Vegas and California

We ALL LOVE LISA'S HOUSE!

It was conference weekend and 

so it was a great time to lounge around

play with toys

and eat Lisa's food!

Russell even shared his HUGE bag of candy!

Everytime the kids heard a certain word,

the would get to eat another piece of candy.

We chose the word "Christ"

Not a good choice!

We had a lot of wired kids!

But with a swimming pool full of Legos...

they were ok.

And speaking of pool,

there was a bit of swimming outside too!

Richard is here on his mother's old pool couch set.

Fond memories of his old Vegas home.

Lisa has given them a new good life too.

Aunt Anji took some fun pictures of the kids playing outside!

And she caught Cora in a trampoline jump that was just hilarious.

We laughed and wheezed and cried about this picture for days.

It even became a family meme.

It involved a lot of mugshots, cigarettes and alcohol.  

Oh yeah,

we had to bring the dog.

At least Colette is thrilled.

She was really good actually.

Zero accidents, no barking...

maybe because Lisa's dog was four times her size!

On our way to Californ-I-A!

Quite the dust storm made the trip twice as long

and infinitely more stressful for Richard.

Back at our beachside RV park that we stayed at last year.

Right next to Huntington Beach!

We started Cali off right with a big ice cream cone!

EVERYONE enjoyed it!

The reason for our trip was Richard's work.

He needed to present at the DISNEYLAND HOTEL!

We were able to go the day before and help with set-up.

But we got a little distracted.

We took Parker to Koreatown!

We had lots of yummy food.

Went to a grocery store.

He bought some new KPOP albums.

It was fun!

Korean Chocolate!

BTS!

Parker just happened to be wearing the same outfit as their cardboard cutouts!

I think they are lifesized too!

Stray Kids for the way home.

This is a terrible picture,

but it was fun to see the light at the top of hill where the temple is in LA!

A nighttime stroll around the temple!

It sure was special to see!

It was so big!

Back to the beach!

While dad is working hard...

we were hardly working...

...except Colette who had to chase Dolly half a mile down the beach

TWICE

because she slipped out of her collar.

The second time she even broke it.

Back to the RV WITH YOU!

And here's Parker looking like he was at work.

And I guess sandcastle building can be rather tough.

Maybe it's a job.

But for the most part,

this was cool, refreshing...

and relaxing.

When it got a little "too" cool

(it is only April)

we headed into the RV pool because it was warmer.

Siblings being soo nice too each other!

😍

That's more like it!

We found a very posh Mexican restaurant.

You've had chips and salsa before a meal,

but have the chips been the size of your face?!?!

So  we had to give our thanks to the patron saint of tortilla chips.

And then we could DIG IN!

They were huge and perfectly seasoned!

I know that's a lot of content for a tortilla chip,

but it's almost not enough!

It left quite an impression.

Of course we had to see the lovely Sinclair during our stay!

We went to a mall and saw the SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE!

We went to the tide pools!

It was low tide, obviously, so lots of treasures to find...

...and rocks to skip!

The water was cool and slimy.

And Richard had to defy death.

So his kids had to follow him.

(everyone survived)

Mitchell was looking for the perfect photo op.

I think I found mine.

Just a hop, skip and a jump!

Everyone found some cool driftwood walking canes.

But we couldn't take anything with us.

At the nearby aquarium,

they had a presentation of how to help fish hatch out of their eggs

by simulating waves.

You probably cant' see them 

because they are the tiniest, transparent little eggs on the sand.

 

But everyone took a turn shaking them around like the ocean!
And out they all popped!

So cute,

and impossible to show you.

Cora found a new home!

The aquarium also had a hands on water experience!

More pictures from Mitchell.

Sea Urchins!

A starfish!

So slimy!

And an anemo... nenemo... menemone...

"Don't hurt yourself kid."

-Finding Nemo

NOW ONTO THE MAIN EVENT!

KNOTTSBERRY FARM!

Better than that...

KNOTTSBERRY FARM 

WITH THE SKIFTON FAMILY!

Even better than that... 

KNOTTSBERRY FARM 

WITH THE SKIFTON FAMILY

DURING THE BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL!

How many Skifton's can you fit in a train?

vs. How many Skifton's can you fit in a minecar?

Parker was the sweetest brother taking Cora on all the rides she wanted!

I think from here on out,

I'll just let the pictures do the talking...

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUN TIME!