California Trip 2011

This years California trip was for a family reunion and for Lorelei's birthday. Also so everyone could meet Cole, the last grandchild in the family. Mom, Dad and Cole stayed in Shannon and Jason's trailer while the girls had some special time spending their nights at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Here is Cole waking up on his first morning in California.

The first day we went to the La Brea Tar Pits with Gwen, Heidi and Travis.

Then it was off to the beach to add some more shells to Lorelei's collection. It was a little cold and windy, but so beautiful.

The next day we went to dinner with Jen, Jeff and the kids who had just gotten off their flight.

When we celebrated Lorelei's birthday and the family reunion the next day we were worried it was going to rain on our outside party. But just as the party started the clouds parted and the fun began.

She picked out this cake herself, chocolate cake with fudge inside, yum!

Starting from the left: Jack, Lorelei, Gwen, Noah, Ezra, Leah, cousin Dayna with Scarlett, Shannon with Cole, Meredith, cousin Anthony with James and Jayson, Heidi and Kate.

Having fun in the bouncy house, what a life saver that was with all fourteen kids!

Cousin Kim, Jeremy with Jayson, Jack, a pregnant cousin Anna, cousin Dayne with Scarlett, Shannon and Jason.

Cole and Papa Martin

Grandma Diana, Great Grandma Rogers and Aunt Deborah, with Anthony, Jeff and Grandpa Tom in the back.

Jason, Shannon, Noah, Grandpa Tom, Natalie, Kayla, Grandma Nancy, Ezra, Jen, Jeff, Allison, Jeremy, Meredith, Lorelei, Heidi, Leah, Gwen, Travis.

Cole was napping.

Our last day we took some family pictures with Grandma Diana and Papa Martin. Here is the goofing off between photos...

California Trip for Grandma Diana's 60th's Birthday

It was a weekend of surprises and a weekend of firsts for the girls in the Dowland family. For Grandma Diana's 60th birthday Auntie's Jen and Shannon and Grandpa Martin flew the three of us to California to surprise her.

We drove down to Salt Lake and spent the night at Auntie Sarah and Uncle Ryan's house the night before we were to fly out. Both flights were around 7:ooam, so we all had to wake up very early to be there on time. The girls enjoyed seeing the airplane and being able to wear earphones to watch their own personal TV, while cuddling their favorite things, Lorelei with her bear "Teddy", and Meredith with her blanket, "Belly".

The day we arrived was cousin Leah's birthday, so at the family get-together we surprised Grandma Diana as she walked through the door. She said she was surprised, but we have a suspicion she figured it out all beforehand.

Here are all the cousins eating dinner. They always have a lot of fun when they are together.

The next day we went to the Long Beach Aquarium for the first time.

Here is Auntie Shannon coaxing Meredith to touch the sting-ray...

Here is Lorelei feeding the birds some nectar...

That night we went to the beach to eat pizza and roast marshmallows for s'mores over the firepits. It was very windy and it got chilly as the night went on, but the girls had so much fun.




















Jeremy wasn't able to come, so we missed him terribly...

Here are Lorelei and Grandpa Martin collecting seashells... she came home with a pretty big collection.









The next night was the big party and almost all of the family was there. We dined on delicious italian food and a lemon bundt cake made by Auntie Jen.

All the cousins:

Leah, Lorelei, Meredith, Noah, Ezra, Travis, Heidi, Gwen, Jack, James, and Kate.

Three generations...
Grandma Diana, Great Grandma Rogers, and Auntie Deborah.