(My apologies to any real surfers who read my blog. Yes, I know you don’t really talk that way!)

Camp Rodeo concluded on Saturday with a fun beach day celebration at LaJolla Shores Beach. Megan and Paul’s highlight was that they were able to experience riding a surfboard for the first time ever, thanks to the patient efforts of several InterVarsity members.

I regret that I only had my iPhone along to take pictures. There are just a few pictures of Megan because she never told me she was trying. By the time I arrived on the scene, her lesson was almost up. She went back a second time and I’m told that she was awesome. What I do know firsthand is that my kids are now convinced of their need for a surfboard. Nevermind that they barely know how to swim!

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A few months ago Adam suggested that the entire family accompany him on a business trip to Washington DC.  As a former east coast girl I readily agreed.  The trip soon expanded to include New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.  Thus was born the McLane Summer Vacation of 2009 during which our sanity was hotly debated.

Getting There

Adam’s flight arrangements were made through his company so the kids and I flew on our own.  I opted for the red-eye flight.  My theory was that if I was going to fly alone with two kids, I might as well travel while we they more likely to pass the time sleeping.   Between a ridiculously cold cabin, uncomfortable seats that would not recline, a snoring man in front of me, and an inconsolable baby a few rows up…well, let’s just say that it was a long night.  Kudos to Megan and Paul for being excellent travelers – they slept through most of the flight.

Great Expectations

Megan and Paul had high hopes of meeting President Obama – or at the least a play date with Sasha and Malia.  Not so much (though we did see Bo).  They settled for this instead:

Playing in the Sprinklers, National Mall

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I have a gazillion vacation photos to sift through and write about.  In the meantime, the kids are settling into a summer routine.  On the menu this week is Camp Rodeo, a  neighborhood day camp organized by our church, Harbor Church, and World Impact.  Megan and Paul’s smiling red faces at the end of each day (yes, even with careful application of sunscreen) say it all.  Camp Rodeo is awesome.

One reason for the awesomeness are the high school summer interns, also from the neighborhood, who are serving as camp counselors.  I asked Paul what he thought of his counselor and he had this to say, “He didn’t yell at us.”  (Hmm, I hope that isn’t saying anything about mom…)  Seriously though, his counselor exhibits great character considering his six hour day with a rowdy bunch of six year old boys.  Thank you Camp Rodeo!

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Megan won’t often allow me to take candid shots of her.  But she was feeling especially goofy one evening in the company of her beloved cat Lovely Gorgeous.  So for the 4th of July, I leave you with these silly pictures.

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Adam & Erin’s extreme June 2nd birthday bash at Lucha Libre Taco Shop.

Celebrating in style at the Champion’s Booth.  Where else can you sip horchata from crystal goblets?

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Before the clock strikes midnight I figure I owe you (okay, mostly my mom) an update from my San Francisco trip. Is it really almost July and was that trip really over a month ago? Hard to believe!

To refresh your memory (and mine) Adam and I whisked away to San Francisco in late May thanks to a too-good-to-pass-up fare sale with Southwest Airlines. While we left on a Friday morning and returned Saturday evening, it was a highly anticipated and equally rewarding time away as a couple. It also was our first time away without the kids since moving to California. Adam’s co-worker kindly agreed to watch the kids. Megan and Paul were not happy about the arrangement but quickly got over their disappointment of being left behind by getting to visit the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Adam and I happily boarded a plane to San Francisco for some much need R&R. To add a fun dimension to the trip, we booked a room at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. The green tea mints at the reception desk were delightful as were the Japanese style screens and private sauna in our suite.

Adam and I had been to San Francisco once before, approximately ten years ago. We weren’t interested in repeating the expensive touristy traps but that didn’t mean that we did not put on our tourist hats. The most fun we had was riding the famous San Francisco cable cars. Our only agenda was to explore. The other thing we did the most of was walking. Phew, we tired ourselves out – especially with all the hills!

Here is what our weekend looked like: fly to San Francisco (fog delay), take train to hotel, walk/late lunch, walk/dinner, walk/breakfast with friends, hitch ride on cable car, walk/Lombard Street, ride trolley, lunch, take train to airport (flight delayed again), home again.

It’s been go, go, go since we returned, making me all the more grateful for our short time away.

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You may be under the impression that San Diego has perfect weather year-round.  Chances are then you have not heard of May gray & June gloom.  It’s a dirty little secret if you ask me.  During these two months the weather might be a perfect 68, minus sunshine.

June gloom has mentally thrown me for a loop.  In my mind June, the month of my birthday and wedding anniversary, is supposed to be warm (one might say muggy), with the occasional thunderstorm, and bursting with sunshine.

Not so much here in SoCal.  The redeeming factor for me is that there is always something in bloom on the ground to drown out the gray skies above.  This is a picture taken from my back yard.  A colorful treat in these parts are the purple-flowering Jacaranda trees.  They are literally everywhere and they make me happy (how could a purple tree not make you happy?).

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I was in the kitchen making dinner when Paul walked in and sat down on the stool opposite from where I stood.   I noticed right away that something was “off”.   Seeing that his hair was combed downward I said, “You brushed your hair.”  It was less a statement and more a question.

Paul flashed a mischievous look.

That’s when it hit me.  As if I he thought I wasn’t going to notice the large chunk of hair gone from his forehead.

Thankfully the damage was easy to repair.

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