Shew!

Well, let me start by saying we are never going to California again!  Don't panic, I am only kidding, but apparently when we go to California Macey grows up much faster than when we are at home, so we are trying to fix that.  I will give you a list of all her "firsts" while we were in CA, and will share as many of the fun moments that she shared with her family as I can.

I'll start with the only thing that was for me during this trip.  A former student/athlete of mine was drafted by the Giants this past year and is currently playing for the San Jose Giants (A).  It just happened that he was in Bakersfield while we were there.  So I got to see him play, and I was so excited.  I could go on about him, but he is just a great kid and deserves all the success in the world.  So, if you hear the name Roger Kieschnick in major league baseball in the next few years, that's him!!!

My special treat during our trip to California

During the trip to California Macey met, for the first time, 8 first cousins, 3 uncles, 1 auntie, 3 great-uncles, 2 great-aunts, 1 great-grandma, 2 great-grandpas, 10 second cousins, she also met our cousins and countless friends.  I expected it to be quite overwhelming for her, but she just warmed right up to most people and enjoyed the attention.  Our first trip within our trip was to Pismo beach.  Here she went swimming for the first time and went to the beach for the first time. 

Macey and Grandpa Max

Our little beach baby

Grandma Charlotte and Grandpa Max's house is kind of like a mini resort, complete with a pool and putting green.  So Macey took full advantage of everything.

Trying out Grandpa Max's putting green (notice the sandals)

  

 Kevin joined us after we had spent a week there and we headed to Fresno.  After being greeted by Uncle Rod, Auntie Julie, Grandma Connie and Papa Ross it was off to meet her cousins Alyssa and Lindsey.  Those two little girls were so excited, and Macey was all smiles when she saw them.

Macey and her cousins Alyssa and Lindsey, this was Grandma Connie's mother's day present

We always have to have an In-n-Out burger when we are in California.  We wanted to make sure Macey had her chance to "taste" some of the food, so I handed her my burger and here was the result.

Only the best for her first "taste" of a hamburger

Later that day Macey had another huge first, her FIRST TOOTH.  Now it makes sense why she was so eager to take a bite of that burger, she wanted to try out her new tooth.  The next day a second one came through.

The second trip within our trip was to Shaver Lake.  It is an annual event for the McNeelys and Rushes (Grandma Connie's sister and her family) to head to Shaver Lake and stay in a large cabin for the weekend.  The kids are slowly out numbering the adults, and it is a ton of fun.  There is lots of dirt, food and more food.  Once again Macey just loved everyone and seemed to be having a wonderful time.

Alyssa, Brook (a 2nd cousin), Lindsey and Macey

The Rush/McNeely clan (that would be 12 adults and 11 kids, but another little girl will be joining the family in few weeks, and a new baby is due in December)

Swimming with Dad and Alyssa

This only brushes the surface of all the pictures we took, but it gives you a good idea of some of the things we were able to do while in California.  Some more firsts for Macey were learning to go from a crawl to a sitting position.  She did it once, and by the next day it was old hat.  She had pulled up to the furniture once before we left home, and by the second or third day there she was pulling up on everything!  She literally grew up while we were there, and now she is hard to keep up with.  I guess the next step is cruising along the furniture, I'm sure that will start any day.

Here are a few more pictures that I thought were "blog worthy."  Enjoy!

Macey and Grandma Connie

Macey adoring her cousin Jakob

Pismo Beach

Having so much fun with her cousins (I love the remarkable resemblance in the facial expressions of Macey and Alyssa)

Macey just loves her cousin Josh