Take a Ride Through Newport Beach, CA

Monday we decided to take a different route on our bike ride, instead of going to Huntington Beach/Main St., like we usually do, we took a ride down to Newport Beach.

Of course I took my camera along so you could all go with me!

We road by this park...I have never seen so many squirrels in one place. There were probably about 20 of them just hanging out enjoying the beautiful day.



Next we headed to our favorite pizza place Rubino's and saw the Big Rubber Ducky cruising around...I made my hubby stand in front of it. He said, "Hurry up I feel stupid," through clinched teeth & a fake smile...can you tell?

How funny is this thing? I laugh every time I see it.

Riding down the boardwalk can be pretty dangerous, you have to watch out for the drunk bike riders!

32nd Street was the place to be when we were growing up.

Newport Beach is a large city with a small town feel, you always run into someone you know.

My hubby patiently waiting for me to finish taking my pictures. He said, "You look like a tourist!"

I SAID....

And kept on snapping this view from the boardwalk.

The yellow flag with the black dot means that particular area is black balled (NO SURFING). They designate certain times & areas for surfing because there are so many people in the water during holidays & summertime.

Notice how the girls like to hang around the lifeguards...tough job those guys must have! LOL!

Time to head back home.

After the boardwalk ends you head out to this road just behind the waterfront homes.

Cruising through Huntington Beach now, you can see that there is a lot more beach before you get to the water than in Newport. Yeah it's pretty tough to drag a cooler through the sand.

Finally home, turning the corner to our house...whew I'm tired!

One last pose for the hubby...thought I better end on a nice note after he put up with all my picture taking.

Besides I have one more place I need to convince him to take me. I'm addicted & it's my fav!

Doesn't it look like we own our own bike & surf board shop?

We don't, we just have 6 kids!

I did it!!!! I convinced him to top the day off with my fav, Baskin Robbins (31 Flavors) Ice Cream.

BANANA ROYALE
(2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, bananas, caramel topping, whip cream, nuts & cherry).

But I just walk in & say, "The usual!!!"

Hope you had fun riding through Newport Beach, California (the OC).

My Baby Starts High School

Tomorrow is the day I officially have to accept the fact that my baby boy is all grown up...he starts High School. Where has the time gone? It was just yesterday that we were going on bike rides. My chubby lil' Lijey sitting in his bike seat, big blue helmet, high on his head, barely able to fit his big noggin'. Laughing, pointing at all the "burdie's" flying around his chubby hand as he ate his sandwich.

In junior high I still felt a sense of connection with him during our every Thursday lunch days. He would get out of school early and it was our time together. We would take turns picking the lunch spot. Then spend time catching up on all the important things going on in his life. Not that he'd really tell me...but anything you can drag out of a teenager is special.
Elijah's 8th Grade Graduation

Natascha, Adam, Elijah, Josh, Me, Anthony & Dillon (Jullien was in NY)
Last week was my first experience not having anyone to go to "Lunch Day" with. Elijah was at freshman football practice, Jullien was in New York and Josh was working. I felt so alone, I guess I'm getting the beginning feelings of "empty nest" syndrome.

We spent tonight going school clothes shopping and then out to dinner. My stepson Dillon was going to pick him up for me tomorrow, but as we ate Elijah kept saying, "Well if he can't you can take me for my first day of High School." He said it a few more times throughout the night...so I took it as a hint that he really wanted me to drop him off. I had Anthony call Dillon and tell him I'd take Lijey tomorrow.

So I will drop my baby off at 6:30 a.m. (0 period starts at 7:00 a.m.) Saying goodbye to my baby...and our special lunch days. Wow, I never thought I'd take it so hard...I guess it's time to learn to embrace the fact that I will have more time for me again. This will be a new concept because I haven't thought about me since I had my first baby at 21~

Celebrate, Reflect and Enjoy-4th of July

My family was all in Utah together for the 4th (we couldn't afford to go), but made the best of it here. It's always hard for us because it's the anniversary of my brother John's death. I usually start to get a little edgy and emotional the week leading up to the 4th. I try to make sure we have lots of plans, the busier I am the easier it is.

I decided to treat myself to a new bike this year...last year we were the Beverly Hillbilly's of OC with our crappy, squeaky, rusty bikes. I haven't had a brand new bike since I was 14 years old! I figured it was time...also I thought it would encourage me to get out and exercise more. I was going to get my usual boys beach cruiser in black, I'm such a tomboy that I don't usually like flashy. But I decided at the last minute to get a shiny purple and silver girl bike. What do ya think?


We rode down to the parade, stopped by to meet some friend's at a house party, but it was all adults and the little guys wanted to hang out with us for a while (we wont have very many years left of them wanting to be with the "parents" since they're 14 & 15. So we told them we'd be back later and rode around with the kids.

Anthony's sister's and all their kids ended up coming down and we met up with them, got some lunch and had a picnic at the park with them and some other friends who met up with us. The boys ended up leaving and me and Anthony headed home for a quick rest before we had to ride back down for the fireworks show.

I had to leave and go pick up Josh from work. I was sitting in the LONG line of cars waiting to turn, when a group of bikers came riding in between all the cars and some parked cars. Some girls were obviously drunk...one girl turned around to talk to her friends and ran smack into the back of a parked car and flipped over the top of her bike, denting the car. Okay now you are all going to know how mean I am...I LAUGHED so hard. I always do when someone trips or falls. I can't help it! I wasn't alone, all the other cars were yelling, honking and laughing too! I didn't feel as bad. She was okay, but she did a bike hit and run. The owner of the car came running out of the house party, but the girl was long gone. I'll take entertainment anyway I can get it.

When we got back down to the beach it was FREEZING. The little guys never came home and had only swim trunks and tank shirts. They were shivering and complaining...we brought them some jackets and I got these pics of them racing toward the backpack and then fighting with a friend for the warmest one.

Elijah, Adam & Friend racing to the backpack for sweatshirts.



The Boys fighting over the warmest sweatshirt.

Even Anthony was cold.






Crowd in the ampitheatre.

Crowds watching street performers.

More Crowds in the dreaded Out House line.

My hubby & me trying to stay warm.



Waiting for the fireworks to start.

YAY...FINALLY!

All in all it was a good day and I didn't even cry once...which was a first. We love and miss you John!

My brothers...John hugging Troy.

Shorts, Dresses and Board Shorts YES!

It's getting to be that time of year, the sun is now shining it's been slowly warming up and my family is wanting to hit the beach. This now officially puts me in PANIC mode. Another year of swearing that I will work out early and be "beach ready" is shot. I have not worked out at all. I usually at least try to work out at home a little bit to get rid of the jiggle. Nope not even that!

So as the Fourth of July approaches, I get to try and find something that hides my body for our annual bike ride and beach trip. I've been a little excited that those really long dresses with sandals are popular this year. But that wont do for our bike ride. I guess I'll need to find some extra long shorts to hide the "special" areas.

Here's a few options for you ladies who may have run into the same procrastination problem that I have.










See it's all in how you camouflage the areas...so if your panicking too, head out and pick your self up a few of these "MUST HAVE" items!