"Stay-cation"

Since we've been camping twice already this summer, we decided that we want to have a quiet, stay at home vacation. Even though we love Kings Canyon, the whole family agreed that we'd rather just do some fun day trips and stick close to home. Ron will be doing some catch-up on projects around the house as well.

So, for the next two weeks we will be doing the following: hiking in our favorite canyon to see the waterfall, exploring the tide pools in Malibu, walking on the pier at Santa Monica, attending Jazz concerts in the park, kayaking somewhere on the coast, playing tennis at Farnsworth Park, riding the metro to Busters a small town coffee and ice cream shop in South Pasadena, spending a day at the beach and having lunch at Ruby's (a 40's diner) on the pier, and riding bikes along the coast...

And because we have so many girls, we couldn't forget SHOPPING! We found two, beautiful places that we want to take them: The Grove (The American Girl Store is here) and Americana at Brand.

And, this weekend, Paige and I will be going out together for a special Mom & ME time which will include lots of shopping, staying at a cool hotel, and seeing Wicked at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

What a great way to end the summer!

* picture from: thegrovela.com