Last week we had an amazing extended weekend in Santa Cruz with the Loscutoff family. Dad, Helene, Peter, Megan and Baby Geoffrey joined us at a beautiful oceanfront home in the heart of Santa Cruz. We had 3 amazing days together filled with wonderful memories!
The home we rented was right on the ocean cliff which made for breathtaking views and endless, peaceful rolling waves.
Kate standing on the front porch of the house.
Our neighborhood beach was located one short block away from the house. The kids loved playing in the waves and digging in the soft sand.
Maggie spent a lot of her time looking for shells on the beach. We came home with 2 buckets full!
The beach had an attached lagoon. The water was warmer and calmer in the lagoon so the girls loved exploring these waters as well.
Here is the view from the kitchen/living room balcony.
We saw dolphins everyday from the balcony!
On Friday we took a trip to Monterey to visit the amazing aquarium.
Maggie was so excited to touch a sea star!
"Finding Nemo" fish
Sea horses
"Hello, Kate!"
This creepy-looking eel was starring at Maggie.
Love the jelly fish!
We loved the Open Ocean exhibit with the enormous tank filled with this hammer-head shark...
....a huge sea turtle....
...and an incredible tornado of sardines!
We watched them feed the sardines which created this incredible rush to the surface of the water, as all 250,000 sardines swarmed to the top for food. The turtle didn't seem to even notice.
So pretty!
Taking a quick, sunny break outside with Dedushka and Grammalene.
We all agreed that our favorite exhibit was the "Octopuses"...they are incredibly odd and very fascinating sea creatures!
The girls enjoyed the wave tunnel, in which a wave rushed over their heads in a glass tunnel.
After the aquarium, we headed to the beach again. The girls spent several hours running in the waves, collecting shells and enjoying the gorgeous weather!
On Saturday we headed to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We had no idea what to expect when we decided to go on this excursion and boy, were we surprised at how many awesome rides there were, how clean and well kept it all was, and how much there was to do. The girls had SO MUCH FUN at the Boardwalk! Dedushka generously treated the girls to lots and lots of super fun rides!
Will and the girls agree that the space bumper cars were their favorite ride. They rode it 3 times since it was so much fun!
It was cousin Geoffrey's first time in such a busy outing and he did an amazing job! We were so happy to have Peter, Megan and Geoffrey join us at the Boardwalk!
Uncle Peter, Auntie Megan and baby Geoffrey
3 generations of Loscutoff men.
Happy Maggie, devouring her yummy cotton candy
2 (out of 3) of my most favorite people.
Uncle Peter taught the girls how to head bang. :-)
Such a cutie!
We love our time with Grammalene!
Enjoying our last sunset at the house.
Loscutoff cousins
I am one happy auntie!
Before we closed up the house and headed home, we took one last trip to the beach.
Thank you Dedushka and Grammalene for an amazing trip! We had such a wonderful time!
