Trip to CA

We had a great week on our trip to sunny Sacramento, CA! First off- we went and visited Grandpa Fleming at his assisted living appartment. He and Adrian enjoyed a game of cribbage.
Lexi, Sami and Soni are cheerleaders watching the game...
Later, back at the Weavers where we were staying, Adrian actually was dealt 800 kings in Pinochle! Never seen that before!
Just chill'n in the Weaver's backyard. Shanti, Adrian, Granny Snider, Sami and Grandpa Snider.
Gracie enjoying the outdoors.
Naomi Landon in the swing.
Granny doing her "grandmotherly duties" and gives Gracie a bottle.
Weavers cut down a branch from their tree and Sami harvests a few blossoms...
The bouquet looks rather like the clover blossom from Dr. Seus' "Horton Hears A Who"!
I love how light blue Atticus' eyes are. One stranger called him a "Crystal Child".
We went over to the retirement center and enjoyed looking a old film converted to a DVD of when Granny Snider was a little girl! What a treasure!
Grandpa, Thomas Fleming.
Grandma, Margaret Fleming.
It melted our hearts to see them hold hands while going down memory lane.
Gotta love Naomi's head of hair. You can't help but touch it!
We had the Grandparents pose for a picture. We tried to help Grandpa lean more to the right, but he said, "My back doesn't go that way anymore!"
Sami, Grandpa, Tom Fleming, Adrian, Jennifer, Grandma Margaret Fleming and Lexi.
It was so sweet to see them give each other a good-bye kiss! (They live in different facilities)
Lexi was so proud of herself for rocking Gracie to sleep!
Lexi took this one! We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Sniders!
Austin surprised us by learning how to ride bike all by himself at the Weavers! He kept practicing on a smaller bike on the lawn and soon enough he could do it! (This inspired Ethan to try- can't have the younger brother doing something first)
We went to Folsom Lake and enjoyed the day on the beach in the sun!

Gracie had fun eating a bit of sand...
Lexi, Atticus and Orrin have fun making their own motorboat!
Lexi took this one of me.
I cracked up over Naomi's mud bath!
Adrian, Soni, Shanti and Sami have fun swimming out to the markers.
Just like "Bay Watch"...
The kids spent much of their time hauling water inland to fill the hole.
Sami the beach "Diva".
Later we went to the Landon's for lunch. They just got a new pet: a python! Austin has no fear.
Lexi was fine holding Ruth until her mouth gets close to her face!
Kinda funny- they got a live mouse to feed Ruth but for days wouldn't touch it. Finally we gave the rat something to eat and it was extremely happy to down a grape or two. I'm sure it's just a matter of time...poor little mouse.
At the Landon's we got to have Indian food for lunch and the kids tried to keep cool on the Slip-N-Slide.
Ethan takes a turn.
Behind their house is a little creek with tiny frogs. The kids love to catch them. (And sometimes feed them to the chickens!)

We went out for a special treat and found something a little more...
What's this? The kids found what looked like a treasure map!
I couldn't wait to try these yummy fruit tarts...
The map first tells us to go down a street with "no name". Low and behold Shanti knew just the street!

There were many land marks to find along the way.
It was a long and hot walk so Daddy was nice to help Austin along.
Lexi finds more detail information on finding the treasure!
The map led us to a hole shaped like a skull...
And Sami pulls out the loot bag!
We brought it back into the house where the kids had loved running their fingers through the coins.
This is the more detailed map that we found.
There were old coins and bills from all over the world!

All we could figure was maybe we have a distant pirate relative that is trying to leave his family some of his fortune.
I couldn't help but take another picture of Naomi's big eyes...
Gracie was happy just hanging out.
It was pretty hot! Popcycles were a MUST!
Adrian being a kid and giving the "Stomp Rocket" a go.
Why not?
Later that night we went to Abe and Wanda Alvi's (Adrian's Aunt/Uncle) for a wonderful BBQ and swimming.
This is Amy and Melanie Alvi- two of Adrian's cousins.
This is Isaac and Matthew Alvi- the cousin's who live in the house we were visiting.
Matthew picked us som fresh grapefruit they were growing.
We scored and brought a bag full home with us. Yum!

The whole gang: Jennifer, Abe Uncle, Adrian, Shanti, Amy, Sonia, Wanda Auntie and Melanie.