THE FIRST ANNUAL PARKER FAMILY CAMP-OUT!!

San Clemente State Beach Campgrounds.

I had decided that we needed to start a new Parker family tradition and go camping.  Since Curtis had the week off, we went and got a tent and set off for a little camping excursion.  It was a really hot week, but we were next to the beach and found  lots of ways to stay cool and have fun.  We hope to make several more trips out before the end of the year and see some really beautiful parts of California and the rest of the West.  I can't wait for our next campfire and s'mores.

Boys will be boys.

A few courageous cars made the trip with us.  Gavin loves to park them all in a row like this all the time.  He is a Parker afterall.

We gave our old kite a go, but the wind was not too cooperative.

By far Gavin's most favorite part of our campsite.  Completely unaware of California's water shortage and mandatory water conservation act.  We tried our best, but he was a water addict.

 

A pretty bush is our campsite.

Sunset on the bluff.

FOURTH OF JULY 2009

The Pacific Palisades holds an amazing hometown parade each 4th of July.  Even though it's a small town, this parade was awesome.  Miss America was the Grand Marshall and they had some really good marching bands from all over the country.  Gavin loved the fire trucks and all the confetti, but he thought the marching bands were too loud and kept covering his ears.  It was Gavin's first parade and I think he enjoyed most of it.  We also had an awesome BBQ lunch that day at our house with all the classic fixings.  We couldn't have asked for a better holiday.

The parade through Curtis' eyes, or at least his sunglasses.

The UCLA marching band.

We hiked out on the beach a ways in Malibu to watch this private fireworks show.  It was pitch-black out and super windy, but it was worth it because the fireworks were spectacular.  Gavin really loved it and couldn't stop saying 'ooh and aah' at every single explosion.  It was a late night for Gavin and really cold, but I'm so glad we went because it was also Gavin's first time seeing fireworks.  It just wouldn't have been 4th of July without some fireworks.

Curtis and Gavin trying to stay warm.

 Even though we had bundled up, it was much colder than we expected.

Me and my boy.