone had a great time!
The non-fishing group ventured to downtown Ventura. We went to the San Buenaventura Mission. Founded on March 31, 1782, it was the ninth Spanish mission established in California. Mission San Buenaventura was planned to be founded in 1770, but the founding was delayed because of the low availability of the military escorts needed to establish the mission. In 1793, the first church burned down. Today, only a small section of the entire mission still stands; the cemetery to the left of the church is covered by a school (source Wikipedia).
Two what looks to me like monkey puzzle trees, but they say pine trees which are over 100 years old.
Inside the church.
Beautiful flowers.
After touring the mission and then having lunch Terra and I headed back to the house and enjoyed some time in the pool.
On Saturday, we enjoyed swimming in the pool and then went to Golf n' Stuff to play laser tag, race the go carts and bump people in the bumper boats.
On Saturday, we enjoyed swimming in the pool and then went to Golf n' Stuff to play laser tag, race the go carts and bump people in the bumper boats.
Terra just chillin' in the pool. She loved floating around.
Trent the shark is going to get Terra.
Laser Tag...don't mess with this bunch.
Go carts.
Kisses for Terra.
No smiles from Terra, she had just woken up from a nap.
Madison and Trent in the bumper boats.
Now Terra was smiling.
Playing at Golf n'Stuff was a great way to end our vacation. We headed home Saturday afternoon and the closer we got to San Gabriel the hotter it got, which made me miss Oxnard.
