Saturday, January 28, 2012

2012 Get Away #1

There's this great website, Travelzoo, that offers great discounts on travel and events.  We get their weekly e-mail with the "top 20" and have gotten some great deals on lodging.
In November, Travelzoo offered lodging in Carmel, CA, for $69 a night, which included breakfast!  Needless to say, we booked our first 2012 get away for January, and stayed for two nights at the Fireplace Inn in Carmel.


Although we had a stormy weekend, when we left on Tuesday on the 2 hour drive to Carmel, the weather was gorgeous.  We "tiki toured" our way down the coast, with stops in Davenport and Capitola, where we enjoyed a hand-made dish of ice cream, while watching the ocean.

We continued on, and toured through Monterey and Pacific Grove, before going into Carmel.  We got checked in to our room just after 4:00.  After getting settled in, we walked through Carmel to the white sand beach.  We've been to Carmel and that beach many times, but this was the first time that we walked the length of it (tide was out).  We reached the south end of the beach, where there were steps to the street and we went up to take a walk along the street and see some of the houses there with amazing ocean views!!

Some of the homes there are old originals, some are new or remodeled, but ALL are very expensive!  We found a home on a lot facing the ocean with a price tag of $7.9 million dollars!  Yikes!!  We fantasized about winning the lottery for awhile, then watched the spectacular sunset as it grew in intensity and color.  

Back in the room, we had a glass of wine before heading off to dinner, where we shared a plate of calamari and each had a Mediterranean salad - must be getting ready for Greece!

Wednesday morning dawned bright and sunny.  We had breakfast, then went to Monterey to visit the gym there (yes, we're still at the fanatical stage).  After our work out, we drove to Lover's Point in Pacific Grove and had a light picnic.  Then we took a marvelous walk all along the coast.  The sky was blue and the ocean was that turquoise color that you see in Hawaii.  It was pretty warm, too, so we left our jackets in the car.  It was almost 5:00 when we finally headed back to our room.

Dinner on Wednesday night was at Basil - our favorite restaurant in Carmel.  We discovered it a couple of years ago when John was visiting.  We took Vivian there when she visited last year.  It's a "must do" for us when we are in Carmel.

After dinner and a brief stroll around, we went back to the room where we "skyped" with Bryan and Peter, firming up details for Lee's trip to NZ.

Thursday morning was again spectacular and we were wishing that we had thrown caution to the wind and booked 3 nights!  We will next time.  After breakfast we checked out and headed south to Point Lobos, one of our favorite places on the planet.  The ocean was roiling and boiling and the waves were just amazing!  They were rolling in from way out to sea, and when the hit the rocks, the waves shot up 30 or 40 feet.

We walked several trails around Point Lobos, all of them with amazing views.  Then we had lunch at Whaler's Cove (John will remember that), where it was protected and sunny and gorgeous.  There were lots of harbor seals and sea otters in the cove, and it was great to watch them as they dove and then resurfaced to float on their backs while they dined.

By 3:00 the sun had gone behind the mountain and it was beginning to cool, so we headed home.  The drive up the coast is always beautiful and enjoyable.  However, we lost the sun and encountered heavy, wet, drippy fog north of Santa Cruz, which continued all the way home.

What a wonderful first get away for 2012!  I'm sure that all of the get aways that follow will be just as amazing!  Life is good!!

Looking north at Carmel beach

Lee, just at sunset

On it's way down - the clouds in the sky made the colors really spectacular

Even the wet sand in the foreground was red!

Room 22 at the Fireplace Inn.

All of the units have these dutch doors.  There was a cute patio right outside our door.

Walking the coastal trail in Pacific Grove - there were HUGE red hot pokers all along there

Some of the scenery along the beach walk

A butterfly sculpture at the park at Lover's Point - Pacific Grove is one of the places that the Monarch butterflies come to winter, and the trees are just hanging with thousands of them

This is a replica of the Swan Boats that were popular in the area in the early 1900's

We were amazed to see all of the deer munching away in the local cemetery!

Point Lobos wave action!!

The ocean was really putting on a show!

Along the Cypress Grove trail - yes, it was a bit windy!

Lee and a very busy ocean!

A walkway along the bluffs

The stone staircase

Rocks, waves and "tree bones"

Another beautiful spot

As you can see, it was a glorious day!  And, to make it even better, Lee even found a piece of sea glass AND a quarter on one of the beaches!
We will definitely be visiting Carmel again!  Come and go with us! 

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Our Christmas visit with the Richey/Lawsons

Cathi dropped us off at Val and Dave's house on the evening of the 22nd.  We said good-bye and gave hugs and kisses to Cathi, Sean, Bailey, Patience and Jordyn, and wished them a very merry Christmas.

We got a most enthusiastic greeting from Maxx, Val and Dave's daschund.  He was SO excited to see me and wanted to be picked up and petted for awhile - it was hysterical!

Val had a chicken pot pie in the oven, and Lindsay, Jake, Madi and Kendra came over and had dinner with us.  I hadn't seen Kendra since she was just a tiny baby, and Lee hadn't met her yet, so it was lots of fun to play with her.  She's almost 5 months old (Jan 9th) and just the happiest baby!  She's like her sister Madi was - when she smiles she smiles all over her little face!

On Friday the 23rd, Val had errands to run and Lee and I hung out and had a quiet day.

All of Val's kids were coming home for Christmas so we were all waiting anxiously for the arrival of Kelsey and Cody.  We all went to a movie that afternoon - we saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie - very good!!   Codys' friend, Abby joined us Christmas eve as well, so it was lots of fun.  Lindsay, Jake and the girls came for dinner, as well.  A full and happy house!

On Christmas eve all of the kids opened one present - the annual Christmas pajamas!  That's a tradition at Val's house.  Everyone was very happy with their new pajamas, although Madi thought that the gift-opening should just continue!  

We had a leisurely Christmas morning.  Hailey was the first "child" awake - and that wasn't till about 8:00 am!  We rousted Kelsey out about 9:00, and the gift opening began!  Apparently all of us were very good, as we were very spoiled with our gifts.

Lindsay, Jake and the girls came over after their Christmas and we got to enjoy them opening their gifts.  Christmas really is all about kids!  Madi was very happy with everything she got.  Val and Dave fixed a prime rib dinner for Christmas, we did lots of visiting, and played a game after dinner.  A full and wonderful Christmas day.

On the 26th, Val, Hailey and I went shopping!!  Dave and Lee opted to stay at home - can you imagine?!  There were some killer deals to be had out there, and we shopped till we pretty much dropped.  Then it was home to leftovers for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Tuesday was another quiet day - Val had to work - and we spent some time getting organized and packed and ready for our 6:30 pm flight home.  The flights went very smoothly and we got home about midnight.  Long day, but we had such a wonderful time with everyone!  

Lindsay and a very happy Kendra!

Abby and Cody

Valarie, Madi and Hailey

Valarie, Kendra and Hailey

Val, Kendra, Kelsey and Hailey

Kendra and Daddy - and yes, this baby has brown eyes!

Kelsey and Hailey and their Christmas eve pajamas

Gigi giving Kendra a bottle.

Yay!  New boots!!

Drill bits to go with Cody's new drill

Dave's new laptop bag

A DVD player and movies for Kelsey!

Romeos!!  PURPLE Romeos!!

And a carrier for the DVD player.  Also the warm fuzzy blanket that Kelsey is wrapped up in!

Cody's drill

RED Romeos for Val!

And what's this?

Nice!!

Dave got Val her very own drill so that she doesn't have to borrow his.

We got a wonderful trip!  A two night stay at the Benbow Inn in Garberville!  We LOVE that place!  Can't wait to use it!  Thanks everyone!

Kendra hanging out with Uncle Cody

Grandma, Madi, Kendra and Great-grandma!

Happy baby!

One of Kendra's Christmas gifts

A new addition to Val and Dave's snowman collection!

Kendra, Cody and Lindsay

Kendra seems to be asking Uncle Cody if Madi is qualified to hold her

Madi got this adorable table and chairs for Christmas, and Grandma, Madi, Lindsay and Kelsey are having a tea party with her!  Except that I see that Grandma has a glass of wine...

Under the heading of truth in advertising!  This adorable sign is at our front door - Thanks, Lindsay, Jake, Madi and Kendra

Here's a cute video of Cody and Kendra:

Our Christmas visit with the Murphy's

On December 16th we made our annual Christmas visit to our family in the Pacific Northwest.  We started with the Murphy's - Cathi picked us up at the Bellingham airport and after a stop at Walmart and Costco, we arrived in Aldergrove to some very excited children!  Friday had been the last day of school for the Christmas vacation, and both Patience and Jordyn had parties that day.  Lots of sugar had been consumed, and the energy level was high!

It was wonderful to see everyone and how much everyone had grown and changed since July - especially Nick!  He's quite the little boy now - talking up a storm!  

We met Lucas and Tony, Cathi and Don's foreign exchange students from Brazil and Vietnam, respectively.  All of the adults went out to dinner on Friday night, including Dylan's girlfriend, Haley, and Sean's girlfriend, Bailey!  A table for 10!!

We spent a lot of time visiting and playing with the kids.  Cathi had gotten a 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle, and many afternoons and evenings were spent trying to put it together.  It was probably 80% done by the time we left, and I'm sure that Cathi finished it.
Dylan, Lee and Don spent a bit of time playing "Words with Friends", on their various computers, usually in the same room.  Pretty funny!

Speaking of computers, Nick is quite a whiz on Don's i-pad - he enjoys playing games and sure knows how to get around the device - amazing!  The girls like to play on it, too, and Don actually gets to use it very little.

The Christmas tree selling season was winding down, and in addition to selling trees out of the yard, Don and Lee made some deliveries into Vancouver with trees.  Grandpa also was a great "elf", assembling Christmas gifts out in Don's office.

Lee and I gave Patience and Jordyn gift cards for the American Girl's store that recently opened in the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, WA.  We let them open them up early, and then on our last day with the Murphy's, Cathi, Patience, Jordyn, Lee and I visited the American Girl store.  The girls got to spend their gift cards and we had afternoon tea - quite a wonderful experience!

Sean and Bailey rode with us, as the AG store is in a huge mall, so they spent the day shopping and lunching.  It was a great trip for everyone, and I see many more visits to the AG store for Christmas and birthdays.

Thanks, all 

Nick, concentrating on a game on the i-pad.  Sean is ready of offer assistance if needed.

Sean and Bailey

Jordyn is a star!

And so is Patience!

Jordyn, all dressed up for a holiday party at her friend Megan's.

Patience and Jordyn, ready to open their American Girl gift cards.  After they opened them, we let them know that we would be going shopping on the next day.  They were very excited!  Cathi did rag curls in their hair that night, and they were all dressed up and adorable for our trip down to Lynnwood.

Patience and her AG doll, Kit, in front of the Kit display.  Patience had been wanting Kit's scooter that is in the window, and she was able to get it with her gift card.

Jordyn had been playing with Hailey's AG doll, Felicity, as she didn't have a doll of her own.  She had been wanting Josefina, so we got that for her as an early birthday gift (February), and she was able to spend her gift card on things for Josefina.

One of the many services that the AG store offers is their "beauty parlor" - we brought Felicity in for a make-over before we returned her to Hailey.  Perhaps one day Hailey will pass her on to her daughter.

Grandma, Patience, Grandpa and Jordyn outside of the American Girl store, with lots of red bags!  You can see that the girls had a wonderful time in there by their big smiles!

Patience and Kit, Jordyn and Josefina

What a goldmine this store is!!  Sure wish that I had thought of it!!

Our afternoon tea!  As you can see, there were chairs for the dolls, too!  We had to wait, as they were backed up, but they made up for it by giving the girls goodie bags, books and other extras!

Jordyn and Josefina

Patience and Kit.  Both of the dolls got balloons to hold.

Then, at the end of the day, Cathi took us to Val and Dave's, and we finished our Christmas trip there.  Thanks, Murphy's, for such a fun and wonderful time!