Family Time

 

:: FAMILY TIME :: 

I’ve been having a hard time accepting how much time my family spends away from each other… whether it’s Husby at work for days at a time at the fire station, or just the kids weekly schedule with school and other activities. As much as I try to soak up quality time with my family during the week, it never seems like we get enough. Our schedule seems consumed by the runaround schedule of drop-offs, pick-ups, homework, and other obligations…. as I guess it would with four children.

So… just over a week ago, Husby and I decided to forget about the never ending to-do list at home and take our two youngest to the beach while our older boys were at school. It seemed horribly wrong to leave Ryan and Seth out of the fun…. but I reminded myself that they had this alone time with us when they were little, too {right?}! We packed up a picnic lunch and headed to one of our favorite secluded spots in Laguna Beach….  

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That’s a Wrap!

 

T H A T ‘ S  A  W R A P !

>>> April, 2013 <<<

 

We missed our monthly wrap-up for the month of March so we included family photos from the last two months! Also below… some posts & recipes you may have missed in April! Thanks for reading {simply}! We love our readers! 

 

:: sara ::

 

:: nicole ::

 

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Mammoth Lakes Family Getaway

 This year, we were finally able to sneak off for a family getaway to

Mammoth Lakes, California.

This was not only our first time in Mammoth,

but our first time {as a family of six} seeing snow!

This last Christmas

our oldest son’s only request was for a trip to visit the “snowy mountains.”

Of course, as parents… you try everything possible

to make their sweet dreams come true

{assuming they’re within reason, right?!!}.

So we cut back where we could, and headed out on a family road-trip!

When we arrived, this is what we saw…

it was b r e a t h t a k i n g …

magical….

a true Winter Wonderland!

At the recommendation of close friends, we decided to stay at the

Village Lodge.

We couldn’t have been more pleased with the accommodations.

With four children, we aren’t able to stay in your typical hotel.

At this point we need a little more space…

and definitely a kitchen to prepare meals for the kids.

Fortunately, the Lodge had it all, and was located in the heart of the

Mammoth Village!

I can’t begin to tell you how nice it was to send Husby down to Starbucks

early each morning for my coffee!

Everything you could possibly need is within walking distance…

coffee shops, boutiques, sweet treats, ski & snowboard rentals, restaurants and the gondola!

{for more images of the Village in Mammoth, click here}

 The day we arrived it SNOWED!

It must have snowed much of the night,

because when we woke the next morning

there was a fresh blanket covering everything…

 

 Over the next couple of days

we made our share of snow angels…

 and perfected the snowball!

 

The most fun that we had on our trip

was definitely the sledding!

We found a sacred little spot,

{close to where we were staying},

and made our own tracks in the fresh snow.

It was AMAZING!

Husby & I haven’t laughed that hard in years!

The kids were in a state of complete bliss!

Wish I could share the video of me wiping out on my first ride down

{rest assure… I did get better with practice}! 

 We also had fun eating snow…

playing with trucks…

 trudging along…

and sliding down the cold, wet ground on our bums!

Here are a few more snapshots

capturing memories that I know I’ll always hold on tightly to…

It was an incredible & unforgettable family getaway!

I feel completely BLESSED to have experienced this Winter trip,

to be married to this amazing man for the past 10 years…

and to call these magnificent four, my sweet littles! 

 

 

California Family Road Trip

:: California Family Road Trip ::

It was only a few years ago that we embarked on the most

charming road trip with the kids up the coast of California.

We turned what would have been a regular Fall weekend

into a long, relaxed, and simple family trip.

We set out in the early morning hours,

with our kids still cozied up in their warm pj’s.

We headed up the 5 Freeway from Orange County {in Southern California}

towards Solvang. We stopped for a brief visit

and delved through the endearing little town.

With our tummies filled of warm Belgian waffles,

and nutty, chocolately fudge to go….

we traveled North for a few more hours to the captivating seaside city of Monterey.

We were fortunate enough to reserve a room at the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel…

The best part, was that the hotel was located on Cannery Row.

Once we parked, we didn’t have to take the car out again!

We wandered through the darling town and instantly fell in love with the area…

That first night was cold and crisp {absolutely perfect, in my opinion}.

We had dinner with the littles and made our way to

Ghirardelli for salted caramel hot chocolates…

{find a yummy recipe from pinterest here}

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