Split decisions

Well we decided to go to California, after all! Ben called me at noon, on Thursday, with these words, "Rach, I don't know what to do". I had no idea what he was talking about, since we had already decided the night before not to go. I then asked him what he was talking about, and he said that he spoke with my brother, Danny, and it sounded like he could use the company. So here I am, not showered, and barely starting our day and he wants to leave in two hours! So I scrambled to get things packed and jumped in the shower, and we ended up leaving a little after two. My brother said he would have a nice dinner waiting, so we drove straight there, only stopping for a gas in Quartzite!

Sophia had her crying moments, and only slept for 30 minutes, right before our Quartzite stop! She is a stubborn child! We finally rolled in around 8:15 (our quickest time ever) and had a nice steak dinner, with Strawberry Shortcake for dessert! The kids and my brother had fun on the piano, and looking at things at u-tube! I ended up getting to bed around 12:00, and just as I was falling asleep (in my nieces room) I heard this weird rattling sound. My brother had mentioned, during our previous visit, that he had rat problems. That started to freak me out. I quickly turned on the light dimmer, as low as it would go (Sophia was sleeping in that room) trying to figure out what the noise was. I finally stumbled on a weird shaped container on my Niece's dresser. It turned out it was a plastic gerbil cage, and the noise was the gerbil running on the wheel! It went on for about 10 minutes, and I couldn't take it any longer! I went over and shook the cage and that darn thing just got right back on and kept running. Finally, after another 15 minutes, it stopped. Then Sophia started to cough, and it seemed to go on all night long! Poor thing! You would think that would have made her tired, it sure made me tired, but she was up bright and early at 6:00am! She went to bed at 9:00pm! Why would she wake up so darn early? Ben finally saved me at 7:00 and let me sleep a little!

My brother has the talent of putting fun before safety, and this rope swing in his backyard is a prime example. It swings right over one of his jagged rock waterfalls. The kids begged and begged us to let them do it. Ben and I couldnt' decide what we should do and finally we let Aubrie and Boston try it once, while I held my breath and took a picture!

Friday the kids played soccer in the backyard (their favorite past time during this trip), while Sophia took her nap. We went to the Ventura Harbor around noon, and ate at our favorite fish place. We then went over to the beach.

Sophia had fun in the sand, and eating the sand! Ethan had fun finding sticks, as usual, and playing in the sand. Aubrie and Boston had fun playing in the rocks, and running from the waves. We didn't go in swim suits because I knew the water was so cold. The kids ended up getting wet anyway, (Aubrie and and Boston ended up falling in a few times) and they were soaked! We were going to get ice cream at the Harbor, afterward, but they were too soaked to go anywhere but straight home! While we were at the beach, Boston started to cry saying Aubire dragged him down in the water. She denied it, but here is the proof. The camera speaks louder than words!!!:)

When we got home Sophia took a nap while the kids swam! Well, she finally took a nap after I found her going through my Niece's drawer, (her portable crib was too close to her dresser. Ugh!) and put everything away and moved her crib. Guess she had grown from the last time we visited. After her nap, we took a drive to get her out of the house. My brother's house is the farthest thing from baby proofed, and so we took her to a park! The weather was great, and she had a fun time being able to crawl around and climb. She went down the slide for the first time by herself! That night we had pizza and went hot tubing! The kids watched Spy Kids 3 and Aubrie and I played a game of Electronic Battleship! Ben ran to Cold Stone to get us ice cream, and we called it a night at 11:00!

Saturday Sophia woke up at 7:30 and played in her crib for an hour. That was much better! We got an earlier start at the beach, getting there at 11:00, but it was a little too windy and cold for Sophia. She was done after about 45 minutes! It was nicer the day before. I could have laid on the beach all day Friday! The kids went in their swimsuits this time, but never got in the water. Go figure! They spent their time walking the shoreline and collecting shells, and playing in the rocks! As we were packing things up to go back to the car, the kids called me over to the rocks to see a sea otter. I figured it was a dead one, because that isn't such an uncommon thing on that beach! As I approached, I realized it was alive. The kids were so excited, and wanted to pet it. One of the kids reached for it and it kind of lurched out at them. That kept them at a safe distance. I was so sad because Ben had gone ahead to the car, to get Sophia out of the wind, and he had the bag with the camera:( Oh well! Everyone knows what a sea otter looks like anyway, right!? Since we didn't make it to the ice cream shop the day before, we made a stop on the way out! Not something I would normally had done, since it was time for lunch, but we were on vacation! So what the heck! I got one of my favorite, malted chocolate crunch, and after Ethan had a bite and gave me his puppy dog eyes, I ended up eating his chocolate chip, while he was enjoying my malted chocolate crunch! Sacrifice I tell you!

We went back to the house to put Sophia down for a nap, and I was planning on taking Boston and Aubrie to the outlet stores. When I went out in the backyard to rinse the sand and tar from our feet, I realized how nice it was at the house, and decided to bag the outlet mall and layout by the pool! It was so nice and relaxing! Ben didn't have as a relaxing afternoon as I did. He jumped in the pool to cool off, and forgot that he had his cell phone in his swimsuit pocket, until it started vibrating like crazy! That left him using my cell phone the rest of the day! Glad we don't share on a regular basis! I kept hearing all day, "Do you have your phone?", "Is your phone on?", " Can you hear your phone?"!

After Sophia woke up, we headed out to Moorpark to watch my niece, Megan, soccer game! Pam, her new husband, and Pam's Mom where there. It was good to see them since we hadn't seen them yet! Danny also had his girlfriend, Blair, there! I love how everything was so cool ; no weird feelings at all! Pam's husband was talking to Danny's girlfriend, and as we were leaving Pam and Danny's girlfriend were walking arm and arm talking! Such an example of maturity and Christlike love! The game was a good game, but Megan got robbed of a sweet goal! Sophia got a little antsy 3/4 through, but I was surprised she lasted that long. The other kids were enjoying the game, probably due to their newest pastime of the weekend! I think we are going to have to enroll them in soccer next season! After the game, we got some dinner with Danny, Blair, and Tyler. Then we went home and made S'mores over the fire pit. After we stuffed our bellies, the kids swam while the adults sat in the hot tub. Everyone was there, and Cassie even brought a friend! Ethan had a blast going down the huge slide, and having races with the Tyler, Boston and Aubrie! Cassie thought Ethan was the cutest thing, and Aubrie followed Cassie and her friend everywhere, already wanting to be all grown up! After swimming, I went with Danny, Cassie and her friend up to Pink Berry in Westlake. He took his BMW, and there were a few times I was closing my eyes around corners, he was taking them so fast! I was glad to get back to the house in one piece! The kids were asleep when I got back, so Ben and I finished the ice cream and went to bed.

This morning we packed things up and woke Sophia up a little early, from her morning nap, so we could get an early start on our trip! As we were heading out Aubrie asked if we could put in a movie. Ben said it was Sunday and that we didn't bring any church movies. (kidding, of course) She then said, (I love this), "Jesus knows we are on a Vacation! LOL Well after being on the road for about 30 minutes, at 11:20, I got a text from Erin that we needed to be back at 6:00 for the announcement of the Ward split! I just could not believe it happened so fast! Ironically, Ben and I were just discussing, on the way out to Cali, how we would never move just for the fact that our Ward was so awesome and how great all the people were! Then to get this news...! I instantly texted Trina, because I thought she might still be in California and hadn't heard the news. Come to find out, she was on her way home...only 20 minutes ahead of us...and hadn't heard! She was sad, too, but we knew it was inevitable that someday we would no longer be in one another's Ward! Aubrie heard me talking to Trina, and when she found out what was going on, was so I sad to have Kate and Sarah ripped from her, just after she finally got them back in the Ward. I had to explain to her that it was a good thing because it meant the church was growing. I didn't realize then, I would have to take my own council. Erin texted me telling me that she was afraid that I wasn't going to be in her Ward anymore. The thought never crossed my mind that she would be in the other ward, and then the panic started to set in!(Me having to heed my own council!;) I still didn't think it was going to happen, but there was that fear.

We made good time home, and despite the fact that Sophia only slept for 30 minutes, she was pretty good. Here is proof that she actually slept somewhere besides a crib! We rolled into town just in time to unload the car, for me to throw on some church clothes, and head to the Stake Center. Ben stayed back to feed the kids and put Sophia to bed. They created a new Ward, West Wing Ward, which basically left 3/4 of the old ward behind, and they combined us with some of Sunrise Mountain. I'm excited to meet new people, and that other people will have opportunities to serve in big callings, but I'm so sad to loose my good friends! Thank Heaven's for emails, texting, and girl get together's! There is always our Christmas Party!