My Boys

When we take these trips, the kids have an opportunity to get closer to each other. It is neat to see how they interact. Connor and Evan already share a room at home, so they have a lot of togtherness; but here on the bus, Connor is very much the teacher and Evan is the student. Evan is also the entertainer along with Connor.

Sunset on the Pacific

We drove here on Hwy 101 which is the first highway in California. It was built by Spanish missionaries to connect the 12 missions along the coast. One of the missions is San Luis Obispo where we ate dinner tonight. This area is rich in history and we are enjoying every minute of it. Tomorrow we will travel (in the car) along the Pacific Coast Highway. We can't wait to show the kids.

Pismo Beach, California

We arrived today in Pismo Beach where we are steps away from our RV in this picture. The RV park is right on the beach with the mountains behind us. I think this is Pepe's first time on a beach! (Connors paper airplane he made[top in hand]!!)

Lost Kids Found

Click the arrow to see this video. This morning, Ted, Lacy and Evan went for a hike up part of the El Capitan Canyon. Something happened and Ted went up one path and the kids went up another. As Ted looked for them, his already high anxiety level soared when he saw that the path they took led them up an advanced trail to and entirely different mountain! He could see them, but could not get to them nor communicate with them. This is video of when he first got to them at the bottom of the mountains.. It was a good moment for Ted. I think there are parts of this story that they still have not told me! Their angels were working overtime today!

Panic on the Bus!

When we got in tonight, one of our two bathrooms *smelled really bad*! This is the worst nightmare of an RV'er because toilet trouble is just gross and usually very bad. As Ted searched though the owners' manual and I scoured the internet, we were moments away from calling the emergency help number for Monaco when Connor said "Evan, where did you put the clam you found on the beach yesterday?". Each of the kids have a large cubby in the main room and a small cubby in the bathroom that is just for them. You guessed it, Evan put his clam in his cubby in the bathroom! We were too happy that our toilets are not broken to be mad!

Where's Evan?

It was bedtime and we could not find Evan anywhere! Pepe was curiously sitting on the bed away from us and low-and-behold there he was; buried under the pillows of the made-up bed, fast asleep. Pepe was protectively sitting on top of him just in case he needed emergency help [we watch a lot of Animal Planet!].

Evan in front of The Channal Islands

Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth. They can be seen from the coastline but have been so well preserved that they are called "the Galapagos Islands of the US". We really enjoyed seeing them.

No More Dramamine!

The seas were a little choppy today so I made a preemptive strike and gave everyone a Dramamine. Who knew that they would be out before we got back from our 3 hour tour [sing to the tune of Gilligan's Island]?

There She Blows!

Did you know the term "there she blows" is a seaman's phrase referring to the whale spitting water through its blowhole? I did not until today! To find the whales we all skimmed the horizon for the water blowing up from the ocean.

Whale Watching around the Channel Islands

Today we took a fun, but cold, whale watching expedition around the Channel Islands (called the Galapagos Islands of the United States). This time of the year Gray Whales are migrating through these waters, but today we saw two Humpback Whales instead. The Humpbacks should not travel through here until May at the earliest! The most amazing part of today was we travelled through a pod of Dolphins that included thousands of the friendly mammals! It brought tears to my eyes to see them. I honestly imagined this is what it will look like when Christ returns...all the animals excitedly hurrying toward the returned Savior. I think you had to be there to understand. It was awesome.

Kris Gets Her "In and Out Burger"!

In and Out fast food restaurants can only be found in California and I LOVE them! I have been dreaming about them since our last trip out west. They are kinda like Steak and Shake where they cook when you order them. They have four items on the menu; hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries and shakes. The burgers have this special sauce on them that is really great. They peel and cut the french fries right there in the store and they are SOOOO good!

The Perfect End to a Great Day!

Roasting S'mores over an open fire is the perfect end to our day. Tomorrow we go on a whale watching expedition. The grey whales are migrating through this area right now. The cruise will also take us around the Channel Islands. I can' wait! Goodnight.

Just a little ice cream, Connor?

We ate our home made lemon ice cream today. Me, Ted and Connor loved it. Evan and Lacy...not so much. Here, Pepe is hoping for a lick!

Can't-Hold-On-Much-Longer!

Here, Evan goofs around by jumping from the picnic table to my open window while I worked on my computer planning the rest of our trip! He did eventually have to drop.

The Doggie Park for Pepe!

After being alone while we were gone, Pepe was rewarded with a trip to the Doggie Park where we were staying. Here we can take him off leash and he can run and play (and do his thing) while we visit. He loves it here!

A Helping Hand From Daddy

Let me tell you, Ted had to marry someone younger because someone his age could never keep up with him. He ran the same distance we rode and we were all tuckered out on the way back. Here Ted is running up a hill, pushing Evan as he goes along. It doesn't end there. Ted also pushed mine and Evan's bikes up the embankment to the RV park. We were on our last leg...but not the EverReady Bunny [Ted]!

From High Cliffs we Watched the Fog Come In

From these cliffs we could see this wall of fog approach. It was like a blanket being thrown over the area. It was amazing to see. When we got back to the bus, we could not even see the ocean for all the fog.

Rocks, shells and bones

The kids spent a lot of time with their pants rolled up collecting neat things along the shore. Just over the boys' shoulder are 15 or more surfers in wet suits just waiting for the next wave. They have had some exceptionally good waves here lately. One a few days ago swept some onlookers on the beach into sea.

First look at the ocean

Imagine us on our bikes, riding through heavy woods, then we crest over a hill and there is the Pacific Ocean. It was really a neat experience.

El Capitan

There is no one picture that can capture our bike ride through the El Capitan State Beach. It was breath-taking. The kids and I biked and ted jogged through this park. The Pacific waves crashed against the rocks and cliffs looked down over the sea. It was just wonderful!