new year, old traditions

my parents started a tradition some time ago, of camping on new years eve. it's a nice tradition. my little family, likes to reflect on the past year away from the hustle and bustle, even if only for an afternoon, and think about the year to come. it sounded like a grand idea to join my parent's adventure of an overnight and make it a little get-away. 

when you live in the same town as your immediate family, it's difficult to carve out time that's not interrupted by chores, errands, work and general daily life. so getting away together is always true quality-time and a rarity that's appreciated. 4 days was a true vacation and it was so nice to have everyone in one place.

the girls were a little under the weather, so we opted to go home each night (the beauty of your get-away being only 20 minutes away). but we set up our campsite as if we were sleeping there, we made all our meals there, roasted marshmallows and played all day. but, we all slept in our cozy beds...kind of perfect for those freezing december nights.

the site my parent's snagged the monday before new years, wasn't too shabby.

the first day we arrived, we promptly went down to the beach, literally a stone's throw away

chilaxin in the warm winter sun with papa

my dad. happy and cozy.

before the logs got chopped they were great little campfire stoops

bikes were a hit. evia and mila made 8(!) new friends at el cap - all the kids had bikes and scooters. a shout out to coralie, oliver, reese, wynn, liliana, gabriella, gweneth and zenia.

popped corn on the fire

the sunsets those 3 nights were stunning

our adventurer

 

our goofball. we turn around and she is walking with a 3' stick balancing(!) on her head - NO HANDS

my mom painting in an open meadow while anna catches some rays.

dad fishing d and evia tidepooling

auintie anna and mila checking out the tidepools

a seal came up onto shore, yawned put his head up as if sunning himself and then hopped back into the waves!

"evia" caught 3 fish on my dad's pole

 

sillies laying on rocks

anna, em and salt-dog

 

me and my littlest love

 

new year's morning breaky, buttermilk donuts with maple glaze

the day after new year's we had a SUPERB day with our zavala counterparts! a zoo date, followed by the chocolate lounge for some legit sipping chocolate, a walk on the breakwater and home for a fresh salmon dinner. unparalleled and a perfect way to begin 2015

chocolate-staches

starting to really be able to read. here she shows mila how the shop window reads "open."

the wee-est zavala cousins on the breakwater

hello 2015!