Balboa Island Vacation 2012

Okay, Grandma, I've stopped holding the photos from our fabulous Balboa Island vacation

hostage, and posted (at least half of) them here!  Thanks again to you and Grandpa for

organizing and sponsoring such an amazing family vacation. It has been so much fun to 

go through these all again and remember our week spent in such a beautiful place with 

such great company.   I've captioned them as well.  Hope you all enjoy them! 

Walking along Bay Front Drive which rings the entire perimeter of Balboa

Island (1.5 miles one time around) heading towards our home away from

home for the next week!  Pictured is Jed coming towards me on his skateboard. 

(which is kind of forbidden)

Soon after we settle in on Saturday afternoon our cute girls get

all gussied up and head out to a concert at the Mission Viejo Lake.

Water, water everywhere - and we take advantage of it! 

Our beachfront vacation house is steps away from the sand and the relatively

calm waterway between Balboa Island and the Newport Peninsula. 

It is the perfect setting for paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming and exploring!

It is rare to not find someone out at any given time playing in the water.

Jack on the paddleboard before we get strict with the lifejacket law 

Pete and Henry return from a kayak adventure - other kids in the water 

Harriet sets off on the paddleboard 

of course there is plenty of fun to be found on the sandy shore 

Sunday morning - three boys dressed for church and looking sharp! 

We drive to Laguna Beach to attend Grandma's ward - we are fortunate to find seats to

fit all 19 of us together on two rows - no small feat in this snug chapel!

Stepping out after Sacrament meeting - Pete helps Harriet along.

She has struggled with a swollen knee this summer. 

                   Laguna Beach LDS meetinghouse - beautiful ocean view from the front steps.

Back to the beach house - the view behind the girls out of the front window is 

so divine it could be a painting.

Jed finds many ways to enjoy jumping in the cool water 

The view across the channel of the Balboa Pavilion and Fun Zone -

as seen from our balcony at dusk. 

Monday morning we hit the kayaks - Henry and I take a ride up and down the harbor.

We come across this sea lion taking a rest on the back of a boat. 

He has some deep scars on his side which says he has probably been hit by

a boat propeller or two.  Sea lions are protected here in the harbor because

they can be such a nuisance to the docked boats. We saw several different

devices rigged to keep them off the boats.  

Bryson paddles by and checks out Mr. Sea Lion from a safe distance 

Next we see Abbie taking Zach and Jed for a ride 

Jed abandons ship - in the background is our rental house,

the left middle one 

Aubrye floats serenely by....

Zach and Jed hang ten

After dropping Henry back on the shore, Jed joins me for a ride.

Ahead of us is Porter standing in the kayak.

We follow the teenagers up the harbor - 

twins on kayak, Balboa Fun Zone in the background

Harriet, Jack, Aubrye, Abbie 

The auto ferry between the island and the peninsula is seen behind them to the right.

Boys burying their feet, 

making sand recliners to relax in

Hours later in the day we head out again - the sea lion is still there! 

(although he has changed direction) 

After dinner we all gather on the sea wall to watch the kids 

do flips and dig in the sand 

Matt and Pete, too cool 

After the sun goes down we take the kids on a walk to Main street

Balboa Island 

The Olympics are in full swing during our stay here,

there is evidence of USA pride all over 

Our destination: Dad's - an island institution and the perfect

place for Balboa Bars and Frozen Bananas 

Matt and the boys check out the many toppings 

Monday night family night - we are not the only LDS family with this great idea, there

are several other distinctly mormon families here,

we even see the bishop from Grandma's Laguna Beach ward with his wife. 

After everyone has ordered and received their snack we relax and enjoy the 

beautiful evening and the delicious desserts. 

Jack, Porter, Bryson, Aubrye, Abbie, Harriet, Matt 

Three oldest grandsons; Jack, Porter, Bryson 

Next three grandsons; Henry, Zach, Jed

(Taylor the youngest was home in bed) 

For fun I included a picture of the scrapbook page I made from

our Balboa trip 8 years ago - same kids eating Balboa bars -

look how we have grown!!  (that's Jed with the bottle!) 

Morning start early around here - while the water is still calm and the fog is

still lifting, the boys are up digging and planning and building.

There is even a dude out on the water, riding by on his kayak/bike for his morning exercise.

A morning of work well spent...

Harriet enjoying the view from the balcony.

Actually the girls spend plenty of time doing this in their room 

Grandpa has been not only an avid sailor for much of his life,

but a boat builder as well.  This little Sabot sailboat has been in

the family for years, and once again makes an appearance during

our Balboa vacation.  Time to ready it for a ride!

Grandpa and one of his many willing passengers

sail in the harbor.  I LOVE that my kids get the chance

to sail with their grandpa in his boat. 

wood sign in the living room 

Wednesday morning we load up the wagon and the kids

and then load up the auto ferry across the bay for a day

of play in the waves at Newport Beach. 

Smile everyone!

(this one I stole from Aubrye)

view of the beach from the pier 

view of the pier and boys ready to play in some real ocean! 

dolphin swimming by 

back to the island 

Hanging out as a family after the sun goes down

playing a game with a giant ball of yarn

sharing our appreciation for each other 

and demonstrating how we are all connected 

when finally a giant web of yarn joins us all together, 

Taylor jumps in the middle to play 

chilling with papa a bit before bedtime

After (most) of the kids are tucked into bed Pete and I sneak out for a night walk

back into town to Dad's - this time for one of their famous hippo sugar cookies! 

When we get back home the girls have set up a nail painting extravaganza 

Harriet with her green and white polka dots! 

Another morning at the beach house 

(have you noticed yet that there are always at least

3 or 4 sleeping bags set up on the balcony?) 

The oldest three boys set off on a morning paddle around the island 

while I take the next three boys across to the Fun Zone to meet up with our

Cub Scout troop, who by some great coincidence have scheduled an outing

to the ExplorOcean/Newport Nautical Museum located there today. 

Jed with the Catch of the Day 

There is a neat touch tank with spindly sea anemones, colorful starfish, and little hermit crabs 

Afterwards we say goodbye to our Cub Scout troop and spend some time 

skeeballing in the Fun Zone Arcade 

Soon the rest of our group show up and we take a ride on the

Fun Zone Ferris Wheel - with a great view of the harbor  

and even our vacation house in the far left center 

This afternoon Grandpa engages the kids in some friendly competition,

aka The Family Olympics 

paddling and speed kayaking are just

two of the competitions 

and a bit further down the beach we come across

some sand castles that are competition worthy 

weekly sailboat race/regatta passes by,

entertaining us through our dinner 

Tonight we celebrate Porter's 12 birthday! 

we indulge in some do it yourself ice cream cookie sandwiches

customized with your favorite ice cream and topping to roll it in 

presents and balloons 

and all the cousins with creepy glow eyes! 

Happy Birthday Porter! 

One favorite activity every night has been sleeping out on the balcony!

It's been so popular we've had to rotate each night with the two groups

of boys taking turns (girls had their own room with their own beds) 

and tonight Henry, Zack and Jed enjoy the night air! 

Richardson Family - Balboa Island '12

the girls spend time browsing the main street shops,

stopping by dad's for some ice cream and cookies...

with the Catalina Flyer arriving home for the evening in the background

girls making eyes at the beach 

Cousins on the balcony 

(minus Kenzie who was off doing more exciting

things, like getting in a car accident!) 

just don't look too closely

Jack & Harriet 

While the rest of the kids head out for dinner on their own 

Pete and I take the boys across on the ferry to Newport for some souvenir shopping

and another shot at the Fun Zone arcade. 

Fun Zone board walk 

Trying to make it to the pier in time for the amazing sunset 

caught the tail end of it - so beautiful

we run into the older kids here as well 

cousins on the pier 

more skeeball at the Fun Zone 

(and lots of random mormons as well like those guys behind us) 

tickets! 

last night Fun Zone Ferris Wheel evening ride 

Abbie, Harriet, Aubrye

Fun Zone Ferris Wheel 

Jed takes a ride with grandpa before we

dock the sailboat, wash it off and

pack it away for another year 

Jack and Grandpa

visiting in the side yard 

while the adults pack everything up 

matching cousins Taylor and Jed catch up on their 

device playing quota. 

Zach with the living room view of the Balboa Pavilion 

When we are all packed up and the house is somewhat tidier,

we are ready to present grandma with her thank you gift...

Grammy Ann, known for her love of children's books of all kinds,

is thrilled with the copy of the clever parody Goodnight iPad we give her 

Harriet reads it to Grandma, who is thoroughly tickled by it! 

Grandma and Grandpa bookend their 11 grandkids.

We LOVE you Grandma and Grandpa! 

(okay, Jack is missing, gone off to Six Flags this morning.

And poor Kenzie with her broken collarbone from last night's

 car accident she was a passenger in!  So glad she is okay!) 

And with the adults, who are in their sweaty 

"we've been packing and cleaning up" clothes! 

Thank you Balboa Island for a family

vacation full of wonderful memories!