Rachel's Rosetta Stone: June 2012

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

BREATH OF FRESH AIR

This past year has been one of great difficulty and pain for my family. In short, the Jackson family needed a vacation.

This summer everyone is completely booked with crazy work schedules, business trips, athletic camps,trek… EXCEPT for one week…the second to last week of June.

We jumped on it.

In attempts to regroup from our separating paths, we all found a way to make it to California for a few days. My Dad was even able to break away from Arizona, where he is currently working, for a few days.

This trip was like therapy for me.

I was able to take a step out of my worries and responsibilities for a few days and really realize what is most important.

I laughed and laughed and laughed the entire time.

Laughter heals.

Life is too important to waste away by stressing and worrying.

I received so much wisdom and comfort from my parents.

We stayed in a baby, and I mean BABY hotel room right on the beach. It’s a good thing we all love each other.

But it was worth it b/c look at the view.

How unbelievably lucky am I to have a family like this?

I am surrounded by my favorite people.

We went on a bike ride along the boardwalk

We discovered fun,little restaurants

We rented roller-blades to skate along the board-walk

Don't ask what we are wearing b/c I have no idea.

Architecture Pic...for my Grandpa

There were crazy beach houses along the board-walk

Dog Lovers (this is Frodo, the dog at the Beach Rental Place...we were pretty good friends by the end--we wanted to do everything!)

Venice Beach is also commonly known as a Muscle Beach!!!

They had a huge area designated for working out.

Naturally we had to try it out.

Sometimes the rings were slippery...

Slack-Lining.

We played by the "One Finger" Rule :)

Slack-Lining is a lot more difficult than it looks

We came across a skate-park while biking one afternoon.

I was blown away by the 8 year-olds boys who were showing off their skills with full grown men.

I could not believe what the little guys were doing.

My sisters apparently had the same reaction.

Look at those profiles.

Are we related or what?

The Jackson's can't go to a beach without
playing some beach volleyball!

Beach Time

Boogie-Boarding

[Just for the record,putting two on at once can resort to a bloody nose. Just ask Chels :)]

Needless to say, it was a trip to remember.

I love my Family.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

My Loves.

I come from a household of all girls. Growing up, we used our imaginations for everything. We spent hours and hours making up plays, jobs, commercials, and dances. We had an overflowing chest of costumes with my mother’s old drill team outfits to insane Halloween costumes. We would then bring our parent down stairs to our "home-made"theater with curtains made from drapes that were hung from the pipes in the unfinished basement.

Our parents watched/filmed dozens of priceless presentations.

Creativity is in my blood AND dancing is a part of me.

We have grown up with no inhibitions when it comes to dancing in front of others.

Years later, we did it again. We, two of my most favorite people on this planet and I, decided to make up a dance to shake up the monotony of school life. We piled the furniture into the kitchen and whipped out our moves. I could not help but reminisce. I was in absolute heaven. We laughed uncontrollably. I was even more grateful to be surrounded, literally, by the two people I have come to love most in my life. Two people, who also love dancing as much as I do.

Besides, it is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!