Hikers

DT's first hike! I think... I can't remember for sure. LT was a great hiker. It was 2.5 miles and he didn't really complain at all. We didn't go all the way to the top - that would have been another mile about and I think 2.5 was just about right.




Hmmm... is that a cell phone? Is that even allowed on a hike?

Earth Hour Bath

LT wants an earth hour every Friday. The candles were a little too exciting, in some ways.

Front Yard, Day 13

The porch bricking is going in! It looks awesome! You may recall that I said this was in Phase 2 some posts back. We moved it to Phase 1 because it just seemed easier to do it all at once.



Close ups!



The guys working on it are very precise!

MMMMMMM!

Dinner table conversation these days

Front Yard, Day 10

Really coming along now!

Santa Cruz

We're working on a project for DT's birthday. This put me on a search for recycled post-consumer plastic bottle felt, which it turns out is sold right down in Santa Cruz at this great store! We went down Saturday to stock up. LT and I made the rounds using "teamwork" to carry the 8-gazillion bolts up to the cutting table and back. Naturally, being a fabric store, we were unable to leave without spending more money than we would have just buying from Etsy. :D

And it was a good excuse to go to the Boardwalk!

Speedboat ride...

The 3 boy stroller. The step on the back has worked out GREAT!

Bulgy. Hmmm, starting to rain. Yes, the forecast said storms, but it was so nice out, I didn't believe it!

Oh, it was right! We just got on Bulgy in time. It closed while LT was on it.


And then we had to make a mad dash to the car and it poured the rest of the day. It was fun getting caught out in the rain like that!

Front Yard, Day 8

The brick started going in. I love it!!

Front Yard, Day 7

Front Yard, Day 6

Tomorrow's the big day! They are pouring our concrete. Keep you fingers crossed that nobody writes anything in it!

Although, we are planning on putting some handprints of our own in if all goes well...

Front Yard, Day 4

You thought you were getting a break from yard pictures? Oh no. Yesterday we got a new patch of sidewalk. It had been shifted and broken from the tree root, so we replaced it. Otherwise, our new path would have had to have an uneven edge. We also got a step framed out to the porch. Of course, we later realized that this needs to be modified, so we'll have to change it tomorrow. Phase II of front yard makeover includes bricking the porch. We decided this should include the step, so it needs to be a little shorter to allow for the height of the bricks and also not so deep (just for aesthetics).

Lego Toss

A short break from the front yard ...

Front Yard (Day Three)

Front Yard (Day Two)

Can you see the vision?

Front Yard (Day 1, around noon)

Front Yard Before

We're enbarking on a little landscaping journey ... follow along! So exciting!

ZooZooZoo

Last weekend we went to the SF Zoo. It was raining/pouring, so we were skeptical. It turns out that going to the zoo on a rainy day is great! There was no one there. We've never seen the grizzlies so close. It turns out they really like kids. When DT came up to the glass, they came and sat right next to him. We didn't even bring a camera, so we had to resort to camera phone. Not too bad.

See?


They also had this ball that they could shake to get treats out of. They sure liked it!

Monterey, day 2

Everytime I mention to someone we were going to Monterey, they would ask if we were going to the aquarium. We maintained that we would not be going because it's on the expensive side, etc... Well, what happens? Sunday we planned to rent a Surrey bike and all ride, but it was raining. Next thing you know, we are members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's the same price as going 1-1/2 times, so might as well be! If you're keeping track, we are now members of the kids musuem, the aquarium and Happy Hollow (park & zoo, closed for renovation). Anyways, it was worth it. LT could have stayed in the kids area all day. Members also get in an hour early on certain days, so I'm sure we'll be back for some of those. Worth it to beat the crowd!

Enjoying a crashing "wave"

Obligatory jelly shot

Can you spot DT up against the glass? LT is next to him

Everybody loves a Sunfish!


And after the aquarium...


Sea Kelp Round Up (LT invented a whole show on this)


Two otters playing


We even went on the 17-mile drive then, which we'd never done before. (Well, I went on the big family vacation of 1989!)