Day 72: Getting Out of Town

Well, I'm exhausted and can't wait to get the heck out of town on Saturday. Between the intense audit of my City Council Campaign, summer baseball games for all three boys, political events, family in town, and countless other commitments, I'm craving some R & R up at the Lake! Pictured to the left are Brandon & Brian in 2006 on the Lake soaking up the sunshine!

We leave this weekend for our annual summer 4th of July vacation to Bass Lake. Bass Lake is located about 45 minutes south of Yosemite and is beautiful! I've been taking this trip since I was a little girl! When my sister Michele and I were about 7 & 8 years old we started going with our parents and family friends to Yosemite. Twenty some years ago we started to go to Bass Lake. If I ask my sons what their favorite trip to take is -- including our trips all together to Italy, Mexico, New York, Fire Island - the answer is always a resounding Bass Lake! This is their favorite family vacation! Pictured to the right are the kids getting ready to be taken for a Banana Boat ride on the Lake!

Why? Maybe because it's 100% tradition. They live for spending an entire week in their bathing suits, cruising around the Lake on a speed boat or inter tubes, laughing with family & friends, eating endlessly, playing Charades and Yahtzee & Rummicue, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. I mean really what family wouldn't love this holiday!?!

My boys won't miss this trip. Not for a baseball game, a job, nothing! And we have made this commitment for all these years. Having a strong bond year after year builds continuity, tradition, and it takes a lot of work to make this commitment. I'm so thankful my parents started this tradition when I was a child. Then Brian started joining us when we were dating as young teenagers and now our children enjoy the tradition. Pictured here are Jill on the left, one of our oldest friends from when we were 13 years old, and our dear family friend Suzee!

It's by no means a fancy trip, but it's a solid one. The memories created with family & friends are priceless. Spending a week in magical scenery, just 5 hours from Los Angeles in the beautiful State of California with your dearest family & friends is really the best trip.

Pictured to the right is hunky Brian driving the kids in the speed boat! What a man!

Can you see why I am craving this trip and in desperate need to get the heck out of town! Looking forward to a good time with my dear family & friends! I need it!