After a failed attempt to book an all inclusive in Mexico, we came up with plan B. Find a warm place in March and let the kids each bring 1 friend - VRBO style.
Interestingly enough, the warmest place in North America in March is ... (drum roll) Palm Springs!!
We looked into flights (reasonable considering plus we had frequent fliers we could use), VRBO (nice houses, all with pools) and let the kids start asking their friends.
Of course, Jimmy couldn't decide between Will (best friend) and Mario (other good friend and Wills best friend). Kay 1st chose Lily F (who we all boycotted) and then landed on Ella (who we love). Billy invited a few friends but.. unfortunately, they all had plans already with their families. In turn Billy fashion, he said - that's ok, Jimmy can have my friend and bring both Will and Mario. Jimmy was thrilled and once again Billy proves that he's the nicest 14 yr old on the planet.
We talked to parents, cleared the way and booked our trip.
Our flight out was on Saturday afternoon with a layover on Seattle. Perfect timing as the Hopkins boys will playing for the state basketball championship (the girls won earlier in the week). So, the boys streamed the game and were going crazy as we were watching at dinner. Everyone thought they were watching the NCAA tournament so they were confused when the boys would cheer at random times. The boys won and for the 1st time in forever Hopkins can claim basketball domination. The icing on the cake? The boys beat Lakeville North. Yes, the dreaded team that kicked our butts in state football. Karma
airport food and basketball
Our flight landed super late (11:30) so by the time the got to the house, everyone was hungry (again) and tired. 2 extra large pizzas, a set up hammock, stolen lemons and grapefruit from the neighbor and we were ready for bed at the unreasonable time of 2am. Ella commented "this place smells like heaven"
1st day chilling - Jimmy's 6'2", Mario is 6'6" and Will is 6'3" - not small boys
The 1st day was spent sleeping in, shopping, figuring out the lay of the land and basically dropping into vacation mode. The house had a pool, hot tub and trampoline. All of which were well used each day.
Mario would get up every morning at 7am, grab his bible, read and relax in his hammock. Except for the 1 day the sprinklers went off and got him soaking wet 
Kay had the boys pull the little tikes play set over so that she could make a water slide. Everyone went down it. Not an easy feat.
Our ride, yep - a 12 person child abductor van . What else are you going to put 8 people in when 3 are well over 6ft and all have luggage?
Dinner that night was awesome. Tom had vacuum packed and froze some smoked pork from the St Pats day party. Will was in heaven.
Day 2 was our 1st adventure ... Joshua Tree National Park. It was a MUCH longer drive than we expected (90 min vs 45) but worth every minute. The park is gorgeous and super accessible. We did an hour long hike and milled around the look out over the San Andreas Fault, Palm Springs and Salton Lake>
One of the weird rock formations in the park
Checking out the fault line
Our hike
The weather was perfect and sunny but the hike was dusty so it was pool time when we got home along with another amazing meal - homemade Cane's chicken with sauce. Mario thinks its better than the real thing.
Day 3 was supposed to be the zoo and Lake Cahuilla. But, we learned that you can't swim in the lake so...last minute change of plans - ATV'ing. I happen to know that ATV'ing was Kay, Billy and Marios favorite part of vacation. There was a small course to learn on then you had full range to go up and down the bottom 10% of the mountain. Kay managed to tip hers over, landed on her feet and had a huge grin on her face.
The boys at the zoo - Mario was talking to a bird that kept talking back
Sonic for lunch!!
We had to place 2 orders
The ATV place was super random, sketch and weird. But..totally safe and really fun. 
Billy had to borrow pants. He looked like a weight loss commercial 
The helmets were a good look
Billy!
Jimmy! Go Hopkins!
Tracy
Will - he's a little more skeptical than the rest 
Ella
Kay!
Due to the super late (4pm) lunch, dinner was a light meal of shrimp and chicken on the grill, salads, ceviche and cookies.
Wednesday the kids asked for another pool day. But, they did manage to find a bit of energy as the day went on. Billy went on a long hike with me to see the Super Bloom in the desert and Tom, Jimmy and Mario went golfing. Kay didnt feel good and Ella stayed back with her. Will doesnt golf and had to work on his sermon for a fine arts contest he entered in May. We all had to be back by 3pm because Will's grandma - Robyn - was stopping by to take the boys to an early dinner before they went to youth group. (Side bar - as we were driving around the 1st day, they spotted a huge Mega church and looked up their youth group program. Almost the same as theirs so they were determined to go) Robyn spoiled them rotten and then dropped them at youth group. Of course they made immediate and fast friends as Jimmy told stories of the local polar bear near Hopkins High School and other tall tales. They convinced 6 of the kids to go to In-N-Out Burger with them after youth group and made plans to connect again the next night. I'm fairly certain there was a budding romance happening with Will and Abby. Also, super small world moment. Robyn is best friends with Tracy's good friends (Annette) mom - Marge. It was fun to sit by the pool with a glass of wine and have something in common.
My budding photographer. We counted 200 caterpillars on the way out and an equal amount on the way back.
Blooming caucus
Billy is obviously better shot than me as my finger is in this one.
Yep - those aren't bike lanes silly, they are golf cart lanes!
They found the karaoke machine....
Robyn and Tracy!
Getting ready for church with some warm up music.
The last full day of vacation meant... a hike and ice cream. We went to Taquitz Canyon as it boasts a 60ft water fall and gorgeous hike. It was amazing! The water freezing (34 degrees) but the boys went in anyway. Tom ran into some kids from Kids and Co and I think he made their trip (Mr Tom !! Mr Tom!!). Kay and Ella skipped the hike, found a Starbucks and did what 15 yr old girls do. (giggled, swam, tramped and basically loved that the rest of us were out of the house). Our last supper was steak, grilled peppers, rice pilaf, cucumber salad, etc. YUM!! The boys got picked up by Abby and headed to another kids house for a pick up game of basketball. Needless to say they won since ... I think the next tallest person was 5'10". No contest.
FREEZING cold water.
Mr Tom!!
Mr Tom!!
Gorgeous
Top of the world!
Super Bloom
Super Bloom
Super Bloom 
Clear blue skies
Ice Cream
Finally it was time to leave. A 6am flight meant a 3:30 wake up call but the kids were total troopers. They all were up, stripped their beds and packed the car. On the way home, Tracy traveled with the older boys and Tom with the others. Tom got home an hour in advance and managed to start wash (yeah). Tracy got home and took Billy to taekwondo and went grocery shopping. back to the real world....
The Sierra Nevada's on the flight home
Which they all missed because they were sleeping
In re-reading this, we realized we talked more about the boys than the girls but... the boys were all into the "adventure" activities where the girls preferred to hang out at home. Everyone did get to do what they wanted to do and I think fun was had by all. Overall a great trip with great kids....
Now, more photos!!
The backyard - hot tub and pool
The tramp and hammock 
Lunch by the pool 
This can't end well 
Mario with lefty kids clubs
The golf protege 
Hiking 
They were troupers 
Of course, a selfie in the national park 
Rocks 
Views 
I almost forgot! Tracy "made" us go to the new Observatory. Very cool science geek stuff 
Jimmy had to stand up because he was falling asleep 
Their par 3 course 
Had the best conversations with the girls after dinner about boys, friends, school, gymnastics etc.
waterfall 
its SOOO cold 
more hiking 
that seems unstable 
dessert flora (or is it fauna?)
Suns out, guns out 
Billy exploring 
A Cairn 
A lizard 
1 of 400 caterpillars we saw 
Something has to live in there, right? 
A cool horse sculpture on the way home from the 2nd hike 
heading to the waterfall 
"laugh at the brook as it trips and falls..."
moving fast 
lizard 
the mountains are all slightly green, a rare rare occasion. 
