Can someone pinch me?! Today was simply fantastic in every way! It was better than I could have ever hoped or prayed for! It began with Cherie and Eric coming out to the beach house and Eric graciously taking Jon and I out of the Sea-doos for an adventure on the Pacific while Cherie watched the kids (and gave Baylee some artistic drawing and painting pointers)! Jon, Eric, and I ended up on a ride of a lifetime, about fifty miles round trip at speeds around 45 miles an hour. In the three or so hours we were out, we rode out to
Anacapa Island (one of the eight Channel Islands of California and a National Park). ). Eric, our fearless, careful, attentive tour guide showed us all angles of the island as we rode around the entire thing. On the backside, the waters were like a river, so peaceful and calm. The island was breathtaking with its rock formations and birds flying in all directions. One day, I’d love to get out and walk the island to see the vegetation, lighthouse, wildlife, and more. During our round trip, while riding on the cool water, we saw plenty of seals and a few dolphins which truly was amazing (Jon’s thankful for no shark sightings!) Seeing the seals and dolphins in their natural habitat was breathtaking.
Oh and if you could have seen the three of us upon arriving back home! What a crackup it was to look in the mirror, salt crystals were all over our faces and hair and we definitely had a sun and wind glow appearance to us. There’s no guess work to it, we wouldn’t have won any modeling contests for an advertisement for a Sea-doo company.
(Here we are, off for an adventure of a lifetime, wrapped up to make sure we'd be warm enough!)
(Eric our leader)
Arriving back to the beach house later than expected, the house was full of family ready to celebrate my Aunt Evey and Cousin David’s birthdays. We made it as much of a reunion as possible but surely missed all those that were not able to come. Growing up I had my cousins around me all the time, they were my closest friends yet as an adult, I can’t remember the last time we were altogether for “good” reasons (verses funerals). Oh how I loved every single minute of my time with the family today. Mostly we just hung out and caught up as much as we could, but also the kayaks, electric boat, and hot tub were powered up! Oh Cherie and Eric, you were such generous, bighearted hosts!
(My dad and Pat were even able to come for a short visit today which was really neat!)
(Our birthday girl.)
(...and birthday boy, Cousin David)
(Baylee and Cousin Phil)
(Baylee and Cousin Cherie)
(Owen and our playful, silly Cousin David)
(Our loving and super hosts...Eric and Cherie...bless your hearts for your graciousness!) 
This vacation was so fun to experience with our puppies, Zoe and Brinkley! They were wonderful travelers and guests at the beach house. We were so thankful that Cherie and Eric invited them to join us.
(Zoe...poor girl, you can't see her eyes!)
(Brinkley)
Do your eyes easily get attracted to family photos on the beach like mine do? There’s such beauty of the ocean’s backdrop! Our entire time here on the beach, we forgot to pull our tripod out to try to capture a family shot like we did six years ago at Cannon Beach. I am so bummed! Nonetheless, at least I snapped a few of the children that will captivate my heart for a lifetime.
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(My very favorite place in this house...a reading window!) 
Ever since Jon and I returned three days ago from our Sea-doo escapade with Eric; Baylee and Nathan have been chomping at the bit to have an ocean quest of their own. Eric and Cherie returned; bless their hearts, to make it possible. Eric and Jon took the ‘big kids’ on the water with the intention of keeping them in the Chanel canals. They were unsure how the kids could handle the waves of the ocean as well as the mode of transportation and temperatures that come with splashing through the cold waters. Well, both Baylee and Nathan surprised both men and sooner than later, they were out in the ocean being surrounded by many large pods of dolphins. Everyone out there agreed that they saw at least a hundred, if not two! {I'm crazy jealous ☺!}
Owen wasn’t thrilled when his brother and sister’s adventure began so Cherie and I took him out on the canoes. Once I got a handle on the balancing act needed for two, we had a blast maneuvering on top the water. Then once Daddy and Eric returned the Sea-doos, we spontaneously agreed to take Owen out on a ride, sandwiching him between us. We didn’t go far, nor fast, but Owen felt like he was a part of something pretty important and he was greatly satisfied! It was precious!
We thought it would be a fun day to travel around the neighborhoods and ocean side by bike. The kids giggled the whole route as Jon and I used every ounce of leg muscle to get our Party of Five from place to place. It was a fantastic day to be outdoors.
Jon wasn’t the only sailor in the family; each kid had their chance at the wheel and often times it was our sweet Cousin Eric showing them the proper technique. No drivers license necessary to sail this ocean blue!
(Here we are, off for an adventure of a lifetime, wrapped up to make sure we'd be warm enough!)
(Eric our leader)
Arriving back to the beach house later than expected, the house was full of family ready to celebrate my Aunt Evey and Cousin David’s birthdays. We made it as much of a reunion as possible but surely missed all those that were not able to come. Growing up I had my cousins around me all the time, they were my closest friends yet as an adult, I can’t remember the last time we were altogether for “good” reasons (verses funerals). Oh how I loved every single minute of my time with the family today. Mostly we just hung out and caught up as much as we could, but also the kayaks, electric boat, and hot tub were powered up! Oh Cherie and Eric, you were such generous, bighearted hosts! 
