Tag: Beach

Rest and Beach Day

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Today was set to be the hottest day of the heat wave. With temps reaching close to 116 I knew that there wasnt much we could do. Shaun was working in the Santa Monica offices, so that left us with some time on our own. 
We slept in a bit and then headed for some breakfast at the hotel. Then it was off to find places that we could enjoy but also had air conditioning. So it meant some shopping at Target and then some lunch at Islands. After lunch I didnt have the energy to walk around a mall and deal with crowds. Luckily I packed our bathing suits and beach toys, so it was off to our favorite spot near Pt. Mugu.
“Mom, take the picture before you blind us!”
A pelican fly-by.
Ellie had figuered out the perfect system to make her castles turn out. Before I knew it, we were surrounded!
Who knew that Jerry’s Deli could make such amazing noodle bowls!

The weather was a good 30 degrees cooler at the beach which led to us hanging out there for the rest of the afternoon. The girls built large sand castles, splashed in the waves, and we enjoyed doing very little. As it should be. After the beach it was a drive along the coast, through Topanga Canyon and back to the hotel for showers, dinner and bed. A perfect vacation day… although I felt guilty knowing that Shaun was working while we were being lazy in the sun.

Taylor Family Reunion

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Our trip to California was a trip that would serve several purposes. One was for Shaun to come down to LA and work with his team at the offices in Santa Monica for a week.  Another was to attend our Taylor Family Reunion (my fathers side of the family) and see family that we haven’t connected with since the passing of my grandmother back in 2012. Unfortunately not everyone could make it to the first reunion, but I am sure there will be more!

The reunion was held up at Rincon State Beach in Ventura County and the day couldn’t have been more perfect. A pending heat wave threatened to make the day too hot, but it wasn’t. It was perfect. The beach was busy but not swamped and there was plenty of space to walk, play and enjoy a beautiful Southern California day.

We spent the day talking and catching up with everyone. Abby and Ellie had the chance to meet their cousin Bella who is their age and they hit it off right away. We listened to music, ate amazing food (courtesy of my cousin Joseph and his excellent BBQ skills) and welcomed some new members of the family (spouses and girlfriends).

Sarah walking the beach with Abby, Ellie and Bella
A beautiful day along the Southern California coast.

A rare photo with my hubby!!
Abby loved getting into the water and feeling the sand in her toes.
Ellie was surprised by a wave… and loving it.
Sisters and best friends
Ellie and Bella had the exact same bathing suit!
Eric and his girlfriend Michelle! It was so nice to meet you!
Talking and eating! I tend to get a lot of pictures of people eating but thats because they are standing still!
Laurie, John and Matt having a great chat.
Chatting, laughing and posing.
Back from the beach! Now they are pretending to be mountain lions on the rock. I think.
The ladies catching up! Looking wonderful Aunt Dena!
The photographers of the family are taking notes and sharing stories.
Jillian… always ready with a pose.
The day comes to a close and we start saying our goodbyes! Until next time Taylor Family!
Perfect sunsets for a perfect end to that day.

When the day came to an end it was hard to say goodbye to everyone. But we will see one another soon! All I know is that our first family reunion was a big success and grandma and grandpa would have been so very proud of their family. They may not have been there in body but they were there in spirit and I know they were both smiling down on us today.

Beautiful Day in Edmonds!

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The last few days here have been gorgeous. Yesterday while we were at the zoo we had some rain, it was a warm rain though so it was easy to be out in it and still enjoy the day. Today the sun was out but for the first time since the move the heat and humidity wasn’t horrible. High 70’s with a nice summer breeze. Ill take it! Even with the lower temps the house still gets pretty warm, so in the height of the day we decided to head over to Edmonds and enjoy the beach. We sat along the beach, played in the sand, watched the ferries come in and out and looked for harbor seals. We did see a few out in the distance!
Mr. Crow was interested in what I was doing. No zoom on this picture. I could have reached out and touched him if I wanted to.
Thinking and enjoying the feeling of sand in her toes. They are still learning that beaches along Puget Sound are a tad different than the ones in Southern California. 
Watching the ferries come in, so pretty!
Gathering driftwood along the beach. Love those little smiles.
Exploring with daddy near the waters edge. Each time a move came in, the girls would run and scream in delight.
Sticking toes in the water. Ellie needed daddy to be brave.
As we played along the beach and long freight train passed by, honking his horn to let us know he was coming through town.
Run with us daddy!
Standing out on the jetty watching out for mermaids, whales, seals and more.

Honestly there isn’t a fun and exciting story for the day but it was perfect for pictures and some relaxation. We know it was a great time to enjoy and explore our new home and the surrounding areas before the weather changed. Gotta get as much in as we can!

Beach Time with Harrison!

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After dance today we embraced the big increase in temperatures and headed to the beach. We stopped and grabbed lunch for a picnic and then took off for our favorite spot. While going to the beach is always a special treat, today was filled with an even bigger surprise, The Guerrero Family would be joining us!
Harrison’s new little brother will be arriving at the end of May, so we thought it would be nice to get together before his arrival and before Erika was too pregnant to enjoy the beach. The kids had a great time together and so did the adults. We all had the chance to talk and catch up with daily life. Abby, Ellie and Harrison had the chance to play in the sand, catch sand crabs, and have Byron haul buckets of water back to our spot over and over!  
We all had great laughs and a wonderful time. I cannot wait for the newest Guerrero to arrive! May 30th is just around the corner!

Sunday Drive

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Today we had the itch to take another drive. The TV was being overrun by the Academy Awards and the girls were antsy, so we piled into the car and just drove. It was worth every minute. The evening along the coast was gorgeous and the sunset was just stunning. We stopped at Mugu Beach and Thornhill Broome for pictures and it was stunning. Our drive was a far better alternative to staying in.

Saturday Coast Drive

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Now that the days are getting longer and a bit warmer (not that it gets that cold here) we will often take a drive on the way home from dance. Instead of taking the freeway we will take the coast and then the canyons back into the valley. Today we did just that and it was a beautiful day. Can’t beat the scenery along the California coast!

At the Beach

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A stop at the beach always seems to make for some great photos. Today didn’t disappoint. Its amazing how much children come to life when they step into the sand. How little grains of worn down rock and earth can bring such joy. I love watching Abby and Ellie play in the sand and run along the water. So pure. To me our girls are beautiful and so special.

A Perfect Day for the Beach

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Today was the perfect day for the beach so we headed out to Point Mugu State Beach to enjoy the sun and some cool ocean breezes. With a few new buckets, sand toys and umbrellas in tow we set up camp in a great spot and had a great day. The girls made sand castles and mud pies, chased away the seagulls and dipped their toes in the water. Abby had a blast as the waves crashed in hitting her legs and then quickly pulling out. She LOVED the feeling as the water receded and the sand moved under her feet. Ellie, on the other hand, was a bit more wary of all this water and stuck with mommy.
We didn’t do too much in particular but we still had a wonderful time. When we weren’t playing in the sand or the water we were watching seal lions and birds playing in the surf. Out of nowhere, two young California Grey Whales appeared in the first crest of waves from the beach. We watched as they spouted water from their blowholes, rolled in the waves and one even attempted to breech. It was amazing to watch. In all of my life living in Southern California and hanging out at the beach I don’t think I have ever seen two whales that close to shore. Truly amazing! It was the most perfect day at the beach and I am so blessed that we could share it all with our children!

A Relaxing Saturday… Just What We Needed!

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There isnt much to say about our relaxing Saturday, other then we needed it. After the time spent in the hospital and all of the worry that surrounded Ellie and of course how all of this would effect Abby, left us feeling a bit stressed and worn out. So when we felt it was ok to do so, we got out of the house and headed for the park. The day was perfect, in the high 70’s, sunny and a cool breeze coming in from the Pacific. Thanks to Erika and Harrison’s birthday party we now have a great new park to go to.

When we got there Abby wanted to head directly to the swings and there she stayed for nearly 45 minutes. Shaun was finally able to get her to move on, but it took some persuasion. From there she ran around the toddler sized play area, hit the slide a few times, and had herself a wonderful time. She even had a little friend to play with, until that child started pushing her and her parents where nowhere to be found to prevent it. Who leaves their child unattended at a busy park?!(I wont get myself started on that one) Abby had a wonderful time and Ellie slept peacefully in the stroller.








After a few hours at the park, Shaun thought that we should take off and head down to the beach. Of course, I agreed! It was a perfect day. We didnt stay long, but Abby enjoyed playing in the sand and chasing the seagulls. Ellie, of course, was asleep or hungry and fussy during her first trip to the beach. But thats ok… we still enjoyed our time. I love that I was able to snap some great pictures too.