Tag: Vacation

And We’re Off! Maybe…

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Before children, taking off for a trip was easy and we had very few hiccups. Then we hit parenthood and it seemed as though things that could do wrong, did. It has nothing to do with the children really. Just our luck I think.

Well this trip was no different I guess. After Ellie’s graduation from Kindergarten, we sped home and collected the last of our things and hit the road. Our destination, Redding California. We knew it would be a long drive and that we would be in after midnight. I even planned an extra hour for traffic!  Well, I guess the traffic Gods were angry because that extra hour turned in to five. Yes, you read that right. Five. It took us over five hours to get from our house to Olympia Washington. If you are familiar with the area that drive should take about an hour and a half tops!

This was not a good start to our trip and we weren’t even that far from home. With the traffic out of Seattle and Tacoma and then a stop on the grade down in to Yreka due to a jack-knifed semi, we didn’t roll into Redding until almost 6am. Yeah, it was a long night.

Thunderheads… at least we have something fun to look forward to.
Driving through Portland at sunset. We should have seen this with more light in the sky… much more.

We slept for a few hours… 4 to be exact and then set off again in hopes to make it to our destination without any hiccups. We achieved that and had the chance to check in to our hotel before the sun even started to set! It was a miracle. It was probably the longest 36 hours of travel in our life, but we made it and it gave us the chance to actually sleep before our activities the following day!

Home Again…

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Its so great to be home. Time to unpack, do some laundry and sleep in our own beds. I was so happy and then I opened the fridge. Oh yeah, I forget that when you have been gone for nearly two weeks the fridge will be empty when you get home. Dinner tonight was creative but we made do. Off to get some groceries in the morning!

Mammoth Trip 2012

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Shaun and I decided that we needed a break from the kids, home and the life in general so we took off for a trip up to Mammoth for a few days. Uncle Tom and Aunt Mary were kind enough to let us use their condo which made the trip even better. Their condo is very cozy with a beautiful view and a great escape from the usual.
We went up without any particular plans. We took long, meandering drives enjoying the beautiful Fall foliage.  On our first full day there we found ourselves driving up to Yosemite to Tioga Pass and out to Tuolumne Meadows. On our way back we drove through June Lake. What a gorgeous drive. We knew that before we left we would be back through again and we were the next day.
Most of the photographs I took on our trip were of the trees. I don’t think I eve stopped to take pictures of us or much else. The tress were just far to beautiful and kept me distracted. We did have a lot of fun though. Driving, enjoying the scenery, finding new places to eat in the area. We had Mexican, Thai, tried the Tiger Bar in June Lake (the fries were fabulous) and even cooked one night at the condo. We did sight seeing around the lakes and checked out several local art galleries too. Found a few lovely prints and pieces to put up at home.
On Saturday night we even felt a little bit of rocking and rolling! There had been a 5.3 Earthquake along the San Andreas fault just outside of King City, California and we felt it all the way in Mammoth. I was a little on edge afterwards but that didn’t stop us from taking a late night drive around Lake Mary. We had hoped to see a bear but didn’t. We came close though! There were tracks leading up from the lake to the hills that were definitely bear tracks. The tracks were made of water and were fairly complete so we must have just missed him!

On our last night Shaun made reservation for the Restaurant at Convict Lake. It was a bit pricey, but worth every penny that we spent. Our salads were delicious and our entrees’ were to die for. I had the pork tenderloin medallions that were marinated in root beer (yes, root beer) and Shaun had the Beef Wellington. I loved my food but I have to say, the next time we are up there and decide to eat at Convict Lake, I will enjoy the Beef Wellington as well. So amazing.
After dinner we rolled ourselves out to our car and headed back to the condo. We relaxed, read and enjoyed being inside as the wind howled outside. Around midnight we decided to take a drive into town and it was worth it. It was starting snow! Nothing was sticking but it was starting to come down in small little flakes. As we drove up Old Mammoth Road, we crept past a restaurant that has large wood carvings of bears outside. Suddenly, one of those bears started moving. It wasn’t a carving it was an actual bear! A rather large and nosy Black Bear. We followed him as he meandered along, trying to get into dumpsters that are now bear proofed. At one point we had to try and slow down several drivers as the bear took his time crossing the road and even had to warn a man who had been out walking that he was walking right towards the bear. Eventually we lost him but we certainly enjoyed seeing a bear in town!
The following morning we woke up to quite a shock, tons and tons of snow! So much for the light dusting that all of the weather channels were reporting. Our car was trapped under at least a foot of snow. We did our best to pack up the car and leave the condo, but it took us nearly an hour and a half to get on the road. The neighbor next door tried to help but eventually the guy who drives the snow plow for the community had to get us out. once out we had to get down Davidson which is a very steep hill. The city plow came by just before we started down, which actually hurt us more then it helped. All it did was remove the crunchy, gritty snow and exposed the slick ice underneath. So the first slide, despite going with it, landed us in the snow embankment just created by the plow. Luckily we were able to get out of it and down the hill. When we reached the stop sign we started to slide again. Luckily no one was coming so we were able to go with it and  turn out onto the main road. From there the trip home was a smooth one. We even stopped at the Casino and won a few bucks! Despite the hard time getting out we had a blast. Cant wait to get back to Mammoth soon and even if its summer, we are bringing the tire chains!

Tips For Packing…

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Ever since I was a teen, I have been mercilessly teased about how much I pack and take with me on trips. What can I say? I am indecisive and I like to have options, therefore I generally over pack. When we go places I know I can do laundry its a little bit better but I still like my options.

One night while aimlessly clicking my way through Pinterest, I came across a pin that piqued my interest. It was about packing for a ten day trip and making it all fit into a carry-on suitcase. I laughed hysterically, thinking to myself that surely this cant be done. Well, according to this flight attendant its possible and she does it all of the time. SO I saved the pin, her blog and decided I would test it out the next time we traveled. Fast forward a month or two and now we set to leave in just a few hours for a good six day trip. And the verdict??…

I didn’t quite accomplish it but I came very close. We will be gone for about six days, so being me I packed enough for 8 (you just never know what you might need and what might happen while you are away). All of my clothes fit into the carry-on which includes the following:

  • 2 pairs of pants 
  • 1 pair of shorts
  • 1 pair of cargo capris
  • 3 camisoles
  • 8 shirts/tanks
  • 3 layering pieces (ie cardigan, wrap, etc.)
  • 2 pairs of pajamas (tank and comfy pants)
  • 8 pairs of underwear and 2 bras
  • 3 pairs of socks
  • 1 pair of ballet flats
  • 1 pair of flip flops
  • 1 pair of tennis shoes
  • Toiletry bags which include my skin care treatments, haircare products, flat iron and blowdryer.
  • Makeup

SO I broke one of her rules and insisted on packing my blow dryer. Therefore, not all of this fit into my carry-on.  Also, because of my Rosacea I have a pretty intensive skincare treatment that does take up a lot of space and I cant transfer to smaller containers. Had I not brought my hair dryer and had a simple skincare routine, it would have all fit. Oh well, I only needed a small bag for the cosmetics, blow dryer, etc. for what didn’t. It does work though and if I could let go of my need for extra outfits and my hair dryer, packing for ten days into a carry-on is a breeze! Give it a try!

Packing

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Everyone loves to go on vacation. I don’t think I have met anyone who doesn’t! The relaxation, the adventure… the packing? Wait, packing is definitely not on that list of things I love about vacation but unfortunately its necessary. You have to have clothes and the needed items to keep you from looking like a slob. I just hate it with a passion. The only thing I dislike more then packing, is unpacking.

Before children packing was a breeze. Some pants, shorts, shirts, shoes, make up, etc. all tossed into a bag and thrown into the car. My purse only contained my wallet, sunglasses, phone and a camera. Maybe a book or game like Sudoku. That was all. Now I have to pack for children and while I try to be a minimalist everything adds up fast. Aside from the clothes there are diapers, wipes, blankies, stuffed animals, toys, books, crayons, whatever is needed to keep them occupied in the car. There is now a large bag and cooler for snacks, drinks and food that isn’t fast food but can be eaten in the car if need be. After all that packing and planning for only a weeks trip you sometimes end up feeling like you will need a vacation from this vacation. Its a viscious cycle.

I complain but at the same time I feel blessed that we can take a vacation and get away for a bit. Its a lot of work but I am happy we have the ability and the means to do it. I love being able to give our girls the experience of riding in the car, seeing new places and creating adventures and memories. I just wish there was a magic wand that I could use, even if only for these moments, to do all of the things I don’t like doing. But for now I will keep wishing, get my butt off the couch and continue the packing process.

A Break in the City by the Bay

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After the girls were born, Shaun and I made sure to take some time to ourselves. We had date nights and even short weekends away but we had yet to take an extended trip. Well this year we finally did it and we survived the time away from the girls too!

SO… Wednesday night we took off for the “City by the Bay” and despite leaving at nearly 9pm we made it to the hotel just after 2:30am. Not too bad! The following day Shaun headed to Foster City to get a little work in at the Sony offices. I did some driving, shopping and relaxing with my Kindle Fire. I wonder who got the better end of that deal? After work we drove up to the city and started our official vacation away. We checked in to our hotel, which was beautiful, enjoyed some room service and then went for a drive. It was so nice to finally be in San Francisco again!

The next day we woke up late (I had forgotten what that was like). By the time we were ready to leave the room it was lunch time, so we headed over to the Presidio for lunch at the Presidio Social Club. All I can say is… AMAZING. An adult version of Tomato Soup and Grilled cheese as an appetizer and the best crab sandwich I think I have ever had. Very impressed and I highly recommend it. Little fact: The Presidio Social Club was once the site of the enlisted men’s barracks. Good food and a history lesson!



After a wonderful lunch, we decided to walk off a bit of what we ate. Luckily just across the street was the Lucas Arts campus so we took a look around. We didn’t find Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, but we did find a stunning view of the Palace of Fine Arts. We did, however, find our friend Yoda!


After our walk around Lucas Arts, we headed over to a very surprising and exciting find for me, The Disney Family Museum! We were only permitted to take pictures in the main entrance, so there isnt much to show you but the museum was amazing. We should have done it at a time when we had more time but I really enjoyed it. If you love all things Disney, this is the place to go! My favorite spot was the second to last exhibit room. Incredible. I cannot wait to take Abby and Ellie here.




After the museum we headed back to the room to get ready for our evening out. Shaun is an amazing husband and got me tickets to see the San Francisco Ballet perform. I have to give him about a thousand extra points too, just for sitting through the second piece of the night. The ballet showcased three unique pieces and the first and third were spectacular. The first piece was very modern but the dancers were flawless and amazingly strong. The third was more traditional and choreographed my Christopher Wheeldon. I wont get into the second but it was not my taste, at all. All you need to know is that it involved an entire male cast all dressed in pink camouflage with the costume design done by Isaac Mizrahi. After the ballet, we headed to dinner and then back to our room for some much needed rest.

The following day we slept in, yes again, and then headed out to the Legion of Honor. They had a small Victorian childrens book exhibit that we wanted to see as well as Bernini’s “Medusa”. The book collectionf was pretty small and didnt take much time to view so we went to view the “Medusa”. This is its first stop on an American tour and until now most would have to travel to Italy to see it. Its pretty neat to think we were in town at the right time to see it. Before we left I stopped in to see one of my favorite paintings, “Water Lillie’s” by Monet.




After the Legion of Honor we made our way back to the Presidio, stopping at Baker Beach for a photo opportunity close to sunset. Yet another reason I love this city and miss it a lot. Maybe one day we will win the lotto and I can buy a small place in the city. Wouldn’t that be nice?



After a few stops in the Presidio we took a break and enjoyed our hotel room for a few hours and did a little shopping along Market Street and in Union Square. When we found ourselves hungry we went out to Cow Hollow and found a great little Italian place. Hands down the best crab ravioli ever and the dessert… I’m not sure I can even speak of it. Amazing! It was a wonderful way to end the night.

Sunday morning I woke up early, excited to start the day. We were meeting my best friend Tommie and her husband Andrew in Palo Alto for an early lunch. I have not seen Tommie since she threw Abby’s baby shower. All of the trips we had planned prior to this had fallen through for one reason or another and I knew, come hell or high water, that I would see her this time. And I did! But, stupid me forgot to take pictures! I was so excited to see them and we had so much to talk about that I didn’t even think to take pictures. Ugh! Oh well, I have the memories and I will see them again very soon! Lunch was delicious and the conversation was great, so much so that I did not want to go but eventually we had to leave.

On our way home from Palo Alto, we took a drive up the coast and back to the city. It was a perfectly gorgeous day for a drive through the trees and along the coast. From there we drove back to Baker Beach and then headed to diner. We stopped in Cows Hollow again, but this time at a fabulous Thai food place. It was yummy! After dinner we took one last drive around the city and headed across the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped along the road through Marin Headlands to get a few shots of the bridge at night. It was hard to do since I didn’t have a tripod, but thanks to Shaun I have a few shots that look pretty good. After driving all over the place, we headed back to our room.



It was hard to get up the next morning, knowing that it was time to leave and come home. But we eventually got up, got ready, packed, checked out and said goodbye to San Francisco… for now. On our way out of town we stopped in San Bruno at the Golden Gate National Cemetery (the correct one… don’t ask its an inside joke) and found where my Grandma Taylor’s brother was laid to rest. He died during WWII and was eventually moved here. My grandma never had the chance to travel here to see him, so we stopped to take some pictures for her.



Despite some holiday traffic coming home on the 5, the rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. I sat and finished my book on my Kindle. Something I haven’t had the chance to do in a long time. Finished a great book too, now I am excited to move on to the next one! This weekend was wonderful and it was nice for Shaun and I to have some time alone. Now I cant wait to bring the girls here. Soon I hope!

Spanish Creek and Spring Snow

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After a busy day yesterday, the girls and I decided to take it easy and just relax. Thanks to the thin, fresh mountain air the girls slept in and so did mommy! The day was expected to be another gloomy and wet one and my parents both had to work, so we didn’t have anything big planned.

By mid-afternoon Jillian, the girls and myself were tired of being in the house so we went for a drive. We stopped for a bit of food and then headed up 19th Avenue close to the mountains and to see if Hyalite Canyon was open. It wasnt so we had to figure something else out. That is when I decided we would drive out to Spanish Creek so that Abby and Ellie could see the Bison on Flying D Ranch. Flying D Ranch is a full time ranch owned by Ted Turner. When it was purchased, Turner agreed to keep the road, which leads to a state park, open to the public as long as visitors stayed on the road. The portion of the ranch on which the road runs through is home to many of the bison that Turner breeds and owns. Abby loves “buffalo” and my dad had been told many of the babies were out.


When we got to the Spanish Creek road, the temperatures dropped and it began to snow! The babies and females were not out, that we could see, but there were several large males hanging out by the road. They looked so pretty as the snow began to fall and appeared to be completely unaffected as well.


The falling snow made a place I had been several times before so picturesque. It was great to see it in a different light. While our drive was just something we decided to do last minute it was a pretty one. Its amazing what you can find so close to home, well… close to my families home!

Montana or Bust…. Traveling North!

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Well its Montana or Bust! Abby, Ellie and myself set out for Montana to see my parents and most importantly to see my sister Jillian graduate from Montana State University. Unfortunately we all started getting a cold with a cough during the move and I thought it would affect our trip, but so far so good!

The first day the girls and I traveled from Porter Ranch to St. George, Utah. The trip was pretty easy with only one stop in Baker, California to change diapers, eat and unfortunately get gas. Yeah, gas is a necessary thing but at $4.85 a gallon it hurt the pocket book just a tad. I will just have to remember to gas up enough to skip over Baker on our return! Once we arrived in St. George we had the chance to relax and visit with my grandma Taylor, Aunt Caroline, Uncle Kevin and Uncle David. After a yummy dinner and some great conversation it was off to bed for us! We had a big travel day ahead of us.

The next day we got up early and hit the road. On this leg of the trip we would be traveling from St. George, Utah to Pocatello, Idaho. It was a longer day filled with some traffic and the typical construction through Provo and Salt Lake City but we survived.

We made a stop in Beaver, Utah to gas up and take a break. Abby had the chance to have a picnic lunch in the back of the car, which she was tickled pink about. Who wouldn’t love a picnic in the back of the car! Because Ellie is so wiggly she didn’t get to sit in the back with Abby, but she did enjoy a nice sippy cup of formula and a few teething cookies!




After some usual traffic and mommy taking the wrong belt route, yeah I cant believe I did that, we made it to Pocatello, Idaho. After a quick Subway dinner we all hopped into bed and got ready for our final day on the road before arriving in Bozeman.

The next morning we woke up refreshed and ready for the final drive into Bozeman. We took my favorite route as the weather was beautiful and the roads were clear. We cut off at Idaho Falls and took the road through Island Park and the Gallatin River Canyon. Just outside of Mack’s Inn, we saw a big Bull Moose eating in a small creek. It was a first animal sighting of the trip! Then as we crossed into Yellowstone Park Boundary Abby spotted a coyote all by herself! She didn’t know it was a coyote but as we were driving she all of a sudden said, “Mommy look at that dog in the snow!”. That’s my smart one!

To Salt Lake City or Bust!

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As a Valentine’s weekend treat Shaun, myself and the girls packed up the car for a short trip to Salt Lake City. Meeting us there would be my mom and dad (Grandpa and Grandma Taylor to the girls).

The drive there was eventful. We stopped in Vegas to break up the trip and let me tell you, that night of sleep wasn’t sleep at all. Abby, who had to sleep in a big girl bed, wouldn’t sleep! It wasn’t that she wanted to out, she just didn’t want to sleep. The following morning, as I am sure Shaun would agree, we were awake but hadn’t felt that sleep deprived since Ellie was first born.



After leaving Vegas several hours later then we had planned due to sleep deprivation, we made it to Salt Lake City, unpacked the car and headed out with my parents to a childhood favorite of mine, The Spaghetti Factory! This was the first one I had ever been too and now, almost 25 plus years later, we are returning to enjoy it! This would also be Ellie’s first trip to a Spaghetti Factory too!

The following day we decided to take a drive with my parents and do a bit of sight seeing before the concert. Time was limited but we packed a lot of things into the day. The first stop was driving by the first house I ever lived in on Ottawa in West Valley. I was happy to see it, but it had fallen into disrepair. I think the house numbers spray painted onto the front step made that pretty clear. Gone were my dads beautiful rose bushes and flower beds, the paint had been changed, and the trees out front had been hacked up. I cant even imagine what the backyard and inside look like now. Not sure that I want to. It was a nice memory, but now I need to get pictures from my parents to have those beautiful memories on hand. It was fun though, to show Abby were Mommy lived when she was Abby’s age.



After the trip down memory lane, we decided to take a drive up to Snow Bird and Alta. Not that we had plans to ski, but it was a pretty drive and it gave Abby the chance to play in the snow. It was a gorgeous day, clear skies, sunny and about 55 degrees. Abby was able to play in the snow without a jacket and this time she was able to make snowballs to throw at Daddy! When it was time to go, Abby was less then thrilled to leave.


After our stop in the mountains we headed back into the city and over to the University of Utah campus and my dads Alma Matter. We stopped by the bookstore to check a few things out and left with outfits for Abby, Ellie and myself thanks to Grandpa and Grandma. Abby also got a mini football to play with as well. I hadn’t been on the UofU campus in some time, so it pretty neat to see some of the changes that occurred for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Because of such an honored event, the University now has a beautiful new stadium that I just had to get a picture of. Go Utes!


We then moved forward to our last stop of the day, Temple Square. My father and many of my family members on his side of the family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While I am not, I still embrace my fathers beliefs and love to learn what I can about the Mormon church and their teachings, so it was a special treat to walk through Temple Square. I have not done this since I was junior high age but I certainly remember a lot.

Even though preparations were underway for Sunday services, we were still able to go inside the Tabernacle with help of two lovely sisters, one from the United States and one from Taiwan. As I remembered the Tabernacle was gorgeous and the acoustics, which the Tabernacle is known for, were amazing. I hope one day to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing, especially at Christmas time. After we were shown the nail drop demonstration, we had to leave and take in what we could of Temple Square before we had to head back to our hotel.

Before heading back to the car, I was able to grab a few shots of the beautiful Salt Lake City Temple in the afternoon light. It was stunning. I did move on however, as a large wedding party began to gather outside waiting for a newly married couple.




After our visit to Temple Square we went back to the hotel and got ready for our evening ahead. Abby and Ellie stayed the Grandpa and Grandma Taylor while we headed to see Stacey Kent, an amazing Jazz singer who put on one heck of a show that night. Performing live, she sounded just the same if not better then she does on her CD’s. It was a very relaxing show and night. After the concert we headed out in search for dinner, finding the Red Rock Brewery where I had the chance to eat some of the best Fish N Chips I have ever had. Large Halibut steaks in a thick breading, with amazing fries, and a homemade tartar sauce with fresh dill. Its not a dinner I will forget. Our appetizer of fresh tomato and mozzarella wrapped in prescuitto with a lemon dill sauce… incredible!

After a great night we came back to ouor hotel room to find my dad relaxing in a chair, Ellie snuggled on his chest and Abby passed out on her bed. She had not napped all day, so when my parents bathed her and set her in bed to watch cartoons, they literally watched her fade into a deep sleep and literally fall over. My dad caught a picture of her… what an angel.


The following morning we woke up, said the goodbyes I hated to say to my parents and hit the road. We would not be stopping over anywhere for the night, we were headed straight home. Even though it was a quick weekend it was a wonderful one. As always it was hard to say goodbye to my parents, but I will see them soon. At least they did get some time with the girls and to share a city that they started their family in, with us.

Our First Vacation as a Family of Four…

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Our first vacation as a family was a relaxing one. Uncle Tom and Aunt Mary were kind enough to let us use their condo for the weekend, so we headed up to Mammoth. Much of our plan was to plan nothing and that is pretty much what we did.

We hit the road on Thursday night after Shaun came home from work. The girls were all ready for the car ride and dressed in their jammies. We traveled under a bright moon and listened to the radio as the girls slept. We didn’t pull up to the condo until after 2am, but it was a fun drive. Once we had unpacked the car it was off to bed for us.

The next morning we were up late but to a beautiful day in Mammoth. Shaun made us a yummy breakfast and then we were off to explore. We decided to head up to Yosemite National Park to see if the leaves were turning colors up in Tuolumne Meadows. The drive up was beautiful. The moutain sides had patches on red, orange, yellow and green from the groves of Aspens and Dogwoods turning colors. It was beautiful. Unfortunately the trees up in Toulumne had not started to turn yet but we still enjoyed the drive. We even spotted a coyote on our way through. If there had been enough time we would have driven down to the Valley, but it was getting late and we wanted to head home. That night we ate a wonderful dinner and slept well. Must have been that mountain air!

View from the condo.

Autumn Leaves, Gull Lake , October 2010


The next morning we woke up to a yummy pancake breakfast and then headed out to explore again. The day was pretty but cloudy. A big storm was starting to making its way over the moutains. Shaun and I certainly were not complaining. We drove around the lakes, stopping to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. From there we drove up to June and Gull Lakes. We stopped at the Gull Lake Marina where Abby and I took a walk down the boat ramp area. She wanted to see all of the birds swimming out on the lake. As we watched a mama duck came swimming up to us. It was obvious she was hoping to get a hand out or two. She quickly jumped out of the water and onto the ramp. Abby was as happy as a clam and excited to be so close to a duck. Mommy was having fun too, although she was doing her best to keep Abby from getting too close. From there we decided to head back to Mammoth. We drove up to the Canyon Lodge, the Minarets overlook and Reds Lake. After that we headed back for another yummy dinner at the condo and to enjoy a cozy evening. We even had a nice rain storm blow through.

Ducky Kisses


The following morning we woke up and headed home. It was hard to leave but we had to. On our way out we drove up to Convict Lake. It was gloomy but pretty and a nice end to our trip to Mammoth. The drive home gave us some rain and pretty landscapes. All I know is that I hope we are back very soon!

Our last day with Grandma and Grandpa Taylor…

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As with all vacations, they eventually must come to my end. My parents included. Yesterday was our last day together before they had to head back to Montana. Jillian was already back home because of work and school. We spent the day just enjoying each others company and running some errands. Nothing super special. As much as we tried not to be, I think we were all sad that such a wonderful trip had to come to an end. After picking up some items at Trader Joe’s and attempting to find some good shoelaces for my dad, we stopped by Barbara and Mike’s house to visit. Barbara is my mom’s closest friend. It was a lovely visit and we certainly had a great time. Abby had some fun as well and certainly surprised the heck out of us too! Makes me smile. As always Abby was a very happy and well behaved little girl and she certainly enjoyed Barbara’s teddy bear!



After visiting we met up with Shaun and had a nice simple dinner. The rest of the evening was spent just talking and avoiding the inevitable. Abby was being a little goofball. I thought I would share a video clip, mainly because I just love to hear her giggle and chatter.

As it grew late, we had to say our goodbyes so that my parents could get back to their place and rest up for the trip home. I cant say I didnt get emotional or cry when they finally did leave, because I did. I felt like a kid being dropped off at preschool or the sitters for the first time and didnt want mom and dad to leave. When I was younger I never thought being a part from my parents would be so hard. In fact once you hit about high school you almost want to be away from them. Oh how that changes, especially once you are married and have children. Now my heart aches every time I see them and then have to leave. I dont think that will ever change. I do feel very blessed that we do get to see one another and I enjoy every moment I have with them. Until next time mom and dad… AKA Grandma and Grandpa Taylor!