July 2006 Review

July was very eventful for the Brennans! We traveled, first to Arizona, then to California. So we spent a lot of time in the car (and gave the air conditioning some good use!). We like to listen to books on tape when we are on road trips. Also, we discovered that our preferred time to travel is early in the morning, because Becca will sleep a lot of the time that way and she doesn't get sick of being in her carseat as quickly.
In Arizona, we saw Laurel's brother, who lives outside of Tucson. Becca got to know her Arizona cousins much better than when we last saw them at Thanksgiving time. She loved their chocolate lab named Nestle, and even got brave enough to pet her (eventually!). Becca loves all animals, but gets nervous when up close and personal. Perhaps it's that mouthful of teeth or beak. We spent a day at the community pool and waterpark, and had a fabulous time! We swam, went on waterslides, and Becca played in the baby splash pool and went down the baby slide. Two things Becca loves are water and slides, so it was a great combination! The main event for the weekend was that Laurel's eight-year-old niece Emma was baptized into the LDS Church, an important event in Emma's life and a great occasion for family to gather to celebrate the wonderful person that she is and the decision that she's made. Laurel played the piano at the baptism.
After the Arizona trip, instead of going back to Idaho with Ben, Laurel (and Becca too) hitched a ride with her parents to her childhood home in California. She spent some time with her parents and younger brother, and talked to Ben on the phone every day. The two women also went to the Oakland Zoo, an outdoor steel drum concert, and an outdoor performance of the musical Ragtime. Once Ben could get a chance to leave work again, he drove out to meet her. The highlight of the California trip was by far spending a week at the Delta house on the water. We went waterskiing and swimming every day, several times a day! We had to, because each day brought 110 degree weather and higher! Ben made some great improvements in his wakeboarding, and also did wake surfing, wake skating, and single skiing. Laurel stuck to her favorite: waterskiing. She never has really taken to wakeboarding, and so continues to do the sport she loves best. She also went kneeboarding a few times, once with her sister and twice with Becca. That's right-- Becca. Our water-lover was so comfortable with the water that she didn't mind laying on the kneeboard on her stomach, with Laurel laying directly behind her and holding the rope for them. We're not sure whether Becca enjoyed it or was simply indifferent, as she didn't smile.
Once the waterskiing trip was over and before heading back home, the family spent a day in Santa Cruz, where we used to live. We went to some of our favorite haunts, like the monarch butterfly resting place at Natural Bridges State Park, West Cliff Drive, the Boardwalk, and Pacific Avenue. Even though we didn't live there long, it always feels like coming home when we go to Santa Cruz.
At the end of the month, we came back to Idaho just in time to attend the wedding of Laurel's cousin. It was a beautiful backyard wedding and we got to visit with some more family we don't often see. In all, the month was busy, and we were hardly ever home! This was our vacation month for sure.