CALIFORNIA TRIP PART 1

Typically included in our summer plans is our once-a-year trip to visit my parents in Sacramento, California

Because it is a 12 plus hour trip and minivans don't get the best gas mileage-we only make it out there once a year We typically go there for the kids to enjoy an annual week long GRANDMA & GRANDPA's CAMP

Anyone who knows my mom knows that they go ALL OUT for these-there is always a theme coinciding w/ activities, games, crafts, books, movies, outings, songs, costumes... you name it!

This year the theme was CowBoYs and InDiaNs!

I know they went to a horse expo, rode horses, fed horses, dressed in costumes, slept out in the tent...but not every little detail or pictures because there is NO PARENTS ALLOWED!!

My boys have no cousins BESIDES my brother (Chad's) 4 boys and LUCKILY they all are pretty close to the same age.

Because of distance our visits with them are few and far between. My kids cannot wait to get together with the cousins!!!

Aunt Mindy also lives in town-so we get our Mindy & Jason time as well
There is always plenty of GOOD FOOD and SUN (burns), as well as swimming
Sterling has lost 6 pounds since returning from Grandma's camp,
That is how well-fed and spoiled they are there!
SOOO while the kids are at grandma's-- us mom's (Aunt Beth, Cara, and I) rented a hotel suite and lived it up!
Rhett and his cousin Azure are too young to attend camp-so they got some much needed one-on-one time with their mommies.

SO while we ate continental breakfasts, worked out in the gym, went shopping, watched movies, played games, went to lunch, hung with Mindy and Jason, slept, talked into the wee hours...

I also got some great photo opps of GOOD sMiLeY pictures of Rhett

(particularly with no bad rash on his face that is continually plaguing him)

"Really Mom?, more pictures?...."

Rhett's Cousin Azure was due exactly one month before him, and because of complications he was born 2 months before...they got some good chillaxin', swappin' toy, cartoon time together--

(when we could get their nap schedule coordinated!!!)

My brother Chad flew in that Thursday Eve to attend an extended Hutchings Reunion Saturday, help drive his family home, and hang with his favorite sister (ME)

AND FUN and NEVER SITTING STILL always accompany him-

so more game nights ensued!

Chad works for the church in the signage department after leaving his film dream in LA with Warner Brothers..so to satisfy his movie drive he attends a movie a week and writes critiques on them. This week was no exception and we caught the movie A-Team. I would have written a great critique for it!

We ended some of our FUN at Leatherby's ice cream shoppe watching the SWAT team end a 3 day hostage stand-off down the street!

NEVER a dull moment on vacation!!!