A whale of a time

Paul, Owen and I headed to the coast to celebrate our anniversary at a friends cottage. It was beautiful and refreshing. We didn't have anywhere to be and most of the time we didn't even know what day it was. The three of us hunkered down inside on some days and ventured out to experience the beautiful ocean other days.

Owen was old enough to enjoy the sand and explore the beach. He and his dinosaur collected muscle shells along the shore and made piles of sand for the joy of stomping on them. It was all fun and games until he threw his dino towards the water and a wave swept Mr. Dinosaur up. Daddy had to come to the rescue. From that point on when the waves came toward Owen he would say, "No!". I'm not sure if he was upset that it took his dino or that daddy had to go out to get him.

We went to our favorite local restaurants, enjoyed the rhododendrons in bloom at the botanical gardens, went to an estate sale in an old cabin, swam at an indoor pool with a lazy river and walked down the boardwalk to see seals. We spent most nights in the cottage enjoying the sunset through the redwoods and watching movies. I'm grateful for the time we had together making memories.

When friends come to town

We were so excited to have friends from college come to visit us. Lauren was my best friend in college. We spent so much time together, we did everything together. One time we even signed up for a ballet class because we planned on attending the first class in leggings and a tutu just to be funny and then dropping the class (we chickened out). I will always be grateful for her! She made me laugh, she was there when I needed someone to cry with or someone to celebrate with! We were in each others weddings and then moved into the same apartment complex (we could wave at each other from our porches!) and then three years ago we moved 1,820 miles away from each other. We have kept up over the phone but when she called and told me they were coming to visit I was thrilled. We loved showing them around our town and some of our favorite surrounding areas. The four of us (and Owen) had so much fun!!! Thanks for coming and visiting us Lauren and Cacey! I love you Lauren and always will! 

Hamilton family reunion 2012: Pismo beach

We had a beautiful time as a family in Pismo beach California. All of my immediate family and their spouses were there and Grammie of course! Or does she count as immediate family? We had been planning the trip for months, buying "water play" items at yard sales, searching online for restaurants to try and sending text messages to each other building hype for the trip. In the end it lived up to all the hype! :)

This is what most days looked like: wake up, coffee and breakfast, walk to the beach (only a half block!), hangout on the beach while the guys boarded, clean up, walk around town, eat at a classic beach cafe, play card games at home, yogurt and an evening stroll along the board walk and pier. What more could you want in a classic california beach vacation?

I wasn't sure what Owen would think of the beach and sand. He acts afraid when we set him on grass so I wondered if he would act the same way with the sand. He loved it! Much to my surprise he didn't try to eat it! He mostly crawled around till he found seaweed or a seagull, then he would chat away with which ever one he found first. He loved us to pick him up and chase the birds. He loves birds. He takes after his grandma in that area, she is the birder in the family. He has a blast! 

I am so grateful for my family! Lets do it again next year!