Stout Grove :: Visiting the Coastal Redwoods

After the boys' high school golf tournament, we made one last stop before heading back home. I always love visiting the Redwoods! It had been awhile since our last visits to Stout Grove (here and here) and a first for our youngest two. I haven't been able to walk much the past month or so (due to some issues I'm having with my hips/spine/joints - most likely from when I broke my tailbone combined with the added pregnancy weight) but my current weekly visits to the physical therapist/chiropractor have been making a big difference and I was so happy to be able to walk the beautiful loop trail through these colossal 300-foot+ ancient coastal redwoods! 

"Even the Shamrocks here are huge!"

 

 

 

 

"We are making a triceratops!" 

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." - Robert Louis Stevenson

Overnight Getaway to the Coast

Our older boys had a high school golf tournament over at the coast earlier this week and we were able to turn it into a little overnight getaway for the whole family! 

 

We loaded up our soon-to-be-too-small nine-seat Suburban (we need one of these asap), left early in the morning the day before their tournament, dropped them off at the golf course for a practice round, and were able to check in early to our hotel room overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. 

It rained for the first half of the boys' tournament but, by the time we checked out of our room at noon to head over and watch the second half, the sun had come out and it was such a beautiful afternoon!  

Ranger got his first birdie (outside of his home/practice course) on hole #4! 

 

Thankfully golf carts were available for this tournament, making it possible for me to watch while we all enjoyed the sunshine and fresh ocean air!

 

We got to watch Ranger par hole 15, but missed his birdie on hole 17 since we circled back to watch Captain for a few more holes.

The boys both did great. Ranger had a new personal best and tied for 4th place! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Pacific Coast

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

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Sunday, May 1st: Beautiful Mass after an early morning road trip through the redwoods!

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Ora Pro Nobis! 

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Our family-sized room with a view... So nice to be back! The boys had an out-of-town golf tournament last week so we decided to head over a day early and turn it into a mini-vacation!

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The next morning we checked out of the hotel and our whole family headed to the golf course to watch our high schoolers' last tournament before Regionals the following Thursday and Friday. It was a gorgeous day and the weather was perfect! Thankfully there were complimentary golf carts available for the families and coaches.

 

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Mass, walks on the beach, playing in the sand, whale watching, reading while the kids swam in the heated pool, family time in our hotel room, watching the sunset over the ocean... It was such a beautiful and refreshing day! - (May 1, Instagram)