CA 2011

We just returned home from another great trip to CA to visit Grandma and Papa Nederveld! What a treat to go to the desert of CA (near Palm Springs) and enjoy the sun and heat...especially in February!

Unfortunately the trip started out with 3 sick kids...Hannah was on an antibiotic for an ear/sinus infection (she had been on it for a couple days, so was doing better), Sam was on an inhaler for minor breathing issues (he had a cough, but did great on the flight) and then Ellie, poor Ellie started a fever the day we left! She was miserable...we waited it out for 3 days hoping it was a virus, but alas, I ended up at an Urgent Care Center in Palm Springs on Monday, where we found out (after a ridiculously long wait!) that she had an ear infection. Off to the local Rite Aid we went and once her meds kicked in, she did great!

Even though the kids didn't feel 100% for a few days, it didn't stop them from totally enjoying themselves! We swam, took bike rides, golf cart rides, hiked, swam some more and just plain hung out. :)

Enjoy the pics from this year's trip...

The moving sidewalks at 5:30am were quite a thrill! 

(Not sure I'd recommend a 6 am flight for a family with three little kids...

they did great, but we're exhausted by the time we got there.)

so happy to be going to CA!

Tennis lessons with Papa

Future star!

And another...oh how this makes me smile!

The next Roger Federer?!

Ellie enjoyed cheering on the other kids and hanging with Daddy.

The goofy gang

Papa and his students

Swimming, swimming and more swimming! Good thing our kids are little fish!

Ready for the pool!

Picking oranges right off the tree...

Yummy!

Check out this pretty little thing!

I love this picture...such a little diva eating her cookie!

We spent one day exploring Joshua Tree National Park and found...

caves,

beautiful rock formations,

photography opportunities...

with Grandma and Papa...

and the girls...

an amazingly beautiful water source in the midst of dry rocks, 

and God's beauty everywhere.

This is what Sammy liked to do on the 1.1 mile hike we took. 

Needless to say, the 1.1 miles took us a LONG time to compete!

A Joshua Tree

Our little hiker deep in thought...

Checking things out with Sammy...

The girls participated in the Jr. Ranger program (they had to fill out a little booklet while we were in the park) and were thrilled to receive their Jr. Ranger Badges as we left the park. Seriously, I don't think Hannah could have been more excited and proud! It was a great moment!

Jr. Rangers!

One last random picture...this is Sammy napping after a morning of swimming. What a tired out boy! Too bad this only lasted 45 minutes, instead of a couple of hours! 

All in all, another fabulous trip...we are already looking forward to our next visit!