Across the Pond...: CA Trip

Today I sat at my desk on a grey and rainy autumn day, cleaning out my inbox, clearing off my desk and FINALLY getting through all of our pictures from our trip to California this summer. Wow - were we all that tan only four short weeks ago?

There is a reason it's taken me so long to go through those pictures and update this blog. It was a crazy trip. This year, more than last, I felt like we were racing around and, quite frankly, just trying to get too much done!

Now, we certainly had some nice times to relax. John and I thoroughly enjoyed our two nights alone at the Westlake Four Seasons and there were plenty of quiet times in Ludwigland. Yet, I still felt overwhelmed by shopping that needed to be done, appointments that needed to be kept (including four dental cleanings, two annual check-ups, three visits to the eye doctor and a trip to Children's Hospital) and friends & family to see. As intentional as I tried to be, a lot of it seemed to go screaming by in a blur.

It's nice, though, to look back at these pictures and see all of the fun we had!

The kids really enjoyed the time with their cousins and friends. (And the transition back to the UK was tough for Lane this year. Clearly her best friends remain in the States. For Ryan, though, we are seeing his most precious friendships forming here.)

The weather was gorgeous. Even though we didn't have as many sunny mornings in Malibu as last year, it was still wonderfully warm.

The times we had with smaller groups of friends were our favorites... families visiting us in Malibu, intimate dinners out, lazy evenings in Palm Springs. As much as we love seeing everybody, these gatherings tend to suit us the best. We'll have to be more deliberate about getting everyone in, but in smaller doses, next year!