Monday, March 15, 2010

California Vacation

During the past ten days, we put 2,000 miles on our mini-van and over 40 driving hours. Here are the photo highlights from our 2010 family road trip...

Claire at the wheel.
(I will admit here that of those 40 driving hours, I logged about two. Way to go Toby!)


On the drive out, we made a detour to see the Grand Canyon. It was sort of strange to stop for only a half hour to see this magnificent natural wonder. So much beauty, so little time.


Our first morning in California was spent visiting our good friend Rocky and his family. Rocky graduated from Princeton Seminary with Toby and is now on staff at Claremont Presbyterian Church.


Day two started in LA's Chinatown. So fun to be in a big city!


Elise's first feel of the Pacific. Following lunch in Chinatown, we spent the afternoon at the beach in Santa Monica. Gorgeous.


Claire loved her first experience with sand.


Day three was Disney day. Thank you Gramma & Poppy! One of the highlights was meeting the princesses. Notice the flower petal in Ariel's hair. Elise picked it up early that morning in Grandma Sweetnam's yard and carried it for hours to give as a gift to a princess.


I was taking pictures of Claire when Cinderella stepped up to admire our sweet girl. On second look... maybe she approached to admire... Toby? Hmm... sorry Cinderella, that's MY prince charming! :)


Gramma and Poppy and their girls.


Another highlight was the kiddie roller coaster. Elise LOVED it. LOVED it.... arms up and screaming every time.

On day four we stayed close to La Crescenta. At lunch time we had a very special tea party with Grandma Betty and Gramma Kathy in Pasadena.


Claire's first time on a swing at a park near the Sweetnam's house.


Day five was spent at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park. Another day of rides!


Breakfast in Las Vegas on the trip home. Yes, Elise has a plate of bacon. Our girl really knows how to enjoy a vacation. :)


Now we're back home and back to reality. Time to get back to the laundry... :)

4 comments:

The Schuldt Family said...

Beautiful, Andrea! Your girls are getting so big! I can't believe Elise is such a big kid!! She and Charlie share a love of bacon, nothing but bacon, for breakfast. (He sometimes likes his with oatmeal and he invented oatmeal with crumbled bacon bits the other day.)

Looks like a super fun road trip! I love the road! Too bad you couldn't make a small detour to Fairbanks!!!

Sally said...

Awesome pictures Long family!!! Looks like you had a great trip! Miss you all... Sally (& Kim)

Jonathan Osorio said...

Hey....it sure looks like you guys had a ton of fun! How did the girls do traveling in the car for so long? See you around!

Brocks said...

Looks like you guys had fun..... didn't know you were going to be this close. Would have loved to see you.