Hamblins in California

Matthew turns 3! John, Mary and the kids brought Grandma out for a visit to California to visit Paula and where the Hamblins grew up. Matthew chose the dinosaur cake pan but when the cake was baked he wanted it to be a dog instead! I told him it was a dog and his ears got frozen off in a bad winter.

Ready to blow out candles. We celebrated at Grandma and Grandpa Rice's because they have a bigger house than Paula.

Lighting the candles.

Opening presents. Aunt Paula gave him a huge jumping spider.

John Mohon talking to Mary and Grandma Rice.

Camping in the Sequoias with everyone. We brought our camp trailer and all of the Hamblins borrowed camping stuff from Cousin Ted Hatch.

Teara and the back of Liz who paid her own way out for a visit.

This is Nero Stump that has been around sincwe 1908. The inside was hallow and the kids loved climbing it over and over.

A bridge made out a sequoia log.

See how huge the tree is?

A stump with most all of the kids. There was 19 of us camping in 2 campsites. The camps were across the tiny creek from each other.

This is the room in the tree. It was drilled out by some loggers and you could probably fit about 30 people inside. Dane, Liz and Teara posing for me. It was a 3/4 mile hike up hill that all of us hiked. The tree is still living and the walls are about 3 feet thick. It was warm outside but very cool inside the tree.

We found the hidden Falls and played in the water. It was very cold.

The water went across the road on a cement bridge/dam. It was fun to walk across the cold kind of slippery surface after being dirty from camping.

This is Shay after he jumped off of the 20 foot cliff into the freezing water.

Locey and Shay were the only brave ones up to this point of jumping off the cliff.

Todd and John looking up at the cliff of those jumping and deciding if they will do it or not.

Teara and Liz looking down the cliff seeing how high it really is.

Paula jumps and shows them how. Teara, Liz and even Skyla jump off the cliff.

Shay and Locey repeatedly jump and Locey climbs up the face of the cliff and the others follow a trail through the woods.

Todd jumps!

John jumps! What cool DADS!

What a wonderful time we had with the relatives in California. I forgot my camera when we went to Avila Beach. The ocean was really cold too but boy all of the kids and Dad's went body surfing for hours.

We camped at Frazier Mill that was FREE! It probably is one of my most favorite campouts yet to date. Todd and his family camped there all of the time when they were kids and now the grandkids know how fun it is too. I never saw so many little boys just love playing in the dirt! The campsite was cool and green with hardly any sunshine getting through. It got chilly at night but we had good food, good entertainment and good conversation. It will be remembered for years to come.

Thanks John and Mary for bringing Grandma and all of your kids! Liz what an ambitious girl to earn your money and come too! We sure love all of you and we look forward to next year at the Mackley reunion.