Prairie Dog Rustlers: Palm Desert Family Reunion

Mid July we packed up for a two week trip to Southern California for some fun in the sun! In addition to the planned family reunion in Palm Desert, with Silas's family, we decided to camp one night in the Mojave desert, take the kids to Legoland, and hit the beach at Carlsbad, CA. A lot packed into one trip, but a lot of fun too!

Our campsite at the Kelso Dunes, dead center of the Mojave Desert Preserve, in July, it was sooo stinkin' hot! Good thing we were only there from sundown until 9am next day! Amazing dunes, interesting animals, resilient grasses, and tiny little gourds.

fringe toed lizard, unique to the mojave

How hot is the Mojave in July? This hot!

One section of the dunes had an interesting black sand overlaying the lighter sand. Amelia looks like a little desert mermaid!

I had to include this picture for Becky! The wind blowing the grasses created these interesting circles in the black sand . . .

Perfect dunes! And we're quite high up, only one dune taller than this. A perfect spot to rest and get a family picture!

Here he is, Jesse, on top of the world! This tallest dune was probably 150 ft. It was a 10 or 15 minute climb from the base to the top, and a lovely 360 view of the surrounding chocolate colored mountains, harsh and barren and stark, cupping the soft pale sand as in the hollow of one's hand.

Dad, demonstrating how to properly jump down the dune.

(First in a series of three, as the dune was so tall, he/and we had to rest multiple times on the way down!)

Back to Legoland for 2 days of fun!

Happy 10th Birthday to Legoland! (and 8th b-day to Solomon!)

pretty casual for hanging out in a shark's mouth, dude . . .

mini golf--I can't tell you how many other groups 'played through', we were pretty slow, attention spans wandering, but it was one of the highlights for Mom!

Okay--I had to include this picture of a quite disgruntled little Jesse at Legoland in 2006, too young to go on the Bionicle Blaster . . .

. . . and now, 3 years later, the dream fulfilled!

Amelia and Solomon

A real mermaid's purse at the Legoland Sealife Aquarium; baby shark inside.

this is what Amelia looks like in a Mermaid's purse.

Marriot Shadow Resort in Palm Desert

Chess playing boys.

I can see one of these in our backyard someday--that would be awesome!

No, he's actually reaching for the Lego Silver Storm Trooper on the cake; Happy Birthday Solomon!

What a summer for Solomon! "Turned 8, learned to swim underwater, decided I want to work at Legoland when I grow up, and ahh . . . now I need to relax. . ."

You can't see it because of the angle, but the girls are jumping into the upper tier pool; They literally spent hours swimming, jumping, floating, and playing in the salt water pool. Fortunately, the adults had nothing more pressing to do either, so everyone could tan and burn to their hearts' content . . .

A morning at the Living Desert Preserve, because Mom wanted to go. Thanks, kids, for humouring her! Jesse got to feed the baby giraffe.

Solomon gingerly petting this giant skink thing . . .

Lovely little hummers everywhere! You wouldn't believe how close I got to this one, resting in the shade, to get this shot on my macro setting--within 3 feet with my arms reaching out towards him, he didn't even flinch. Maybe someday I'll get a real camera!

Beach Day!

Silas and Amelia got quite brave in the water, learning to body surf and even swimming a little. Our first time actually swimming in the ocean. No wonder people want to live in San Diego!