Which Way to the Beach?

This way to the beach…right?

When I was a kid, my parents took me and my siblings camping at least once or twice a summer. We had our favorite campgrounds, Yosemite included, so during a particularly awesome summer, (my parents having more time off, or more money, or both) we would camp three, maybe four times a year.

Now that I have my own kids, camping is not the worry free, work free, let’s play, play, play until we pass out kind of trip. Still, I could be at home participating in the norm. I’ll take a sunny day in Big Sur with my family any day.

The wife planned a trip about six months ago to one of my favorite places in the world: Big Sur. My parents have been wanting to camp with us the last couple of years, so this year it all worked out. Me and the girls, my parents, my brother and my nephew all made the long trek to the Big Sur Coast.

When you become an “upstanding” adult with a career and such, sometimes you just need to spend time with your family. Not just your wife and kids, but with your parents and siblings. I’m not talking about just going out to dinner one night, or meeting at grandma’s house for Christmas, but out and away from technology, electricity, and our stupidly comfortable Flobeds. This trip was just what we all needed. I got to reconnect with my parents and my brother, the kids got to see their cousin and play constantly for days, and there were no distractions, deadlines, or general life chaos to deal with. That said, there were a couple of real life intrusions while we were gone nearly a week. For me, there was a nagging desire to log into Star Wars: The Old Republic to check out Game Update 1.3 that went live last Tuesday, but the most noteworthy was my bartending, college graduate of a little brother getting the job offer call from Lockheed Martin he’s been waiting patiently for what seems like forever. I’m so very proud of my brother for maintaining his persistence, and his hope for a “real” career. I wish him the best of luck.

Grats little bro! We are so proud.

Great to camp with the parental units again.

There will be many, many pictures to follow, but overall it was an amazing trip, and although traveling with a one year old and a three year old is just plain silly sometimes, my little clan of beautiful ladies and I needed a break from the norm that is summertime and small business ownership in Fort Bragg, CA. After a nearly 12 hour journey home during crazy rush hour traffic on a Friday before the 4th of July, we got home physically dirtier but ready for a clean start to our summer together.

So here’s Zoey…

And heeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Rowan!!

Instead of cheese, Zoey’s goes ahhhh like she’s at the doctor getting her throat checked. Cute is one way to put it.

Zoey is pretty attached to her Uncle Seanie.

One of many “tumbles” down a slight incline Zoey would have during the week.

No idea what time it is, but the girls are finally sleep!

Motherly beauty on the beach

So it’s not a toboggan in the snow, but it’ll do.

Even a short hike up a large boulder is an accomplishment when you’re three years old.

Cousins hanging out in the sun.

It was my dad’s birthday while we were there. 6 weeks after foot surgery and a “mile” long hike to the beach, he deserved a brew. Happy birthday Pops!