Thirty one degrees is COLD, but it was all worth it. We went up to Stetson Ranch in the San Grogonio mountains with my family and a few old friends to pick some of (in my humble opinion) the best apples in the world. Stetson was an old Boy Scout ranch back in the 40′s and 50′s that was abandon for about 50 years. Somehow the apple trees survived pretty well without any human intervention. Recently a family bought the land and have turned the orchards it into a U-pick experience for mountain travelers. The apples may not be very big, but they are taste superb and are 100% organic – something you just can’t buy in any store. Can’t wait to make some killer apple crisp tonight. Zac had a blast picking apples. He didn’t really know what to do with it after it was picked, but he had fun ;) I think he enjoyed playing with all the random sticks lying around and slashing through the bushes even more though.

Because a baptism is like an announcement. Here’s a few photos from Sandals Church 2^nd Annual Beach Baptism.  This was really special for me since I was baptized here last year. It’s really quite a unique location – the Cove at Corona Del Mar. The calm waters below lead into the Newport bay, providing a perfect place for the baptizing. The high cliffs above is where most people watch, giving them an excellent overview. It’s simply a great place. It was extra cool this year because Monique, my Aunt and Amber from our small group were all baptized together.

Summer is my favorite time of year for many reasons.  Just thinking about all the stuff I can do makes me smile.  The beach , scuba diving,  vacations are all great, but I think one of my most favorite things to do in the summer is to buy all the fresh fruit I can get my hands on. Peaches, nectarines, honeydew and watermelon are the best on a warm summer day. It is especially cool to see Zac experience this all for the first time too.

We’re always trying to get him to eat new foods, because, let’s face it – kids are picky. I had given him a few bites of watermelon before, but he didn’t really know what to do with it. This time I left the rhine on and just gave him a piece. Not only did he eat it all, he loved it. Piece after piece, he let all the juice dribble down his tummy. We both sat on the balcony and watched the cars and people go by as we enjoyed one of the many pleasures of summer.