California Birthday Trip

 Thus year has been hard for so many reasons but school has felt exhausting. I think it is the online that is causing the most stress. Really because people aren't doing their stuff. So annoying! But after coaching cross country and basketball I was ready for a little break. I left for California on my birthday. That was a Friday and I stayed for a week. Nancy, Anthony and Caleb came as well. It was a good trip.

We started by driving to Susanville to stay at Aaron and Jacklyn's house. It is nice to have a little bit shorter trip. My mom came up on Saturday and we had a nice weekend there. We played lots of games and got outside a little bit for exercise.

The rental car was packed so full.

Moki was happy to have company in the backseat. It was nice that Caleb just drove. I read an entire book on the way there and a different one on the way home.

Susanville is so pretty

Aaron and I on a walk. Jacklyn is pregnant, YAY! The downside is she has been super sick so it has limited her ablity to exercise.

Sunday after church we headed to Lodi to hang with Ben and Katie. They just got moved into their new house. It was so fun to see it. It is an awesome house and it has alot of room for family gatherings.

Monday was a holiday so we spent the day with Ben and Katie and family. We play lots of games, ate, visited and we went to the church to play on their property. I didn't get many pictures. . . . BOO!

Aaron and Jacklyn headed home Monday afternoon. My mom, Nancy, Anthony, Caleb and I took Ben and Katie's kids and headed to Oroville. The kids got to come play with us. 

Tuesday the weather was amazing and so we spent the day doing yard work. Like all day. We worked hard. The kids actually did a great job as well. We made a huge fire and burnt lots of yard waste. We trimmed bushes, raked leaves, and mowed lawns.

The weather was perfect for yard work.

I love the Northern California sky. So open and so pretty.

Tuesday night while I was putting the kids down I got a text from Angelee. She let me know Tom Robertson had passed away. He had been in the hospital and was really sick, but it was so SHOCKING. He had been doing better and was supposed to be transferred to a care facility the next day. At this point it was unexpected. I was so so so sad for his family. Death is so hard. I feel like it put a damper on the rest of the trip. I barely slept Tuesday night. Losing a parent is so hard.

Wednesday we played lots of games, went to the park, and then played more games. Not much is open in California and so we were at my moms a lot, which is fine. We took the kids to Riverbend park and spent a couple of hours there playing and the playground and walking by the river.

I love getting to spend time with these kids. I wish I could see them more.

Thursday I went to Chico and hung out with Angelee. We visited while she ran her kids around. It is always so fun to catch up with her. 

That evening Mikila came over and hung out. We had dinner and played a couple of games. It was good to see her as well. I am thankful for friends and how easy it is to catch up and carry on.

Friday we drove home. The weather was awesome and we got home safely and in a timely manner. Overall it was a pretty chill trip. It was good to see so much family.