Carpinteria 2012

We had a blast on our annual trip to Carpinteria, California for the Winger Family Reunion.  It's always so nice when all my sisters can come.

 

Cindy and family.  Four mini Cindys.  Can't believe Allison is a senior this year!!

Debbie and clan.  Christina will soon be off to BYU-Idaho.  Did we mention it will be COLD there Christina?  Soak up that summer sun now.  HA!

 

I'm not pleased with this family picture but I'll take what I can get!

 

Love it when we are all back together again.

Mom and Dad and all the 10 grandkids!  So cute!

This one WAS a keeper, except for AJ!  At least he LET us take his picture this year.

 

Mom and Dad.  Cute.

 

 

 Hoola Hoop contest!  Go Gracie!

 

 

 Me and Nate trying to stay cool!

First full day at the beach.  Bright and early morning walk and we were practically all alone out there.  It was awesome!

The boys building pyramids.  Nate took right to the sand.

A happy Taro, before the onset of his fourth annual Heat Rash that lasted the entire week!  #notcool #hashtagshoutout

 

 Morning trip to the pool with the cousins and Aunt Sandy.

Day trip to Ventura.

There was a playground ON the beach!  The kids LOVED it!

My brave lil dude has NO fear for someone who JUST started walking!

 

Tunnel!

There was a huge rope ladder.  AJ was actually yelling "Help Mom!" here.  Hold on AJ, mommy just wants to take one more picture!   

Slide races are fun!  Especially when you get to land on the beach!

It was a LONG walk/run down the pier.  It was quite chilly at the end with all the wind blowing, but it was so beautiful.

Aunt Sandy, the official photog for the week.

 

 

 Ryan and AJ playing in the ginormous hole that Rick dug out.

 

Bat ray and SHARK warnings!!!!! AAAgghhH!  During Shark Week people!!!!

Nate loved every second he was in the water.  AJ did not.

Meanwhile I was looking for Bat rays.  Do the shuffle!

Trying to leave for the evening.  Nate was saying NO WAY!

 

 Aunt Sandy and Naters.

 

The whole clan!

 

 

 

Monterey Part Two

 

Back to the awesome Dennis the Menace park.  Above is a huge roller slide which AJ and I went down together.  AJ braves the lion's head water fountain below.

Nate loves going down slides now.  But probably loves climbing back up more.

 

AJ and I walking across the swinging bridge.  It was so cool!

Hanging out at the Children's Museum while Taro was at his work conference.  This ambulance had working lights and sirens.

Nate absolutely loved the firetruck.  Well, the steering wheel mostly.

Dr. Nate attempting to play Operation.

Row, row, row your boat.  Every little venue was Monterey themed.

Of course you have to golf while in Monterey.  This is for Grandpa Chuck.

 

They will even drive the golf cart for you Grandpa.

 

 Playing restaurant.

 

Finally made it through the conference and took an extra day to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is awesome!  The kids loved it! Star fish and anemones.

 

Another awesome pose from AJ.

Checking out the two story Kelp Forest.

The jellyfish exhibits are the coolest!

 

AJ kept talking about the jellyfish.  So many different ones to see.

The biggest tank you've ever seen.  Look at the size of the people, people!  Those fish are huge!

The scariest/weirdest fish I've ever seen before!  It was HUGE!!!

 

Biggest laugh of the day:  Our attempt at a family picture!  HA!

 

Second day of the aquarium.  My little penguins climbing out of their shell.

Stopping by the beach before we leave.  Nate was thoroughly enjoying himself in the sand.

 

Taro and AJ climbing rocks and looking for sea creatures in the tide pools.

3/4th of a family picture.

 

You can see why I had to break this into two posts.  Too many pictures to choose from.  Next up, Carpinteria pics! I think we are now officially beached out!

Monterey part 1

My swimming buddies.  The water was so warm.

AJ climbing a huge anchor near the Fisherman's Wharf.

The boys checking out the view of the bay.

AJ said "Mom, take my picture."  These are the types of poses I get these days.  Notice the t-shirt says "University of Awesomeness"!  HAHA.  Thanks Nori!

My boys at the entrance of the Wharf.

The bird handler at the Farmer's Market told me to get my camera ready.  So I did.  Nate hasn't quite realized what is going on here.

Clearly not pleased.

The coolest park ever.  It was the Dennis the Menance playground.  Pirate Ship playground first.

Little Man walking

I've been wanting to post this little video of Nate walking.  He has really taken off in the last couple weeks.  He loves to walk between AJ and I.  If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of his battle scars from the collision with the coffee table. 

Probably the cutest picture ever...



This is what Nate looks like 50% of the time. Tongue sticking straight out. It helps him do things ya know? It's no wonder, considering BOTH his parents can be found doing the exact same thing.

Oleander Blooming

I love all the oleander flowers we have around Ripon.  They are so pretty, yet I understand they are poisonous!  There is a beautiful, and ginormous row of oleander just a short walk from our house.  Or as AJ calls it "the road to the Taqueria".  Smart boy, smart boy.  He knows what he likes.