California

Almost every year that Jake has been teaching here, we have taken the band and choir students on an end of the year trip to California. This year it just happened to fall right after Easter. So we were In Ephraim one weekend, home for a few days, up to Delta, then home for two days, and then on Wednesday I took the kids back up to Ephraim so that my parents could babysit while we went to California.

They were overly exhausted after the long drive (and past weekend) and wouldn't sleep in their own beds. Finally I decided to let Ethan sleep in my bed and I put Olivia in too just to see what would happen. Less than five minutes after I put them in there they were both asleep! I couldn't believe that Olivia had actually stayed in bed. And of course Pippen had to join them.

I left early the next morning to head home so I could finish packing and help Jake get everything loaded on the bus. We got to California late Thursday night and sent the kids to bed. School buses were not meant for eight hour drives! The next morning we got up and headed to the beach.

OH HOW I LOVE THE BEACH!

It makes me very happy!

It was actually a bit windy that morning but still fairly warm. I've tried to tell Jake that a chilly day at the beach is still better than a warm day anywhere else but he always disagrees. I would love to have a cottage right on the beach and he would love to have a little cabin in the mountains. There was actually a house right across the street from the beach we were at but it was a little out of our price range (it was only $3.9 million). Ah well, I will keep dreaming...

That afternoon we went to the band and choir festival where our concert band and show choir performed. They both did well, placing first in their respective categories.

Saturday morning we went to Knott's Berry Farms

Since Jake and I were just there last June we already knew which rides to ride first because the lines would get long. We actually rode all the big rides by 11:00am and rode everything else we wanted to ride by noon. We both decided that we must be getting old because after we had ridden all the big roller coasters once we didn't feel the need (or desire) to ride them again.

Last year during the senior trip we went to Medieval Times and had a blast. Jake decided to offer it up this year as an optional thing on Saturday night for any kids who were interested. We ended up taking 13 of the kids plus one of the other chaperones.

We all had a great time and the kids were so much fun! If you ever have a chance to go you should because even though you might think it could be lame it is actually a really good time.

The Bad Guy

The Good Guy!

We have been in the red and yellow knights section both times!

Sunday morning we loaded up the bus and headed home. I think the kids were completely worn out from the long day before because it was very calm on the bus for the majority of the trip back.

We always have lots of fun on these trips, and luckily we usually have a great group of kids who don't cause too much trouble (most of the time anyway!)!