BADRAT 2016 days 1 & 2

when we were in minnesota, we made our first (& best) couple friends, the day's. we love them. we miss them. she found out she was pregnant a little after rooney was born, so we decided once the babies were here it was time to get our families together. so, that's when the idea of "SUMMER 2016" was born. It finally happened & turned into BADRAT 2016 (Brant, Amber, Dalton, Rooney, Ashton, Tati --- get it?!)


My little family drove to California Sunday night. We spent some time with Ashton's cousin & his family in Santa Clarita. Rooney loved meeting these cousins & instantly thought they were all her best friends. Monday night, after Rooney went to bed, Heather & Miles invited us to join them for a bike ride & dinner to celebrate their 19th anniversary. It was a blast & thank goodness for big cousins who can babysit!

tuesday morning we were off to LAX (what a traffic nightmare) to pick up the days! it was like we were never apart, except we had two new members of our gang.

after too long in the car, we finally made it to san marcos. we stayed with the hofers. i have said it before & i know i will say it again, but the homestead at bridle creek is one of my favorite places in the world. it is beautiful. plus we love the hofers & have really felt like they've become family.

 that view! i told you it was beautiful.

plus, there is no shortage of fresh fruit & yummy treats. 

after the babies (& adults) napped, it was off to oceanside for a walk down the pier & some milkshakes at ruby's!

 these two cuties though!

 i love how rooney covers her mouth when she is super happy.

the beach is my happy place. it is a cure-all. it soothes. it brightens. it heals. it enlightens. how can you not love it?