A Very SoCal summer

We don't come down to Orange County often and stay for more than a week at a time. This time, we were lucky to have many days here (both for cousin time and sunshine).  As we live in a very cool (but warming) coastal climate, I've forgotten how lovely it can be to enjoy summer vacation with warm sun on our faces and to go outside without needing a sweater! The sun has been great for our pandemic-depleted vitamin D levels and moods (naturally, we all wore sunblock and some wore hats).

On the weekend, Kenn and Lisa brought over an inflatable pool to have water play in K's parents' backyard.

It was a hit with all (well, mostly all-- Niall grabbed a water balloon or two but stayed mostly away from the water).

Yup, mine is that kid!

We arranged some outdoor meet-ups with vaccinated friends we hadn't seen in a while, including at lovely White Point Beach near San Pedro with some of K's Bruin friends, and at a pool with Mai, a good friend of his from high school.

(Bobby, baby Beau, Jeremy, K with N, Lauren with Celia, Talia, Amy, and me)

Iver found a bunch of hermit crabs while tidepooling.

Andrew, Mai, and us got to visit at their hotel pool

Little fishes: Aubrey, Adelaide, Iver

Lisa told us that there was a nice sculpture park in Newport Beach with some large bunnies ("Bunnyhenge") so we headed there on Tuesday. 

(neither K nor I can figure out why his UCLA shirt is teal green).

Bunnyhenge! 

Six-year-old selfie

We then headed to the lovely beach of Corona del Mar, where Iver had a blast jumping in/out of the waves. He thinks it's so cool to have a (temperature permitting) swimmable ocean nearby!

So sunny!

On our last morning, we passed a few hours at Huntington Beach, which Kelvin forgets is just 15 minutes from his parents' house.  There was a really nice playground right by the pier for the kids to visit.  

The beach is just about the kids' favorite place, and SoCal has so many nice ones that people come to visit and vacation at from all over!

On our next visit down here to see family, we'll be sure to get out of the house daily and onto the sand!