i promise this is the last california set.
you guys are troopers.
you have made it through…you deserve a starbucks.
after the hike through the trees and climbing through the goonies cave…
we went to a waterfall.
lauren said "i'm tired i am staying in the car."
we said "fine."
got out of the car not expecting too much.
then about 15 steps later….
we see this.
and this is only the bottom half of it.
i went back to get lauren.
it was a sight that had to be seen.
more climbing…
we call her "california grace"
hey look! we are all in the same frame!
very cool.
after the falls we drove back to reedley.
tonya's parents watched all the kids for us to go out for dinner without kids.
how awesome is that?! a date on vacation?!
we left the next morning to head back to LA.
the kids were sad to say goodbye.
we were sad too.
we went to hollywood.
not nearly as cool as they make it look in the movies….
julio iglesias is as interesting as anyone else.
we went to the beach again for the rest of the day.
then dinner…
our first time at in-n-out burger.
talby had her first hamburger…she was finally brave enough…she liked it.
annie wouldn't do it or lauren either.
they are missing out…but they will have to figure that out on their own.
then starbucks…
and swimming at the hotel…one room again. :)
we were up at 5 AM for our flight home.
more UNO.
it was a great trip.
a tiring trip.
it was a trip we will never forget.
Sarah - Love all the California pics and stories.
pam - these just made me smile today. i’m so glad to see YOU in some of these…i love the pony tails. you look adorable, yasmine. 😉
if you made it to in-N-out the whole trip was worth it. 🙂
Keri - You saw Hollywood, the Redwoods, the coast, etc. etc….but so glad you didn’t miss the true California landmark of In-n-Out!! It doesn’t disappoint! 🙂
Sarah - I have loved all of your California posts, almost feels like I was there. Thank you for taking us “with” you. I didn’t have many family vacations growing up and it’s fun seeing all the memories you are making with your children. I’ve always wanted a BIG family and your family makes me want it even more. I think it’s the only child in me 🙂
princesslasertron - I love how lauren is totally voguing in that picture.
Ashley Ann - That is a really great family photo of your whole clan…I imagine Lauren gets a bit annoyed at times when people confuse you for her sister!
Kat - I have LOVED everyone of your California posts! (actually I love all your posts in generally, but anyway…) I miss CA so much and the places you went, Reedley, In & Out, Sequoia, the beach!, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and L.A., they are HOME to me. Thank you for giving me the little trips down memory lane, while enjoying getting to enjoy your family’s photos & memories. 🙂
melissa mae - Has anyone ever told you you look like Yasmine Bleeth?
se7en - I am so sorry that your fabulous fabulous California holiday is over. A couple of years ago we were traveling in the UK and friends booked us into a self-catering park called California Park… They thought we would much prefer (five kids at the time) a self-catering than a hotel room… Well we nearly died it never got more than 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) in the middle of summer… The prefab shack we were in was so freezing and damp, when you walked across the carpets the water squelched into your socks – euch! We had to get up every two hours and feed the heater 50p coins ( worse than an infant) just to survive!!! For us Capetonians from sunny South Africa it was a rude awakening to dying of exposure!!! Frankly your California looks nothing but divine and a place we would love to visit. California Park, UK , we will gladly miss!!! Thanks for sharing your holiday with us it was just lovely.
adrienne - waterfall is amazing!
Lori - Meg, what a great vacation and you captured it with awesome pictures (eye candy, yes!). I am partial to the “where’s the teenager” pics because I have two of my own so I chuckle. Voted for the eye candy nom. Your pictures of your home are thoroughly drooled over!
wendy - LOVE In-N-Out! We’re trying to hit as many as we can while we’re here in California this week. I had one protein style and it was still delicious. 🙂 Fab photos as always Megan.
erica - oh my word that waterfall is beautiful! and hollywood IS not as glamorous as everyone thinks- it’s dirty and crowded! haha and your in & out pics made me want some- yummy! do your kids not eat burgers???
Heather - Thanks for sharing your vacation with us!
Nina - I have loved your pictures! Looks like a great vacation
Sandy - I’m so glad Lauren got out to experience the waterfall…and seemed to enjoy it. Looks like a great trip – you and Craig are amazing parents!
Now I need to go vote…
Starnes Fam - OH, I can’t wait! Your trip report has made me even more excited for ours. We are treking cross country for Walley World. I cannot wait. Good for you for all you did….it was one to remember!
Kristy Ledford - Hi Meg!
This is my first time commenting on your blog or anyone’s blog for that matter. I found you through Apartment Therapy and ever since I tune in regularly. My husband jokes that I’m stalking you. LOL! I saw you in my Country Living magazine and said to him, “SEE!…..she’s famous!”.
Congrats on your blogluxe nominee. I’m totally voting for you, for sure, for sure. That’s my valley girl talk…I’m from southern California (currently living in Atlanta) so I had to throw that in. I thoroughly enjoyed your pics from your California trip. In fact, your note at the end made me tear up. I don’t know why, I don’t even know you, but I guess I feel like I do. And I know what you mean about never forgetting your trip….those are memories that will stay with you and forever make you smile.
Sarah Beth - What an amazing adventure! I enjoyed all the pictures thoroughly. They will remember this for a life time with the pictures you’ve taken. Kids grow up way to fast not to take pictures every day!
I think I found you through the Mac’s. I’m not sure if I’ve posted a comment on here before, but feel free to check out our blog at http://www.darrahsonline.blogspot.com God bless your weekend!
Colleen - Wowie that is some waterfall and the rest of the scenery too. We stayed in Beverly Hills last summer for a few days when Ellie shot the St. Jude commercial with Jennifer Aniston. I had been to LA before but the whole Beverly Hills thing was surreal. Our 12 year old Emma absolutely loved the whole scene but I had to rain on her parade and let her know this is not reality for 99% of the world. We also stayed a day in Malibu and feel in love with it. The surfers, Pacific Coast Highway, the huge beach houses, sea lions… all of it. Thanks for taking us back!
-Colleen 🙂
Heather @ Cookie Mondays - 1st in n out?! no way! 🙂
Lee Ann - I loved every minute of seeing your vacation! But…I did treat myself to a Starbucks….it’s Saturday after all.
No hamburgers? Seriously? Hmmmm….. poor, poor kids. Especially an in-an-out burger. I’m getting hungry!
Looks like a great time!
Kyleigh - I’ve voted for you! Congratulations on the nomination Megan! I was looking at this and I found myself showing my husband:
“Hey, G, this is the lovely blog I look at – you know the one I said about with the amazing photos?”
“uh huh”
“Look, look at the lovely photos… she has 5 kids and she’s the same age as me – how cool eh?”
“yeah”
Ah well… but just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration. So much so I started my own blog in March (not a patch on yours but hey). If anything I love looking back on it myself… remembering things. You must get that too huuh?
Hope you win. You deserve it!
Beth - I loved seeing your trip . . .I didn’t tire of it one bit, and looked forward to the next installment. I’m sorry it’s over! But I’ll take a starbucks anyway 🙂
Anna Marie - Congrats on the blogluxe nominee. You were the only one I nominated on that entire thing 😉 Because anyone who is anyonw knows that your blog IS the best when it comes to eye candy.
Enjoyed all of the vacay posts!
Laura Phelps - I can not wait to tell my kids that your kids passed on an IN N OUT burger! They won’t believe me!
I love your family picture…can I use it for my Christmas cards???? It is beautiful.
Your family is so fabulous…but you know that.
Now…I made it through your tour of photos…can I get a vanilla skim latte, please??