Vacation: La Jolla

We headed to San Diego next, specifically La Jolla, where we enjoyed a couple of nights right on the beach. Many, many thanks to our generous family for wanting us there with you, and making it possible!


One evening we enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner with Ted's cousin Mary. Here we are at the table.


A Mexican serenade ("Ahem...AHEM!" Kris in a whisper: "Julie, don't you know if you request a song you have to pay him?" OOPS!)



Kaelie and Daniel


Anna, Thomas, David and Daniel


Here is Daniel right outside the sliding door of our room. You could see the ocean if you look straight over his head.


Kris, Ted, Kalie, Grant, Anna, David and Thomas went to tour the USS Midway, the day before the aircraft carrier headed out of the San Diego Harbor. They had a great time!


Look who's in the brig!




Preparing for takeoff

The last evening, the kids enjoyed a game of ping pong while we visited and said good-bye. Ted and Gabby were driving north to Idaho and we were heading back to Texas.

In the background, L-R, Kaelie, Gabby, Bobbe, Grant, and Lynn


Aunt Lynn and Daniel


Anna and Grant


Kris with his mom

Vacation: Big Bear and Bobbe's

Our final day at Big Bear, we did have breakfast again at Teddy Bear Restaurant, but shock of shockers, it was only the SECOND time we ate breakfast at Teddy Bear this trip and not the THIRD time, because we got out of our comfort zone and actually went to Boo Bear Restaurant across the street the second day.






Here we are at Teddy Bear Restaurant, saying good-bye to Kris' cousin Laney and her husband Cedrick and their little girl Camryn. This was the first time I had been around Cedrick, and he was so fun. He adores Camryn, obvious by the time he spends playing and loving on her. And he was just so down-to-earth and fun. I look forward to getting to know him better!


What a great time we had with our family at Big Bear Lake. Here's a picture of all of us from the last evening we were there.

After we left and got down the mountain, we hung out at Bobbe's in Rialto and swam with Grant, Kaelie, Barry, Kelley, Debbra, and Ted.


Despite their age difference, Grant and David had a lot of fun being boys together.


Here is Thomas beside the aircraft carrier that shot through the water and gave Anna a black eye. Oops! Notice the beautiful stephanotis vine behind Thomas. Bobbe has some beautiful flowers all around her yard. Debbra often cuts these stephanotis for her flowers instead of getting them at the market because they are so beautiful and fresh.


Anna with her new boo-boo (on her left upper cheek). We were glad she had her goggles on!


Barry (Grant and Kaelie's Daddy), Debbra, and Ted (Grandpa)


Kaelie and David

Vacation: Big Bear, On the Water

The third day at Big Bear Lake, our family rented a pontoon boat (thank you so much, Ted and Gabrielle!) and we had a blast touring the lake. Kris, Bryan, Debbra and Myke took turns riding the Sea Doos, picking up those of us from the boat who wanted to ride. Kris' aunt and uncle, Lynn and Rick, own a couple of large, fast Sea Doos and they put them in the water at Big Bear Lake each year for everyone to enjoy.


Even Daniel got his (very, very slow and short) turn.


David enjoyed driving with Grandpa. He stayed here most of the voyage. (Thomas is in the background.)


Watch out! Here I come!


Joshua enjoyed snuggling up with Janet, and spent his afternoon nap with the mountain lake breeze in his face.


Myke, Kris' cousin and Lynn's son, was kind to help us on and off the Sea Doos from the boat. I don't know how we would have gotten along without him! He was so good with the kids, too. They loved playing with him!


Here are beautiful Kaelie (Debbra's daughter) and her friend Sasha, enjoying the sun. Kaelie has grown up so much since I saw her last. I so clearly remember her toddling down the aisle at our wedding at the ripe age of two, and now she's thirteen! She was so sweet to all of us and a delight to be around.


David, Anna, and Thomas with Aunt Bobbe


Gabby and Grant (Debbra's 8-year-old son)


Here is Kris' aunt, Lynn. Lynn, Bobbe and Gabby, Kris' mom, are sisters.

Vacation: Big Bear, On the Shore

Here is our group at the Marina Resort at Big Bear Lake. We had several rooms downstairs, and if you walked out on the grass and kept going, you'd walk onto the sandy beach and then in about 50 yards, you'd be in the lake. Behind the lake is a beautiful backdrop of mountains. They don't appear very high, because the lake itself is situated in the San Bernardino mountains at 6700 feet above sea level. The Big Bear Solar Observatory is easily visible from the Marina.


All of the people in this picture were with our group. The porch was our hangout (the food and drinks were there!).


The kids entertained themselves making a canal in the sand leading to the lake shore. (Grant, Debbra's son, is at the bottom right.)


Joshua enjoyed helping them.


Grandma enjoyed watching the kids play.



David enthusiastically fished with Grandpa.


Ted and Kris slaved over the hot grill for us all. All three evening meals we ate here were wonderful!


Kris' aunts, Lynn(right, blue shirt) and Bobbe(left, white shirt), as well as his cousins, Debbra (center) and Laney (not pictured), worked so hard packing and preparing meals for us right on the porch. Can I say again?...All the meals were wonderful!


God painted the most spectacular sunsets while we were there!


Playing volleyball as the sun sets.


Kris' brother Bryan, Janet and Joshua. It was so sweet to watch them take care of little Joshua. He is one loved little boy!


At bedtime, David's bed in Grandma and Grandpa's room was occupied by men watching television, so for a little while, he joined Grant. It was precious to listen to their conversation. Grant was describing what it was like to visit Hawaii for Laney's wedding last March, and David was asking questions about it.


Here we are visiting, eating, and watching the kids play.

What a beautiful, relaxing place.

Psalm 8: 1, 3-4 "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens...When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

Vacation: Big Bear, Day 1

We arrived in California on July 24th and our first stop was at Cafe Mexico, a favorite restaurant. We had a great night's rest, did some laundry, and then headed up the mountain (not before we stopped at In-N-Out Burger for lunch, though!) to Big Bear Lake.

Here are a few pictures of our first day at Big Bear...


David improved a great deal in his swimming on our trip.


The Marina where we stayed has a nice pool (cold though!)


Happy girl!


Smiley boy!