superCALIfragilisticexpialidocious

I used to wonder why people put up with living in other states. People are always surprised when the Mississippi floods, yet it happens every single year. Hurricanes are pretty much guaranteed if you live on the east coast. Tornadoes thrive from Texas to Michigan. Sweltering humidity in the south is a given. Bitter cold takes care of the great plains. Washington complains of too much rain and the southwest of not enough. Really the only escape is California. And to avoid fires and earthquakes you've got to go northern. So do you see why I grew up in paradise? Add that setting to some of the funnest people out there, and you've got yourself a good vacation. Mary Poppins was British, and she even knew that the coolest word out there has to have a piece of California in it. Okay, you are sick of hearing about the golden state. But I think I've made my point.
The last hurrah of our trip was meeting up with Grandpa Robin, Grandma Linda, and lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins. First we went to a park for a picnic.

Grandma Linda and Uncle Matt helping the kids feed the geese. This picture is as close as I get. Those things are vicious.

Bekah and River engorging themselves on chips.

Some refreshment for Grammy and Keturah.

Uncles Matt and Nathan arguing about computers. So boring. I'm glad I married a doctor. I'm also glad I can finally say that. It's a lot better than "student", especially when you are already in your 30's.

The littlest tikes.

Not sure what these guys are discussing, but knowing Matt, the subject is likely to be poop. He's real mature.

Noah, Aunt Heather, and Aunt Mary

Grandpa Robin and Alex throwing the football.

The prettiest baby ever. Mirabelle.

Michael picked playing with the dog over playing with his cute cousin Mirabelle.

Part of the clan through Alex's eyes. He might do well as a photographer some day.

And what kind of picnic doesn't end up in a water fight? My dad started it, but I don't think he was counting on Nathan and Alex never letting it end.

After the park Bekah and I stayed with some of the other girls at Grandma and Grandpa's house for a sleepover. It started with the hot tub,

then we made strawberry parfaits for dessert. They all thought it was rich or too sweet, but not me. I ate about 3 times as much as anyone else. California strawberries are a thousand times better when you get them in their home state. The ones they pick to send to Michigan should be ashamed to be labeled as such.

Heather's and Charity's fat faces. I probably don't have their permission to post this, but they are the ones careless enough to let me take a picture of it.

The next morning, Charity braved the heat and took the kids for a walk down to the park. We met them later at the pool.

Grammy and Michael loving the water.

Aunt Mary and Keturah

Aunt Mary and Matt with the little boys.

After a day of swimming, Grandpa took everyone out to pizza--

--and ice cream.

Then we went back to their house for some wrestling...

...and lounging.

I don't think we could have ended our vacation any better.