Two Day Vacay

We had been fighting the rainy day doldrums here in California. In fact I cancelled my home town visit due to torrential rains, many and accident on freeways I would be driving on and decided to stay home where it was warm, dry, and safe. So Jeff went on the internet to see what the rest of the week was to bring and found that sun and warm weather was on it's way. The boys are off this week for Winter Break and we decided to take them to Pismo Dunes for a few days of beach and Jeep fun.

Aren't we a lovely crew?

We found about 20 sand dollars, pretty amazing. The boys loved finding the keepers.

Waves chasing the boys.

Isn't that a lovely sunset?

What's camping without the Jiffy Pop?

Pooba this sign is for you! If you ever make to the pier in Pismo Beach be prepared to wear your flip flops or flat foot wear!

Here is one of the boys trying to get a good look with the telescope on the pier.

Julia and her little one wading through the cold ocean water.

Another lovely family shot! Julia, Mike and kids.

Didn't anyone tell you? Dump truck's ARE for girls!

Mike walking in the surf.

Jumping the waves.

Walking out to a sandbar.

The long forgotten shovel and rake.

Heading back to camp.

Jeff doing his thing in the Jeep.

Camp.

So that about sums it up. Fun was had by all. The boys went out on the dunes in the Jeep and Mike on his Honda 80. Once we all had our fill of ocean, sand, sand, oh and more sand we packed up and headed home. It was a nice little break to our routine. But it is good to be home.

Sunday Adventure

I have to give hubby some credit. Today he opted for some "family time" rather than the usual, which is work on his equipment. I love it when he stays home, it gives me a chance to break free from the kids, some down time. But not today, today was another definition of "family time", one I don't want to see too often.

Today "family time" consisted of driving around in a Jeep for 4 hours while he showed the boys a dirt biking park where they can trail ride when the boys get a little older. We stopped on the side of a two lane road and watched for a bit. The boys were impressed to see some kids out there with their dads. Trevor's comment was "I want to ride here dad.", followed by Jeff's comment "Oh you need to get a bit better on your bike Trev." Well, Trevor's comfort level hasn't reached the level of shifting gears, so he has a little more time before he can go. When we finished watching we proceeded to climb to the top of the two lane road that dead ends into a State Park. Little did we know that the State Park was CLOSED. All that driving around just to find that we couldn't proceed to the top to take in a breath taking view.....all the way out to the ocean on a good day. Needless to say we were all a bit bummed, a little hungry, and in need of a good stretch.

By the time we head back down the hill it is close to lunch time, we left our house at 9:45, so the boys are in the back seat complaining about their hunger pangs despite the snacks I provided. Once we make it back to town the boys are pushing and shoving each other in the back seat, a little bit of laughing, a little bit of crying, and a whole lot of noise. At this point my head is ready to explode and my butt is so numb I fear it is going to fall off when I step out of the Jeep. We finally get some lunch and find an empty parking lot to eat it in. While there we get a lunch time show. The show involved some guys on their street bikes all tricked out. We got to see them ride the bikes standing up, on the back wheel, front wheel, etc. They were amateurs, but entertaining none the less. After about 1/2 hour of sitting idle in the Jeep, eating lunch, and watching these guys try not to injure themselves we finally head out for the REAL reason for our Sunday Adventure, which is to get a new battery for the dirt bike Jeff just bought.

Finally, we are at our destination and then we can go home. Or so I thought. Jeff gets his part and then calls his brother about a building. He gives us the general idea where it is and we go check it out. At this point, I am done....head screaming, butt numb and I finally tell Jeff "We need to go home!" So with a little bit of reluctance we head home. I was so relieved to get here that I got in another vehicle and left, just to get some quiet time before the dinner mayhem would begin. So glad the day is over......still have headache. ;-(

Jeep Fun

Okay, about 3 years ago we purchased a Jeep Rubicon Unlimited. Jeff just had to have it because it was the LAST year Jeep was to make this particular style. We went to a dealership and he proceed to test drive one of the models on the lot. He liked it.......okay, he LOVED it. He test drove the silver, but told me "Suzi, this is going to be your Jeep, what color do you want?" So I think on it for a bit and come back with "Navy Blue". Nice color right? Well, Jeff checked with another dealer and was told they couldn't get blue so what is my next choice? I choose Forest Green, another nice color right? Again we are told that they couldn't find the green? So again I am asked what color would I prefer, at this point Jeff has made it abundantly clear that he REALLY likes the silver which I am not thrilled with. I tell him another color, a sandy color. Once more we are told that they can't find the color we have chosen, so Jeff comes home with a silver Jeep. I think he opted for the silver rather than look for any of my color options.



So I am now the proud owner of a SILVER Jeep. My first choice of off road vehicles would be an International Scout II, but I can deal with a Jeep. I have to admit it is fun to drive around, after all it is funny to see "A Man's Man" do a double take when they see a girl drive a Jeep on steroids.



Life with a Jeep is not all sh**s and giggles, there is the cleaning part. Which brings me to today. Jeff has been asking me since mid-November to "Please vacuum the Jeep so I can put the hard top on." Well, today after my run I proceed to vacuum and clean the Jeep with a bit of help from the husband. As I am vacuuming he is using his blower to eradicate as much dust and dirt as possible. Many would think that helpful. I, on the other hand, found it frustrating due to the dirt and dust being blown in my face and the fact that it was leaving more dirt for me to clean up after the initial clean up. Mind you this Jeep has been "cleaned" one other time......by me. Now it is of my opinion that if 4 boys take it out and trash the interior, then they should do what they can to clean it out. Not the opinion of said 4 boys. Something is wrong with this picture. I think it is now my job, as a woman, to teach at least 3 of those boys the importance of cleaning after oneself. What do you think?