CARPENTERIA!!!

There was a huge build up to our family vacation this year. My Mom and Dad talked a lot about going camping at the beach and how fun it would be. We spent an entire weekend gearing up with all the camping necessities. Then it happened...we loaded up the car, strapped Uncle Cort and Aunt Shalaine's bikes to the back, and headed off to Carpenteria.

From the moment I got there I loved camping. I had my own little chair to sit by the fire (but not too close) and ate marshmallows every night. Since I have a fear of fire I preferred them unroasted.

Mom was pretty impressed that I got within 10 ft. of the fire. I figured since everyone else was around it I was pretty safe. I never walked by the fire though--I took the longest route around possible!

I forgot to mention who made this fabulous trip possible! Aunt Jen and Uncle Jeff come here every year. They were nice enough to let us tag along. I was stoked to have Brooke, Kate, and Buzz as my adopted siblings for the week.

Aunt Jen got into dutch oven cooking this trip...and it was DELICIOUS! This is the first crack at it. Bacon, potatoes, eggs, cheese, and green chili's for breakfast. I don't think you get much better than that!

That's what I'm talking about.

I had a special air mattress/sleeping bag for the trip. I slept in it at home for two weeks before the trip so I was pretty comfy in it! I slept great in the tent and even took a nap every day. That's probably because I was up with the sun every morning!

We did tons of fun activities. So many in fact, that I had to put them in a couple seperate posts...so stay tuned!

So Behind!

I have been so busy this summer having fun that I haven't taken the time to post all my adventures! Stay tuned for a whirlwind tour of my summer activities. This was from a month or so ago when Mom and I went with Paga to the Sawdust Festival.

I thought the coolest things were all the waterfalls and water features. This water wheel was particularly cool. I guess the art was okay too:)

Paga and I stopped to watch the glass blower demonstration. It was pretty cool how they heat up and melt the glass and then shape it into stuff. This artist was making a fish.

I did get a little freaked out by the hot furnace they put the glass into. I have a pretty big fear of fires and it seemed crazy to me that anyone would get that close to a fiery furnace!!

It was a fun day anyway....especially when Paga bought some popcorn.

I'm Ready For My Close Up

Mom and Dad thought it was about time to get some family pictures done. Can you blame them? Look at this handsome guy! We payed tribute to our home town and stayed in Redlands for our shoot. These are taken down by the old railroad station downtown.

This door in a downtown ally way matched our green color scheme perfectly:)

Here is my twin...my dad!

The only trait I get from my Mom is her eye color (and possibly her thighs:)) But I love her just the same.

Gotta love the hands in the pockets! I'm sticking this one in my modeling portfolio.

If you've never seen me do my sexy, sexy, sexy dance...here is a little glimpse. It gets Mom and Dad Cracking up every time.

Nothing screams Redlands like and orange grove. I love walking through them when I take Winston on walks.

I hope you liked looking at some of my pictures....

If you didn't.....

Bite my Orange!:)

Surfin' USA

It was a cold, cloudy Saturday at Doheny Beach. The waves were crashing about ankle high and the water was FREEZING! So naturally, it was the perfect day to go Surfing!

We met Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jen at the beach with their big surf and paddle boards. I suited up in my wet suit and life jacket and headed in with Dad.

Dad put me on the board and we started out into the waves for my first surfing adventure. We quickly realized that sitting was not the best position for me since I fell back every time we went over a swell. So onto my knees/stomach I went.
Dad hopped on the back and paddled us out. I loved going over the waves and didn't even mind the cool spray in my face.

We turned the paddle board around and waited for the perfect set to roll in. When the wave came Dad paddled like mad and told me to stand up.

It is harder than it looks! I mostly made it up to my knees and stood up once. Too bad Mom and Aunt Jen were too busy cheering and screaming to remember to take a picture! After a couple rides Dad thought I was ready to ride solo.

Here is my only solo ride...taking it all the way into the shore. By this time my lips were blue and I was shivering...but totally stoked on surfing!

Getting the Gear

Okay Dad, now I'm ready to go surfing!

Fabulous Fourth

Happy Belated 4th of July everyone! For a kid who loves fireworks, you can imagine that this is one of my favorite holidays. My Aunt Jen knows how I love my fireworks shirts (that's what I call my tie dye shirt) and was kind enough to make me one in Red, White, and Blue. With my patriotic shirt firmly on, we headed up to Big Bear Lake for the evening.

Even Winston got to join the festivities! Notice his very patriotic neckerchief?

He wasn't having too much fun up there because we had to keep him on the leash so he would disturb anyone else. He did get a brief romp in the lake, but I think it was a little cold for him. I'm trying to cheer him up by riding on him:)

Smile pup, I'm sure you'll like the fireworks!

Since it was Sunday, I didn't get to go swimming in the lake. I was pretty mad about it, but settled for putting my feet in and throwing rocks into the water. Mom promises we'll come back on a day we can swim and go down the big inflatable slide that was in the lake. There was also a little playground filled with wild kids I played on for a bit while we waited for it to get dark.

Doesn't the lake make you want to dive right in? Torture people, torture!

Mom packed the cooler full of food for us. I chilled on my chair for a while and ate my sandwich and Otter Pops. It helped me forget about swimming for a little bit. Hey Dad, where is your Red, White and Blue? I don't think black is in the American Flag.

I'm just hanging in my Bass Pro Shop camping chair. I fit right in with the locals.

At 7:40 this huge jet did a fly over the lake. He had done several other fly overs, including Angel's Stadium, and this was his last one of the evening. It was pretty awesome because it was so low over the lake and nice and slow. I thought the night couldn't get any better.

But the sun finally went down and it did get better! Lots of people had radios tuned to the local station that played the music for the fireworks show. They launched the fireworks from the middle of the lake. It was so cool to have the mountains around us the the fireworks reflected on the lake.

I was sad when the half hour show was done but fell asleep in the car dreaming of swimming in a lake full of lights.

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Water Park

Close to my house is a cool park called Celebration Park. Every year starting after Memorial Day, they turn on the water at the park for the summer. It has all kinds of fun water features and even a regular park next to it if you need to dry out. I thought it would be fun to take Axel and Marie here.

Mom brought some buckets and Aunt Shalaine had a couple containers for us to play in the water. It was nice and hot outside so the cold water felt good. I even took a couple spins through the "car wash"!

Cuz did not enjoy the water so much. I'm not sure if it was the freezing temperature or the mass of screaming kids...but this is about as close as he got. Shortly after he got sprayed and bolted to the other side of the park.

Marie, on the other hand, LOVED IT! She didn't mind being down in the the water and getting sprayed. She is a true water baby.

This is the only picture Mom could get of Axel and I together. Even though he didn't like the water I think he still had fun at the park. Hopefully he'll go with me again. It's great to have a cool place to go during the hot summer months.