A visit with friends

We were so happy to have the M family come to stay and visit with us this month!

Steph and Mommy were roommates in college and have remained very good friends.  We were so lucky that it worked out for them to visit us this year since our families don't get to see one another nearly enough.

One night when they were in town we had some of our other favorite people, the A and M families, over for a BBQ (since all of the mommies went to college and were in their sorority together).  Somehow they have grown from a group of 4 friends to a total of 17 (soon to be 18) with husbands and children!

 The next day, after the sleepover with our friends, we took them to ... where else?...Happy Hollow!

We had to share one of our favorite places with them.

We think that they might have liked it as much as we do!!

Thank you, M family, for coming to visit.  We had such fun!

Spring Break at Happy Hollow

After a week of Spring Break spent in Santa Barbara and enjoying some down time at home, we decided it was time to get out and enjoy one of our favorite places:  Happy Hollow.

This year's first Happy Hollow visit proved that Mia is fearless.  She had every desire to take on all of the rides - even ones that she is barely tall enough to ride (and the roller coaster, which Luke opted not to ride this time).

All smiles as she wait in line for the roller coaster

Boarding

Riding with Mommy

Next, we moved on to the swings

I

We even got to meet Danny the Dragon!

The last (Happy Hollow) Hurrah...for now

Oh, Happy Hollow family pass, how I love thee...

We have used our Happy Hollow membership SO much this year.  As this is the last official week of summer for Luke, we decided that we better get one more visit in.

We asked Day to join us, and spent nearly the entire day at one of our favorite places.

Grandpa & Grandma visit

Grandma came to visit and spent 3 weeks with us this summer.  She was able to be here for Luke's birthday party, to drop us off and pick us up at summer school, to visit Mia's ballet class, and to just generally give Mommy some extra time to do "stuff."

 

She also tag teamed with Day and Paw to watch us for a long weekend while Mommy and Daddy spent some alone time down in Dana Point.

 

On the third week of her visit, Grandpa joined her.  We made sure to save lots of fun stuff to do for when he was here.

Of course, we took them to Happy Hollow,

 

 

 

...the park,





...and the duck ponds.

 

Naturally, we also put them to work!  Grandma helped Mommy clean our closets, and Grandpa helped Daddy construct Luke's new bed.  I think we may have sent them home pretty tired!  Thanks for coming to be with us, Grandma and Grandpa.  We loved having you!

Welcome, Summer

The kids and I headed out to Happy Hollow for the day on Luke's first day off after preschool graduation.  I was hoping to go before all of the kids in the area were out of school for summer.  We had a great day!  Mia is now at a really great age to enjoy it, and Luke loved it, as always.

I hope that we'll enjoy many more days this summer at Happy Hollow.

Happy Hollow with Friends

Of course, with Ava and Gavin in town we just had to take them to Happy Hollow. What fun to have Charlie, Jack, Aidan, and Bailey join us as well! To think that the mommies of this group were sorority sisters and roommates (and I swear it wasn't THAT long ago), and now we've grown into this group of families - pretty crazy!

A favorite: Danny the Dragon

Luke insisted early on in the day on riding the roller coaster again. He claims to "love" it, but when I review the photos and see the look of terror on his face, I wonder why he insists upon torturing himself. Aidan is LOVING it ... and Ava appears to be hanging onto her Daddy very tight (although she also claims that it was "fun").




Michael rode the Frog Hopper with the kids. I love the look between Michael and Ava - they've always shared a mutual adoration.

Holding-hand-girls and riding-with-Daddy-girls

Some of the boys just after lunch

SEESAW!

Carousel rides

Somehow this Mommy's least favorite attraction always seems to be the kids' most favorite ... feeding the goats.