Some silly times with the camera...

Update

Well, as many of you already know we have been having a few minor ups and downs here. This past week we have dealt with an ant infestation, car troubles and the air conditioning unit that dumped water on my bed. Just when I thought we had it under control we woke up to another ant infestation today! The battle of the ants continues here...I am determined to conquer them so any pet/child friendly suggestions would be helpful!

Despite these crazy issues we are out having fun and enjoying our new surroundings. The kids are making crazy videos (some I'm sure will make it on their own blogs!) and we've been playing around with the camera. We had our first campfire and the kids caught their first snake. There has been painting and beading, knitting and baking. The potluck night at the clubhouse seems to be a favorite for everyone! They've met quite a few new friends that have kept them trekking from one end of the park to the other. Maddy is enjoying playing with her new friend Butterfly...they are the same age and look quite similar! I'll have to capture a picture of them if I can slow them down! You'll see by the pictures that Maddy has truly become a California girl...her hair has turned really blonde really fast! Ali is zipping around on his ripstick...still feeling the need for speed and freaking mom out! So...basically it's another normal week here!

A Day at the Water

This weekend we went to Newport Beach to check out a new rv resort we are thinking of making home for a while. The kids had a great time playing in the sand and climbing the trees...although mom and dad found it a little chilly by the water! Afterwards we drove into the town of Newport Beach and checked out all the little shops. As we drove in Ali sighed in the back seat and said "I don't know what it is about this place...it just feels like home". He was right. The streets were filled with families out for walks, people browsing, chatting and sitting in the cafe's sipping coffee. It was a place we just really felt comfortable. As we headed south we stopped at Corona Del Mar Beach. What a fantastic view from above! There were tide pools to explore, great waves and lots of sand for Katie! Our last stop on the way home was Home Depot...we picked up a fire pit for our "yard". Can't wait to try it out!

Normal Times in an Extraordinary Life

We've been gone for two and a half weeks. There are some things about our life now that are so different and exciting. Seeing new places and meeting new people. New foods, new views and getting used to a new house. Yet today as I watched the kids play, I realized that amidst all this new excitement was a comforting "normalness". The kids still laughed and played and argued. We still had to clean up the house and take out the garbage. We still loved sitting around playing with play doh and lego, going for a walk and laughing and playing at the park. With all the "new" we've had lately, today I was happy to enjoy some of the old.

An Ocean View

Today we went to "The Children's Pool"...a small beach partially protected by a seawall. It was originally created as a swimming area, but year after year seals have been using the beach as a reserve. It was a beautiful day and the seals were basking in the sun...and so were we! The kids took some great photos of the beach, the seals, the cliffs and the ocean.

It's All About Katie!

Today our sweet baby girl turned two! So our day was all about Katie! We spent the day at the San Diego Zoo wandering at Katie pace to see the animals....we saw a very small portion of the zoo...both because the zoo is enormous and Katie's little feet really don't move that fast!! It was 90 degrees outside but we never even noticed as we watched her enjoyment throughout the day. Later that evening our friends joined us for a little birthday party! It was such a lovely day with a lovely little lady!

Our Home Base

Our new home is in Santee California. We are staying at a really fantastic place called Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. It's 190 acres with seven lakes, three playgrounds, a splashpad and a pool. There's tons of trails as well for hiking. It's a birder and fisherman's paradise!! Today Ali caught his second fish! Maddy befriended a little duck who followed her around the lake (she named him Lionel!) And Katie enjoyed feeding all the ducks! Here are some of the pictures the kids took.

Mom has first row seat...

Well it is the first week having been on the road. Mom had the best seat in the house...on the dashboard ledge in the front window. I thought of the movie Titantic when Leonardo diCaprio was on the front of the ship hanging over saying he was "King of the World". Well Mom certainly was "owning the road". While some transport trucks cruising by us had rebel flags on the grill, bulldogs, and other symbols of toughness...we had a finely polished oak box, glowing brightly in the window as the sun rays beamed down. Look out truckers...Mom's coming to a state near you!! Knowing how much Mom wanted to tour Canada and the US RV'ing, I am glad we can share this experience with her in spirit. - WJP

Our Drive to San Diego

Week One

Day One...kids are on a major sugar high following last nights Halloween...makes for an easy drive to our first overnight in Ohio. We managed to arrive in the evening and park, set up and play. Everyone is bursting with energy despite our late arrival!

Day Two...encouraging the kids to eat more Halloween candy since it worked to our advantage the first day. We drove from Ohio to Tennessee with some noticeable weather changes! Kids loved seeing the Grand Ole Opry just down the road from our campground. Lots of talk about who we might run into!!

Day Three...sugar high and novelty of travelling in the motor home is wearing off for the kids...We drove from Tennessee to Oklahoma and arrived in the dark...again...would be nice if we could see our campground before the morning but doesn't seem to be happening... keeping entertained with games and music...pretty sure I know all the words to the High School Musical Three CD by now...

Day Four...drove from Oklahoma to New Mexico...missing Tim Horton's terribly...have found out that it is just as noisy hearing the kids argue in a big motor home as it is in the car...the long drives are beginning to take it's toll...almost ran out of fuel in New Mexico... the wind is creating some undesirable driving conditions, but somehow Bill is managing to make it look easy! Still gettin our kicks on route 66!!

Day Five...kids decide they would rather go home than face another day driving in the motor home...so we switched it up a bit and sent Ali with Lucas and Matt and brought Josh with us...seemed to be just what was needed as we had a pleasant drive from New Mexico to Arizona. Found some great red rocks which the kids are sure are from the Canyon some how! We spent the night about an hour from the Grand Canyon...and froze our tails off!

Day Six..everyone is excited to hit the road this morning. We were able to make it to San Diego before 4pm and have some daylight hours to settle in. It was a great drive through the desert and mountains...we are finally here!!

Hook'n Up in Cold Weather...

We got our first taste of below freezing weather in Arizona on our trip down. High altitude and cold temperatures made for some interesting times! I unhooked the water hose (on recommendation of RV host...not my own intuition) and left it on ground to awake in the morning trying to figure out how to put a 20 ft frozen hose under the motorhome compartment to hit the road again. Additionally, I have issues with the sewage hose...but it is magnified 100% when you have to shake the frozen chunks out of the tube!! Thank goodness for warm weather! - WJP