Summer Fun...

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Since returning from Florida we've had a great time just hanging out on our own as a little family of three. We enjoyed a little ride to Santa Cruz with Uncle Ryan and Andi, a visit with our Minnesota buddies Nick and Michelle, and a three day last-minute trip to Santa Barbara! It has been special to have so much time while Ramsey is on summer break and although he is working his tail off to complete his doctorate in the next year, we really feel as if we are "living the dream" until work resumes as usual at the end of August.

Our trip to Santa Barbara was decided on a whim when we returned from the warmth of visiting friends and family in Elk Grove to the chilly fog of summertime in San Francisco. To escape the cold, we drove 6 hours south on the coast to the town of Montecito, just south of Santa Barbara. Aside from the cool fact that Oprah vacations there and Micheal Jackson's Neverland Ranch is in the area, we stayed at a really cool Inn that happened to be the getaway dream of Charlie Chaplin himself! Built in the 1920's, the Montecito Inn still maintains the architectural and interior design of the era, so it was like stepping back in time (it even had one of those old elevators with the metal gate and glass door)! It was also Riley's first overnight stay in a hotel, and she was fantastic...clearly a lover of traveling!!

We did a lot of walking, took in some great food at local restaurants, shopped on State Street in Santa Barbara, and stopped at Neverland Ranch on the way home to take some photos and enjoy the scenery of wine country. All the while, Riley had our attention with her laughs, smiles, and charming little personality! She is changing everyday and is so much more alert and aware, so she responds to our silly faces and singing and reaches out to grab things that have her attention.

I can't beleive she is almost 4 months old!!