The Buses

As promised, here are pictures of the buses. Our 1st bus was the blue one - 1967, 21-window, rag-top. (Also, referred too as "Daddy's bus".) Our "new" bus is the tanish bus - 1966, camper (or "Sierra's 'lello' bus").

The camper has been a Jones for 2 weeks and has already received a lot of TLC. He's cleaning up well. We will get pictures up showing his transformation.

We're not sure when the inaugural camping trip will be. We're still waiting for summer to arrive before we make any plans. (It may have arrived this weekend, but the jury is still out.) Chris and Papa Joe are discussing going to explore Nez Perce Trail Road/Magruder Road Corridor

(http://www.northcentralidaho.info/cgi/TPL03.php?ID=122_503_999). However, the 1st family trip may be the 1st week in August to a local lake. Who knows, maybe we'll just get spontaneous one weekend and take off.

Happy Father's Day

Hope that all of the Dad's had a great Father's Day. It was nice that Chris was home and able to be spoiled. The day was full of surprises from Sierra. She started with camping and grilling stuff and informing him that he wasn't to work on his bus, but could work on hers. As stated earlier, in Sierra's mind, The blue, 21-window bus is Chris's and the camper is hers. Chris put the kids cot up and let her try it out a few days ago (This is a canvas cot that is an original piece that fits about the front seats.), she wasn't too excited about this. However, she like to sit and watch Daddy work on her bus.

My parents, Nana and Papa, were able to come down for dinner. The best type of dinner guests, they brought everything for dinner and helped cook. So we were able to spend part of the day with both Daddy and Papa. Sierra hasn't seen Papa in a while, so she seemed very happy that they were able to join us.

Why "Jones Family Buses"?

So those of you who we have not been in touch with lately are probably wondering why the blog is "Jones Family Buses". We have a new family hobby - Volkswagen Buses. Chris bought our 1st bus in February 2006 - a 1967 blue, 21-window, rag top, split-window bus. This has been great fun - better than new. It has new all-disk brakes, been lowered, safari windows.

In April, Chris drove it to a VW show in CA. This was part of our trip to LA. The bus is great. Sierra LOVES the bus. Honestly, how many 2 year olds know the difference between VW buses and bugs. Yes, she truly does.

This bus has brought so much fun and enjoyment, that we bought another - a 1966 camper, complete with the pop-up top. It is in pretty good condition. We are already planning a few family camping trips - when the weather improves, so August. (The last 3 weeks we have been having lovely October-type weather.)

Actually, according to Sierra, I am not part of this. She likes to point out "Daddy's Blue bus" and "Sierra's lellow bus". When I ask whick bus is mine, she informs me "No no, Mommy bus. Mommy car." Who knows, maybe someday I will be cool enough to have my own bus.

I will post a few pictures of the buses this weekend.

The Family Does Malibu

While we were in LA (April), they had a nice little heat wave. 75 one day, 106 the next. Being from Washington, we just about melted. Tobi was nice enough to take us to the beach in Malibu. Even being cooler at the beach, it was still in the 90s. At first, Sierra wasn't sure what she thought about the water, being as it was freezing. However, she warmed up quickly and when it was over was significantly less than pleased to be leaving.

Sierra's First Trip to Disneyland

In April, we visited Tobi and Christian at their new home in LA. We spent a day at Disneyland visiting Sierra's favorite character, Mickey Mouse. It was wonderful and fun watching Sierra drink it all in and experience everything. To top it all off, the weather was perfect - 75 and sunny. Definitely a far cry from the "wonderful" weather that we have been having in Seattle. It was great that Tobi and Christian were able to spend the day with us.