Mom's Mendocino Birthday

What? It's Mom's Birthday?(Commence in singing Happy Birthday). That was what happened over a hundred times on my birthday road trip to the Ocean.  We decided to be spontaneous and meander in a north west direction on my birthday. We stopped at Grocery Outlet and got a few things then we ended up in Mendocino. We also passed through Redwood forest to and from the ocean.  It was a hot day and Spencer, Celia, and I went to get a car wash and to a garage sale. We loved our ride, it was so fun. Everyone was happy and it was such beautiful scenery and miles of mountain turns. Who knew it was so beautiful here? In Fort Brag, we found a turn off that had a jungle beach walk. We noticed so much fog moving in and beautiful waves and there was a lovely breezy by the beach. Much different then the triple digit temperatures back at home. I was in awe of the arches and beautiful bluffs in Mendocino. We had never been there and were very impressed. The colors were beautiful and the various flowers gave off a pleasant perfume like smell. Joseph was a little concerned I walked a precarious path to reach an area more extended out of over the water. I guess I am adventurous still even as a 40 year old. I got a little nervous passed the pass that looked  like it might rock slide down thirty feet at any moment, but the view was worth the risk.  We passed by Napa on the way home. It was beautiful too. I'm so glad for the family time. I missed Emmy, but knew she as having fun in Newport. Overall, it was a magical, better than expected sort of day.

River Time

Date night didn't fall on my birthday, but who says we can't celebrate early? A while ago I was thinking of where to go for my birthday dinner and thought Scott's Seafood would be nice. Who knew I would enjoy seafood so much since I steered clear of it as a youth. I had swordfish and coconut shrimp. It was beautiful I should have taken a picture of it but usually don't photograph food much. The River was beautiful, I'm so glad we went to the Sacramento location instead of Folsom it was somewhere new.:) The sunset was great and it is just nice to relax and talk and enjoy great food. I loved the triple berry dessert and walking by the river after and of course touring "The Pocket" area I know where that is.:)

Reminising in L.A.

Traffic in L.A. was so different than in Colorado. I think even I was a little culture shocked about the pace of the city on a Friday Night. We made it and safety after 16 hours of driving. It wasn't too bad. Celia and Joseph each got bags of rocks at a souvenir shop on the way. Celia picked some rose quartz and black obsidian while Joseph mainly picked petrified wood. I felt like a tourist all through Arizona, but once we hit Barstow my homing radar kicked in and I drove us to my parent's house. Since Brian and my anniversary is only a month away, I thought it would be nice to visit the some  places we went to on our wedding day. We stopped by the Summit house restaurant where they were prepping for a wedding reception. We visited the Richard Nixon Library where there was a wedding going on as well. It was really special and all the ground were so beautiful. Emmy, my mom and I took a tour of Richard Nixon's birth home while My Dad went through he museum tour inside. Emmy was impressed with a piece of the Berlin wall displayed inside and I really liked the limo and dresses the first Lady wore.

We order Ortega's Mexican food for lunch and celebrated a belated Birthday for my Dad and an Early 40th Birthday for me. We swam and visited the Temple and the Santa Monica beach at Sunset. I love that someone offered to take our picture on the temple grounds. I cannot get over how big that temple is and how special it is to have all our immediate family members on my mom side sealed there. We survived the car ride home and enjoyed many meals with my parents who are such great hosts. It was a wonderful stop to finish off our vacation. That was a wonderful reprieve.We made it home safe and readjusted to routine I cant wait to celebrate our anniversary and birthday again on the actual dates.:)