Homeward Bound

The kids love the bell cart...



Crafting out of hair clips...



Strawberry smiles...



Running off some energy...











Emers the artiste..



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In honor and memorial...

Of all the Tucson shooting victims.

We drove to Tucson for a funeral, to pay respects, show support, and join in the Tucson community organized human barricade love. The human barricade was not needed, but the community showed up strong for the family and loved ones.

As a politically active supporter of Gabby Giffords, I would have jumped at the opportunity to take my children to meet her. This tragedy hit too close to home.

The kids made this at the memorial...it is a smiling sun...





The family asked for no picture taking or media. It was very sad to see that in the midst of a very respectful, quiet, show of love and support- the media was very present and disrespectful to the family.

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Roadtrip Day 2

Redlands- coffee bean & tea leaf...





Much needed rest area....

















We made it to Phoenix just in time to listen to President Obama's memorial on NPR - we pushed through to Tucson and watched it 3 more times before bed. It was a much needed much appreciated memorial.
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Random hotel drawings...

Ira drew a cat...


Then she drew a dog, but wrote the letters backwards....


Then she decided to draw god..... An Egyptian god....


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Portland!!!

We really enjoyed Portland! We stayed in the heart of downtown, withing walking distance to everything including the max lines- which were so easy to navigate!
We missed walking along the riverfront because I wasn't paying attention to a nice man trying to tell me "get off the train".
we walked over and had coffee at stumptown roasters, dinner at an Irish pub/restaurant with THE most amazing shepards pie I have ever had.


Shopping.....


The enclosed walkway from one mall to the other was so much fun for the girls...








I'm telling you, Ira was able to navigate the train lines!


Our hotel was also within walking distance to Chinatown.








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Yuma

We got here late and the kids woke up on being transferred. ira is in love with the hotel! It has a hotnpink wall with black birds and yellow carpet! Lol






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LA and irvine

It was dark so no more sightseeing. The kids were ALL asleep- so we drove until Jared was too tired to keep going.... Stopped at a courtyard Marriott which was no where near as nice as our random one in rancho cucamonga and that was way way way more expensivo. Lame.
Driving into LA


Jaredblaughinh about me taking pics of this....


The view


Ira reaaaallly liked this building-


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Elephant seals...

We didn't stop because liv and emers were finally asleep.... But we pulled off and showed these lazy blobs to Ira. She thought they were rocks!

















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BIG SUR

When I was approx 16 I read On The Road.... And it made me want to take off immediately.... AND it lead to a lifelong love affair with Jack kerouac.... In my mind Big Sur was a fantasy land- somewhere that my teen self couldn't fathom ever getting to see.

But still- all those 12 years of obsession and dreaming did no justice once I SAW it. I kept saying WHOA! And WOW! :)

Every turn was more magical than the last. Each time I felt my heart leap through my chest I thought "well now I've seen it all".... Only to turn another bend and have another majestic scene great us.

I only took two phone pics the whole time.... I didn't want to miss a single second of it with my eyes..... The view wouldve been wasted on the camera.













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Carmel

There were sand angels and getting our toes frozen.... Er.... I mean wet in the waves. And picking lots of flowers.






























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Santa Cruz

We didn't see much, but we drove pas the boardwalk ( was too early I think) and them hit up whole foods.
Sweet potato chips and chocolate.... Yum























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San Fran

Was so so so much fun! We really loved it!
Golden gate bridge, golden gate park, fishermans wharf....
It was rainin half the time, but still incredible.
Buffalo ! In the city! Lol





Golden gate park





Alcatraz





The golden gate cable











Flower garden





Base of the bridge





Le sigh..... So pretty.





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