Mt. Baldy Lunch

We had a fabulous 4-generation field trip going to Mt. Baldy's Top of the Notch restaurant for lunch.  It ended up being quite and adventurful day!
 
After a couple weeks of HOT summer heat, it was nice to get up in the mountains where is was a bit cooler.  It was a gorgeous day to go for a little hike.

 
We were then sitting outside about to have some lunch when the weather turned

 
Suddenly our nice, beautiful day turned quite soggy and foggy

 
We moved inside for lunch as it poured rain outside.

 
When there was a break in the storm we got on the ski lift to head back down, only to have it start raining again.

 
As we drove back down the mountain, there were rivers of water pouring down the street and evidence of multiple rock slides.  We got back home safely to the upper 90 degree weather again and quickly dried out and wished for the cool mountains again.  
Ethan is asking to go back.  He loves riding the ski lift.

Morro Bay for Labor Day

We were able to spend Labor Day weekend up at Morro Bay. We left early Saturday morning, so we could take our time driving up, stopping to see things we don't usually get to do.  
 
We stopped at the fish hatchery in Fillmore and had a picnic breakfast.

 
After a couple other quick stops (nursing Preston at a rest stop and getting fresh strawberries at the Stowell road stand), went to Avilla farms where the kids got to feed the animals.

 
Which, they obviously love to do.

 

 We then drove on the pier at San Luis Port and checked out the wholesale fresh fish market.

 
Once we got up to the house and got settled we headed over the beach.  Ethan was focused on collecting sand dollars.  We probably found at least 30 or so.  He was ecstatic!

 
The Warnick family was able to join us for the weekend.  The kids favorite activity was playing 'restaurant' where the adults served them out on the deck.

 
We did a lot of geocaching together and got to explore some new places.

 
And had a great time playing at Spooner's Cove.

We tried out the food at Sylvester's.  A off-the beaten-path place we found by geocaching.

 
James tried the 'Sylvester' burger, which is a 1 pound hamburger.

  
It was huge!  They also sell a 5 pound burger for any willing to take a challenge.

Orange County Zoo

Our family was invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Orange County Zoo.  This came because of a presentation James gave at  Cal Poly a couple weeks ago.  Everyone really enjoyed his talk and someone on the board of the Palms to Pines AALAS (American Association for Laboratory Animal Science) Branch invited him to join their get-together.  It was a great networking opportunity for James to be able to meet other people that also work in the Lab Animal Medicine field.  We got to see a lot of animals up-close and participate in their feedings.
  

A lot of the animals were getting popsicles that day.  The Mountain lions had a huge one that was made inside a large trash can.  It was a beautiful layering of red, pink and white (made out of blood, coconut milk and kool-aid, with whole mice mixed in).  They use the popsicles as an enrichment for the animals.

James was even able to help feed the bear! 

 

America's Cup

The week before school started, Brielle got to go on a trip to San Fransico.  Papa and Grandma Finlay took Gavin and Brielle for a quick road trip to the America's Cup races.  James' cousin, Jeannie works for the Coast Guard patrolling that area and was able to take family members on board for a very up-close view of the sailing races.


We got the pictures from those that were there.  I'll copy Brielle's journal entry to explain more about her trip.

"On Tuesday, I went on a trip with Papa, Grandma and Gavin.  I played with my activity stuff in the car.  I ate at McDonalds for lunch and I ate at Zachary’s for dinner.  I liked the pizza.  I got to sleep in the biggest room in the whole hotel!  I went in the big bath with my swimming suit on.  Wednesday I had cheerios and yogurt and boiled eggs for breakfast.  I went to the sailboat race, and went to the America’s Cup to buy a shirt.  I bought chocolates for my Mom and Dad.  The boat went fast!"


The pizza at Zachary's

With Aunt Jeannie (technically it is Brielle's cousin once-removed, but it's easier to call her Aunt)

Checking out the sailboat on land

view of the city from the boat

morning cartoons in the presidential suite (great upgrade on the room from the ever-traveling for business Uncle Ian)

Cousin Convention 2013

James, when he was younger, would have family reunions which they called 'cousin conventions'.  It's been quite a few years since they've had one, but it was decided it was time to start it back up again.  It was for our generation (no parents) and the nursing babies.  The 4 older kids stayed with Aunt Helen, Uncle Dan and Margaret.  They all joined us for the beginning and end of the reunion.


Everyone that made it this year.  All 5 Finlay kids (plus 3 spouses and 2 babies), the 3 Crump girls and 2 of the 3 Ferguson girls (Tat was the only one that couldn't be there...as she was on a multi-month hiking expedition)


We had a great time staying at the Crump's cabin at Lake Tahoe.  There was so much to see an do around the area.


Picnics at the park

Beautiful Views

Dinners on the Deck

Enjoying time together at the cabin

Hiking Together

Kayaking

Cliff Jumping

Cousin Convention Younger Generation

Our generation had a family reunion while the kids stayed with Grandma Finlay, Aunt Helen and Uncle Dan for a Cousin Convention of their own.


They came up to Lake Tahoe to see where their parents would be staying.

After a rough day playing at the beach, it's always nice to relax in a hammock on the deck of the cabin.

The kids then went back to Sacramento to stay at Aunt Helen and Uncle Dan's home.

They had very busy days filled with fun field trips.  Here they are at the train museum.

And at Fairytale Town.

Saturday morning they all ran a kids race together.

They then got to go to the Maidu Museum to learn more about Indians that lived in the area.

And then they came back to the lake to join us for another fun afternoon kayaking.

Which the kids loved.  Brielle said she wished we took the kayaks home with us.  

The kids were NOT excited to go home.  Both Gavin and Ethan were asking for at least 1 more night to sleepover again as we were leaving.  What a fun, fun, trip for everyone.