A Little R&R in Los Cabos, Mexico June 28, 2006
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Next week we’re all flying down to Los Cabos, Mexico to enjoy a full week of fun in the sun. Mallory and Nathalie are really excited to hit the beach and pool everyday for seven days straight…..I just hope their parents are ready for it 
. We decided a few years ago to make sure we took week-long family vacations to build strong childhood memories and stop the four-day “mini-vacations” Stacey and I would take prior to the girls arrival. Although I seem to enjoy working all the time, the transition to 7 day vacations is agreeing nicely with me. Stacey and I went to Cabo for our first time last September to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary and immediately fell in love with place. The direct flight from LA to Cabo is just under 2 hours, so it’s very accessible for west-coasters. Everyone knows about Cabo-Wabo (Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame’s tequila bar) and Squid-Row (where are all the spring-breakers get looped and loose), but Cabo has actually become quite a nice resort town. We’re going to be staying at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach in Los Cabos is situated on the western side of the tip of Baja, overlooking the Pacific.
Let the Hamburger Games Begin June 23, 2006
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Mega Hamburger One, originally uploaded by Life on the Edge.
This coming summer I will square off against the other Barnes siblings in the first annual hamburger cookoff contest. Plans are to have two categories – an "open-pit" burger and a "grill" burger. No matter – I plan on winning both contests. Stacey might even enter her own burger as she's become quite the burger chef. We have both been card-carrying members of the "Beefeaters Club", awarded to those few Americans that have endeavered in 'steak tartar' and show courage in finishing off any remaining beef at three or more cookouts. Lastly, Californians have an unfair advantage when it comes to cookouts….since it's sunny and 70 every day we tend to grill out more
Disneyland or Bust June 21, 2006
Posted by Eric in Eric, Mallory, Nathalie, Stacey.add a comment
Yesterday I took the day off and the entire clan went to Disneyland before the blackout dates start on our season pass. No matter how many times we've been – and we go a lot – it never ceases to amaze me how many people they can cram in that park! After a late start, we arrived around 11am, took the horse carriage down Main Street (a Mallory favorite), and proceeded over to Frontierland to climb Tarzan's tree house (previously the "Swiss Family Robinson House"). Mallory then joined me on Splash Mountain, which included a doosey of a downhill that didn't agree with her. While I think she really loved the ride, she was a bit scared. We then conquered Thunder Mountain, Autopia (where you drive the cards around the track), and of course hit the petting zoo (a real secret even within Disneyland – when you're sick of the crowds, you can escape to the petting zoo where the humans are sparse; of course you get to smell the ripe aroma of goats).
Stacey and I debated the merits of Disney's recent transition of older rides to newer themes, such as the Robinson's house to Disney's more recent Tarzan animated movie. In fact, Pirates of the Carribean was closed while undergoing a major facelift that will make the ride more like the upcoming movie of same name starring Johnny Depp. This act alone generated a front page news story in yesterday's LA Times. I guess if you're over 30 grew up with the old rides you become a little attached to childhood memories…kinda like your old grade school closing and gettting bull-dozed.
Little Horse Rider June 18, 2006
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Mallory has been taking horse lessons for about 6 months now. After an early toss off the horse, she’s managed to take control and is well on her way to being a good rider.
Catalina with Indian Princesses June 18, 2006
Posted by Eric in Main, Mallory.2 comments
Dad and Mallory journeyed by sea to Catalina Island for the last "Indian Princesses" event of the 2006 season. After a two hour journey by boat, we landed at Howland's Landing and took our spots in cabin #11. Mallory bunked up top, while Dad and his snoring slept below. We had so much fun telling stories, playing on the beach, and taking hikes.
