Back from Cali!

Fair Warning: this is going to be a fairly lengthy post.

We are back from California! It was a great trip! It was my first time ever to visit CA and it was beautiful. We stayed in Newport Beach, visited Dana Point, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel. I got several pictures, but I will only post a couple on here. We came away with several great stories too, but I will try to keep this lengthy post as short as possible!

Story #1: Getting lost with GPS!

The trip started out Friday as Judy, Pop, Travis and I flew in to LAX. We landed and still had a couple of hours to kill before we met up with Mark (T's brother). So, we all went to rent a car and grab a bite to eat. After we picked up Mark, back at the airport, we all headed down to the hotel. Travis has a new phone on which he has GPS. Well, before we left Houston, Travis had plugged in the hotel address so that we would be ready to go and have instant directions, once we were in CA. Pop drove as the GPS lady told us exactly where to go. About 45 minutes later...we arrive at our destination. 500 Bayview Place, Laguna Beach, CA. One problem...it was someone's house...not our hotel!! So, Travis quickly plugs in the correct address in Newport Beach. Let me just inform you that Newport Beach was about 15 minutes from the airport. That is right...we literally passed the hotel on the way to this random house in Laguna Beach! It was quite an adventure as we nearly drove off a cliff (or it seemed that way to us in the back seat)! Listening to the boys go back and forth with their endless wit and humor was very entertaining and Judy and I were nearly in tears by the end of it all! So, yes...you can get lost with GPS...

Story #2: Kelly's Hero!

On Saturday we went and had breakfast in Dana Point. We met some of the cousins there (Bruce and Kathy, and their two kids Kelly -10 and Nicole -8). After breakfast Pop, Mark, Travis and I hung out with Bruce and the kids while Judy and Kathy went to prepare for Grandma Bettes and Grandpa Lyle's memorial the next day. Before the girls headed off to run their errands we walked around a bit and talked. While we were visiting Kelly asked his dad (Bruce), "Do skateboards float?" Kelly had his skateboard with him and had been skating around ever since we had finished eating. Now, Kelly asked this sooo important question because at the time we were hanging around the marina, where all the boats are docked. (There is a railing all around the water that has about a 6 inch or more gap at the bottom. So, the railing keeps people from falling in, but isn't very effective at keeping rolling objects out.) Nicole had been joking about throwing Kelly's skateboard in, but Dad put a quick stop to that. As we were all talking and moving on in our discussions, I look back and see Kelly skate away on his skateboard, which quickly loses control and rolls right under the railing...landing in the ocean water of the marina! The look of shock and horror was enough to make anyone think that Kelly had just watched his best friend get shot! As everyone starts to realize what had just happened, Kelly is over the railing and begging his father to let him dive in after the beloved skateboard. With some convincing, Kelly climbs back over the railing to safety and after much investigation about high tide and low tide, Bruce decides that he will wait for low tide, at which time he will dive in after the skateboard and try to locate it. Now, this water is around 53 degrees (FREEZING) and the day is cloudy and windy. Bruce now has all afternoon to pump himself up and get ready for the freezing water and to get prepared with warm clothing to put on afterwards. The ladies have now gone to run their errands and the rest of us walk around the cove, hang out at the hotel pool, eat lunch and then borrow the pool net from the hotel to head down to the marina where we have some skateboard fishing to do!

Once we get back to the spot of the tragedy, Bruce climbs over the railing and tests the depth with the net from the hotel. Then he walks around the edge of the marina debating his point of entry and finally gets someone to just let him onto the dock between some of the boats so he can have a safe entry. Pop volunteered to go with him so that Bruce had some help getting out of the water and getting warm...fast! Here is the video of the heroic event...


After Bruce retrieves the skateboard (on the 2nd dive) he is welcomed by a loving and grateful son (and then we notice all the legal signs about unauthorized entry into the marina and No Skateboarding...oops)!Not every dad would be willing to dive into the ocean after a skateboard. Most likely, they would just buy the kid a new board. But Kelly will remember how his dad dove in after his skateboard for the rest of his life! Way to go Bruce!!! :)

Here is a picture of Travis and me on the beach at sunset...

The Memorial

The memorial service for Grandma Bettes and Grandpa Lyle was on Sunday and we had such a great turn out! That morning, we took a sailboat out and put their ashes out to sea. We dropped roses in the water and they just seemed to come alive! It was a great way to honor them and take the time to remember. That afternoon we had a service at the club house near their house in Laguna Niguel. So many of their friends came out to remember and visit. It was great to get the family together again and I finally had a chance to get to know the cousins. They had all been at the wedding, but I had about 2 seconds just get introduced to them at that time. :)

This was such a fun trip! :)