We decided a vacation was in order after Josh Downs got home so we packed up the car full of sleeping kiddos at 2:00 a.m. last Sunday and got on the freeway heading Southbound towards San Diego.
Around 6:00 a.m. I awoke to the sight (and sound) of kids reading.
And around 8:00 a.m. we stopped for Breakfast at the Fox and Goose in Sacramento, CA. (I found it on Yelp and it was delicious.)
Cole took that one. (Thanks Coley.)
And then we stretched our legs for a few minutes before loading back up in the car. (That's my hand in the upper right corner, trying to block the sun from hitting my lens...imperfect...but I like it anyhow.)
And the focus is soft on Josh in that one, but I think it's my new favorite.
After a few more hours, we took a bathroom/baseball break.
There was a sign posted with a rattlesnake warning (which is why you don't see Courtney Lee in any of these photos...she wouldn't leave the sidewalk).
And then we loaded up once again.
Those are rolls of quarters - the kids each started out the trip with $20 in quarters and could lose or gain quarters based on behavior. (Thanks Tanya Webster for that little peach of an idea.) And the bags were filled with colored pencils, notebook paper, Mad Libs, books and snacks they had to ration throughout the 15 hour car ride.
The McDonalds drive-through for lunch.
Napping.
And then we arrived at Camp Pendleton just in time to unload our bags and head to dinner.
And then we called it a night. (Another imperfect one that I love.)
So awesome to see ALL of you in the post. Coley is quite the 2nd shooter for you. Wowzers!
Posted by: Robin | March 12, 2012 at 11:21 PM
I'm so happy Josh is finally home and your family is all together again!! Glad you had this special time together and looking forward to seeing more of your trip photos! ♥
Posted by: ♥ Debbie | March 13, 2012 at 12:28 AM
Everbody looks so HAPPY! Especially Mrs. Downs. Soak it all up.
Posted by: Kim S. | March 13, 2012 at 02:27 AM
wonderful! that picture of you & josh is so beautiful! I love seeing you two together- enjoy your vacation!
Posted by: AmandaD | March 13, 2012 at 04:36 AM
Love these! So happy to see you all together and happy!
Posted by: Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita | March 13, 2012 at 05:09 AM
Love the picture of the kids reading! (with the moon out the side window of the car).
Glad that Josh Downs is home and you can be a whole family again.
Posted by: Juli P | March 13, 2012 at 05:22 AM
So nice to see the family all back together again!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Corrine A. | March 13, 2012 at 05:33 AM
LOVE the one of you and Josh....looks like Cole is going to have your gift for photography! Love seeing his Cubs T too!
Posted by: Teresa | March 13, 2012 at 05:38 AM
Love the photos and the trip......... lets face it a trip with 3 kiddo's aint ever perfect..... but that's life and being all back together is what it's all about. Cole did a great job on the photo of you and Josh.... he can be 2nd in charge of that camera any day. He has my vote. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
Posted by: Kathy | March 13, 2012 at 05:51 AM
I can read the happiness in your post...so glad your family is complete again.
Posted by: Colleen | March 13, 2012 at 05:52 AM
Yay...life is nearly back to normal...so good to see you all so happy Karen. Love all the photos but the MacDonalds drive through one...the looks on the kids faces...priceless! Looking forward to sharing more adventures with you all...
Posted by: Julie in Aust. | March 13, 2012 at 06:02 AM
Yay! So excited for you and your family to be all under one roof again! I live in Sacramento and have been to the Fox and Goose...yum. Hope our town treated you well
Posted by: Lisa Christenson | March 13, 2012 at 06:39 AM
OMG! Thank goodness you're back! I was having withdrawals. Every day I'd clickety click. Of course, it's all about me!
Just kidding (sort of) :) Glad ya'll got to spend that time together and welcome back to Josh!
Posted by: Gina | March 13, 2012 at 07:18 AM
Isn't is fantastic to see Josh Downs in your photos again? He's right back where he belongs!
Posted by: Lisa | March 13, 2012 at 07:19 AM
it's so nice to see Josh Downs back in your pics!!! And you weren't too far from me!!!!! I'm a Cali girl....it's only a couple hours away. Hope your visit was great. Our weather has been iffy, on again off again. never know! anyway, I'm so happy for ALL of you!! Love the pictures!
Posted by: Nicole Campbell | March 13, 2012 at 07:40 AM
And if you're reading this, Josh Downs.......Welcome Home!
Posted by: jeannie | March 13, 2012 at 08:52 AM
Yeeeaaahhh!! I'm so excited for you all to be back together again!! Oh joy!! Love seeing the adventure!! Thank you for sharing!!
Posted by: teresa b | March 13, 2012 at 09:01 AM
So excited that your family unit is back together again. You can see the joy and love in each and everyone of your faces, especially the one of you and Josh!!!!
Posted by: Carolyn Hall | March 13, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Love these photos of a family together again!!! Enjoy your vacation!
Posted by: Sierra | March 13, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Seeing those pictures of you guys being reunited makes me SO happy for all of you!!!!! I love them all but the one of Josh Down and you and the pure happiness you both show makes me almost cry again.
Posted by: Jeane | March 13, 2012 at 10:41 AM
It is so nice to see your family complete again! Everyone looks so happy it brings tears to my eyes. I can't wait to see the rest of your vacation photos to America's Finest City :) San Diego is great, of course I am biased since I've lived in SD for 15 years! We adopted our dog from the animal shelter on base in Camp Pendleton! I hope you had some of the sunny days while you were here. Ahhh it warms my heart to know you are all together now :)
Posted by: Michelle | March 13, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I love it!
Posted by: Kelli | March 13, 2012 at 10:48 AM
I am singing...."happy together". Been waiting a long time for this...and I cannot imagine how wonderful it is to be together again.
The 1st photo with the moon in the background...my of my!!!
Enjoy every waking, sleeping, breathing minute!!
Posted by: janel | March 13, 2012 at 11:59 AM
did you see the heart above the ketchup bottle in photo # 3? Serendipity!! Love always wins.
Posted by: janel | March 13, 2012 at 12:01 PM
So happy for you and your family!
Posted by: Debbi G. | March 13, 2012 at 12:36 PM
i live in Sacramento - Fox & Goose is so good! Glad you had a nice pit stop through my town! :)
Posted by: pattilouwho | March 13, 2012 at 02:01 PM
Love these pics with all of you together again!
Coley sure picked up the photo-taking gene from you, the one of you and Josh Downs is pefect :)
So glad you could enjoy some family time.
Posted by: Mary Ann Jenkins | March 13, 2012 at 02:25 PM
Ummm that should have said the one of you and Josh Downs is "perfect".
Posted by: Mary Ann Jenkins | March 13, 2012 at 02:26 PM
LOve it Karen...and seeing as we visited SD during our holiday it will cool to see your photos from there. Aren't we going to have the happiest instructor in the next Snapshots class xx :)
Posted by: Diane | March 13, 2012 at 02:30 PM
Love that shot of you and Josh.
So good to have him back in photos! (bet it's even better for you to have him back in person!)
Posted by: Naomi | March 13, 2012 at 03:07 PM
I think I have stopped at that rest stop, where it had the rattlesnake warning lol.
Great pictures!!
Posted by: Robyn :) | March 13, 2012 at 04:05 PM
this just makes my heart happy!
Posted by: Tracy | March 13, 2012 at 05:48 PM
So nice to see you and the whole family together....you look over the moon happy and you definitely deserve it!!!!:)
Posted by: Melanie | March 13, 2012 at 05:58 PM
Seeing Josh Downs in the mix of family pictures = priceless.
Hope y'all have a great vacation!!
Posted by: kat-in-texas | March 13, 2012 at 06:39 PM
oh my gosh, I used to live in Davis 20+ years ago, and we often drove to Sacramento for breakfast at the Fox and Goose. I had totally forgotten about it. Glad you found it. I remember that it was fabulous for breakfast.
Posted by: audrey | March 13, 2012 at 08:37 PM
So surprised to see that you were in my neck of the woods! I'm just outside Sacto. The drive to San Diego can be deadly, I've done it with 3 kids in tow as well. Looks like you all had a great time, love the pics!!
Posted by: Teresa Loop | March 13, 2012 at 09:08 PM
I'm so glad you are all together in one place again. :)
And you were in my town...I'm glad Sacramento had nice weather for you.
Posted by: Margaret | March 14, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Thank you for sharing your return home vacation! :O) What fun!!!! Look forward to more photos and blessings to you all. Yeay Josh is home!!!
xoxo
Jen
Posted by: jen | March 14, 2012 at 03:39 PM
I love seeing all of you together in photos again! I think I was in San Diego at the same time as you all!
Posted by: Pam | March 17, 2012 at 05:22 AM
You were in my neck of the woods! So glad you are back together. xo
Posted by: tara | March 20, 2012 at 01:46 PM