for the last week it has been miserably hot here! thankfully we have AC but that means we sit inside all day, watch movies and take lots of naps. :) so for the holiday, we decided to have one more special family day before school starts... we trekked north to santa barbara where instead of 105 it was a nice 78 :) ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
ok, so it wasn't initially our idea... we can't get enough of grammies and grampies. they said they were going and we followed. LOL little did they know their romantic getaway would be bombarded by the Waters!!! :) caleb noticed them walking by and ran after them!
haha- we left them in peace and wandered around. had lunch. did some window shopping-- she realllllly wanted these. :)
then we hit the beach and rented one of these. we haven't done this in YEARS and it is such a great family memory.. our first time with els. :)
yeah you need to see a closeup with her in her helmet. :)
then we stopped by chris' old school. UCSB. kira is in college mode after we visited Uncle Tuds at college on sunday. she loved walking around campus. they even got to see chris' old dorm room! ha!
of course, the campus is walking distance to the beach.
i can't help but be sentimental whenever we go back to santa barbara. this is the place where we began.. where our family started.. we visited our first home... we let the kids play in the playground where we used to hang out... we walked the neighborhood where i used to push my baby cameron in a stroller MANY hours a day. sigh. when there were just four of us. crazy. such a wonderful place. :)
awwww love those memories! so cute and i have never seen one of those family bikes!!! i must try that one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how fun jamie!!!!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | September 04, 2007 at 05:14 PM
how FUUUUN!!! :)
Posted by: Jessi | September 04, 2007 at 06:31 PM
so there *are* more than just your family in CA that could rent those bikes, eh? you know I'm just teasing.... :)
Posted by: Jessi | September 04, 2007 at 06:32 PM
Oh Santa Barbara sounds wonderful right now in this crazy heat wave we are having. I love all the pictures... especially Elsie's helmet. Her expression is so cute... it made me laugh. :)
That is awesome that you rented that bicycle built for six... fun!
Reading about you reminsicing about UCSB makes me want to go to UCI and take pictures of my kiddos there since that is where DH and I started.
Posted by: Cindy C | September 04, 2007 at 06:56 PM
i heart our memories! i also heart the pics!!!! we have to that bike ride again, k mom? ok love ya!
Posted by: Kira | September 04, 2007 at 08:11 PM
gee, self, you must really like that New Zealand shirt. Maybe its time to give it a wash though;)
Posted by: chris | September 04, 2007 at 09:25 PM
hi jamie! i love the photos that you have taken!
esp those that the backgrounds are blurred. how did u do it? and i love taking pictures for my little sister as well. but she's constantly moving. what is the shutter speed that i should use?
Posted by: sher | September 04, 2007 at 10:02 PM
I'm an LA to London transplant and recently found your blog and have been lurking (am a fan of your scrapping!) Reading your blog reminds me of my happy days in LA and the fond memories of Santa Barbara as well. {{Sigh}}
Really cute kids by the way!
Posted by: Marja | September 04, 2007 at 11:53 PM
So fun to go back and relive old memories! :)
Posted by: Joy | September 05, 2007 at 05:24 AM
Ahhhh...memories of Santa Barbara. I remember you two during that time. So cute. How time flies...
Posted by: Chanda | September 05, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Just reading this post makes *me* nostalgic for SB. I was lucky enough to live steps from the beach for 2 years and just blocks from it the other 2! ;) Good times indeed...
Posted by: Jessie | September 05, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Very cool, Santa Barbara sounds so nice!
Your layout class looks very cool--do you ever do online classes?
Ann Marie
Posted by: VexedAngel | September 05, 2007 at 10:14 AM
those pictures look so nice. a trip to Santa Barbara is such a good idea for a long weekend. we should've done that too! especially to get away from all that heat we were getting...
Elsie looks a little unsure of that helmet. but safety first!
and I especially love that last picture of your shadows. you're making a heart right? so genious. must try that soon...
can't wait until your class next week!!
Posted by: Jamie K | September 05, 2007 at 10:14 AM
laya got those green frog boots jame... so theyre elsie's once she grows out. :)
Posted by: amihan | September 05, 2007 at 12:48 PM
you guys are too cute :) ming, love laya as a nickname! chris, love your blog 'post its'. jame, isn't this your blog? why am i talking to everyone else?
Posted by: auts in california | September 05, 2007 at 03:12 PM
love those photos and i still haven't made it up to SB but really plan to next year. so excited about your class next week!
Posted by: Amy Tangerine | September 05, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Jamie, love today's blog entry! Just gorgeous your family. Hey, it's so cool how Kira and Chris left little comments...Love THAT!
Chris, I'm sure Jamie will get you some more NZ themed shirts when she visits next year...fingers crossed! So maybe you won't have to wash it after all..lol. I'm sure Jamie will not appreciate this idea!! haha.
Posted by: Niella {NZ} | September 05, 2007 at 08:06 PM
Niella, you think I'd let jamie go to NZ without me;) I'm right there with her in January!
Posted by: chris | September 05, 2007 at 10:02 PM
We love SB, too! My grands have a second home in Carpinteria and we take the train on up from SD all the time. Love the photos as always.
Posted by: Tina | September 05, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Sooo cool Chris:)that is really awesome to hear. Am looking forward to seeing you both in person! And since Jamie will be busy signing magazines etc, perhaps you could sign my t-shirt!!Lol. That'd be ironic:)
Posted by: Niella {NZ} | September 06, 2007 at 02:39 AM
Looks like so much fun!!! ;)
Posted by: Sarah | September 06, 2007 at 08:01 AM
that family bike just makes me laugh- you guys look so cute on it! sounds like you had fun!! love all the photos!
Posted by: Renee | September 06, 2007 at 01:59 PM
what a fun trip, love the pics!
kira's comment made me smile. i heart your family so much :)
Posted by: kelly | September 06, 2007 at 03:04 PM
Oh man... UCSB.
I havent been back there since 94. I cant believe its been over 10 years since Ive been to my old stomping ground. I bet its changed tons.
Posted by: lisamcg | September 06, 2007 at 07:03 PM