Santa Cruz Whirlwind

We had a free Sat/Sun (which is rare) so we decided to pack up the car and get outta town! We invited Bethany and Robbie to join us on our quick overnight trip to the beach. It turns out our friends from Stockton, the Kahlers were camping in their RV at the beach down the road from Capitola Beach, which is our favorite beach! It was also everyone else's favorite that day and it was super crowded!

Kevin and Laura invited us to join them where they were staying over at New Brighton Beach. It wasn't crowded at all! The kids had a great time playing with their 3 kids because more really is merrier! Plus we brought pizza from Pizza My Heart so they were REALLY happy to see us!

Gabe, Robbie and Bethany making a path to the water

Mikaela and Abby playing in the sand
Gabe and Jack digging a giant hole and finding little creatures along the way!
Abby warming up in the hot sun. The air was kinda breezy and crisp. I had on a hoodie!
Eric played a little football with Jack

Robbie showing Jack something cool he dug up! Probably a sand crab.
Still working on that giant hole!
Mikaela took Abby to run and play-so sweet.
See! I was there! And it was kinda chilly!
The Kahler's party of 5-Gabe (8), Laura, Kevin, Mikaela (10)and Samuel(5) We were all at Marianne's for ice cream! They love it as much as us! We had gotten some yummy BBQ food at a hole in the wall in Santa Cruz and were looking forward to our sweet treat after!
Then we hit the Boardwalk! The Kahler's were smart and headed home. It was a chunk of change to ride those rides! They were like $3 and $4 per ride per kid! Sheesh!

The first ride they rode was the carousel. Here's Bethany and Abby
Jack looking very excited.
Robbie...not so much.
This carousel was unlike any other. It shoots out rings that you have to grab and throw into a clowns mouth. If you make it an alarm and lights go off! Jack was totally into the challenge of it There's definitely the skill of timing necessary here.
Robbie was really good at it and a good teacher to Jack. He sat in front of Jack to show him how it all works.
Look at how focused he is. Sometimes he just held onto the ring to throw it the next time around. It all happens so fast! You have to grab the ring and throw it simultaneously, it's pretty tricky!
Awww daddy love


Abby watched the big kids go on the swings. She looked so cute and little.
The Tilt-A-Whirl was a big hit! They went on it several times!

Abby rode these little Killer Whales the last time we were in Santa Cruz a couple years ago and she still loves them :)

Jack went with her so she didn't have to go alone. Such a good sport.

Robbie and Jack went on the Dragon Coaster. This is a picture of the picture the ride takes and I think it's hilarious! He claims he likes roller coasters!
Awww mommy love
Tilt-A-Whirl again!
Jack trying to wave to me. This is a hard ride to time when they're going to be facing you and such! Not the best pictures but I love how you can see the joy on their faces!

We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express on Ocean Dr. that night. The room was really big and spacious with 2 queen beds and a pull out. Bethany and Abby slept together and Jack and Robbie slept on the pull out. It worked out great and they were so tired from our busy day they just went right to sleep. In the morning we headed down to the breakfast buffet and then back on the road. It was a quick trip for all that driving but better than staying home and doing nothing!