Henry Cowell State Park: Hiking the Redwoods…with Kids…

My whole life I have heard of these trees and wanted to see them. I was stoked, a couple of weekends ago, when we finally got to go hiking among them! There’s a state park in Santa Cruz called Henry Cowell State Park that has mega redwoods galore. Did you know that there would be even more of them in this area, but beginning in 1850, an estimated 95% of these sequoias were cut down?  It takes hundreds of years […]

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The Truth About Moving to California & Culture Shock

moving to California

We moved to California last year, and it has been a blast. Yes, there has also been culture shock too. I’m here to tell ya all about this new place. ********* “I can’t sleep. I’m just so excited about Granddaddy and Nana!” You might say this was a really big deal! Here is their visit, according to Granddaddy’s phone. Dad let me email myself all the pictures I wanted. Thanks, Dad!!  🙂 Alan took the boys wet suit shopping. Oh […]

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Destination: Alabama

I’m just so excited to report that I’m sitting at an airport, ready to board an airplane that will begin my journey back to Alabama, and more importantly, my babies!!  Boys, your momma misses you sooo much, and I will be there super soon!!! And next time I leave for California, all four of you will be coming back with me. I will not leave you again. Two weeks was enough. You will love it here, boys, it is beautiful. […]

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Exploring California, In Pictures Part I

Of course, I have taken way, way too many pictures of California to squeeze them all into one post, especially with slow wi-fi, so I’m breaking this post into two parts. Today we will focus on the desert, mountains, and agricultural regions, and my next post will feature  the coast. I know, that next part sounds like a lot more fun, but the mountains have their own beauty, so hang with me. When we first entered California, on I-40, which […]

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The Best Dam Trip We’ve Ever Taken

What is the big deal about the Hoover Dam?

What is the big deal about the Hoover Dam? What makes the Hoover Dam such a big deal is what this marvel accomplishes, and I am going to tell you all about it. Hoover Dam, the 2nd tallest dam in America, but probably the best known.  (The tallest one, in case that made you as curious as it made me, is the Oroville Dam in Oroville, California, east of Sacramento.) This side trip on our cross-country road trip was all for […]

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Jellystone Gloucester/Yorktown/Jamestowne in Pictures

Jellystone Gloucester/Yorktown/Jamestowne in Pictures

  Jellystone Time! So Nonna and DaddyO left on Wednesday, and Friday we planned to head out for our biggest family vacation yet:  Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Jellystone Park.  The boys were so excited.  Alan and I were so exhausted, but somehow we pulled it off –sort of…. We called it our Williamsburg trip, and we totally thought we’d get to see Melody while we were there, but we knew we couldn’t commit, our tribe being what it is…  And we […]

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Fun Things to do in Fairfax County: Frying Pan Farm Park

Frying Pan Farm Park, Fairfax County

Frying Pan Farm Park Today Alan took the day off work, and we all visited Frying Pan Farm Park.  Everyone had a good time, in spite of the ever-present chill.  They had farm animals, a blacksmith shop, a wagon ride, a carousel, and a playground. They have a nice playground, and of course the boys insisted on playing on the playground as soon as we got there. We felt like Caleb was really channeling his DaddyO in this fleece vest. […]

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