4 Little Maughan"sters": California 2015

This is the trip I look forward to the most every year. It doesn't get any better than being by the beach soaking up the sun, sound of waves and kids playing, perfect Southern California weather, palm trees, being with family, eating delicious food, and sharing it all with our best friends!

Maughans and Lightens ~ California 2015

We drove all the way through this year!

Luggage carts...best toys around!

9 kids piled into the Lighten's van to head to the beach immediately after unpacking!

The kids went straight into the water, I went straight to what I do best...just relaxing on the beach!

We stayed until sunset.

On Saturday morning while there was still a marine layer over the ocean, Brandon and Trevor went to a Farmer's Market to get our produce for the week. Kasey, Eliza, Cam, and I went to the Swap Meet to check out the furniture, clothes, purses, unique toys, and even try on Hello Kitty sunglasses!

On Sunday, we went to Sacrament Meeting and then walked around the Newport Temple grounds.

Kasey's cousin and her family met up with us so they could spend some time together. We drove to Dana Point and had fish n' chips at the Harbor. We also walked through a few luxury yachts and decided in 5 years we would try to buy one ;)

We spent the afternoon at Pines Park. The boys played Frisbee, the kids rode long boards, the women took pictures and chatted!

That night we had a BBQ and used the produce we got from the Farmer's Market.

Brandon and Trevor are the grill masters!

Now, onto the real reason we went to California!

THE BEACH!!!

Brandon still loves his beach cart...Trevor improvised and used his long board to transport boogie boards, the baby carrier, and beach bags!

Ashlyn (7), Claire and Abby (6), Zack (12), Cam (11), Morgan (11),

Luke (9), Eliza (4mos), Jake (9)

Brandon, Zack, and Cam built a sand castle

Trevor holding Zack so that Jake and Luke could throw sand at him!

Zack...always digging!

Zack, Morgan, Cam

Cam

Luke and Jake

The girls created stores to sell their goods...

Ashlyn, Abby, and Claire

Brandon and Trevor

Brandon even captured me going out into the water this year!!

Zack and me

I built a barricade to protect my sand-stick figures. It was funny to watch parents trying to keep their kids from destroying it! I let them destroy it a few hours later! Haha!

Kasey and Trevor

Racing on the beach...

Trevor and Jake

One of several traditions...cruising the boardwalk to go get donuts!

We came here a few times this trip!

We did bring some healthy stuff too...

Huntington Beach Pier at Sunset

The kids were excited to be able to go out to eat once! Ruby's has "Kids Eat Free Tuesdays" so that's the night we chose to take them out! We went to the Ruby's on Huntington Beach Pier. It's a kids haven...burgers, fries, shakes, toy cars, gumball machines, and cute waitresses!! Jake and Luke naturally flirted with our waitress and gave her a few hugs!

We were able to go out on a few dates. This year we tried Camelitas in Laguna. We were a little late for our reservation and feared parking in downtown Laguna as well as them giving our reservation away! Well, we found a parking spot right outside the front door! And the restaurant was running a little behind so once we got seated, it happened to be the best table in the place! It was in the corner with windows on each side with views of the ocean and the heart of Laguna and our car in the background!! This was Brandon's and my favorite restaurant this time. We will definitely go back!

Nick's is rated #1 in Laguna, so we make it a point to go each year. It's delicious, but I'm limited more now being a vegetarian! Brandon ordered a regular Coke; Trevor ordered a Diet Coke. We had a great time teasing Trevor once his Coke came and the bottle was quite a bit smaller than the regular Coke (in picture)!

The Lighten's pick this time was 5 Crowns. We sat in the Nixon Nook, where President Nixon ate several times when he visited the beach cities. It was a great atmosphere, but pretty pricey!