goin' back to cali

natalie had a really special flight to california. first she was asked by the pilots to come sit in the cockpit with them. and later in the flight, a soldier gave her an american flag patch and told her as long as that flag waves, we will be free. and because she's free, she can grow up to do anything she wants. everyone seated around us was listening and clapping. i should have taken out my camera again but my hesitation led to a missed opportunity.

we changed planes in phoenix and got to see a beautiful arizona sunset.

my sister and her family had already made their way to CA from colorado for their spring break. the cousins looooved getting to see each other! let the daily ice creams begin!

they look like they could be siblings! (especially since natalie's bangs are usually in her face!)

happy 15th birthday adam!!

these two adore each other!

a day at the beach! it was freezing and suuuuper windy! but clear, blue skies! gorgeous!

i love that the kids love to get buried! i was never that big of a fan of sand.

kate loves to carry natalie everywhere anyway, but in this instance, natalie didn't want to get wet. so kate carried her to the water to be close but not get her feet wet. what a great friend!

they are too cute!

i looove me some palm trees. that's probably the number one thing i miss most about california. well, i guess i shouldn't start counting the reasons...

is it ever too cold for ice cream!? can you believe this is considered a one-scoop cone?!

penelope!!!

here's mine. it was soooo good!

she ate every last bite!

 here's seven of the ten cousins. (we really missed the others!) what a good looking group! in mark's defense, he had the flu. poor guy.

this picture is taken in todd and rachel's backyard. isn't the view amazing?! the LA skyline is right behind adam.

kate (7), gregory (13), natalie (3), luke (10), penelope (3), adam (15), mark (8)

and the view just minutes later!

tired of ice cream yet?! not this little dairy queen!

natalie's pearls are from the dollar spot at target. she loves them!

 and then down came the rain.
it was in the forecast but i was really hoping for an inaccurate prediction.

 but it didn't deter this sweet pea from donning her cute rain slicker and wanting to CLEAN the patio with a scrub brush! ha!

 she got soaked and it didn't phase her one bit!
she had so much fun!

 and can you really have a trip to mormor and papa's and not bake something? this time was great-grandma marie's famous oatmeal cookies. they're the best!