Sorbello Family Vacation

Reviving the old Brady-girl tradition of spending a week in Santa Cruz lounging at the beach and riding roller coasters, Poppy, Grammy, Sarah, Shiloh, Sam, Gracie, Richie, Bethany, and Luke invaded a beach house last week and used it as "home base" for seven days of fun. We only took two-hundred-and-something pictures while we were there. (Sorry for the shortage; next year we'll try to take more.)


The family heads to the beach, just two short blocks away.


On the way, Uncle Shi stopped with the baby and balanced him on a rail. (Don't fret; Shiloh was hiding behind him.)


At the beach, Luke got to feel the Pacific Ocean. He cried the first time (for good reason--it was cold!) but then looooved having his feet in the wet sand.


Happyguy!


When he wasn't digging his chubby toes in the sand, Luke was playing with one of the aunties, Poppy, or Grammy. (Usually Grammy.) And this shot reveals the secret of Luke's undying love for Grammy: belly rubs!


Still obsessed with poles, any shape, any size, anywhere, any time...


Richie, still on crutches, made the best of his time. Digging deep holes provided him nearly as many thrills as surfing. (Um...)


The beach close to our house was long and beautiful, with this pier on one side of it. Speaking of long and beautiful...


One afternoon, we spent time in quaint Capitola. The men fished (hunters) while the ladies ate ice cream and dawdled in the shops (gatherers). On our stroll we found this daunting statue. Luke faced him like a good guard-dog would.


Despite their good looks, they were only able to catch anchovies this trip. Next time, men, next time...


For once in the history of humankind, the women finished shopping early. They waited on the pier with the fishermen, bundled and ready to go home. Luke was cold, tired, and hungry, but Bethany's sweatshirt string appeased him for a long while.


The three of us at the pier.


One morning we ventured back to Capitola to eat at a fabulous bakery. Here Auntie Sam helps us get our big puffy boy out of the van. We all rivaled Luke's bigness and puffyness when we got back in the van after eating cinnamon rolls, apple pie, and pastries up the wazoo.


Twice, we went to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. One of our favorite rides was the carousel. We were happier about it than Luke was, it seemed.


Don't even think about it, Luke!


The ladies rode The Big Dipper while the men spent time at the arcade. Gracie memorized where the camera was on the ride, and each time posed hilariously. Favorite: pretending to be asleep. Sam and Bethany showed each other how loudly they could scream. Sam won. But she paid a hefty price: Her voice went hoarse for a few days.


One of the mornings, after waking up at 7AM and finding Luke brushing his teeth with Grammy's toothbrush (long story) (she rescued us from Cryingboy at 4:30AM and played with him all morning), we stole the van and drove to Moss Landing, one of our favorite spots to go when we lived at Stanford. We marveled at how different it was this time, and how sweet. We had a BABY with us!


The beauty of Moss Landing is that there's no one there. We could have walked half a mile to the one other person we saw on the beach to ask him to take our picture, but nope. Richie's long arms came in handy as he took this early-morning shot of the Armstrong Minifamily.


Lest we mislead you, we must explain that we did spend lots of time at the wonderful beach house in Aptos, eating junk food and playing games. Here Shiloh stares down Richie to try to make him feel awkward. Hilarious to watch.


Luke sported his Al Merrick surfer sweatshirt nearly every day of the trip (thanks Kelly, Taylor, and Shealyn!) and yes, loved hanging with his Grammy every day too.


There's that Al Merrick sweatshirt again.


Proof! Here are Luke's top two teeth. Luke's fourth bottom tooth came in while we were there. (Auntie Sam gets the credit for finding it.) Running total: six teeth! And not yet seven months old!


Our last night there, we made a big bonfire at the Aptos beach, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and took these sweet pictures of Luke with his Poppy.




Thank you, Poppy and Grammy, for such a wonderful vacation!