Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Day Trip

Yesterday, I headed south with my three children to San Juan Capistrano where we met our friends Erika of The flight of our hummingbird, her husband Phil and their adorable daughter Izzy. The flowers at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano were outrageous -- a true riot of color and abundance.

California poppies

California wildflowers and perennials

A riot of roses

We walked around the gorgeous grounds for a bit; Erika and I answered a casual passerby wondering about what it was like to have a special needs kid with our customary grace and then rolled our eyes at each other. In all honesty, though, the woman was well-meaning; we learned that her child was an eighteen year old boy with a disability, and she determined that it was easier for her than for us because he was a boy (and therefore didn't have a period). Oy.

Erika and Izzy

Sophie and her 70s rock star hair look




Oliver insisted that when he waved,t he koi came to the surface.

After hanging out with the koi and the flowers, we drove down to Dana Point and had a delicious taco lunch at a local taco shack. Oliver drank two giant glasses of Cherry Coke and proceeded to talk non-stop for the next six hours. I will blame that, entirely, on Phil, as he sat with my boys and allowed it to happen. Erika and I sat with the girls, ate our fish tacos and caught up with each other -- it's amazing to me that I've only known Erika through our blogs and two visits -- she feels like a little sister to me --perhaps even more deeply connected than my own. After our lunch we went to the most amazing park and beach -- walked along with our girls, trailing the boys as they poked in the sand and laughed at Sophie and the amazing pull of the sea.

Oliver entertaining Izzy




I took an embarrassing number of photos of surfers -- but you know I have that thing about surfers --




A beautiful, relaxing day (except for the chatter induced by Cherry Coke!).

26 comments:

  1. I am envious! Beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  2. That picture of Sophie is The Best.

    Your passerby's comments...sigh. sigh sigh sigh

    XO

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  3. You could have told the passerby that while your girls might have periods, at least they don't have erections. But that would not have been kind, would it? Much wiser to head to the beach, much on fish tacos and just gaze upon those lovely surfers.

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  4. Sophie by the sea. A friend for you to visit with. Gorgeous flowers. Friendly koi. Oliver high on cherry coke. Good times!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  5. We were in SJC most of yesterday morning - right around the corner from the Mission, at my kids' speech/learning center. I would have loved a chance encounter, maybe next time!

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  6. How relaxing, despite cherry coke mania and the passerby with the icky personality. Completely agree with both of Noan's remarks. Sophie and Izzy could get jobs on the side as hair models---they each have such dazzling locks!

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  7. What a perfect spring day with your friends - thank you for inviting us along. I love the photo of Henry walking with Sophie - that is one of my favorites, ever. And I had to LOL at the Cherry Coke incident - that would be the same for me - I'd be talking all day, at warp speed, after two of those. =) Precious.
    I love the girls' hair - both of them - so lush and luxurious.

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  8. you guys are all beautiful. youre photos are gorgeous (love the colors on the very first one... almost looks like an abstract art painting at first). the day looked glorious. i have to admit though that i am a tad jealous of two of my top 5 FAVORITE blogging women were getting together across the country from me :(. if only i were on the west coast, i could crash your party. i would challenge oliver to a coke drinking contest... but unlike him, i dont need the sugar to talk non-stop LOL! xoxox glad your day was great :)

    oh, and i do NOT concur with the lady and her "its easier to have a boy" comment. i'd MUCH rather deal with a period than a twig and berries if ya know what i mean. having 4 girls... i have NO concept of dealing with a boy...

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  9. When I saw those flowers, the phrase, "a riot of color" went through my mind.
    I have been to Dana Point! I have pictures of that same surfing place!
    Lovely, Elizabeth. Your children are so beautiful.

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  10. Beautiful day, blessed with beautiful friends,surrounded by beautiful children.Perfect day.

    Cannot believe I have yet to visit that Mission.I really need to get there.I keep pining for that beautiful necklace you were wearing when we when to the show that night.You said it came from there.You have a thing for surfers and I have a thing for ... necklaces.Seriously.Each one I own,which I have a lot,have some meaning and when I wear each one,they evoke the sentiment behind them,straight to my heart.Weird,right?

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  11. I haven't been to San Juan Capistrano in ages..or decades! Enjoyed seeing the beach photos...oh your children seem so much bigger! Did they grow some extra inches lately?

    I think I would like to head to the beach...soon.

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  12. You've made this Midwestern girl feel very land-locked. Sigh.

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  13. I have a thing for your beautiful children..

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  14. That photo of Sophie's fingers in the sand, oh, beautiful. And I am always so touched by how gently attentive your sons are with their sister, as in that photo of Henry and Sophie walking along the beach. So what if there was Cherry Coke fueled chatter. That just adds to the real life sibling charm. Thanks for sharing your day and your lovely children with us.

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  15. Apart from the obvious beauty of your day, I gotta say, "ME TOO...I HAVE A THING FOR SURFER PHOTOS". Check into my blog in a day or so to see some from our weekend as well. As for your passerby, you put it well "Oy!".

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  16. Lovely photos and I can see why you like the surfers, those wet suits are quite revealing:)

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  17. Gorgeous shots! And Snail's hair goes JUST like that, too! Very glam rock...

    Surfers, so tasty...

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  18. Such lovely photos of your trip to San Juan Capistrano. I feel like I was there with you. You all look so happy just being together.

    In my previous life, I had a customer whose office was located in SJC. I always looked forward to visiting this beautiful floral and peaceful place. I remember I was staying somewhere in inner California and had to take a very scary mountainous route to get to SJC, are you familiar with this? It was a very long time ago for me so I have forgotten the name of the mountain pass?

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  19. What a lovely trip. Thanks for taking us along (and Sophie really does look like a rock star in that photo!) I love that photo of Henry and Sophie, and the one of Oliver and Izzy...)

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  20. This is beautiful - esp as a former Californian now in the midwest, nowhere near the ocean or poppies. When in San Diego, I used to meet my grandmother for brunch in Dana Point. Those were happy days. thank you!

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  21. I haven't been by your blog in a while. Thanks for this beautiful post. It felt like a mini-break (as Bridget Jones would say) in SoCal. Gorgeous, soulful, and sexy surfers too. Nice.

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  22. Love those photos. Thanks for sharing your day.

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  23. What fun! I would love to get Emily together with your girls. :)

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  24. How did I miss this post? beautiful day and photos. So glad you got away and got to talk mommy talk!

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  25. I was thrilled to hear about your visit with Erika and Izzy! Thank you for sharing!

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