Fun Day with Aunt Becky and Cousin Megan (Day 8 in California)

We woke up and Becky made us all pancakes, which the girls loved since it's all they ever want for breakfast. We got ready, with Becky packing a great picnic and the girls in their swimsuits and we drove to Lake Lopez by Arroyo Grande. Megan and her best friend Athena came with us and it was fun to have them, especially for Sofia who loved being "one of the big girls". Rob's wife, Margee, who I haven't had a chance to really get to know, went with us too. We are FB friends and I think Rob might be the luckiest man in the world since Margee is so incredibly thoughtful and kind. It was so fun to talk to hear and learn more about her.

I hadn't been to Arroyo Grande or Lake Lopez since I was probably 10 years old, so it was interesting to go back and see the area again after so many years. Arroyo Grande is quite the cute town with lots of unique shops and fun little restaurants and it's a great size. Plus, it was maybe 75 degrees out, so very comfortable to walk around and explore.

We made it to Lake Lopez and hit the water park, which is on the far side by the campgrounds. The water park is really small with a kiddie pool and slides below and two big, fun slides that Sofia could go down on her own above. I figured Sofia, Megan and Athena would beat the big slides and we wouldn't even see them until lunchtime. However, Sofia stuck around with Olivia, Becky, and me. Also there was a girl at the lower slides, Teddy, who wore the same swimsuit as Sofia, had the same length and color hair, and they immediately hit it off. Teddy would even help Olivia down the kiddie slide and I would think it was Sofia every time! The girls had a great time and Olivia loved hanging out with Becky, who helped her get up the stairs and not get run over by the older kids and encouraged her to try new slides.

We stopped at some point to eat our picnic lunch, which was delicious! After, we returned for more fun on the slides. I finally convinced Sofia to try the big slides by telling her she could go down with me. The walk up the hill to get to the top of the slides was steep and I felt like I was in the middle of a workout class by the time we arrived at the top! Sofia decided to be on the back of the mat and it was really fun! However, she was a little scared by it I think and kept saying she didn't like how much we went up the sides on the curves. She didn't want to go again, until Megan and Athena talked her into going. She rode down, in the front, with Megan, and loved it! She was hooked and went down over and over! Megan and Athena also went down this crazy slide together, which you couldn't pay me to go down! It looked terrifying, but they loved it! I took a video of them which was fun to watch.

After a fun day, we loaded up and headed home. Becky wanted to get us in to the Melodrama that evening, so we raced home to eat pizza, which we picked up on the way, shower very quickly and head to the Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville. Megan and Michael went with us and we had great seats! The show was so much fun and both girls were totally transfixed! I was a bit worried after the long day we'd had that they would melt down, but they were awesome. After the show, we headed to Becky's for a bed. We were all tired from the fun day.

Becky with Olivia (on the slide) with Teddy

Olivia with Aunt Becky

Megan and Athena

Picnic

Ice cream break

Sofia going down the kiddie slide - she figured out how to zip down it

Olivia and Sofia with their Aunt Becky

Megan and Athena going down the crazy slide together

Megan and Sofia going down the slide

At the Melodrama

Megan and Michael

Olivia loving it!