Weekend Away-Clear Lake, CA

Ryan gets a few more Holidays off with his new company and we decided to take advantage of MLK day and have some good family time! It isn’t often that we get to stay in a hotel and we were all looking forward to it.
We started out early Sat. morning to get to the Petrified Forest by 11 for the walking tour. It was a bit close, but we made it and we are so very glad we had a guide to give us all kinds of information that we wouldn’t have otherwise known. At first glance, you would have thought the trees were regular trees, but upon closer inspection, they were rocks! She explained how it happened with the ash, water and perfect climate, but I still can’t quite comprehend how a tree can turn into rock, with such detail (you could see the bark and knots from where branches grew). These trees just happened to be 3.5 million years old. They were very cold and heavy and the kids were pretty amazed. We took a path up to the meadow where we saw an ash mound and the kids found ash rock and petrified wood. Of course Reggie wanted to keep it and is getting a bit more confident and went right to the guide to ask if he could keep it and reluctantly she agreed. Those are the kind of things that make Reggie REALLY happy.

From there we headed to California’s Old Faithful Geyser. None of us had ever seen a Geyser before and it was quite spectacular. Again, seems like the environment needs to be perfect for this type of natural phenomenon. It went off about every 15 minutes, so we got to see it a few times. They also had a little Bamboo trail and Reggie found a Bamboo lightsaber and couldn’t have been happier.
After that, it was time to go to the hotel. We punched in the address and followed the GPS instructions. Sometimes, I think it is a good idea to have an idea of where you are going or to have a back-up map. It told us to turn onto a very narrow, windy road, so narrow it wasn’t meant for 2 cars. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, going nowhere, but 4 super long miles later we saw the highway and I was so happy! When we pulled onto the highway, the GPS picture was just too funny not to take a picture. I have never seen a road look more windy and we were all cracking up (not to mention I high centered the car trying to get off that crazy road). Thankfully, we made it to the hotel without anyone getting sick.

We checked out the place and the kids wanted to go for a swim. Ryan went with them….I put my feet in the hot tub. The weather warmed up to about 65 during our adventures, but Clear Lake was not quite so warm (in the upper 40’s). The next morning we woke up and went for another swim. The water was actually very nice and we went back and forth from the pool to the hot tub. Ainsley took her training vest off and swam the width of the pool!!! She has to work on her stamina a bit, but it is nice to know that both the kids can swim. Once she has her mind set on something, she is quite determined to perfect it. They had a kiddie pool that was one foot deep that was a little warmer than the big pool and she would practice and practice swimming (the tops of her feet were red from smacking the bottom). The kids were a bit grumpy after our swim, Reggie hungry and Ainsley tired. She fell asleep on the way to our nature walk destination. It was cold, but nice to get out and see the lake and some nature. The next morning, we swam again and then made the 3 hour trek home. Ainsley slept at least 2 ½ hours!

Ryan playing in the pool... Clear Lake is the biggest fresh water lake in California, with over 100 miles of shoreline. Feeding the ducks from our room!

Enjoying the hot tub.

Christmas break

Santa pic courtesy of Southwest Airlines! How great that we got our pictures at the airport for free :o). The kids were counting down the days and were so very excited for our trip. They had some fun classroom parties on Friday and we pulled Reggie out of school a bit early to go to the airport. Ainsley had been complaining of a sore throat the day before, but seemed to be o.k. until we got to the airport, complaining of a stomach ache and her throat. Ryan bought some Ibuprofin (since it was all packed) and she seemed to be o.k. There was a bit of turbulence on the plane and both the kids were complaining of their ears hurting, which has never happened. As soon as we landed we rushed to grab our bags and meet Aunt Pam. Ainsley had to go to the bathroom and they were in there forever. When they came out, Ryan said she tried to throw up! GREAT! So, I called Aunt Pam to see if she had a barf bag in her car and she said she’d work on that. Ryan headed out to the car, while I got the bags. Just as they could see the car, Ainsley said she had to throw up. She held it back and as Ryan was telling Aunt Pam to get the bag, she turned around with it and Ainsley threw up. I’m sure she was so happy to see us! She wasn’t feeling all that well either and I’m sure that didn’t help. We got loaded up and headed to the lake, Ainsley throwing up most of the way. She was also starting to get warm and her fever was at least 103 in the middle of the night. I called her doctor and she said strep was going around, so we took her in and sure enough she was VERY positive. Unfortunately, the earliest appt. was at 4, so she was miserable all day, but thankfully, it was strep and not the flu because she was better the next day! She did miss cookie day and the Children’s Museum (Grandpa and Wade took the kids while we were busy in the kitchen). We baked and baked….ginger snaps, butter cookies, shortbread, almond cookies, etc. It was a long day of baking and tasting. I’m glad we only do it once a year because I would have problems fitting into my clothes!

Monday, we went to get Santa pictures and eat at the Spaghetti Factory. We have to hit our favorites when we visit :o). Ryan worked the first week, so we hung out with grandma, grandpa and the Rinehardt’s and didn’t do too much. The medication was bothering Ainsley’s stomach, so she wasn’t her usual self. We did visit the Warm Beach Christmas Lights. Lots and lots of lights, decorations, festivities and fresh, warm donuts. It was fun, but cold. Spencer was absolutely fascinated by the train and the girls got up on stage and sang and dance in a little show.

The next day, we had a sleepover at Liha and Wade’s, although I’m not sure that anyone slept much. Seemed like someone was up all the time. It would have been fun to have one of those delayed cameras to see all the foot traffic and who went where in the middle of the night. The next day they went to a jump place, while I met up with Ryan to drop his rental car and check on the Kirkland house. They had a lot of outside play time in the yard and it was freezing. I guess when you are having fun, you don’t notice.
The second day that Ryan had the car my dad noticed that there was a dent along the entire front driver side door, along with a big black stripe. Someone had hit the car while it was parked at the Lynwood mall during the Christmas shopping craziness. How could someone hit and run and not even leave a note?? So Ryan filed an online police report, called his boss to let him know what had happened and dreaded explaining this to the rental car company and his own company as he declined all of the coverages when he rented the car. He returned the car and explained what had happened and it seemed everything would be taken care of. A half an hour after he left he received a call from the rental company explaining that the car had already been damaged prior to him renting it and not to worry as they weren’t going to report anything as it didn’t happen under his watch. Relieved, although frustrated that he had to worry about it all week, everything worked out. It’s a good lesson learned to always walk around the rental car before you drive off the lot.
Christmas Eve came quick and we went over to Kim and Shane’s for an awesome dinner and good company. It was good to see everyone and get caught up. The kids were with grandma all night and were happy to have Lemon Lush and then a second desert of ice cream, thanks to Aunt Kim! Ainsley got her DS from grandma and was very excited about that (now she can be just like her big brother!). I guess that’s what the holidays are all about :o).

Reggie hates his hair spiked and we bribed him to let us take a picture.

Christmas morning was early, as usual. The kids crawled in bed with grandma and grandpa every morning between 5:30 and 6:30, but I think deep down they enjoyed it. I’m sure they had some sleep to catch up on when we left. Ryan and I were very well rested-thank you!!! The kids opened their presents and then we just chilled for a bit until the Rinehart’s came. Then, we had round two of presents. Had a little more chill time until all the relatives arrived. Ryan and Ainsley had fun trying out Just Dance For Kids on the Wii. It was busy and loud, with lots of kids, but wine always helps keep the adults happy :o). All the girls were hanging out together and it was pretty cute, until Maggie said there was something on the bathroom floor. Cadia had thrown up all over and had caught the stomach flu that Aunt Jana and Charlie had. This cut the party short for them and it was a bummer they had to go. My cousin Mike flew in from Florida and missed all the fun, but we got to hang out and it was fun to finally meet Daffney and their son Shawn.

You know you're a mom when you cry over a new washer/dryer! Enjoy them...

Cute picture, but terrible shirts!

So fun cleaning up puke!

We did all kinds of rainy day activities, due to the fact that it rained 8 inches the last week we were there….we could actually see the lake water rising! We decorated and ate cookies, built foam Christmas houses, Wii dancing and Reggie and grandma built a cardboard castle and an erector bicycle (this was a few hour project with Ryan and Grandma-not exactly for an 8 year old, even though that is what the box said).

Ryan went skiing with Anthony and Eric (a California friend who was also visiting family) and got rained on all day. It did not sounds like much fun. The kids spent a good part of the day with grandma Peggy. They went to Chuck E. Cheese, McDonald’s and then played at the Big Lake gym. They had a blast-Grandma Peggy needs to get a camera so we can see all the fun they had! While they were having all their fun, I was returning and shopping with dad.

It was another great trip with lots of fun memories, so thanks to my family for putting up with us!

Opening our goodies at home:

Reggie was very excited about his pop-up book.

Enjoying her hula hoop from Reggie.

Interesting Arrival...

We arrived at the airport to head back to California fairly early because we didn’t know what Friday traffic would be like through downtown Seattle. Our flight was supposed to leave at 8:20PM and we got to the airport around 6. When we were checking our bags, the attendant told us our flight was 2 hours delayed. My mind was going to a very ugly place….10 o’clock flight, arrival at midnight and home after 12:30 with 2 kids who don’t sleep in regardless of when they go to bed, 6:30 wake up at the latest. She recommended we fly standby on the 6:50 flight (it was 6:20 at this point), but she wasn’t sure our bags would make it. We raced out of there to get through security and Ryan was lagging behind, so I told him we would meet him at the gate. Just as I was rounding the corner, I heard, stand-by party of 4, WADE, so I ran to the counter, but Ryan had the tickets (it is 6:40) she needed. So, I went out and was flagging him down and he was just walking as slow as could be, not paying any attention. He finally got there and we walked right on. He was so confused, asking me why we were boarding so early…it was only 5:40. A nice gentleman corrected him, letting him know it was 6:40! We got the last 2 sets of seats together and had a nice surprise when we arrived in Oakland…I have never been so happy to see our bags :o). Only God could have pulled that together for us!!!
The next morning Ainsley woke us up bright and early at 4 a.m. (she is going through something right now and we are very tired and unsure how to fix her fear) and I smelled burning paper. Ryan explored, but we assumed it was coming from outside. When we got up that morning, it was pretty cold, the thermostat said 63 and the heat had been on for hours. The furnace was toast and it was a holiday weekend. Someone finally made it out on Sunday, but couldn’t fix it without parts. The kids didn’t seem to notice, but we were freezing. The house was down to 58 on Monday and we went over to the Wiliams to get warm. I’m glad it was pretty warm outside, otherwise, it would have been really painful.
Our sleep situation didn’t get better for me because on Sat. night I heard a critter under our bed. Ainsley and Ryan were snoring, so it was hard for me to tell if I was hearing things, but once you’ve heard a little mouse, it is pretty unmistakable. Ryan had just cleaned Panda’s cage, so I was hoping he got out somehow. When I got out of bed and looked, his cage door was open and he was nowhere to be found. I shut all the doors in our bedroom and put some food in a bowl to entice him. I laid patiently and finally, after about 15 minutes, he knocked over the bowl. I jumped out of bed, but could tell he was heading back under, so I grabbed Ryan’s leg and told him not to move or talk and proceeded to tell him that Panda was right next to the bed and to reach down and grab him. It was too late, he got away. It wasn’t too much longer before he came out again and Ryan snatched him up. An hour and a half later, I was finally back to sleep.
Monday night was great, we had heat, Ainsley was dead tired from gymnastics, so slept the full night in her own bed and we were back in our routine. The kids have been happy to be back in school and see their friends and I have enjoyed catching up with friends. Tomorrow Khalif comes for a visit, so that will be lots of fun for sure :o).