Another Date with the Twins!

On the beach at Oceanside, CA, March 20, 2010

Monday, March 15

So we made it back to Southern California to deliver Sierra Jones (our step-granddaughter) and to help take care of those darling twins, Jack and Justin, and visit the rest of the Jones'. Their Grandma Alice, Polly's mom, who has done the lioness' share of the childcare, wouldn't be leaving until March 19, so we had a few uncommitted days while Liz spent the week with Sierra, Casey and the "cul-de-sac kids." We had planned to take Buster in for his body work (we'd been trying to get it done since November), but this time it was all lined up with Temecula RV. They even had insurance company checks in hand. We spent Monday cleaning and organizing Buster, sorting what we might need or want for the next 2+ weeks, and on Tuesday, March 16, we dropped Buster off a few days early. It turned out that was very fortuitous, as they actually weren't completely done until March 27!

We weren't sure where we could stay, and actually tried to exchange some RCI timeshare points at the last minute, and then I recalled how my good friends Kathy and Jim Dexter have a wonderful condominium on the beach at Oceanside. I tracked them down (they were vacationing with their family at NorthStar in the Sierras), and after turning down our offer to rent the condo, graciously invited us to be their guests.

So we motored down to Oceanside (only about 45 minutes from Polly's) after dropping Buster off, and negotiated a very secure set of entry codes and locks .... all of which was more than worth the drill. Behold:

We had absolutely the best time. Gary and I realized it was the first time we had some time to ourselves since we left on the trip (as Liz says: "We're all together all the time ... 24/7!") Kathy and Jim's condo is divine .... as Gary calls it, "the little jewel." Kathy is an interior designer and the attention to beautiful, fine detail is everywhere. There are two lovely bedrooms and bathrooms, a beautifully outfitted kitchen, flat screen, and, that beautiful view.

We tended to SOME business (we did our taxes one day and sent them off to our accountant in St. Paul ..... I felt, I believe appropriately, very proud of having or being able to obtain online all the documents we needed FROM THE ROAD!), but were able to walk to the Nautical Bean for coffee, work on the blog a bit, walk down to the pier and have dinner, and watch some movies we'd been wanting to. It was a great time.

We had invited Polly and Chris' gang to come down on Saturday, and we were able to go to Costco for our preparations: chips, salsa, sushi, chicken enchiladas, fruit, red velvet cake, and, of course, adult and children's beverages!

They all arrived on Saturday, March 20, and we really had a lovely day.

The older kids had fun playing in the water; it was NCAA basketball playoff time, and we were able to keep up with the various games' progress. Justin and Jack put their toes in the Pacific, held by their parents, for the first time.

Once again we were experiencing really great weather and were grateful for it! It was a beautiful day, all the way around.

Sunday, March 21

It took us most of Sunday morning to make sure Kathy and Jim's condo was in the pristine condition we found it in. We are SO appreciative of their generosity and hospitality. Liz, Sierra and Casey had stayed overnight with us at the condo, so they had a bit more beach time in the morning. We had lunch at In and Out, (a great drive-thru hamburger place in the west .... we are really missing out in Minnesota), and when we got back to Murrieta, Polly and Chris were at a neighborhood pool party. Ah, life in California! That evening we got caught up on our back Amazing Race episodes!

On Monday, March 22, we resumed our very amiable babysitting schedule. But this is the day I took the girls out to the Palm Springs Tramway (see Roots post). That evening Casey had a baseball game .... he loves it. He plays first base and pitches, and has developed a really nice swing. It was a VERY close game, with the lead changing several times. It was fun to watch.

On Tuesday, March 23, we did the home-schooling and babysitting in the morning, and when Polly got home after noon, I took the girls to the Temecula Historical Society museum. Chris' mom, Sue Blanch, works there and Sierra wanted to visit her Grandma. Her favorite thing is the dress up corner; the girls did have some fun there. Sue was happy to see us there!

On Wednesday, March 24, Casey and Sierra left to fly to Reno to meet their mom and her side of the family for a ski vacation in Tahoe. Liz was, understandably, quite sad; she loves being in a household with other kids and activity. We elected retail therapy: she has been growing so fast she really needed warm weather clothes. I had bought her some things at Target that week (really cute things in Liberty of London prints!), and we went to the Gap Outlet in Lake Elsinore. We had to work a little to figure out her current size, but once we did, she went to town. It perked her up considerably!

We once again fell into such a comfortable routine.

With all of our change every day on this trip, the routine was very welcome, at least to me. I suggested to Gary that maybe what we should do is retire early and move to Murrieta and help Polly and Chris for the next 5 years! I think I was in baby infatuation, but it is such a sweet environment. And watching Polly as a mom is fabulous; look at her playing the guitar and singing to her boys.

Polly and Chris finished up their term on Friday, March 26, and we made plans to spend our week-end out in the desert at Outdoor Resorts with Sherry and Marty Wieler (once again, see Roots!) We stayed out there through Monday, and as Polly and Chris were on their spring break, they came out for the day. Chris and Gary played a few holes of golf on their Executive course (isn't it lovely?) and the girls and the babies spent some time in the pool. Sherry and I put together a casual lunch, and a steak supper, and it was fun doing the prep work with her. It was fun to think how pleased our mothers would be to see us hanging out together and working on dinner some 50 years after they used to hang out and do the same thing!

The previous week we had left our Enclave, Bella, at Lake Buick in Lake Elsinore to have the headliner replaced .... I think I've talked about our roof leaking, and the water left quite a few unsightly marks. We called on March 12th for them to order the part, but the service manager was on vacation and they had to wait for approval (even though in February this was what was suggested). It came in the week of the 22nd, but ..... it was defective! They told us they would have one "overnighted", but after two more days they found out ..... it couldn't be overnighted .... it was too big. Wow! Were we frustrated. So after waiting from Monday to Thursday, March 29 to April 1, we finally decided to leave and get the headliner replaced someplace else (probably when we get home to Rochester).

The upside: we got some more time with Polly and Chris who were on their spring break, and Jack and Justin. We found our favorite puppet, Rasta' Man, which Gary used to "talk" to entertain Liz when she was a baby when we travelled, particularly on airplanes. Of course, he had to come on our Adventure, so Gary introduced him to Jack and Justin. They appeared to be underwhelmed.

Later, Polly indulged Gary's strong interest in feeding babies solid food for the first time. Justin and Jack were going to turn 5 months on April 4, so on the 1st, they got their first taste. It's so fun to see them sticking their tongues out and experiencing food for the first time.

April 1st also happened to be Polly and Chris' 6th anniversary, and Polly made us one of her special breakfasts. Chris is the proof that "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" is a myth, as it is his favorite breakfast. Perfectly yummy! We had celebrated earlier with them at Claim Jumper, and we were all happy to bring the twins along for the occasion. Justin was sleeping, but Jack was (almost) sitting up and ordering!

Polly and Chris were so tolerant and flexible with our completely unpredictable schedule that week ("Are we leaving today? I don't know!"), and we appreciated it. We pulled away about noon (not without key misplacement, etc), and headed over to Ontario, my parents former home. (see Roots!)

The next day, we would start a very unique itinerary, planning our time carefully to see the most of the southwest, watching the weather and staying out of the snow and cold, and ending up in Las Vegas on May 5th for a long-anticipated adventure: an 8 day raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. We can't wait.

Love,

Julie, Gary and Liz