Casini Ranch

Right now I am relaxing on my soft comfy bed while Zac is passed out next to me and Hudson is passed out on the floor. We had a very fun filled weekend and I think everyone is a little worn out from all the partying.

It all started on Friday evening. I had to work that Friday so I could not head out to Casini Ranch until I got off work. Not the most ideal situation but thankfully Casini is so close its not a big deal. Chelsie, Jason, Zac and the boys were already there when I arrived. Camp was set up and all I had to do was take my glass of wine! Jason and Chelsie had both been to Casini before but this was mine and Zacs first time. Its very convenient because it is so close. I had a blast spending time with the Tamagnis but I must say the one major down fall to this place is that there is no privacy. Not that I expected to have the whole place to outselves but there were people everywhere! The campsites were so close together and I swear every campsite had at least ONE dog. For anyone who is not big on camping it would be the perfect place to test out, they have a "general store", a little dog park and even flushable toilets and showers! To me this was "glamping". Big shout out to my parents for taking me and my sister on so many camping trips when we were little. Anyways, we decided to pick different nights for cooking dinner. Jason and Chelsie were up first and they made their delicious elk burgers. After we stuffer ourselves we all sat around the campfire, drank our wine and planned our day out for Saturday.

I did NOT sleep well the first night. Hudson was up whining because he was watching the racoons walk all around our campsite. I think I was only running on a couple hours of sleep our first day. It was pretty foggy that morning but we cooked breakfast cleaned up, packed lunches and headed out to the beach. Im glad I wore warm clothes because it was cold at the beach! It wasn't long before we found just the right place to let the boys run free. Hudson was the happiest boy ever! He would not stop running the entire time. Him and Diesel would chase each other, go in the waves and check out every little nook and cranny they could. Hudson kept drinking the salt water but he learned his lesson the hard way. Right as we were packing up to find another beach Hudson looks so sick it was crazy, I swear he was green. Before we knew it he threw up and he was back to normal in no time. We had to leave the original beach early because people were actually there and we wanted to let the boys run free. So after a lot of searching we finally found a beach that no one would be going to. Mostly because there was no trail to get down to it and it involved climbing down rocks to get there. A little sketchy at times but we made it. We spent awhile at our private beach, let
boys run and play and we ate our lunch.

 After lunch everyone seemed to pass out. Hudson dug himself a nice hole to sleep in. It was so funny watch watch hime dig it and get it just right. He also made one at our campsite. Silly boy. After everyone started to wake up we thought we better start heading home. Chelsie and Zac wanted to stop and get some oysters on the way back (yuck). I said I would try one and I did. It actually did not taste that bad and its was slathered in BBQ sauce but there is something about the looks and texture of those suckers that really gross me out! Zac and Chelsie seemed to really enjoy them. They even ate them raw with just a squeeze of lime. 

 




















Once THAT was over we played a little gin-rummy! I have not played that in such a long time. I remember my mom taught me how to play it on one of our camping trips. Before we knew it, it was dinner time and Zac and I were on! For our dinner we decided to do chicken tacos, black beans and mexican rice. They turned out so delicious! I must say car camping is awesome because you can eat like kings. So much better then back packing freeze dried food. The boys were out for the night after their day at the beach so we sat around the fire for our last night and had margaritas. It was such a fun night I Zac was cracking me up! I must say I love spending time with the Tamagnis they are a blast! That night I slept very well and when we were eating breakfast the next morning the sun finally came out to greet us! 

Now its back to reality. Zac got a phone call this afternoon that he is going to be going on on a strike team. Northern California is kind of on fire right now so they need all the help they can get. I know that he is very excited to go but I am sad that he could be gone for up to 7 days. Anyways he leaves tomorrow morning and Im hoping that he will be back by this next weekend. Until then its just me and Hudson holding down the fort (and Nick of course). 

 

Berryessa!

I think I have an addiction to summer. Not a bad addiction to have. Yet another day out on the lake and this time on a nice boat! No offense Zac :) So after having a nice little dinner with Jason and Chelsie we thought we would plan a day on the lake with Chelsies parents boat. When I was growing up my school had a ski trip every year which I learned how to water ski. On this trip I was hoping to test my skills out at wake boarding. I was pretty nervous because I had a few friends that told me that its pretty frustrating and difficult but I decided I would see for myself.

We probably got out on the water around 11:00. We cruised around before Zac decided he wanted to give the wake skate a go. A wake skate is smaller then a wake board and it has no bindings. Something that I am definately not ready to try. I think him about 3-4 times before he popped right up! It was so much fun watching him go! But for some reason it made me even more nervous. Next up was Chelsie. Wow. I can't believe how easy she made it look. She popped up on the first try and was riding around like it was nothing! Taking her hair out of her pony tail, doing jumps, now I was more nervous. So after she rode around for awhile she decided it was mine to to test out the water. She said the water was a little ruff but I didn't know better so I decided why not? She helped me get my board on and gave me and idea of what I needed to do once I got in the water. She was even nice enough to swim out with me. Well I was floating out there, bobbing around trying to remember all the tips from everyone....the rope was tight so I just figured now is the time so I yelled HIT IT! The rope was yanked out of my hand SO fast I didn't even know what happened! Some how something hit my fingers on my left hand and I now how a bruise underneath two finger names and one of my knuckles has a pretty painful bruise. I tried it probably like 4-5 more times before I just go way to frustrated and wanted to stop. It was so discouraging. And all I have to show for it today is bruised up hands and a very sore upper/lower body.

This is the only evidence of me trying to wake board. I hope to try it again someday and be able to get up! That would be awesome. Im wondering if I need to work out a little, upper body stuff. I have no upper body strength. Alright moving on from the discouraging to the exciting.  Now it was time to get on the tube! Now THAT I know how to do. Zac was a true gentleman and came with me. I feel bad for the guy cause I was screaming the entire time. I had a blast though. So much fun. Can't wait to go again some time. Anyways, that was definately the highlight from my weekend. This coming weekend we are going camping with the Tamagnis. We are going to Casini Ranch which I have never been to but it will be fun to get away for the weekend and let the dogs play together. Here is hoping to no dog drama. Anyways, here is some additional pictures!

Palm Springs

It came and went so fast! I am still amazed how perfect it all worked out because Zac had his last day at Mill Valley on Wednesday. He got off work Thursday morning and we left for Palm Springs that afternoon. He started his new job at American Canyon on Monday and we flew back on Sunday.Perfect. Anyways, like I said we left Thursday and arrived in the afternoon just in time for dinner. Zac likes to get in all the Pat and Oscars he can when he is in So Cal so thats right where we headed for dinner. It was a little confusing because we drove into Palm Desert and what we thought was Oscars was now called O's American Kitchen. Luckily it was the same food. That night Bobby and Jen arrived at the house.

Friday came and it was time to party! Lets see that day, my friend Dana came by, BJ, Michael and Karee and her boyfriend were at the house. We stayed in the pool for the morning and snacked most of the day. My mom really wanted me to take some picture for the family christmas card this year so around 6:30 we headed out by the pool and I took a few pictures. I think that we got some good ones and that my mom will be happy with them. After pictures it was time for Zac's world famous fish tacos! So good! After our bellies were full we watched some Olympics and then it was time to test out the karaoke machine.

It was such a fun time! I can't believe that Friday was already over just like that!

Saturday we had more people at the house. Dana left that morning and in the afternoon we had Brett and his wife Cara show up (with puppy Huck) and my friends Janelle and Dylan! That morning my momma wanted to take my sister and I on a girls shopping trip, so off to TJ MAXX we went. I am NOT a good shopper and I usually just don't do it but I went with the pros. I actually found some really cute things! We were already worn out and it was time to head back home for some pool time. It was probably about 104 degrees the whole time that we were there. Of course the house had AC and we just lived in the pool when we were outside.

After the pool the party headed inside for some ping pong. For dinner what could be better then MORE Oscars!? They deliver which is awesome so we stuffed ourselves with pasta, pizza, breadsticks, salad and chicken wings! Im making myself hungry! After dinner we thought we would play a game. We all gathered around the table and played a lil game called telephone pictionary which is hilarious! When we finished our game it was time for Janelle and Dylan to head home. So nice being able to see them.

Sunday. Zac and I had to fly out in the afternoon so we soaked up every second of our last hours of vacation. Tiff,Devin, Brodie, Courtney and Tina came out to visit us. They came around 10:30 just in time for....pool! I was so excited to see Brodie since I was not able to make it for his first birthday. It was so much fun seeing him enjoy the water, that little boy loves the water! I was able to get some great pictures of him enjoying it.

Just like that our vacation had come to an end! It was time to pack up and head to the airport. Even though I hate to leave I am always so thankful for the time I was able to spend with my family and friend. I am such a lucky girl. Love them all!