Spitting Goat.

I went over to Steph and J's house last week and they showed this to me.  We watched it again and again and it still makes me laugh out loud!  It was on The Soup and I think it's totally blog worthy!

Dinkey Creek.

Yes, you read that right.  Dinkey Creek.  That's its real name.  No joke.

Dinkey Creek is located just on the other side of Yosemite, in the Fresno Mountains.  My mom has been going up there since she was about 5 years old.  Her parents, my grandparents, had a cabin up there until my Aunt and Uncle took it over.  They spend every summer up there as their home near Palm Springs get way to hot to endure in those months.  Anyway, this cabin has a lot of family history in it and it's remained in the same state for so long it now a protected historical building up there.

I don't remember when I first went up to Dinkey Creek but I always had such a blast.  The creek can get full enough to create great rockslides that we would enjoy for hours on end.  There's also cliff jumping and just plain lounging on rocks in the sun.  It's gorgeous up there!  I used to have fun with my cousin Mimi and my sisters.  I even brought a couple of boyfriends up there with the family to experience the beauty of it all.

(One of the traditional Dinkey pictures.)

After not having been up there for, I don't know how many years, I had an opportunity a couple of weekends ago.  My mom was housesitting/petsitting for about 3 weeks and so I jumped at the opportunity to go up there, accompanied by my dad and Traci.  We only stayed the weekend but it was worth it as the memories came flooding back.  I had forgotten how much I love being surrounded by mature.  The smell of the pine trees.  The sounds of the rushing creek.  And the relaxation of it all.

We didn't do too much since the water level was super high, it caused a lot of rushing, unsafe areas, but it was a blast to say the least.  When I did get in the water, I took my Aunt's labrador, Paddle, in with me.  He was pretty much the only one who wanted to step foot in the water anyway!  He was my buddy throughout the weekend.

(Pop, Mom, Traci and Paddle enjoying the night fire.)

At night, we'd all hang out by the campfire, enjoying each others' company.  I absolutely love Dinkey at night.  The stars are so much brighter and the sound of the crackling firewood is just so peaceful.  I was sad that I didn't bring anything up for s'mores, but at least we had each other for a good time.

(Mom and the deer heads that always freaked me out.)

I only wish to go up more often but I don't know how long the cabin will be in the family.  It makes me sad to think that some other family will be enjoying our cabin.  So many memories there!  The one that stands out the most is going to have to be (Sorry Tiff and Ash but it's too funny) Tiffer was blocking Ashley from going up the narrow stairs, teasing her.  Ashley couldn't take it anymore so she just took a BIG bit of Tiffer's butt in her mouth and chomped down hard!  Tiffer must have had a bruise on her butt for months, hahahaha!!  Ah, the memories!

Fun With The Babies.

After our Family Reunion I had a few days filled with fun with my nieces and nephew.  Most of the time was spent swimming and we all had such a blast!  It's nothing but fun filled days when my whole entire family and the babies come out!  (Hopefully next time, Seanie will be able to make it too!)

(Roo, me, and Jady Lady in the 'cuzzi)

(One of the many Uno tournaments with Tiffer, Roo and Gramma Pickle.)

(Annie Pie having a blast!)

(Roo and I are both very competitive.  No fear for either of us.)

(O had his floaties off by the end of the day!)

(O, Roo, Tiffer and Jady.  I love Jady's face in this one, lol!)

(Roo and O timing how long they can hold their breath.)

(Jady is pretty much the ultimate water baby! She even smiles underwater!)

(When Annie Pie got tired of the water, she and Trudie had lots to play with!)

(Roo diving for O's truck in a deep part of the pool.)

(VJ launched the kids across the pool too, like our dad used to do to us.)

(Who has two thumbs and love swimming in the parents' pool??  THIS guy!)

Baby, How We Spoon Like No One Else...

Yes, surprise!  It's another Ingrid song  :)  This is the song that's been playing on repeat in my head ALL day long.  *smile*

A Benincosa Here, A Benincosa There.

Last week we had our Biannual Benincosa Family Reunion.  These are the relatives on my dad's side who pretty much make up the population of Utah.  My dad has 6 living siblings so it's usually a really good turn out!  But with 45-ish cousins, I still forget names.  Luckily, I knew (mostly) everyone's name since a lot of relatives stayed home (which is a bummer, considering my family always attends, every time, even though they're always in Utah).

(The conspirators: Mom, Auntie Jo, Gramma, Auntie Ree and Auntie Barb.)

(Cousin Bobbi and Auntie Melinda.)

My gramma turned 92 this year so it was an amazing happening when my dad's 3 sisters chose my hometown of Huntington Beach to have the reunion.  My gramma does NOT like to travel.  She specifically hates flying so she was a passenger in a three car caravan.

(VJ and his beautiful family with Gramma B. Oh and Skeeter, her bodyguard.)

The best part about this reunion, although it wasn't as good as a turn out as they've been when they're in Utah, was that all of my own siblings and their families (sans Seanie, Tiffer's hubby) showed up!  It's always so much fun when all of my family is together.  Nothing but lot and lots of laughter and noise!  What a blast having all of their babies around too!  Nothing but fun!

(Cosa sisters (sans Gina) reunited!)

The reunion consisted of such events as relay races in the park with a surprise birthday cake and song for my gramma, a bonfire night (which was great since some of my relatives have never even seen the ocean), and the main event: a miniature golf tournament.  Every reunion we have some sort of tournament like bowling or mini golf.  We even have a trophy to make it legit!

(Auntie Vicky, cousins and cousin's kids, Ash and Tra.)

(Cousin Devon and I.  Totes McGoats!)

(Look at that natural form!  It's no wonder I won the trophy!)

(Silly Uncle Dave.)

(I turned around and this is what I saw: Devon, Uncle Warren and Uncle Rob helping Auntie Melinda dig for shells.)

It was such a blast seeing my extended family.  My Auntie Barb even surprised me with a homemade, hand-sewn quilt with a Hawaiian theme as a thank you when she, her sisters and their husbands came out when I lived there!  I am just amazed at the thoughtfulness and talent of that woman!  She's actually my auntie that my brother and sister say is who I'm going to look like when I grow up.  Every reunion, she and her daughter, Shellie take a triplets picture to see how similar we look.  Shellie couldn't make it this year, so we did a twins picture instead.

(The amazingly talented, Auntie Barb.)

(The amazing quilt she made for me!)

I'm pretty confident in saying I have one of THEE best families in the world.  Period.

Pebble Beach with Cousin Linda.

A few weekends ago, I had the incredible opportunity to drive up north to Pebble Beach, CA.  My cousin, Linda, lives there and was ready for our company so she invited us up.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Pebble Beach, it is a private residential area where the US Open Golf Tournament is held every year.  You can pay a fee to enter the beach and do what's called 17 Mile Drive.  There are fantastic houses, golf courses (that cost bucco bucks to play on), the beach, and even deer!  And Monterey, CA is about 15 minutes away!

So, my oldest sister, Traci and her husband, Chris, came and picked me up and we made the 7 hour drive.  First we decided to stop and eat lunch in Carmel.  Carmel is a cute little area with tons of little shops and restaurants.  I ended up getting a couple of really cute magnets.  One says, "I'm pretty certain that given a cape and a tiara I could save the world."  How adorable is that?

Anyway, we made it to cousin Linda's  and I have to admit that she is THEE greatest hostess I've EVER had!  Better than any fancy hotel I've ever stayed in!  Plus, she's adorable and SO much fun!  I had my own room and bathroom and so did my traveling companions.  She even taxi drove us to the Monterey Aquarium and picked us up because she didn't want us to get lost.  Just adorable!

(Thee biggest donut we've ever seen!)

The Monterey Aquarium was fantastic!  Oh, did I mention that we got in free because her brother, sister in law and their friend had passes they let us use?  Yeah.  Awesome.  The Aquarium was a lot of fun!  And it's the first place I've ever seen a couple of 7 Gilled Sharks in real life!  It was plenty of fun!

(First 7 Gilled Shark in real life!)

(One of the many Leopard Sharks in the Kelp Forest Habitat)

Cousin Linda then picked us up and made us dinner -- delicious enchiladas and salad with yummy cilantro ranch dressing!  (We got the recipe for that one.)  Great conversations and lots of hugging.

The next day, we went to Big Sur.  On the way there, we stopped at a national park and did a little hiking, taking some pictures of the gorgeous beaches.  Afterward, we had lunch at this fantastic Moroccan-ish place, called Nepenthe.  It was so good and had a beautiful view, since it was literally on a cliff above the ocean.  And of course, we had to scope out the gift shop where Traci got some awesome cards.  My favorites include:

"Since you're older, can you pay?"

and

"I cannot wait for the endless conversations about your new baby."

Hahaha!  Awesome.

(Cousin Linda, Tra and me)

(One of the views at the National Park)

Later that night, we decided to make dinner for Cousin Linda, her brother, Don and his wife, Susie.  traci and I were more like "the help" while Chris made Morton's Steakhouse's Chicken Christopher and lava cakes!  It was soooo yummy!  And again, lots of fun conversations and hugs!

(Having the time of our lives! Linda, me, Don, Susie, Chris and Traci)

It was such a good time going back there after having not been there for several years!  I told Cousin Linda I'd come visit more often.  I can't wait for the next time!!