MI ----> CA

Well, we did it!  Joe and I did the unfathomable.  

We took a vacation!  Without the kids!

Joe's Aunt Linda dropped us off at the airport.

We arrived in LA Thursday evening and were greeted by our good buddy Paul.

We went back to his house in Palmdale, CA and visited with him the following day.

Friday we were driving through the desert, and you won't believe who we found ambling alongside the road...another good friend Casey.

Ok, we didn't really just stumble across him.  He was in town for business and had arranged to stay a few extra days to visit with us in CA. 

Joe, me and Casey on site of the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Paul has hiked most of the PCT and is planning to finish later this summer.

Saw a couple of these "Dust Twister Thingies" as we've come to call them since we lack the proper terminology.

Back at Paul's house playing Mario Kart.

I'm pretty sure Joe would've taken this sword home if he could

have snuck it on the plane with him.

 Casey, Paul, Joe

Dinner at IN-N-OUT Burger

And then we drove off into the sunset...

Find out where our adventures took us in our upcoming edition of CA Trip, Part 2.

7 Kids & 10 Adults Under 1 Roof

This past weekend was a party at the Sternberg house.  All of us gathered there to celebrate my cousin's wedding on Saturday evening, but enjoyed a weekend full of family fun as well.

A driveway full of cars that came from Grand Rapids, Grand Haven,

Naperville, IL and Neenah, WI

Mike, Caleb, Shawn and Joe playing a board game

Katie feeding baby Ruby.

The kids participating in a coloring contest.

Claire took it very seriously, especially when she found out she could use stickers.

Joe and Ruby

Undercover Mike, Joe, Henry, and Shawn

Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Yummy arm, Ruby?

Kelsey was a bridesmaid in the wedding. 

Don't they make a cute couple?

Sunday morning we had church at home. 

Dad planned the message, which was about working together and helping others.

Here the family works on an activity Dad planned to demonstrate his message.

The goal was to work together to see how many poker chips could be stacked on the cardboard bridge.

Andrew and Gracie's tall tower

Aaliyah and Claire working together

It was a great weekend.  I just love these family reunions with everyone under one roof.  So many great memories made.  Thanks Dad and Mom!

Random Pictures

It's time again for a few more random pictures that run the risk of being overlooked because I keep forgetting to post them.  They make me smile, though, as I look back on the memories we've already made this summer.

Casey, Henry, Joe and John

Joe has been friends with these guys since childhood. 

Claire and Henry hanging out with good friends Ari and Ruby.

Claire loves buses, so a few weeks ago we thought it'd be fun to take her for a ride on the city bus.  Amazingly, we found our way home!  Those city busses aren't as simple as you'd think!

Both kids asleep in the car

Claire playing beauty shop.  She did ask me for a pair of scissors, but instead she's cutting her bear's hair with a plastic knife from her play kitchen. 

Does this remind you of anyone Mom?

Mud Run 2012

This past Saturday, Joe completed a 5K Mud Run in Kalamazoo to raise money for clean water in Africa.  It was so much fun to watch, and I'll just take his word for it that it was also fun to participate in.

The clean crew prior to the race:

Joe with Laura (our sister-in-law) on his right,

and Jamie (Laura's brother) on his left.

Joe in the red shirt and blue shorts, still looking clean as the race has just begun.

Here we have proof that Joe did indeed err in one of the many obstacles.  There is Jamie crawling under the "Snake Pit", while Joe climbed over it.  He says he really didn't realize that he was supposed to go under.  And even though he did correct his mistake for the second lap, we still had to give him grief.  Sorry sweetie! 

Laura coming out of the Snake Pit.

The kids play with the stones as they await the runners.

Standing by the sidelines to cheer the mud-caked runners on.

Joe heads down the slide...

...into waist high muddy water. 

Apparently this is his idea of a good time!

Crossing the finish line

Jamie and Laura right there with him

A muddy high five

Looking good after their mud makeovers.

Cleaning off the filth they worked so hard to aquire.

The kids play in the water puddles

A school bus shuttled us to and from the race site, which I thought the kids would love, but within a couple minutes, Henry was sound asleep. 

And I think Claire was a bit nervous, though she had her cousins to keep her safe.

For a few more pictures of the Mud Run, check out my brother's blog:

TheSternbergFive

He captured some great moments. 

I especially like the final picture of his beautiful wife!

Based on the fun we all had, I think we may have started a new family tradition!  And by family, I mean the "in-laws".  It would take more than a new t-shirt and free snacks to get us "Sternbergs" in that mud.  But you never know...those were pretty cool shirts.  And who I am kidding?  I would do pretty much anything for free food!

 { Family Pictures }