While we were staying in California, Chris went to a paintball tournament for work in Huntington Beach. We came to visit for a day along with Aunt Sharon (who likes chocolate), Cameron, Aidan, and Drake. We pointed out that Sharon likes chocolate because everytime Oliver sees a picture of her, he says, “she likes chocolate!” It all started when we mailed Sharon a box of chocolate from Vienna for her birthday. Oliver takes his chocolate very seriously so he was pleased to know Sharon is a kindred spirit.
On the way to the beach/paintball field we spotted this huge snake on the loose. So what’s the natural thing for Elora to do? Why pet it of course!
Drake liked the paintball tournament. We got free seats in the grand stands to watch, but as it turns out they were on a long lunch break or something and no one was playing…. so after sitting for 15 minutes of being bored with nothing happening on the field we decided to go watch a game in the “cheap seats” where they were playing.
Here’s the cheap seats. And surprisingly being bored to death watching no paintball take place for 15 minutes is about the same as watching paintball played for 15 minutes. (paintball is fun to play, not that fun to watch) But Cameron and Aidan still liked it because it’s cool to watch guys shoot at each other with guns for a few minutes.
Ollie discovered some paintballs which flew over the net and broke on a nearby wall and was excited to rub the residue all over his hands. You can see how pleased he is with himself!
Then we walked over to the beach, where it was still too cold to swim (unless you’re crazy) and let the kids run around near the tide for awhile.
Oliver and Elora like to run back and forth with the tide.
So do Cameron and Aidan as it turns out. It was a bit cold and windy outside though so we couldn’t do this for too long.
But the kids would have stayed and played all day if we let them.
We let baby Marion walk around and feel the sand on her feet for a few minutes. Her first trip to the ocean!
One last run for Oliver. It’s always sad to leave the beach because the kids never want to go and we feel like the bad guys. But they were turning blue at this point.
From there it was off to the Cheesecake Factory. Elora really looks up to her big cousins. She and Aidan were having a fun time playing together, but we have no clue what they were doing.
Some of my friends from child hood still live in Huntington Beach and met us for dinner. This is Mandee and Monica. I’ve known Monica since kindergarten and we were all in Girl Scouts for a long time.
Oliver’s going for a ride.
One last group picture! It was a great day, a little bit of beach, some water, lots of sand (everywhere), Cheesecake Factory, family, and catching up with old friends.
