Californication

Too many pictures? Sorry, I just couldn't choose. (I left out all the Disneyland ones. It deserves a post all its own. Yes, we went to Disneyland. Mickey Mouse pancakes and all. I'll explain later.) Pool, sun, horses, campfires, beach, surfing, card games, family, rope swing, slack line, the world's cutest little boy... All my favorite things in one place. Bonsall, California. Two weeks in paradise. Seriously, could it get any better?!

Stephanie and Triston picked us up from the airport on Wednesday morning. (Their black lab flew all the way from Alaska with us!) And it was hot, hot, hot! We made the 45 minute drive into Bonsall catching up with Steph, playing with Triston, and admiring all the greenery from the windows. It worked out that Jon didn't have to work the whole two weeks we were there! (A blessing in disguise!) So we got to spend our evening with them eating at the famous Z Cafe (If you're ever in Bonsall, it's a must), playing outside on the slack line and tire swing, and talk, talk, talking!

On Thursday we ventured out to Cardiff beach for some football, frisbee, tanning, and playing in the water for the boys (It may not be as cold as the Oregon Coast, but it's still cold!). It was so fun to watch Triston explore the sand, which he hated at first and then couldn't get enough of it! ...Sand everywhere. Back in Bonsall we spent our evening around the pool under the sun. (Us Alaskan's hadn't seen the sun in awhile! Now we're back and it's up for 24 hours!) Steph made us the yummiest Cuban dish that left me dying for the recipe, and spent the rest of the evening playing card games. Aka, teaching Allison how to play hearts and then whopping her butt in it.

Stephanie's parents own a couple horses and board them not too far from their home. (Jon and Steph live just down the way from her parents and the Barney's were gracious enough to let us stay in their home!) So we got to go riding on Friday! I hadn't been riding since I owned my horse, so I was a little more than excited! And Stephen had only been riding once many years ago. I was just as anxious to see him on a horse as I was to get on one myself! Stephanie grew up around horses, been riding and training for years. She's basically a pro. And now that they live down there, Jon's staring to pick it up! So Stephen and I were definitely the newbees. But we had a blast! Back in the saddle again! And I didn't want to get out! They have two beautiful paint horses, Scout and Sterling, and their friend let us ride his beast of a gray quarter horse, Gunner. (Big, but oh so very slow) Triston, to my surprise was not afraid of the horses at all! He was squealing with excitement the whole time and it was so fun to watch him watch the horses with such big and interested eyes!

On Saturday morning we got geared up for a hike, of sorts. Just down the road from Jon and Steph's house is 24 acres for sale that them and the Barney's are hoping to take over. The property is beautiful! Covered in  olive trees with the perfect layout for avocado and orange trees to grow... Two old buildings that could be converted into a green house and a barn... The perfect space for horses and corrals... An old mansion of a house overlooking all of Bonsall... Jon had this vision to start a camp for trouble youth, with a Christian emphasis. Teaching them to work on the self sustaining farm, ride and care for the horses... Implementing workouts, yoga, reading, prayer and guest speakers like Sherri, my mother-in-law, the economic guru, and Stephen, teaching them about basic health and first aid. It's an incredible vision and Jon's gotten the whole family on board. Everyone would have a role to make this vision a success. Right now they're asking for prayers, for God to open or close this door for them. Stephen and I love this idea and support it 100% and we truly hope that this is something that comes to fruition. Jon has an incredible vision and the determination to make it happen and succeed and we are wishing them all the best in this possible endeavor!

On Sunday we got to accompany Jon and Steph to their local church! Stephen and I haven't attended many different churches, so we always love the opportunity to learn from others and their pastor was great! Reminded me of Jeff with all his corny jokes ;) As we did every day, we spent the rest of our time together around the pool, cooking, playing games, and staring at Triston. I know he's my nephew so I'm a little biased, but he truly has got to be the cutest little boy...ever!

Monday brought waves to Oceanside where the boys went surfing! Stephanie and I stayed on the shore to watch (though she would get out there in a heartbeat, I'm terrified of large bodies of water... and surfing in them). Triston, again, was so fun to watch explore the new place! It's so awesome to see the world through a child's eyes! Everything is new and fun and exciting! And who wouldn't want that?! The boys were awesome! Never having surfed much, I was truly impressed!

After a day touring the town of Temecula and Z Cafe's famous Taco Tuesday, Jeff and Sherri got in! It was so cute to see them with Triston! They love him so much! And it's a love I can't yet understand, but the smiles they get on their faces when he looks at them tells me it's worth the wait :)

With Jeff and Sherri with us, we headed off to a local park on Wednesday (we'd already been there for a week!). The park was awesome! Just sayin'. It had fields perfect for football and frisbee, a road perfect for long boarding, swings perfect for Triston, a play ground perfect for tag, and a trail leading to a lake (baby duckies and logs for log wars included). We spent all day under the sun enjoying each other's company. So many activities!

Thursday was Disneyland! A post soon to come...

On Friday the boys showed off their surfing skills some more. Though this day wasn't as sunny... Stephanie and I sat in the cold and wind all bundled up together watching the boys from the beach, while Jeff and Sherri played with Triston in the van. Yes, we're that dedicated. It wasn't all bad. I do love the opportunities I get to talk with Stephanie whom I've grown to love and admire so much. She's a pretty inspiration gal who makes for a pretty good friend, and I'm so thankful to have her in my life! And despite the cold, the boys were able to get up quite a few times on the boards! We may have been the only crazies on the beach (minus some middle schoolers running around in the swimsuits for who knows what reason), but it was totally worth it to be there to support our hubbies!

Saturday we were able to go riding again. Got Jeff up on the saddle and everything! And he actually wasn't too bad! Not that I sound surprised or anything... It was still just as fun and it still made me miss it. I think I've almost got Stephen convinced that we need horses someday... Almost.

Sunday was fun day! And not in that way, fun day. We spent all day outside at the slack line and on the tire swing, playing corn hole, laying out by the pool, swimming in the pool, snacking on some homemade salsa... Stephanie's sister and brother-in-law live nearby with their three adorable kids, one, Brody, who must remember Stephen from Alaska and took to him right away! Lizard hunting, stick finding, scrape counting... Stephen had himself a little buddy all day :) We enjoyed a yummy hamburger dinner with smores to follow, all the while being so thankful for all those who have served our country to defend our freedom. We truly are so grateful...

Monday, Memorial Day, was a busy day in Old Town Temecula, but that's where we were! Walking the streets, eating yummy pizza, playing with parrots... Enjoying our last full day with Jon and Steph in California.

We cleaned up and packed up and sad our incredibly hard goodbyes on Tuesday evening. We are so happy we got to spend the time with Jon and Steph and Triston... So happy we got to experience their new life in California and see how happy they are! We are so proud of them to have made the decision to move, and are so happy that they're so happy! (Smiles all around!) We miss them like crazy already and it doesn't help that we don't know when we'll see them next... But for now, we are thankful for our two weeks in paradise and thankful that they are in are lives no matter how far apart we are. We love you Jon and Steph and Triston!