SLOing Down

We try to get to San Luis Obispo at least once a year to enjoy my old college stomping ground. This year was a highlight as we got to stay with my long time roomie Lianne. She's been married a year now to a wonderful guy Dave and they have a house in Los Osos. They described wanting to get away from the busyness of SLO. Slow down from SLO? That's so funny to me because I thought SLO was one of the most chill places you could live. But they were right. The little area of Los Osos (near Morro Bay) does have it's quiet charms and walkable beaches and no sidewalks or street lights. We had a lot more fun in Lianne's garden, with Coco loving/hating her little doggie Oscar, and playing at the beach than trying to take 3 kids to my favorite old places from college.

Isn't that how it always works with kids? You end up finding new favorite things once they are in your lives? They do so well with simple and slow and low expectations. They do poorly with sight-seeing and moving about quickly.

Picking bell peppers to taste. We also checked out their mini-orchard and their impressive greenhouse with Dave's numerous succulent plants, each with its own story. 

Graham enjoys a quite moment playing on the bed in the guest house out back.

Lianne and Dave's kayak. Took the kids out for a spin.

We thought they might be scared, but they loved it!

Graham wasn't quite ready for kayaking this year.

Had to get the tri-tip sandwich from Firestone with at least 2 BBQ sauce portions.

Lianne, Dave, Jackson and Dan at Firestone

Playing while getting apples at Sea Canyon fruit ranch

Grilled and very hot corn on the cob at Avila Barn

Old favorite from college days (still so cheap!) is Bali's. Learned new drawback...no bathroom. Funny how that never caused a problem before, but on this trip it was a near crisis. 

The Ladies

Goofing around in the back of the van

Didn't get pics, but took the kids out to Dan's old work at Thousand Hills Pet Resort. The kids got to see about 100 dogs and pet a few sweet ones. They loved it and somehow Coco was not terrified of a wall of barking dogs (even though she's afraid of one small sweet dog). Then took them to my old work at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for tiger butter caramel apples.

Unprompted, Jackson mused: "We went to Daddy's work. And we went to Mommy's work...Mommy's work was better."

Yes Jackson, chocolate over dogs any day.