California girls (and boy)

Good-bye, Arkansas and hello, California.  Next stop was the West Coast with a packed in schedule.  Our first stop was Ojai to see Cousins Joel, Sherry and little Maxon and Sena.  Sherry is a very talented architect and recently designed their gorgeous vacation home.  We were so happy to get to stay with them for a couple of days.

And then we were able to meet with dear friends who left Abu Dhabi and moved back to the States.  We planned what initially felt like a bit of a wild idea to do a California road trip and then we were actually able to make it happen.  Super fun to spend time with them!

View from the living room outside of Ojai

Pool time with fun guest house built from rocks excavated from the property

Jumpy time

Sena, Anna and the Airstream for even more overflow guests

We welcomed in a new year for me while in Ojai

Amazing outdoor bookstore in Ojai - great stop!  They even have outdoor bookshelves on the outer wall.  You pay for them on the honor system for when the stores is closed!

Downtown Ojai playground - very fun and time to say good-bye to Cousins Sena and Maxson

After Ojai, we were thrilled to meet up with friends from Abu Dhabi who have moved back to the US.  We spent a few days together road tripping up the California coast.  Super fun to see them - they are missed!

xJane is super happy to be with Maya again

Same with Sophia and Regan

Anna at the Santa Barbara beach

Road trip!  Up the California coast.

All the kids at Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle - the Greek-styled pool (under repair) is behind them

Meredith

The moms who loaded up a rooftop luggage wrack on top of the car every single day for the week we were together.  Now we're kicking back at Hearst Castle - amazed that our kids weren't amazed...

The kids

Billiards room.  Where's Professor Plum..

We liked seeing these tiles over the piano.  The guide said that when it was reassembled, the tiler didn't know where they went so it doesn't actually spell anything anymore.  The script was a bit too fancy for Regan to decipher.

Indoor pool

Cold Northern California beach

Sea lions!

Enjoying the view (and a bit of stinkiness from the sea lions)

Dennis the Menace park in Monterrey

Monterrey

Maya and Jane

Mere

Obviously confused about something...

Made it to San Francisco!

Whoosh!

Nick - hiking with his posse that ran him ragged today and the night before

The moms.  We about froze our poor Erin of South California blood but I think she survived!

I don't think we've seen this sweater (brand new!) since right around this time...

Ice cream at the Yuen's

Reunited with Tahoe, Turkey, UAE spring break friend, Stephanie

Time to say good-bye...

Now at Air and Space Museum in DC.  Anna with her new stuffed panda (Cookie Dough) from the National Zoo where Poppy and Gammy took her a couple of days before

Last USA meal -Chick-Fil-A by request

Waiting to board to head back to Abu Dhabi