The Wood Family in California: Long weekend Fun!!!

We had so much fun this long weekend!! Eric took off Friday and had off Monday and we spent everyday doing something fun. Friday we went out to our friends house,( Mindy and Mick, Gavin and Kaitlin) in Tustin, CA (Orange County, Ca) It was so much fun. Gavin and Austin use to go to school together here at Coastal Kids and then he moved after Christmas. They have a beautiful home and a really nice pool in their gated community! The kids loved to play in the pool. This is the first time they really got to "play" and not take a "swim lesson" so they were really enjoying themselves.

Mindy and Mick grilled hot dogs for the kids and carne asada for the adults. It was soo good!

Kain and Kaitlin were so cute, they were drying off together!

Austin and Gavin loved the kiddie pool.

Gavin just celebrated his birthday and he got a jeep, just like Austin's car.

When we got home we did a few fireworks in the back. All the neighbors came out to join us. Even our neighbors across the street. Fireworks are illegal in Ca. because it is so dry here. No, the cops did not get called on us! We just had "popper" and noise makers. Oh wait, the back neighbors pulled out some shooting sparklers. The kids loved it! It was SO LOUD!

Sunday, July 4th we headed to our party on the beach. There were 16 couples and kids. I met most of them through play group with Kain. We all were to bring a dish that was pre-planned by the hostess. I want to share this menu, because it's like no other....Talk about a P A R T Y!!!!!!!

The Menu: recipes attached

Drinks: soda, beer, wine, vodka cocktails

1 Rum Runner drinks and herb-infused spa water

Sandwich: (I would follow the recipe for the number of serving. We can cut the sandwiches up in smaller pieces for a selection to share)

2 Arugula, mozzarella, tomato on Focaccia

3 Halibut salad sandwich

4 Portobello mushroom and goat cheese sandwich

5 Stuffed Summer sandwiches

Side: (I think if we follow the recipes we should have enough to share with the group)

6 Oriental Chicken Salad with crunchy ramen noodles

7 Corn arugula salad

8 southwest style quinoa salad (Jaimee & Eric)

9 Israeli Couscous Salad with Asparagus, Cucumber and Olives

Desert:

10 Striped Ice cream cake

11 Some cookies, brownies etc.)

12 Chips/Dip

Here's part of our group. The hostess came out at 6:30am to reserve our spot on the beach, but was too late to get the volleyball courts. The beaches were PACKED!!!!