California

I know, I know, this was two months ago. I got busy, then thought it had been too long, then got busy again, then thought, "what the hey?", and that brings me here.
So, yeah, the kids and I went to California for a week in August and had a great time hanging out with family. I didn't get to see absolutely everyone, but I did get to see a lot of people that had not for a long time, and will not see for a long time.

So this is us at Bridal Veil, a section of the American River, but up in the sticks. Our family loves coming here, and August is really the only time when the water is not totally freezing. My brother-in-law Jedd showed us how to Hippo Race--a game he made up that involves not drowning, but practically doing just that. You carry a ridiculously heavy rock across the bottom of the river, heave the rock onto the shore, retrieve it, lug it back across the river (with several feet of water above your head and no air in your lungs), and chuck it into the grass. And yes, I played with my bro Dan, my sis Mary, and Jedd (the champion). I think I got second place because of extenuating circumstances with the others.

Jedd and the rock

The kids and me on a boogie board.

Bekah wearing her cousin Steven's shirt.

When we got back to Grandma Jill's, Jedd made his awesome pizza and bread sticks. My other bro Matt brought his cute wife Kacey and son Brycen. The kids had a lot of fun up in Uncle Dan's bunk bed, but for some reason I cannot find any picture of that.

The next day my sis Rachel, three of her kids, and my kids and I went to another part of the American River. We met up with a friend to see the gold discovery site in Coloma. We went through the visitor's center and some spots in town, then hit the water. This is a guy panning for gold and showing the kids what he's up to.

So this is Alex finding some gold.

Alex's gold nugget.
It is just a grain of sand, so no debt pay off yet.