Huntington Library...

Last week my Dad and Step-Mom came to visit their kids in Southern Cali. They spent a few days with Erica's family and Jeff's family in Pasadena then they came up to see us on Sunday. They went to church with us to see Rich be all Bishopy and to our house after to eat Chili Rellenos. They took Jack and Ally back to the hotel in Arcadia with them which was special for them to get to spend extra time with Grandpa and Grandma. The rest of us went down and met them at the hotel the next day.

(Julia and Rich by the waterfall)

 The kids loved the hotel because in the middle there was a huge waterfall with Koi.  June, Erica's daughter who is just a few months younger than Julia, came along so Julia got to get to know her cousin. From the hotel  we went to the Huntington Library which was close by.

 (Julia and June at the Botanical Garden)

At the Library there was a beautiful Botanical Garden. There was a huge area with desert plants. 

Pretty flowers...

Funny trees...

Beautiful colors...

(Ally and Jack being eaten by the dragon)

From the desert we went into the Japanese Gardens. The Bamboo was beautiful, although there were dangers lurking there. (hee-hee)

(Ally "holding" the tree)

There were amazing Bonzai trees.

(Ally and Gage)

We saw the Serenity Garden...I think Gage fell asleep...

(Jeremy)

Jeremy was very busy snapping pictures of all of the beauty, and trying to avoid my camera. 

The Japanese Gardens were my favorite part, so pretty!

(Grandpa and Julia)

We walked across the property to the Children's Garden. The kids loved having Grandpa and Grandma with us since we don't see them very often. It's a long drive to Oregon.

(Julia)

The little kids loved the fountains...

(Ally)

and streams they could play in. 

(Julia, Ally and June)

I think the girl's favorite thing was the tunnel that had rainbows in the middle. 

After the Children's Garden we went to see the houses and library. The art and antiques were amazing in them! There were books that were 300 years old, the original Blue Boy and Pinky paintings, and so many other amazing things to see. 

(Ally, Grandma, and June)

It was a fun day, so much to see, and so fun to be with Grandpa and Grandma. Ally and Julia cried when we had to leave...never enough time. 

Vasquez Rocks...

On Memorial Day we took the kids to Vazquez Rocks. They had so much fun at Joshua Tree Nat'l Park we thought they'd enjoy it there. It's near Santa Clarita which is only a little over an hour drive for us.

This area has been used in many television shows and movies like Star Trek, Bonanza, and tons of other westerns. The place was named after an Mexican outlaw who used the rocks and caves to hide out from the law.

 Jeremy brought his friend Amber and they went off to climb and explore together and poor Gage got left with us and the little kids. He did end up climbing on his own but I think it was a boring day for him since his brother was occupied.

Rich and I climbed up with all the little ones. We didn't go to the very top over hangs as they were pretty steep to get to but we went up high enough for the kids to feel like they were brave. 

We found some kid sized holes for the kids to relax and find shade in at the top. 

When we got to the very top of the easier section Julia said, "Mom, I'm a mountain climber!"

Ally got pretty nervous up on top but once we got back down to safer ground she goofed around and pretended that she was going to fall. She was only about a foot up so I wasn't worried. 

Jack was much more adventurous so he and I climbed another set of rocks. He wasn't too afraid...

until he looked over the side of the ridge and saw the 50 ft drop. After about an hour and a half climbing the rocks we left the park, grabbed some lunch and went to Janet's to swim for the rest of the afternoon. It was a fun day with a fun little trip.