End of Summer Vacation

We finally were able to get some time away and enjoy the summer. It was loading up the Suburban and logging 2100 miles in 10days.

It was good to spend some time with our families and and be back in California. The boys were able to experience new adventures and have a lot of fun. Mom and Dad had fun too! The best part for me was the amount of time we were able to spend together and the things we could do as a family. It makes me happy as a Dad when the kids turn to me and say, "Dad, thanks for taking us here. It was really fun. This is the best vacation ever." Which really means it was a good vacation, or we don't get out enough. Here are three of the many experiences I enjoyed watching my boys have.


1. We went to Mt. Hermon (a camp I counseled at way back in college). There was a big tree house which they enjoyed playing on. One of the challenges was a big pole - bigger than they had ever seen. They encouraged and supported one another as each successfully overcame their fear and went down the pole.

2. After the treehouse, we headed down to the creek. The boys were surprised that I let them walk right down into the water. We creek walked, splashed, watched fish, laughed, and ended up at a cool waterfall. By the end, we were completed soaked and filled with good memories.

3. Our boys love to play with animals and were excited as we headed for the San Francisco Zoo. They ran from one exhibit to the other, wanting their pictures taken with their favorites. By the end of the day, my knees were sore from all the walking, but my steps were light from seeing the smiles on our boys' faces.

A lot of memories were made on our trip and there were a lot of 'favorite' things. The best moments for me were walking hand in hand or arm in arm with Janiesa as we watched our children.

Now that vacation is over, it's back to school!