So, since Brian's not working and the kids are out of school, we decided to take a road trip! Last summer we spent a night in Eureka on the way home from vacation and we knew we wanted to go back. Also, we knew we wanted to go to the beach (life always makes sense when you look at the ocean!), so we left for Eureka!
Our first morning we ate like lumberjacks at the Samoa Cookhouse.
The food is always great and there is plenty of it! It is also fun to take the kids someplace both Brian and I went as kids!
After breakfast we drove out to the North Jetty. It was a beautiful sunny day, but there was lots of wind, so the bar was closed to boat traffic. However, there were a couple of Coast Guard boats playing in the giant waves!(OK, they were probably practicing important drills, but they looked like they were having fun!)
We then went to the zoo at
Sequoia Park. It is a small zoo, but it is really nice! We had a great time! Most of the exhibits have been updated recently, and everything looks clean and new.
Elise and Camille were interested in the Cavys.
There was a farm exhibit with a barn and a petting zoo.
Isaac liked the pig, and riding on the tractor!
The kids also had fun looking at the exhibits.
Camille is seeing what lives in a log, and Isaac is looking at live termites!
Lunch was at a local BBQ place! YUM!!
After lunch we went back to
Sequoia Park to hike around in the redwoods.
This was Joseph's first time riding in the backpack.
He seemed to really enjoy being in the great outdoors.
Yes, I was there too!
I seem to take all the pictures, so I have to remember to include myself in our memories!
Isaac and Camille in front of a beautiful waterfall!
Yes, we saw a Banana Slug! And no, as Brian would say, they are not lemon filled!
We wore out at least one kid!
After the redwoods, we grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the South Jetty. It was so windy and cold that the kids only played a little while. Here are the kids taking refuge in a beach fort. Since Joseph was asleep I volunteered to stay in the warm car with him, where I sipped my coffee and relaxed in the quiet.
Confusion Hill seemed like the perfect place to stop on the way home! I have never been there before, and it was definitely a touristy kind of place!
Everyone had fun in the crazy, confusion house! Everyone except Camille, she sat down on the floor and cried. It is a very unsettling feeling to have everything out of balance.
Isaac loved it!
Elise is climbing the walls!
Aidan took this picture of the rest of us... in the old ladies' shoe!
We also stopped at the drive through tree on the way home. Brian was sure we would fit, and pulled in almost to the mirrors. We folded in the mirrors, and he told me to tell him when we were getting close. I said we only has about two inches and we should not do this. The kids all screamed to go forward, and Brian was about to go. A group of about four or five people were standing on the other side of the tree... waiting to see what was going to happen. Then I again said no, and Brian finally decided not to try. He backed out, much to the disappointment of the kids! The minivan behind us made it through with no problems, but the
Durango behind them did not. They did what we did. I know I will never hear the end of this from the kids, but the Yukon is still in one piece. I could just see us getting stuck in the tree and having to crawl out the back hatch...not the best way to end a great road trip!
The kids wanted straws to blow the boats around in the water. The only straws I had were Boba straws. They are extra large around for sucking up Boba from your cool Asian drink. We haven't used them in forever, and I don't have any more Boba, so I think a trip to the Asian market is in order! I am the only one in my family who appreciates Boba!!
Elise had a really cool design for her sail, it was attached on two sides!
Isaac's boat was large and flat.
Here they are making their boats! 
This picture was taken at the Billings Zoo. Yes, we went to the zoo on a day when the high for the weather was less than 20 degrees! It was soooo cold, but a lot of fun!
Even Isabel loved the snow! 
We had a lovely Christmas! We went to church on Christmas Eve, and lit the advent that evening also. I think it was about 6 degrees when we went to church, the high for the day!
The kids had a blast sledding and playing in the snow!
Joseph and Daddy trying to stay warm!
Hannah and Camille sledding!
Aidan looks a little cold!
Isaac loved the snow most of all! 
Elise looks like she belongs in the cold!
Ben and Aidan!
On our way home we decided to take the long way! Crazy? Maybe, but we do love a roadtrip!
While we were waiting for our lunch, Camille helped put High Hill labels on the bags for their apple pies. She was very careful, putting the labels exactly where she was told. It was really nice of the lady who was working to let Camille help. Camille felt like such a big girl, too!
Here are the rest of the kids waiting for their lunch!
We also watched as the apples were cored, peeled and sliced by a machine that is over a hundred years old! (I didn't notice the extra kid until after I took the picture!)
Even Joseph had a great time!!
We also went to a U-pick pumpkin patch to get pumpkins!
Everyone found a pumpkin, but Joseph wasn't too sure about his!
Isabel also had fun at the pumpkin patch! 
Isaac was the last to find his pumpkin!
Isaac loves to walk Isabel! (We all do!)
Isabel, otherwise known as, "The best dog in the world!"
Camille wore this on the 4th of July. Elise and her cousin dressed Camille and did her hair in red, white and blue. Very cute...and patriotic!! This outfit was handed down from her cousin, then Elise wore it for several years when she was little, and Camille has now worn it twice!
Isn't this just the sweetest picture you've ever seen?
While the family was here, we went to the splash park a couple of times!
Joseph LOVED it! He would crawl from spray feature to spray feature.
Even the big kids had fun!
Isaac soaking up the sun!
Auntie T.
Grandma and Papa enjoyed watching the kids from the shade!
We also went camping at Bodega Bay! The kids had a blast playing on the beach! The weather was beautiful the whole time we were there. We couldn't have asked for a nicer trip. 
I think this is a great picture of B. at the marina in Bodega Bay!
Elise and H!
Everyone had fun in the crazy, confusion house! Everyone except Camille, she sat down on the floor and cried. It is a very unsettling feeling to have everything out of balance.
Elise is climbing the walls!
