Geocaching Adventure Lab...

 So I've stopped posting dedicated blogs to geocaching, really just because you're probably all sick of seeing them!  Tee hee....but they cant get a bit redundant.  But - there's another additional app called The Adventure Lab that's usually tied into the Geocaching app.  I've posted about them before, but I figured it would be fun to write some dedicated blogs to these since they're all different!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day so we all three happen to have it off work/school.  So I thought let's do an Adventure Lab!  It's hard to get the kid to get into these, but there was one that looked to have a perfect path to ride bikes, we could bring the dog, so everyone would be happy.  The kid got to ride their bike up and down and Pat and I walked along the path with Seymore doing the Lab.

This is apparently called The Freeway Trail and I can see why.  You're literally right next to the 405.  It is a bit loud, so plan on some shouty conversation while walking along this trail.  The Lab was called Urban Zoo.  There's a bunch of cool sculptures down this nursery along the trail and each stop gave you a little bit of information on each of the animals it chose!  Giraffe, Tyrannosaurus Rex,  Dolphin, Triceratops and the Elephant!  

There wasn't any caches involved in this lab which surprised me, but I opened the geocache app after the fact and there were a couple.  Sadly I should have looked at the beginning, but I did grab one at the end.  So yay!

1st stop!

Seymore was trying to mimic the horse

Freeway Trail

Grrrrrr!  Stop 2

Stop 3!

Unique flower!

These guys were cool

Stop 4

Stop 5

Oh wait!  There's a cache behind his ear!

Seymore Snack

A nice little jaunt out of the house!

2021 Recap...

Well here we are.

Another year gone.  Whoosh.  And sadly it was pretty craptastic year for everyone.  2020 took a helluva toll on us and 2021 was like it's little psycho sibling that kept poking the bear and fucking with us all year.

We also had some devastating losses.  My Grandad passed away in July of this year.  I was absolutely heartbroken.  We moved him out here in the middle of the damn Pandemic from Illinois.  He was so happy living with my mom.  I just feel like it wasn't fair and his time here with us was just way too damn short. I know he was so happy though, and I was thrilled my cousins and my aunt got out to see him.  But I do miss him so much.  He was just a joy to have around.

The McCoy Fam

Pat also lost his Uncle Rick unexpectadly which was just a heartbreaking loss to his family.  We also lost my step-grandmother earlier this year.  Just been a tough year for sure.  

Political unrest, anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers, this whole f-ing COVID thing is just destroying us. 

BUT -  we find the light.  We find the joy.  We move forward and continue to live our lives the best we can, so with that - I give you the good highlights of this rough year!

The year started out promising.  Vaccines were being rolled out, a new president was coming in - oh and then there was a riot on January 6th.  GAWD we're a bunch of assholes.  Later in January Biden/Harris were sworn in.  There was a little bit of hope.  I'm also not going to lie - was really really cool to see this:

That's our 1st Woman VP right there!

February brought my birthday - a very quiet one at that - you can read about that here.  And the vaccine roll-out really starting picking up speed so hope was on the horizon to fight this COVID bitch.

March got me my 1st dose of the vax.  House of Pfizer here.  And our world starting slowly trying to come out of the 2020 mess.  March also brought Pat and I up to the Madonna Inn!  Had a lovely few days away.  

Starting off vacay right!

 

April consisted of the normal hiking, eating and starting to get together with friends again.  We got to celebrate Grandad's 95th Birthday in person which was awesome!  Mom had a low key Easter since COVID is still around, so no big party this year but it was of course just lovely.

Happy Birthday Grandad!

Hiking away the day

Happy Easter!

May brought a Mother's Day together, hiking and geocaching and more gatherings with friends picking up.  Yay!

Mama's Day Brunch!

Hiking Couple

 June brought California's "Re-Opening".  This really did give us a bit of hope.  It certainly hasn't gone away but we're at least on a path to fighting it and hopefully coming out of this in 2022.  June also got me working on some fun film sketches with the Travesty Ball crew and of course more hiking, eating, seeing my people.

Travesty Ball Fun

 

July was a mixed bag of huge emotions - We had a really great 3rd of July BBQ, shortly after is when we lost my Grandad.  But then a few weeks later - Pat popped the question on our wonderful trip to Idyllwild!  You can read about that here..

My Justin moved back east this year.  I miss him so!

So...I'm getting married

 August took us on a week long trip up to NorCal..  Saw so many beautiful sites!

September brought the kid to the start of Middle School!  We also had a really great trip to the Safari Park!  We hit up the OC Fair too which was our 1st (and probably only) crowded event of the year.

Hmm....Pat doesn't have that McCoy competitive side...

October was a low-key Halloween season but still fun!  COVID is still kicking around and ramping up for the holidays so we're still kind of on the DL but a lovely time indeed!  It also brought us Dad's big 70th Birthday Surprise!

Happy 70th Daddy!

November and December as usual bring a whirlwind of holiday madness - but this year we got to add to that insanity by moving.  The whole story is a few blogs back - but that was a not by choice.  But we landed in a great place that will I'm  sure bring us great memories for 2022!

Move Day

We had a very mellow New Year's Eve which was lovely.  Pat and I had a yummy dinner at Orange Mining Company then came home and didn't even make it until New Year's Eve.  

Happy New Year!

2021 has been a roller coaster of a year.  Some major ups but too many downs.  I'm honestly not super sad to see it go.  But going through my highlights here it reminds me how grateful I am to have such wonderful people in my life and I look forward to making many more memories!  

Happy New Year my friends!!  Hope 2022 is full of love, laughter, joy and adventure!