Sunday, July 5, 2015

California

The fourth of July is one of my top two holidays (the other being Thanksgiving). Growing up we always went to the Lake Michigan and hung out at the beach all day. Then we would bundle up in blankets and sit back to watch the fireworks that were set off of the pier. Then there was always the excitement of waiting in line for an hour to get out of town and onto the highway to head back home. :) It was just always a very relaxed day spent with family, usually our cousins on my dad's side.

The five of us had a grand weekend in California. :)
This year I didn't make it back in time for the traditional Fourth of July festivities in Michigan/Indiana. I was still able to spend the Fourth with my cousins though! I'm still visiting my Mary and her husband Caleb in Arizona. :) Another cousin (Jon) is in California doing an internship this summer, so Mary, Caleb, and I drove over to California to spend the Fourth with Jon and his girlfriend. We had a great weekend. :) We started off the weekend by going to the beach on Friday, which was awesome! Those ocean waves definitely have something on the Lake Michigan waves, but I missed watching the fireworks go off over the water.
It is always so good to spend time with these two! I never know when or where I'll see them next!
Saturday morning we started the day off right... with a board game! Have you ever heard of "Pandemic"? I think it is a relatively new game, and it's a lot of fun. It's a group strategy game, so for those of you who aren't competitive, this one might be a good for you. :) Then we headed over to a friend of Jon and Cristilynn's for the afternoon and evening. We played some epic volleyball, played another round of Pandemic, ate some yummy food, and ended the evening with some fireworks and sparklers. Later that night Jon, Cristilynn, and I played a terrific game of Settlers of Catan. (I just LOVE board games. :)
Just a couple days left with Mary and Caleb!
Sunday we went to church and then had to head back to Arizona. Our weekend visit went far too fast. :( Enjoy some pictures of the Arizona and California scenery. I hear it is much greener in the winter time. :)

Arizona Sunset

Arizona sunset... hard to catch a good picture in a moving vehicle! 
It's dry and brown in California now...

So I keep trying to imagine these hills all in green. :)

Pictures don't do justice. These mountains seemed MUCH bigger in person.

I love the way these mountains and hills are so wrinkled and defined. 
The windmill farm in the forefront gives a little perspective to how big these mountains are.

I fly out of Arizona to Indiana on Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing all my Midwest peeps!