Dave and Jan celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary with the normal trip after Christmas to the Monterey Bay area.  Dave’s three “favorite” sisters live in the area – sister Jan LaFever (and Mike) in Boulder Creek; sister Jewel (and Rick) in Corralitos/Watsonville; and sister Susan (and Horace) in Seaside (in the family “homestead” where Dave and his sisters grew up).

Dave and Jan enjoyed visits to the beach in Marina and Monterey during their stay – along with Jan’s dog Lola, of course.

Some of the family gathered for lunch/dinner on Sunday afternoon at a restaurant in Seaside named Googie Grill – where there have been several other family gatherings in recent years.  Dave’s “favorite” sisters had sent him a gift card to Googie Grill for Christmas to keep him from trying to pay for the family meal – a gift card which indicated it was coming from his “favorite sisters”!

Left to right:  Daniel and Joy Weaver; Jan and Dave; sisters Susie, Jan and Jewel; Rick Rogers (Jewel’s husband); and Jared Weaver (Susie’s son and Joy’s husband and Daniel’s father).

On Monday, December 31, some of the family gathered near the Carmel Mission for a hike in the woods.

The hike was followed by a picnic on the beach at the mouth of the Carmel River – an area known to the family as “the lagoon.”

Dave and Jan stopped for a few pictures at nearby Carmel Beach on the way back to their motel room in Marina.

On the way back to Southern California Dave and Jan enjoyed a stop for the night in San Luis Obispo – a city they have enjoyed visiting on several occasions in recent years.

It was a nice time with each other and with family members – enjoying some people and places which have provided enjoyment in our lives on numerous occasions down through the years.