Monterey Memories

On the last weekend in June we flew back to CA for a long weekend trip to Carmel/Monterey with my parents.  My old college roomie, Kim, lives in Salinas and just had her first baby...a baby girl named Hanna, about a month ago.  There was no question about going to see them since they did the same for us when we came to CA with Cammy at 3 weeks old!!!

We made the most of trip, but priorities first...as soon as we arrived we drove straight to meet baby Hanna!!  She is adorable...but we didn't really expect anything less.  But dang, I'm pretty sure Hanna decided to sleep anytime we were around.  I guess a girl needs her beauty sleep :) (Notice there are no pictures of Jason holding Hanna...he just couldn't be convinced to hold someone else's newborn).

Getting in a little newborn practice

Cammy wanted to be just like Grams

My dad holding Hanna (after a little convincing)

I love a sleeping baby face!!

College roomies and our girls

The parents and our girls :)

The next day we decided to start it off by taking a drive on the 17 Mile Drive.  This was a drive that took us through many neighborhoods and then at the very end we made it to the water for some beautiful views.  We found a great spot to stop and check out the tide pools in the low tide, but sadly couldn't find too many sea creatures.

Family photo at the water

A picture with Grams and Gramps

We convinced her to hold the bulb kelp for at least a picture!!

Looking for crabs with daddy

Walking back to the car in style on Gramps' shoulders

After our stop at the water we drove to meet up with Kim, Bryan and Hanna at The Dennis the Menace Park.  If you have never been to this park in Monterey, you must go there!!  It's huge and has so much for kids to do!!  Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of playing, picnicing or anything that we did.  We even walked the bike trail down by the water over to a Monterey Pier for a little shopping (and salt water taffy of course) and still I didn't remember to take any pictures...ugh!

That evening my brother, sister-in-law and niece arrived to stay with us for one night.  We met them for dinner and really enjoyed seeing the girls together again!!

Walking with the girls!!

Cammy (22 months) and Tatum (17 months) with their dollies 

On our last full day in Monterey we went all "touristy" and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  It had been YEARS since we had been there, so a lot had changed!  We enjoyed watching the toddlers run around the place exploring!!

Walking the trail to the aquarium with the sibs

Exploring the touch tank with daddy

Sorting blocks in the toddler area

Look what we found in the clam shell!!!

We had a long but fun day at the aquarium!

Since the aquarium was taking a lot longer to see than we all expected, we took a little lunch break in between at one of my all time favorite restaurants...Bubba Gumps!!!

The whole group at lunch

My little shrimp :)

To end an amazing weekend Jason, Cammy and I met up with Kim, Bryan and Hanna one last time for dinner the night before we flew home at a really yummy restaurant in Carmel Valley called Baja Cantina.  It sure was an amazing trip to Monterey where we were able to do so much in such a short weekend!!

Last dinner together and I got feed baby Hanna!!

Thanks for being such great tour guides and hosts Kim and Bryan!  

I guess the next visit is when the next baby arrives :)