Camping at Bodega Bay

We just arrived home - dirty, sandy, tired, and elated - from a camping trip to Bodega Bay.  We tried camping in the mountains last year, so it was time to try the beach this year.  We had a great time!  Although I had been warned it was still a shock to go from the 100+ degree heat that we had been having in the valley to the 50s by the bay.  We stay layered up most of the time.  And we made great use of our campfire!  We took a few excursions: the beach and the bay.  We were fascinated by the crabs that we found. Kathryn was particularly good a spotting their hiding places. One afternoon we tired to take the "beach trail" that went from our camp ground to the beach.  After a couple of dunes, we were all spent and admitted defeat.  The way back down was much more entertaining!

Our campsite

The cool, breezy,  foggy beach

The crabs by the bay - so cool to find them under so many rocks!

Tackling the first dune - and it was tough!

The view from the top!

This is as close as we got to the ocean -- we could see it and hear it but we weren't up to tackle the hike.

It was so much fun to come down that big dune.

SAND

SAND

SAND

GOODBYE, SAND!

Cubs WIN!

Last week we had the amazing experience of watching an Oakland A's vs. Chicago Cubs game with 132 of our closest friends:-)  A dear friend, Jerry T, from church organized a group of us to attend a game in Oakland.  We were all surprised by the response.  It was a great night to introduce Kathryn to her first major league baseball game.  And we were further surprised that we could cheer on our Cubbies to a WIN! It was a fireworks night as well so we stayed to watch those as well.  A late night but well worth it.

A whole row of transplated Cubs fans!

Andrew and his friends were divided in their loyalty but not in  good will.

More friends to share the night!

Swimming Lessons 2013

The kiddos made great strides in swimming lessons this year!  They enjoyed every minutes that they were in the water.  (Getting out wasn't always fun but. . .  we experienced our first lesson in the RAIN!  Yes, we had rain in Ripon at the end of June.  Not a regular occurrence.)