4th of july beach trip

the fourth of july was actually very uneventful for us at home... we didn't do anything... the baby went to bed early and i couldn't fall asleep since the neighbors.. and my uncles family around the corner were firing giant fireworks till 11 pm... it sounded like canon fire! haha

the next morning we loaded up the car and headed for laguna beach for the 2012 vern christensen family reunion.  since chris was gone to boot camp i went with my mom and roomed with her... it was great fun to spend the time with her especially since we were moving away the next week.  we drove down with grandpa and my cousin james and his fiance... daniel was pretty much amazing the whole way down there ...hardly ever fussing or crying.



we had a lot of the rooms right next to each other which was great fun and meant a lot of congregating outside the rooms at all times of the day...

it was so fun to see a lot of my cousins... many i have not seen in years.  we also took a bunch of pics with grandpa... in his old age he's a big softy and he teared up in almost every single one... 

one day we spent at the beach. it was fun but cold... since i am red headed and fair skinned and daniel was only 5 months at the time he couldn't wear sunscreen so we sat under the umbrella the whole time... and without sun on you the ocean breeze is cold... we were all bundled up but still had fun.  i brought this tiny pool to blow up and use as a play mat and bed for daniel. it worked out really well!!

the little kids had so much fun playing in the sand.... gigi and amanda and zach and cody had great fun playing together... and i had a great time watching creepy man with bum showing.... not really but he stood in front of us for over an hour... not fun. 

the next day we spent riding the free trolley around laguna beach. we went to the farmers market and got some yummy fruit and then we went to the saw dust festival which is this giant art/craft festival.  it was fun to walk around and look at everything and amanda had a ball. she got her face painted, made a flower, and got a balloon animal.  i was in everyones way since i had the baby on front and backpack on back... i kept hitting people. woops. but daniel was very good and even enjoyed reading the map with grandma.

one morning daniel was being very cuddly... doesn't happen that often... but it was super cute.

my sister was going to church sunday morning and forgot to pack a dress and was going to go in capris till my mom remembered she had brought this gem.... doesn't it look so good on em?? hahahahaha and yes she did wear it to church... its california... you can get away with that kind of stuff.

the trip was so great and i loved being able to spend all that time with my mom and family before i moved across the country.  i love my grandpa and am always grateful he does all these family trips and helps us out with so much!  love my family!!