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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

California Time

Hi Knitters,
My oldest son made this video for my husband and me as a thank you for our recent trip to California. It is really fun the way he pieced the vacation together and set it to music. It is just under 7 minutes long. Don't feel like you have to watch it, I won't even know either way. I love this little trip video though.




If you do watch the video there are a couple things of interest to point out, when we were in Hollywood we drove around in Beverly Hills to look at the fancy houses. We came across the house where Michael Jackson last lived. Peachy is a Michael Jackson fan so we stopped at this house so she could get a photo. That's what those huge black gates are. There were tour buses everywhere and lots of people around. It was weird. The other thing is that when we were walking in Hollywood and looking at the stars on the sidewalk, the only star with people around it taking photos was Michael Jackson's star. There was a group around it at all times.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway we got such a kick out of my husband's fascination with Bixby's Bridge. There is a photo of my husband and me in front of the bridge at the end of the video. I had never heard him talk about it before but he knew all kinds of facts and stories about the bridge. Who knew? We also came across this secluded beach area that was packed full of seals (or are those sea lions? anyone?). My second son, he is 16, is always the one who has to get right up next to or in the middle of any situation. I was nervous to get too close but he just loved those seals.
In Palm Springs we stayed at a really cool 1950's style but modernized house. It is called the Oscar Mayer house. This house was owned at one time by Oscar Mayer, the b-o-l-o-g-n-a guy! It was amazing and roomy and we loved the pool. We all spent hours in the pool every day. The water was very warm. Everything was streamlined and low to the ground which was so different than San Francisco.
I loved this entire house but my favorite room? Now don't laugh, the sunny, gigantic laundry room! After days of travel with three teens, one husband and a 10-year-old, I had tons of laundry to do. I fell in love with this laundry room. I would love to have a nice laundry room at home. It would make this task so much easier take. Laundry is pure drudgery and it is by far my least favorite category of housework. With this big, bright sunny room I found myself happily folding and throwing in load after load. I was even humming at times. If only this room could have come home with me.
Thanks for taking a little timeout with me today. If you look real close you'll see TC in the left pool corner with her book propped up on the side of the pool so she could read and swim at the same time. She spent a lot of time like this and it looks pretty good to me.
Enjoy the rest of your day, sweet Knitters.
best, susie

33 comments:

  1. Wow, This made me teary! What a wonderful gift of a vacation for your family. I am sure one none of you will ever forget. Quite fitting as you have one going off to college soon. Next one not too far off. Family time together like that is priceless. You are a lucky woman. Loved the video with music. Tell your son he is amazing!
    Patty
    (Jimberlys)

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  2. That is the most fantastic thing I've ever watched, and kiddo's to your son for making it.
    What a wonderful memory your family will always have and how fun to always go back and see it in video. Just loved it Susan, thanks for sharing.

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  3. What a WONDERFUL family trip!! Nothing more fun than traveling with teenagers! When my husband returned from a year in VietNam, he was stationed at Ft.Ord and we would take Hwy-1 to Carmel and down to Big Sur. It is so filled with breathtaking beauty. When you were in Palm Springs, you weren't far from my old stomping grounds, 2001-2004. If you drilled a hole through the SanJancinto mountains from Palm Springs, you would come out at Hemet. It's less windy there, and usually 10-20 degrees cooler in the summer, which makes it much more desirable.:-) Hope you went up the side of the mountain in the tram when you were there. More breathtaking sights! Thank you for sharing your family and trip with us. Caused me to go down memory lane, and made me glad that others are seeing the beautiful land of California. :-)

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  4. what an awesome video, it makes me want to give my kids the world. i had a very hard childhood and i am always striving to give my little girl everything she could dream of. vacations like those are definitely something that i dreamt of as a child. you guys seem like such an awesome family. thanks for sharing.

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  5. You undoubtedly have done a wonderful job raising your children. It's so refreshing to see families enjoying each other. Continued blessings...

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  6. WOW--What a great video! You guys have so much fun together as a family! AWESOME!

    Only thing missing....no yarn or knitting? LOL

    Thanks for sharing this with us!
    ~ Kathy (Oregon)

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  7. Minnesota fanApril 14, 2010

    I am touched by your family video.
    it was so much fun to watch, love the music and the thank you from your son at the end. You have a loving family

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  8. What a great video. When you write about certain things I can't resist sharing with my DH. He is as empressed with you and how you take the time to do all your pictures and stories as I am. You are terrific. So happy about winning the book, too.
    Sharon in Va

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  9. Thank you for sharing that - it's awesome! The photo of your son flopped on the sand with the seal made me laugh out loud. What fun!

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  10. You make me miss California, my home state :( I grew up in LA and then lived in Mountain View (South Bay) area for 10 years. Now I'm in Illinois. I miss the beaches and the mountains. *sigh*

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  11. I'm not even a family member and I enjoyed your video.

    My husband attended graduate school in San Francisco many years ago. We lived in Pacific Heights near the Presidio. So funny that you hated the Eucylptus tree smell as you were driving through. I loved seeing you walk down the tunnel from the secret garden and your son with the sea lions. We used to weekend in Carmel. What wonderful memories for your wonderful family. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Ahhh....the best of times!!

    I'm only 90 minutes away from San Francisco (Sacramento), so those sights are very familiar to me. :)

    Thanks for sharing!!

    TracesmomCheryl (on Rav)

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  13. What an amazing family you have! (But you know that) The family that can enjoy together times like this will remain tight forever...Good for you!!!

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  14. Oh my goodness, I had tears and at the same time realized my face hurt from smiling so big while I was watching! I loved the images, the stops, the music, all of it! Your son's love of his family is so obvious... such an amazing thing he did. How much can I squeeze into this comment box?!?! I loved the 16 yr. old son lying near the seals! The jumping from rock to rock, The Collector and her moments! I loved it all. I encourage your son's talent for capturing this in such a way that total strangers cry, smile and laugh out loud when they see it. Huge, huge thing he did! God bless him!

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  15. I loved the video, too. So beautiful. Glad you all got to take a break together.
    thanks for sharing it.
    Beth
    (the moose lady)

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  16. Sigh, can you adopt me and take me with you on your next trip?

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  17. Wow! You were in my home town (Carmel) and I didn't even know it! What a great trip for your darling family. How did you find such interesting homes to stay in? So much nicer than ordinary hotel accomodations. Thanks to your talented son....and to your generosity for sharing the vacation.

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  18. I swear this house was used for a scene in a Mad Men episode! Season 2, Episode 11, The Jet Set. You totally need to watch it and let me know...

    Selkie on Ravelry

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  19. Your family is so lovely, and seeing the trip video reminded me a lot of my childhood :). I was in essence TC, being the tale end of 4 kids (well, until "surprise" came 9 years after me).

    I love the movie, well done to your son!

    All those sunny photos make me wish desperately for summer RIGHT NOW!

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  20. christine m. east of torontoApril 15, 2010

    oooooooh! that pool shot with the palm trees in the back at the
    1950s house just totally reminded me of Lucy & Desi for some reason! thanks for the trip back in time!

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  21. I loved it! What is the second song played towards the end of the video? It was perfect! Thanks!

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  22. I'm a puddle. That was every mother's dream come true...You must be incredibly proud!

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  23. Waaay cool road trip vacation!

    Since I am a California girl, I can say...your son really captured the feel of our Golden State!

    I hope you come back soon and for a book tour, too. Hint, hint!!

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  24. That was awesome,,,I sat here this morning with my coffee and just really enjoyed it in face I got chills watching it,,thanks for sharing and tell your son he did a fabulous job with the video and music...that will be a tresure in the years to come..

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  25. I have five kids and we always loved our family trips together, it is so nice when the focus is on each other as a family without outside distractions.

    By the way was the funny smell eucalyptus trees? This is what darling Koalas eat to survive!

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  26. I just wanted to tell you that I loved your book itty-bitty nursery. I am not sure where to put this comment if it should go on your most recent post or the post relative to your book. I have completed one of your pacifier clips for my sister, I attempted the elephant but it looks a bit more mouse-ish as crocheting is a challenge for me at this stage. http://kristabelleburgeoning.blogspot.com/2010/04/ok-here-are-photos-of-wrist-thingy-i.html
    I have this book at the top of my mother’s day wish list. Thank you for all of your hard work putting this book together.

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  27. Sarah DedmonApril 18, 2010

    That was fun to see. You're at such a lovely stage of family life, you are all young together! You take some lovely trips.

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  28. Wow, that was awesome, so creative. What a wonderful thing to see. Thank you so much for sharing. Looks like you guys had a great vacation.

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  29. The songs are Underneath it All by No Doubt and Hey, Soul Sister by Train.

    I've been asked a bunch of times.
    susan

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  30. Nancy,
    We loved Carmel, my husband is a travel agent in disguise. He loves to search the internet and find great houses at a good price for us to stay in. We are lucky to have him plan all of our trips.
    susan

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  31. What a hoot! I laughed at the "no left turn" sign. My son lives in San Francisco and all I see are "no left turn" signs. I travel those roads from Los Angeles to San francisco about once a month. Great fun. I also loved your Palm Springs fun. We go there also.
    Please call next time you're in LA and you can all come over for swimming and Bar, B Q above the Sunset Strip.

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  32. I love the video trip.It has been a while since I rode down the coast highway, but it brought back a lot of happy memories.

    You asked about the seal, whether it was a seal or seal lion. Well, it is most likely what is known a a Harbor seal. The main way to tell the difference between seals and sea lions is the sea lions have external ear flaps and seals don't. (A little bit of info I pass along to visitor @ the Seneca Park Zoo where I'm a docent.)

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  33. This is one special keepsake of a vacation video. All your kids in tow driving down the california coastline. You'll cherish this one for years to come. I watched it through and by the time the end came, I had some damp patches on my t-shirt and a huge grin on my face. Reminded me of vacations when my 2 were little and we drove to the east cost (New Brunswick & Nova Scotia) for 2 weeks. Great memories and great fun. Enjoy them while they are still at home cause believe me, once they've moved out, it's never the same again. Take it from a mom with a 28 year old and a 25 year old. I look at them and wonder where the time went and when did they get so grown up!

    (MariAngel on Ravelry)

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