"Crystal Cove {Laguna Beach}"

"But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books 
is the secret lore of the ocean." ~H. P. Lovecraft



A sunny holiday was much needed, 
so 8 of us packed into 2 cars
and drove to California.



The occasion was to celebrate
the first anniversary of the Knorr's marriage.
❤



Such a long car ride.

This hat belongs to Ken-kun. 

I forbade him from wearing it to the anywhere, 

so Chris plopped it on his own head.

I think Kristen and I share similar opinions...

The beach was beautiful.
Once our bodies acclimated to the ocean's temperature,
we couldn't stay out of it.



A flying Heather appears!

Such merriment! 

Alyx and her missionary.

Me and my Ken-kun.

Kristen and her Chris.



Suddenly Alyx!

When not in the water, 

we explored the beach.

And... may have grown a few fins ourselves.

But we cured the fins with MORE LAND!

What a wonderfully therapeutic thing, 

the ocean.

{♪ "Riviera Life" © Caro Emerald}

{photos & videos courtesy of attending photographers}

"Vroom Vroom, California!"

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." -Jane Howard

We took a final family fieldtrip,

a last one before we all have to grow up.

Once I step on that plane to Japan,

I'll begin my career.

And once I fly back home to Utah,

our little clan of six will become seven.

Cousin Joey and I drew pictures together.

{We both prefer doodling animals over people. It's just easier.}

He was my chummy every afternoon and evening,

whether we were curled up playing Pokemon

or eating rabbit legs {which broke my heart clean in two},

he stayed by my side.

I'm grateful for the grins,

and the memories made in California,

the ones I'll take with me on the plane.

And even though family crucibles may wedge our band of six apart,

family holidays pull us back together, if only for a little while.