The new year brought some very cold temperatures. So we loaded the kids in a rented mini van and headed south to LA's sunny skies for a while.

Here are the kids with their headphone beanies watching movies somewhere in the middle of California.

We stayed with the Ernst family for a few days in Orange County, then we headed north to visit with the Crandells for a while in Santa Monica.

Our first stop was Santa Monica peir and a trip down to the beach to get our feet wet.

Here are the kids with Cody at the Crandell house. They had a great time!

Betsy and Katie loaded all three kids in the truck and headed down to the beach. Nothing like running laps in the sand to get ready for nap time.

Here is Micah doing his best Hasselhoff.

Thanks Crandells!! We had a blast!