Santa Cruzin' for Memorial Day Weekend!

Hey Dudes!!

Well I couldnt wait to blog about our awesome weekend we had. this last weekend we went to Santa Cruz to spend the weekend hanging out with our friends Sam, Sean and Trevin. To add to our fun, I grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains so I was actually getting to go back to my old hometown. So when we werent together Aaron, Kota and I spent exploring my old roots. This was only the second time I had been back there since I moved 15 years ago!
Where to start...well Saturday morning Aaron and drove straight to Sam and Seans condo in Santa cruz where they had an AWESOME barbeque for us! Way to go sam! I think she thinks its funny that aaron and I loved the barbeque so much but hello- shiskabobs, incredible fruit salad!! Sam doesnt even eat dark meat so it was so sweet for her to make that for the rest of us. We got to meet little Trevin for the first time- what a cutie! He 7 months now- he seems so tiny! Was Kota ever that small and light? We talked or a while and then Sam gave me a shower present for Deacon. Guess what it was you guys- A Petunia Pickle bottom backpack!! Hello awesome friend!! That was soooo sweet! I cant thank her enough!! its super cute....
How blessed am I to have such a thoughtful friend? It was funny cuz she said "Now we can all stop hearing about these bags on your log!!!" So you can all thank her as well cuz apparently I go a little overboard on silly things when there is nothing too new on the fam to talk about:)

Then we went to the Boardwalk with the kids. Tons of fun! We got all the treats. Kota loved his first experience with Cotton Candy! We wnet on the merry go round and underground train. I didnt want to bring my nice camera to the boardwalk so we videoed it while Sam and Sean took photos- ill get some of those later.

We got home to Ben Lomond pretty late, we stayd at our friend the Burgon's home though they were out of town. Ben Lomond is where I grew up till my senior year. The home of the Redwoods! THere is actually a redwood so huge you can drive through it! Im putting these photos in to keep you all entertained:)
Sunday morning we got up nd went to church at my old ward. There was only a couple people left that I knew in the ward. but I saw one of my favorite people from there- Kathy Raugh! She was my math teacher, math tutor, seminary teacher and mother of one of my friends growing up. Anyways it was fun to catch up.

After Church Kota, Aaron and I went out to the beach called natural bridges to meet Sam, Sean, Trevin, her parents and her nieces so that I could take photos of them all. My main purpose in going last weekend was to do a 6 month photo shoot of little trevin:) The photos are looking pretty darn cute!! I mean this is really my first day home sinc ethis weekend but I have already worked on a few, Im sure Sam wont mind if I share with ya'll:)



Ill put some more on later. But heres one of Kota and Dada while we were waiting to meet up with them at the beach.

Ok so after the photo shoot we went to sams then out to the wharf for dinner. We saw a couple of sea lions and got a few treats- I got one of my all time favs that Kota doesnt seem to mind either..Bubble gum ice cream!:)

Monday Aaron, Kota and I drove around Ben Lomond checking out my old neighborhood et- then went over to Roaring Camp where they put on this memorial day civil war reenactment every year. We decided not to go though cuz the show wasnt going to start till later than we wanted to be out of town. Next we met up with Sam and Sean and Trevie at this park that is all new to me and headed on home back to Modesto where we made a planned stop to one of our favorite restaraunts- Texas Roadhouse. Yum Az!

Anyways had a great weekend. Thanks again Sam! Hope you all enjoyed yourselves as well!!!

Ari