Monterey and Carmel

While my family was still in town, my mom had the beach house and we, of course, had to take advantage. By an amazing coincidence (possibly John's prayers) there were three car auctions in Monterey and Carmel the weekend that we were there. So we headed down a little early to the beach house and got to attend all three without ignoring my family too much (sorry if you guys felt differently). Ethan and John were both in heaven as we got a fantastic roadside spot right where the cars were driving into Carmel off of Ocean Ave.

The best part was when the first car came rolling down the hill (pictured below), Ethan excitedly starts pointing and yelling "Train! Train! Choo Choo!" and was not about to be convinced that it was, in fact, a car. I happen to agree with him on this one, cars just don't come this big anymore. Thankfully everyone in the crowd was more than happy to egg him on.
We saw I think more than 200 cars at this show and they were all amazing. You have to be invited to bring your car to this show and many of them were one of a kind now.
I had fun just playing with my new camera and trying to find different parts of the cars that I liked.
I think my boys were in Heaven though and who knew an almost two year old could pay attention for that long?
Okay, he might have had a few distractions, after all it's not everyday that you get a stream of ants running past your leg.Ethan did get worn out my all the excitement and fell asleep in the back of the stroller while we were making our way back to the car.
The next auction, I think, was the Mecum auction, which had a bunch of celebrity owned cars, including a pink Cadillac owned by Elvis. This one was my favorite. It starred in the movie "Italian Job." Charlize Theron drove it through the beginning of the movie and honestly, this was the first time that I really liked minis. If only I were independently wealthy I would have gotten it. It was even a convertible. And the inside was super sleek, but it still had the retro look to it. Retro modern. Just my style.

I think this one was John's favorite, even though it is a Ford. This was "Eleanor" from the movie, "Gone in 60 seconds." In the movie Nicholas Cage is intimidated by the car, and evidently had a bad experience involving a car of this sort. Anyway. It's a pretty car. And it moves pretty fast too.

We did take some time away from the cars to hang out with the family. We did the walk down the beach and I couldn't resist taking pictures the whole time. It was such a gorgeous weekend. Here is my sister's family, plus John & E. I think Mark was mid-Rap while I took the picture. Too bad it wasn't a video, eh?

After awhile, Ethan decided it would be much more fun to feel the sand beneath his toes.
We got to spot lots of wildlife. Ethan has a good eye for things like that.
Maddie was more than happy to strike it for the camera.
And we had to take a little family one together too. After all, we enjoying striking it too.
E wore himself out on this adventure and no matter how many times we repositioned him in the backpack, he would slump over again. Evidently this was much more comfortable. At least he sleeps anywhere, right?
We got to take the kids to the best public park I've ever been to. They have a full on train for kids to climb all over.
And Ethan loves the slide, so he went down this one at least a hundred times.

Ethan and I had to cut out a little early though and walk back to the beach house because the vampire in him kept making an appearance. Along the way though we stopped for a little photo op and I decided not to sell him to the gypsies after all.

I could be remembering wrong, but I think this was when we had foil-wrapped dinners and s'mores on the campfire at the beach. We went down just as the sun was setting and the colors were beautiful.
This picture I know is of Maddie, but I swear if I didn't take it, I would think it was of my sister, when she was little. Something about the Billabong Sweatshirt struck a chord from the eighties. I'd never thought they looked alike until I saw this picture.
Auntie Shan and Henry, most likely watching the millions of dogs we always find playing at the beach.
Here's Owen and Jami, I did get the only picture ever of Owen not smiling, but how could I put that one on here, when this one is so cute?
Here's Timmy again, being extra contemplative. Those waves can be mesmerizing, I know.

We got to take a fantastic bike ride down to cannery row, Shannon forgot her jacket and had to borrow Maddie's. Doesn't she look fantastic?

Jami might disown me entirely for putting this one on the world wide web, but come on, you can't pose like this and expect me not to take advantage. At least I can't use it as blackmail anymore, right? She takes her riding seriously.Ethan and Tim took the easy way out and rode in the bumble bee the whole way there and back.

For only being there for a long weekend, we accomplished a lot! If only I could get the Wii movie to load, then you would have an idea of how we spent the weekend and not just what we did. If it works, it is of Jami and I playing the best game ever, "Raymond Raving Rabbids." If you own a Wii and don't have this game, you are wasting your money. Oh yes, and I think it goes without saying that I won.