Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving day in Sonoma County was absolutely gorgeous. I started off the holiday with an early morning bootcamp. It felt great to burn some calories before the afternoon of feasting began. Luke and I spent Thanksgiving afternoon at my parent's house with my parents, brother (flew in from Arizona!), sister, Uncle Matt, and the Cindereys. My mom slaved away all day and served up a delicious meal. She even made two turkeys - one in the oven and one on the BBQ! There was more than enough food, I barely had room for dessert (and I always leave room for dessert)!

Annual picture from top of the water tower

Enjoying the sunset from the water tower

Our Thanksgiving dinner table

Dad carving the bird

It was such a wonderful day filled with amazing weather, delicious food, and great company.

Friday morning we got up early, but skipped the Black Friday deals and headed straight to the cabin. That night we watched the new Warren Miller film at the Bear Valley Lodge - always a fun way to get pumped up for the upcoming snow season. We were hoping to get in our first day of backcountry skiing while we were at the cabin, but unfortunately the last storm was far too warm and brought rain instead of snow to the higher elevations. We traded out our ski boots for hiking boots and enjoyed the weekend just the same. As always, we didn't want to leave when Sunday afternoon rolled around!  

Luke and Ellie in front of Lake Mont

The beautiful Stanislaus River by Boy Scout Camp



Sea Ranch with the Youngs

This past weekend Carol and Greg got the family together for an early Thanksgiving celebration at Sea Ranch. Sam, Lisa, and their little one, Lilia, came as well as Luke's grandma and aunt from Carson City. Carol and Greg found a wonderful house to accommodate all nine of us with spectacular ocean front views to boot.


View from the house

The weekend was quite relaxing and the weather could not have been better. We spent Saturday reading books on the deck in the sun, walking along the bluff and looking at the ocean and sea life, playing cards, and eating and drinking lots of great food and wine. Luke brought his diving stuff and was disappointed on Saturday when the ocean was too rough to dive. However, he was rewarded on Sunday with the flattest ocean he has seen in a long time and nearly 20 feet visibility. He was able to hop in the water right outside of the house we stayed at and get three decent size abalone in less than thirty minutes.

Morning walk along the bluff

Luke and his poke pole

Poke poling

Seals sunning themselves

Wildlife spotted

Lisa and Carol reading on the deck

The ladies - Carol, Gladys, Katrina and Lisa

Miss Lilia really enjoyed stacking the blocks

And knocking them down!

 

Homemade apple pie

 

We spotted a bobcat right outside the front door



On our way to the beach to dig in the sand



Sam, Lilia, Luke, and Lisa walking to the beach



Sam and his co-pilot



Lisa and Lilia enjoying some beach time

It was especially good that Carol and Greg planned this early Thanksgiving because they were just deployed with the Red Cross to New York to help those affected by hurricane Sandy and will no longer be with us on Thanksgiving day as originally planned. Their selflessness and last minute trip to NY over the holiday has caused me to stop and reflect on all the blessings in my life. I know millions are still without power on the east coast and I hope they are at least able to have a warm meal and place to sleep for the holiday and I know Carol, Greg and crew will help make that happen for many. I will certainly be thinking of the people affected by Sandy and wish Carol and Greg a safe and productive trip.

It was a very nice weekend and good to all be together. I'm in the fall spirit now and ready for my favorite holiday of the year - THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Hawaii with the parents

Aloha! Earlier this month I crashed joined my parent's vacation in Kona, Hawaii. It all started a couple months ago when I got a bug to go to Hawaii. I knew it was unrealistic, but looked up flights anyway and could not believe the cheap air fair they were offering. I went home that night and told my mom over the phone how I was daydreaming about a tropical Hawaiian getaway and to my surprise she replied "your dad and I are going to Hawaii in November." Oh man, I was so jealous until my mom mentioned they would have a spare couch in their condo - I'm not sure she expected me to take her up on her offer! And with that, my parents, two of their friends, and I all went to Hawaii.

The flight was smooth as could be, no delay whatsoever. After landing, getting our bags, picking up the rental car, and going to the grocery store, we still had time to kill before checking into our place. What better way to spend the first few hours in paradise than at happy hour on the beach watching the sunset?!


Hello Kona

Dad and his rainbow something or other and Mom and her mai tai

My first "liquid aloha" aka Longboard Lager

Our neighbors - there were stray cats everywhere!

The next day we couldn't wait to hit the beach and we started by going to my mom's favorite at the Mauna Lani.

Walking through lava fields to the beach

 

Paradise

 

Had to have her annual lava flow

We did a lot of yelping on this trip - where to eat, where to snorkel, best surfboard rental, etc. We found two great hole-in the-walls that I don't want to forget for my next visit to Kona. The first was a Thai restaurant called Lemongrass. The second was a spot we found for lunch called Da Poke Shack.

Walking to Lemongrass for dinner and yes, that is my dad with his shirt off.

Bike ride to the beach and then lunch at Da Poke Shack

Poke poke! The poke is made every day with fresh ahi tuna caught that morning. When they sell out for the day, that's it it's gone!
 

The next day my parent's friends, Sarah and Matt arrived. Once they were settled in, we took them to our favorite happy hour spot.

Welcome Sarah and Matt!

 

Katrina, Cathy, and Sarah at Huggo's

Live music every night. This band was our favorite.

Sarah, Matt, and Cathy showing us their hula skills

 

The next day we did one of my all time favorite things to do on the big Island - kayak across Kealakekua Bay to Captain Cook monument. You can only get to this spot by boat so the snorkeling is outrageous here. The water is crystal clear and there are so many fish to see. We had a beautiful day out there and a great time snorkeling around the monument. On our kayak back across the bay we were lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins! We stopped paddling and watched them all swim around, some even swam directly under my kayak. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen and definitely made this trip to the monument quite memorable!

 



Katrina, Sarah, Matt, Cathy, and Doug ready to kayak across the bay

Katrina with Captain Cook monument in the distance

Dad and Mom

Dolphins!

So amazing to see them in their natural environment

Mom

The group at Big Jake's BBQ - a must after our long kayak!

After lunch we drove down to Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Park - the place of refuge. We did the self guided walking tour and saw five turtles along the way.

 

 

Beautiful Hawaiian sunset from our balcony
 

Mom and Dad watching the sunset

 

Breakfast on the lanai

 

 Another beach day and a trip to the Hilton.

 

Mom and Dad at the Hilton

Group shot

Exploring the beautiful Hilton grounds
 

We spent one day driving over to the other side of the island checking out Hilo, the Champagne Ponds we had heard about, and stopping in Waimea on the way home for dinner at Village Burger.

 



Delicious snow cone from Wilson's By the Bay

The beautiful Champagne Ponds - a bit of an adventure to get to, but totally worth it!

Met this local guy at the ponds who sells coconuts for a living. He climbed up the tree like a monkey, cut a coconut out, split it open, and shared the coconut water with us. Very cool!
 

Mom sipping coconut water and snorkeling the ponds
 

Coconut meat
 

 

 

Enjoying my last morning in Kona
 

My dad made this lovely lei
 

Dad and Mom in their homemade leis

 

Last meal before my parents dropped me off at the airport. Lunch at the historic Kona Inn Restaurant.

 

 

My parents enjoyed another few days soaking in the sun before coming home. Thanks for the fun times, Dad and Mom! And thanks to Luke for holding down the fort at home :)