The 31st was a very laid back day. Jankel and Randy went for a bike ride around the base, and several of the kids and adults went for a run on the track. Max impressed us all with the number of laps he complete (I forgot how many, but it was a lot). Besides that, it was a day spent on the beach, including pizza dinner on the beach. Some also kicked a soccer ball around (imagine that!) and played a fun beanbag game. This is truly rest and relaxation!
July 30
Monday of vacation was extremely laid back. We spent most of the day hanging out on the beach, although we found some time to take group photos. Daniel and David loved all the time with their cousins on the beach. Their boogie-boarding skills improved dramatically. There was quite a bit of throwing balls, playing smash-ball, and digging in the sand.
In the evening, we all went out for Mexican food and then walked over to the historic Hotel Del Coronado. This place is amazing! One of our party engaged an off-duty bellman to give us a tour, including the Crown Room and other impressive ballrooms. The hotel opened in 1888 and has hosted multiple presidents and other dignitaries. Just about all of the employees are convinced that it also is haunted. 
On the Beach / Concert in the Park
Cousins (plus one)
Our first full day on Coronado Island was pretty stress-free. We spent most of the day on the beach with family and friends. The boys had a great time reconnecting with their Arizona cousins and also learning to Boogie Board. As kids frequently do, they picked up with each other as if they saw each other all the time. It was so gratifying to see the love and acceptance, and it was great to be able to say, “Sure, you can go to the beach – just stay together.”
That evening, we all went into town for a free concert in the park. We grabbed a few buckets of chicken from the colonel, and the kids danced while the adults mainly enjoyed the fantastic weather and 80’s music.
Grandkids
Vacation Begins (7/28/12)
This year’s vacation took us to Coronado Island, California. We went with most of Sary-Jo’s family, and were able to stay at the Navy Lodge on the Naval Air Station there. In order to see a bit more of the coast, and to save money on airfare and car rental, we flew from Seattle to Long Beach and drove the rest of the way.
We made Huntington Beach our first stop. The idea was to get out, stretch our legs, and enjoy some fresh air. We encouraged the boys to change into their swimsuits (conveniently packed within reach for this very reason) but they assured us they had no interest in going in the water. Yeah, right… We ended up staying a couple hours, including an hour on the four-person “Flintstone-mobile”. We captured a few pictures and video. We separated out the video: the first one is taken on the beach, and includes birds diving for fish. The second is taken as we ride on the bike with various drivers. It’s pretty fun!
And the surrey:
Daniel & Columbus
Our male cat, Columbus, can be hard to ignore at times. Here are some pictures showing Daniel trying to do his homework, but Columbus just isn’t going to allow to happen.
YWAM – Adoption Ministry Picnic
YWAM’s Adoption Ministry has an annual picnic and invites all families in their program, whether they’re in process or completed their adoption years ago. This year’s picnic was held at Bradley Lake Park here in Puyallup. There was great food (too much dessert, perhaps) and plenty of good company. The kids played non-stop (surprise!), including some organized “pony” races, and much soccer. Some of the kids also played a bit of baseball. For most of the picnic, the weather was great, but we managed to get a bit of a downpour for a while. I don’t think the kids noticed because it happened while they were playing soccer. We took some good pictures; check them out.
Rock Climbing
Always up for a new challenge, the boys took on indoor rock climbing. As with just about everything they’ve tried in the US, they loved it! Sary-Jo took a few pictures and some video. Enjoy.
Visit With Beards – July 6
Our string of action-packed days continued with a visit at the home of our friends, Joe and Karla. Their three boys and our two had a fantastic time playing together (as they always do), and the highlight was sliding down the hill in the backyard. Their yard is a boys’ paradise – just add water! I put together some of the best of the video, below, as well as the pictures.
King Tut, The Space Needle & Glass Art Garden
As mentioned previously, we had tickets to see the exhibit of artifacts from the tomb of “King Tut” at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. The exhibit was very well done (it’s still here, so if you haven’t seen it yet, we recommend it). They had maps of the tomb, and set up each room to resemble the rooms in the tomb. We were able to get close to each of the items, which showed the amazing detail and craftsmanship from thousands of years ago. It’s timeless art, to be sure. We were also pleased to see that some of the items reflected ancient Egypt’s relationship with Ethiopia. These are two of the oldest continuous “nations” (societies?) on earth, and it’s helpful for our boys to see the respect with which their native land is portrayed).
After we finished the exhibit, we went up in the Space Needle. In past trips to Seattle, there had always been a valid reason for not taking the boys up in the Needle, such as weather (why pay if you can’t see anything?) or time constraints. This time it was perfect! Both boys enjoyed the trip and then the shopping in the store. Sary-Jo and I have been up in the Needle numerous times, but we still enjoy the magnificent view of the city, the water, the mountains, etc.
Following the Needle, we visited a fairly new attraction, which is a Dale Chihuly glass art garden. It was truly amazing (expensive, but amazing)!
We finished the day with dinner at our favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, La Isla. Not only is it the only Puerto Rican restaurant in Seattle, it’s also really good.
Enjoy the pictures from this fantastic day.
Independence Day
Daniel & David at Lake Tapps
We celebrated Independence Day with quite a few friends this year. We spent a good portion of the day at Lake Tapps thanks to our friends and hosts, Don and Kathleen. Every year they open their beautiful home to numerous friends in order to celebrate the 4th of July. Plus, the weather was fantastic this year. We enjoyed eating and catching up with friends while the boys played (& eating), including spending a bit of time relaxing in the lake.
For (more eating and) fireworks, we went to the home of some other friends in Tacoma. This wonderful couple also hosts our church small group, which is focused on adoption support. Their stately home overlooks Commencement Bay and has a great view of the fireworks from their upstairs terrace. There were many kids there, and Daniel & David played soccer with them for quite a while until it was time for fireworks.