California 2011

It has been a very long time since I have blogged about anything.  The table (see below) finally got me to blog again.  This post is dedicated to our trip to California.  Unfortunately, my pictures were posted backwards and I'm too lazy to switch them.  It was such a fun vacation filled with fun and family! 

This is our last night  at Carpenteria.  We were able to camp 20 feet from the water.  It was such a fun experience and a first time camping on the beach for me.  We were able to spend a week with the Birds, the Merkets, and the Heils.    The sunsets were beautiful and we enjoyed having City with us.

 One day we were sitting around the campfire and we heard several excited people talking about an idiotic man who sailed his ship onto the exposed reef.  The next day they dragged the boat up the beach.  It was pretty dang funny to see.

 Chris had a ton of fun seeing his cousins.  He even was sweater buddies with Jack.

City really enjoyed swimming in the ocean, but one day he stepped in tar.  All 4 paws were thickly coated.  City even began biting at the tar to get it off.  We had to buy baby socks to prevent him from getting tar on all of his teeth.  In the end a camp host said that soaking his paws in vegetable oil would do the trick easily.  She was right!  Sadly City had to suffer through 10 minutes of soaking for each paw. 

 

We actually started the vacation by visiting my dad in Northern California.  This is a great picture capturing the usual agenda while visiting my dad.  He works so much that we rarely get to do things outside of his market.  If you'll notice, behind us is a shelving unit full of liquor.  I love visiting my dad, but I wish, wish, wish that we could go on a vacation together and not hang out at the market all day.

My dad loved City.  He thought that City was the smartest dog :)  We actually taught City  how to shake while hanging out at the market.  City liked my daddy as well but began the trip by barking at him.  We figured City barked because my dad is a lot quieter that Chris or me.  City always knows where we are at home because we are loud.  My dad on the other hand is very quiet.  City would bark because he was surprised!

We visited Lafayette Reservoir with City in tow.  He wished that he could have swam in the water, but was content with just staring at the ducks.

Besides bowling, my father loves to play ping pong.  We thought we would show him.... he kicked our trash.  I now know where my competitive nature comes from.  My dad is very competitive at any sport even if it is ping pong at 11:00 pm on a Wednesday night.

We were fortunate to stop in Salt Lake for 2 nights before we headed out to California.  It was fun seeing my mom, but Brody stole the show by being a pooper.  He is such a funny dog.