California: cousin weekend

We had a fun weekend visiting with my sister Erin and her family. The cousins happily played outside together (for the most part) and we enjoyed more lovely California weather. We went on a beautiful nature hike one afternoon and walked to a park near their house for a dinner picnic one evening followed by s'mores around their backyard fire pit. Thanks for being such great hosts Gong family!

Classic angry Elsa face/stance. I think she was upset that her rock creation was being dismantled.

California: San Diego day 5

One more trip to the beach before leaving San Diego.

We stopped at Mt. Soledad before leaving town to get some great views of San Diego.

We stopped at my cousin Kimi's house for a quick visit which was fun and then made our way as far as Fresno before crashing for the night. The next morning we continued the rest of the way to San Francisco where we spent the weekend with my sister Erin and her family. More cousins!

California: San Diego day 4

Elsa really wanted to go on a walk with me one morning and try and see some dolphins. It was fun to walk along the beach with her and watch some kids doing a surf camp. And luckily we did spot some dolphins that morning. I think we ended up walking close to 3 miles. We rewarded ourselves with delicious cinnamon rolls from a bakery we found on the boardwalk.

We spent the afternoon swimming at Mission Bay. Ben tried stand up paddleboarding but I didn't get any pictures. Oliver was scared to get into the ocean (but loved running away from the waves) so he loved swimming here. Nice and calm. Simon was doing much better by this point, although still not quite up to his full energy. Elsa accidentally poked me in the eye before bed and must have really scratched it because my eye watered constantly for the next 24 hours. I couldn't open it the whole next day. So that was fun.

California: San Diego day 3

Another day playing at the beach, a fun sandcastle competition, and a yummy bbq dinner with everyone.

Scenes from this morning's run. More crappy phone pictures of dolphins. I lugged my real camera all the way across country and never used it. I also forgot to bring my zoom lens.

All the cousins!