9/4/2021

We spent the day in Newport Beach, a place none of us had ever visited. The trip started off with a walk around the entire circumference of Balboa Island, looking at all the boats and cute beach houses. Then we drove up and down Balboa Peninsula, which was packed with people because it was the first day of Labor Day weekend.

8/21/2021

A thick layer of clouds kept the temperature much cooler than normal, as we walked around the Safari Park visiting the animals.

8/18/2021

Summer is officially over. Connor has Mr “B” (Betschel) for 5th grade, and Gavin is back at Oak Valley for 8th. Both are kings of the campus this year.

8/14/2021

A beautiful day for a hike along the bay, and to learn about the big guns that defended it during WWII.

8/5/2021

Smoke filled the bowl that the lake sits in, so it wasn’t beautiful like it should have been. We’ll have to visit again when the world isn’t on fire.

8/4/2021

We learned a lot of Oregon history at the site of the first provisional government on the West Coast… before a flood washed away the town. There was a nice trail along the river where we hiked and ate wild blackberries.

8/3/2021

My parents showed us their zoo, where we got to meet one of the elephants during feeding time. The zoo in Portland is the perfect size for a nice afternoon visit.

8/1/2021

My mom wanted photos of the entire family, since it has been so long since we were all at the same place. Then we had a BBQ and celebrated Zander’s birthday.

7/30/2021

We took a short walk along the Tualatin river in Cook Park, near my parents’ house. Then the boys talked Michaela into playing a little wiffleball.

7/27/2021

We started off walking around the California State Capitol. Then ventured down to Old Town Sacramento, where the boys talked me into buying them way too much saltwater taffy.

7/26/2021

The fire damage from the Creek Fire in 2020 made the mountains look like a moonscape. But the lakes persist and we enjoyed visiting them.

Huntington Lake, where I used to go to Scout camp, was still freezing, as I remembered. But Shaver Lake was pleasant so the boys and I decided to have a swim.

7/25/2021

We took in two of the biggest trees in the world, the General Sherman and General Grant. Along the way, we met a beautiful young buck, just hanging out under a tree.

7/24/2021

Kings Canyon was a beautiful area for a hike, although it was a bit hot this day.

While on the trail, I had sat on a rock waiting for the others to catch up. I was faced looking up the trail where they would come around a bend, so I didn’t notice the bear that was sneaking up behind me. When it was about 10 feet away, Aliciana came around the corner and screamed “Bear!” at me until I realized what was going on.

We slowly backed away, and the bear decided to carry on its way off trail. It wasn’t very big, probably just a few years old, and not aggressive in any way. I think it was just curious. Either way, it was a memory I won’t soon forget. I just wish I would have had the mindset to get a better photo when he was so close.

7/10/2021

The State Championship tournament came to an end for our 4S All-Stars, with their loss to Lake Elsinore. It is never fun to lose, but the boys should feel proud for being the second team from 4S to ever make it this far.

7/9/2021

A few shots of Gavin in the first State championship tournament game. The boys played their hardest, but we are down 5 of our starters, so it wasn’t enough to beat the Aliso Viejo team.