We made it back to our RV where the kids did some coloring while we set up for lunch.
It was going to be lunch al fresco.
The kids roasted the hot dogs.
Which he thought was the funnest thing ever.
And after lunch, we got some visitors! Friends from church, the Wongs, were vacationing in nearby Monterey and drove over to hang out with us for the afternoon. Two big boys doing the bunny ears, a little sister smiling in the back, and a little brother desperately trying to climb up and join the fun. Yup, sounds about right.
We forded the stream because we heard it told there were some hiking trails on the other side.
Lo and behold, we found a trail. Took a picture under this curved tree hoping we’d recognize it on the way back. Nature can be so confusingly similar sometimes.
Also saw this odd sideways tree with branches growing straight up from it.
Seemed like a good spot for a kid photo op.
A huge burned out redwood tree trunk that fit all the kids and both moms. Whoa.
Jonah thought it was really nice of the tree people to put in this “4” marker just for him.
Cute girl buddies. Just so much easier to take pictures of than boy buddies who ran on ahead of us.
Another gnarly tree trunk which doubled as another good girl photo op.
One more shot of kids in a tree trunk the next morning before it was time to pack up and move on out.
This guy kept wanting to come sit up front with me and would tuck his head into this little space when I wouldn’t let him.
The Wongs rejoined us at the Santa Cruz boardwalk. First order of business was lunch. Kids table for six, please. (The next few are iPhone pics because mama didn’t wanna lug the big camera that day.)
Then down to the crowded beach for some sandy fun.
And a few rides on the boardwalk.
Then came time to bid farewell to our buddies and head to our second destination. This is the sign of a good vacation- when this little fella is all tuckered out and sleeping hard for ten minutes before the next round of fun.
Which happened to be this giant bubble contraption at the KOA campground. (I’ve never heard of KOA but apparently it’s a big thing and awesome for kids.)
