aztec

Saturday, March 11, 2017

California 2017

We flew to California last month in order to attend Grandma Howard's 90th birthday party.   Ahmma & Dumpa hosted the party at their house.  Dumpa did a huge, underground pit barbecue, and it was quite the spectacle to watch him bury and uncover the meat.  The night we arrived, we sat through an unprecedented storm which brought heavy rainfall, wind and wide-spread flooding, and wondered if the tents and heaters on the patio would survive.  The small tent covering the pit barbecue got pummeled.  However, despite the cool weather the party was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance.  LuAnn even rented a bouncy house for all the kids.  The next morning we drove up to Apple Valley in order to attend Alan & Cassie's church, Ekklesia HD and to spend more time together with Benji's siblings and their families.  McKinley & Piper couldn't wait to have a slumber party with Lizzie & Abby!  The entire crew also joined us for our day-trip to Disneyland.  We enjoyed the Main Street Electrical Parade, thanks to Ahmma & Dumpa who saved us some prime real estate on the parade route almost an hour in advance.  The girls loved all the major roller coasters, while Tessa and I hit up the Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh rides.  Overall, a wonderful week in Southern California!


Running along the Mojave River, one of the only rivers in the United States that flows backwards and underground.


Playing a little b-ball in Alan & Cassie's backyard.


We had an impromptu birthday celebration for Benjer & Silas who had February birthdays.

Howard cousins in age order.






Feeding the fish at the fish hatchery.




Luke was our driver for Autotopia.