On our way home from the airport
Two of our favorite people came out to visit us at the end of August, KATIE and SHERENA! Well, actually, Lance only knew that Katie was coming out to visit us here in Cali. She had been planning this trip for months. Earlier in the year everyone decided that Sherena should go with her, without telling Lance. A birthday surprise kind of thing. It was amazing. We kept the whole thing a secret for a very long couple of months. We went down to pick Katie up from the airport and as we found Katie and saying our hi’s and hugs, Sherena came up behind Lance and tapped him on the shoulder. He was sooo SUPRISED! He just couldn’t believe it! All he could do was smile and tell me how he didn’t want to talk to me anymore, kidding of course! It was really great, priceless.
We hung out at the house for a few days to allow them to recuperate from their long journey across the country and get use to a new time zone. Ellen even drove over from Monterey to see everyone! Everyone knew Ellen from back in Massachusetts, but I had never met her. We had tons of fun hanging out playing rummycube and Apples to Apples, eating hot dogs and fruit salad and laughing! We even convinced Katie to paint a mural on Zoey’s bedroom wall. Okay, she did it willingly, but its more fun to tell everyone we held her captive until she finished!
Lady and Sherena snoozin’
Ellen, Sherena, Katie and Xander playing rummycube
Zoey and Auntie Sherena, The Little Sisters!
This was the planned mural. Kind of Tinkerbell inspired larger than life world.
Zoey was being quite the little helper, keeping mommy on her toes while climbing ladders!
About 50% of the way done, lots and lots and LOTS of green! Finished mural later on.
Mommy and Zoey
We made a trip Casa De Fruta. We always have a ton of fun when we go there. The weather was so nice and it was really great to get out of the house and our of the heat of the valley. We had a really great time.
Tasty Bacon and Cheese Crickets. Yes they are real! 
Sherena didn’t think they were all that tasty. Chocolate covered ants! 
Big brothers and little sisters! 
We rode on the Merry-Go-Round/ 
Xander convinced Katie and Sherena to go on the spinny thingy! No one really felt that great when we got off! Loved it!
Going super fast!
Of course, you can not skip the train ride. Its the best part of Casa de Fruta! Zoey still isn’t too sure about it though.
I made sure to take a pic of myself too! 
Little Red Caboose passengers! 
The Girls!
We even played on the playground! You are never too old to have fun! 
She kept picking up all the little rocks in the playground and putting them down her shirt!
What a cutie! 
We even went panning for gold..or well Gems! We also thought it would be great fun to feed the peacocks come goldfish! The kids thought it was amazing and we all laughed and the peacocks thought it was tons of fun to chase us down and lock us in our car for goldfish! It was so funny! Trying to get everyone in the car before they came back. Then we lost the keys and had to get out again and shoo them away just to find them. An experience none of us will forget!
That night for Lance’s birthday and just because, we went GLOW BOLWING! It was so much fun. They turn out all the lights and use black lights to make everything glow! We bowled for two and a half hours and three games! We were super thankful for my mom that night. We were out till almost three in the morning and she stayed up, mostly, until we got home. Thanks Mom!
On Saturday, my cousin was turning 16. Sweet 16, its almost hard to believe. She has grown up so much and so quickly. I remember when she was just a baby and now her she is, turning into a young adult. She makes me feel old and young at the same time! We also celebrated Lances’ birthday with the rest of the family that day. It was a ton of fun and it was interesting to see what craziness came from a group of 15/16 year olds and one 25 year old! After the party we went home and did our usual thing.. Halo with Joe!
On the last day of the weekend, Ellen came to visit us again! It was great. Lance didn’t have to work that day so we all got to hangout . We played apples to apples and made some very tasty smore’s before she had to hit the road. Katie finished the mural on Zoey’s wall and Xander came down sick. The next two days after that we were suppose to make a San Francisco trip, but never made due to Xander’s sickness. The poor kid slept most of those days and missed four and a half days of school that week. Later, we found out that he had a pretty severe ear infection and Zoey had the start of one. Even though our plans were changed a bit the last few days with Katie and Sherena were still great. It didn’t really matter what we did, just that we did whatever it was together.
We are so glad they came out to visit us! We had soo much fun hangout with them, watch a gazzilion movies, painting, laughing and doing nothing.
Can’t wait to see them again. Hopefully soon than later!
Comments