Both of the kids have mastered the pool this trip.
Mad is doing lengths while Baz spins circles around her with his water wings while his lips turn blue.
Good thing for Grampa and his pledge to “go swimming whenever they wanted”.
Poor guy.
Crab Races at the Seafood Festival October 27, 2007
Everyone’s a winner… even when the Mad crab climbs out of its lane and waits for dinner.
Discovering The Space Shuttle October 23, 2007
How great it was to find out, albeit at the last minute, that there was going to be a shuttle lift off during our vacation?
When we found out, we spontaneously jumped in the car to make the coastal quest to experience this rare sight with our own eyes.
Standing along the side of the Challenger Memorial Coastal Highway, it nearly brought tears to my eyes to experience this fantastic show of human technology. Baz, on the other hand was a bit bummed, he thought we were going to be ON the “rocket”.
Thanksgiving. Post. October 9, 2007
We’ve experienced Thanksgiving days in the past which required us to pull over the car due to the lack of visibility caused by the snow. This year was quite different indeed. The 90ºF heat certainly broke records as we feasted. Even the next day, as we dined on leftovers (and macaroni, of course), we were thrilled to hear the last motorized tune of the ice cream truck venturing down for one last try.
Imagine. Out there enjoying the last of the ice cream in the softee machine as we watched the early autumn sun set on our day. Now there’s something I’m sure the kids were able to be thankful for.
Pumpkins Galore and More September 27, 2007
We took the kids to get a pumpkin (we couldn’t find a pick your own apples that day) and boy did we have fun! So much fun, we went twice. We started off with just Mad, but the ninny I am forgot my camera.
By the time we made it back to get it Baz was up from his nap and never to turn down a trip to any farm, he was in for the ride back.
As you can see, there were quite a few pumpkins to choose from – and it’s still ONLY September.
Do you think that stopped Mad? No way josé.
The first one we carved has already turned into a massive pulp of mold in the composter, but I guess that’s why she was planning ahead, and chose this one to hold on to.
Mad was all around collecting pumpkins, asking questions and catching crickets – who can do that???
Everything was going just super…
Until she got busted by the owners for climbing the haystack.
But she got over it, as she usually does and she listened so much better for the rest of the day too.
Great day – and not just for the kids either. I found a new love of all things made of gourd.
As it turned out, the keepers of this fun farm were heirloom aficionados. There were about twenty varieties, some dating back to the 18th century France and beyond.
One of the many reasons I love autumn. Next is apples, I will find an orchard yet…
Bug Watching August 30, 2007
You’ve got summer. You’ve got kids. You’ll find bugs.
They’re everywhere so you might as well find the ones you can enjoy. That’s what we did and as luck would have it we found a cecada too!
A little lesson for both me and the kids but these fascinating bugs that we usually refer to as “electricity bugs” buzz in the heat of the hottest summer days reaching up to 100db just in order to find a girlfriend.
Yes, that’s my thumb. I was the brave one to pick up the giant, gentle and amazing insect. How amazing to think that this thing on my thumb is older than my toddler. With a little investigation, we realised that some cicadas live underground for years, only emerging in 13 or 17 YEAR cycles.
I kept the bug as long as it took to find a tree and for it to get comfortable to start moving. By then we were right beside our neighbours beautiful garden.
Spot the Monarch Butterfly, Baz did.
There have been a ton of monarchs this summer. The kids have loved watching them, occasionally up to six at a time fluttering over the same plant.
Onward and up, the sunflower’s at Ben’s house. I don’t think this bee moved from this perfect one the whole time we were there.
Did I mention I was very happy they discovered the flying variety of insects? Perhaps they inherited my dislike for the creepy crawly variety. All in all it was so fun and they really enjoy being outside.
