Carmel Trip

Carmel/John/Laurie did it again!  I have said it before, and I will say it again, this annual family trip is hands down a favorite weekend every year.  We did all the usuals, great food, Pro-Am Golf watching (but this time in sunshine), relaxed and shopped (with Christmas gift cards- thank you Laurie and John!) at our favorite stops (this time also meeting the owner and letting Nate have a good go at her- I swear I think she was in love.  At one point as she had her eyes pealed on him decided to give me a quick "your pretty" and quickly followed it with "BUT, this guy, he is amazing.  So witty, smart, levelheaded, ahead of his time, fun, good looking... the list went on for quite some time.  Karly and I just looked around like are you kidding me.  It was hysterical, prob had to be there, but hysterical).  Dinners were a highlight (as usual) and we left with a bang at a favorite spot of ours Lucca's.  I honestly don't think I have laughed as hard in my life as I did that eve. Ryan and Nate were on fire with their banter and when Ry's celeb crush (Kenny G) walked in with his sax, things got real (and a little creepy for Mr. G who ended up being seated right next to Ryan). 

Carmel

walking around, shopping and LOVING this adorable town

Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament

Snap shots from my phone of the course and day - no cameras allowed my butt!



Dinners

Big Sur
Drive home. 



Nate and I also did our much loved drive down the coast to get home.  The trip is an absolute highlight of our year, and we are getting better and better at it.  Made a list of stops to make for next year and think we will try and make it a longer drive to fit in all of our pit stops.  This year we pulled over on a lookout and walked down a little path to a cliff where there was a single bench looking out over the bluffs.  There was no one else around and the space was so small it felt like there was no one else for miles.  We sat there for quite some time and took in how small we felt sitting amongst so much intense beauty.  It was breathtaking, and probably a hard moment to recreate considering I don't think either of us would ever remember where the stop was. 

Sea Lions 

Of course we needed to stop to see the Sea Lions.  We went down a different part of the path this year where there weren't as many of the beasts, but they were much much closer to the pathways.  It always fascinates me.  Parker was in such awe his heart was about to beat out of his chest and his eyes were a solid inch from his face.  Kinda funny.

San Luis Obispo

We then trekked down to San Luis Obispo and walked around the main drag for a while stopping for lunch and to leave some gum on bubblegum alley.  Nate has so many memories in that town from his childhood visiting his great grandma, it is really sweet to see him so excited and hear the stories.

 

Pismo Beach

I have been dying to take Parker to a beach and let him experience that freedom, so we looked it up and from San Luis we headed to Pismo Beach where he was allowed on the sand.  No leashes of course, but we decided to be rebels and let him roam without.  This is a training gradual process for us, and so we are always curious to know what the success will be like.  The boy passed with shining colors as usual.  He LOVED it.

Great people, great trip, great memories.  Thank you John and Laurie for another successful Pebble Beach/Carmel weekend.