That's the Pacific Ocean

We've been wanting to make it out to California for a while now to hang out and visit some family. It's been almost seven years since we've been married and Brian hasn't had the opportunity to visit since 2001 and we've never been together. While I've been to California several times, it's a first to the Santa Barbara area and Paso Robles. When we left home it was predicted to rain five out the of the seven days we were supposed to be there, but it only rained the first day. Otherwise it was gorgeous, just light sweater weather, but lots of sunshine as you would expect. It was a really nice time to catch up with relatives that we just don't get to see very often. We had talked to Claxton about going to the Pacific Ocean, so every time it came into sight, he exclaimed, "that's the Pacific Ocean, right Mom, right Dad?!" What a fun little traveler he has become!

Highlights of the trip according to Claxton: Seeing Sammy the Seal (the elephant seals), going to the Pacific ocean (even though he could only put his toes in), riding on a trolley, riding on the ferris wheel at the pier, splashing in the puddles with Maddy and Aunt Sybil, and riding in the red jeep with Uncle Sal. Julia's list was a little shorter - playing with Maddy and her toys and going to the beach.

For me, it was absolutely wonderful to get away and have a break from our normal routine. Brian's uncle and aunt own a jeep tour business through wine country and they graciously offered to keep the kids for us one day so we could enjoy a tour. It was fantastic! If you make it out to that area, I highly recommend it, check them out at www.ccjeeps.com.

Claxton has been begging me for weeks to play outside in the rain, but this time of year is just too cold. So I have promised him that when spring comes we will definitely play out in the rain sometime. Needless to say, he was thrilled when I told him on our first day of the trip that we could take a rain walk and that his job was to splash in every puddle he saw. And splash he did!

Julia did her fair share of splashing too.

Playing at the fountain in Ojai

Claxton and Maddy getting ready to race to the next big puddle...

Before we made the track back home, we stopped by the local ice cream shop for a special treat. Let me tell you that these three perched up on these window seats were show stoppers in the town of Ojai on this day. There was absolutely nothing more adorable than watching these guys enjoy their treat. Every single person that passed by took a double take, commented amongst themselves on all the cuteness, and there were even a few that came inside to get a closer look at all this cuteness, who didn't even have ice cream on their radar for that day. I am certain we helped boost the ice cream sales that day. The pictures here just do not do justice, between the glare and the reflections from the cars on the street, the moment is not captured as well as it could have been. But, honestly, you'd have to be blind not to oooh and aaahhh just a little.

We finally made it to the ocean on our fourth day of the trip. And this is as close as mommy would let them go. Brrrr, this water is cold! They both practiced much self-control and only got their fingerstips wet.

A little lesson about shadows

God must have known to put these rocks on the beach to occupy those little ones with so much energy, otherwise they certainly would end up wet...and very cold, especially on a chilly, windy day at the beach! We could spend hours climbing on the rocks.

One of our stops was to observe the elephant seals. And they were LOUD!

The kids said this one had to be Sammy!

A few family photos...

This is at one of the wineries in Paso Robles.
Hanging with Uncle Sal

Uncle Sal rocks! He took us for a ride in jeep.

Another beach stop.

We spent one day in Santa Barbara, this is the crew hanging out on State Street.

A must do for Claxton was the trolley. He spotted one in Ojai on our first day and we didn't hear the end of it until we rode this one. I'm not quite sure if it's all he thought it would be or not, but for a quarter, it was worth it. Can check it off his list now.

I have no idea what is being said here, but certainly Dave and Maddy are amused!


I really wanted a cute photo of the three kids in front of the trolley, but herding cats would have been easier. This is the best one of the bunch.

It's my birthday!The last day was packed with activites. We left Ojai mid morning and made our way to the Pacific Coast Highway. We had promised one final stop at the beach before our trip ended. So we worked our way south to Santa Monica and spent a couple of hours at the pier and the beach.

Checking out Santa Monica from the top of the ferris wheel ride
They finally got to put their toes in the water, still cold, but much warmer than the previous days at the other beaches.

Notice Julia in this photo. I have no idea what possessed her to do this, but we just laughed hysterically as did some others who happened to be passing by! She'll just love us when we pull this one out again in about twenty years from now.

We needed to pass a little time before meeting up with some of my family for the evening. My cousin suggested that we check out the Skirball Cultural Center. Specifically they have a Noah's Ark exhibit that is ongoing with a myriad of interactive items and activities. What a fun way to spend a couple of hours.




A fun time was had by all. Now it's back to the grind with normal life and such. Claxton already wants to know when we are going back to the Pacific Ocean. Hopefully we'll make out it there again before another six or seven years pass.