Fishing!

Back in July we went with our friends Jeramie and Valerie Alba and their kids Jacob and Tyler to Mt. Baldy Trout Farms. Our boys really wanted to go fishing and this place doesn't require a fishing license. We let all 4 kids catch their own fish (which took about 3 minutes combined!) then walked across the road to this awesome creek where we went swimming and had a picnic lunch.

The next day we went to the Alba's house for fish tacos! We had a great time and we'll have to take the kids fishing again---maybe real fishing next time. You know, try and teach the kids some patience! (Owen commented on the way home how he thought fishing would be harder! Ha ha!)

Owen and Tyler scouting out the fish pond.

Owen's first catch!!

So proud of his fish.

Of course once she saw Owen do it, Emme had to have a turn too!

She wanted to hug her fish but was a little scared of how wiggly it was. I think she thought she would get to keep it as a pet, not eat it in tacos the next day!

Where we played in the water.

Emme testing out the water.

The boys exploring.

Armed Forces Day

Every year around Memorial Day the city of Torrance hosts an Armed Forces Day Parade that Owen LOVES!! The night before the parade you can walk around and meet the soldiers, see tanks and helicopters, watch bomb disabling robots and see real (but not active) missiles. Lots of pretty cool stuff.

Owen and Tennyson in the helicopter.

Shooting from the top of the tank. Owen needs a grow a little  more though!

Don't get used to driving this thing Owen, we found out they get horrible gas mileage.

This year Owen wanted to invite his friends Tennyson and Asher to come along. They had a great time, including the dads. (The boys enjoyed it more than Emme; she was only kind of interested.)

Sea World Adventure

 We had an awesome trip to Sea World on Wednesday! Scott has some great clients, Robert and Cecille, whose son is a trainer at Sea World. They got us free tickets and Dana, their son, gave us a behind the scenes look at the Arctic exhibit. It was an amazing day that Owen has not stopped talking about!

On the way down to San Diego we passed Camp Pendleton and Owen was so thrilled to see military tanks driving on the side of the freeway. Then 5 minutes later 2 fighter jets flew right overhead.

Once we got to Sea World the kids were so thrilled!!! We did everything you can possibly do; went to all the aquariums and tidepools, saw the Sea Lion show, Shamu show, and the Dolphin show (that also had some cool birds). We walked through every exhibit and rode rides at Bay of Play. 

The most amazing thing was our tour with Dana. We got a feed and pet a 3500 pound Walrus named Obie. He is too large and blind to be out in the front, so not many people even get to see him. Then we saw where they keep the polar bears at night; did you know that the same people who build prisons build polar bear enclosures? They are so huge and can be so dangerous that they don't take any risks! Then we got to meet Nanuk and Ferdinand, 2 awesome Beluga Whales. Nanuk did not want to come over but we got to pet Ferdinand, even Emme! How many 2 and 6 year olds get to do that?!?! They feel kind of like hard boiled eggs. Squishy, slippery and really cold. It was so great and I hope that Owen doesn't ever forget the once in a lifetime experience he got to have. ( I am sure that Emme will forget, but that's what pictures are for! There are couple of videos as well, but Blogger isn't letting me put them on right now.)

On the way home from our fun-filled and exhausting day, we stopped at the San Diego temple. Such a beautiful temple! It looks like a princess castle and the kids both thought it was so pretty. I love being able to take my kids to the temples that we live by--Scott and I both want them to know how important temples are and we like to expose them to as many as possible! 

Feeding Obie. He sucks the fishes up like spaghetti noodles!

He also gives you kisses when you put your hand to his lips.

Helping Emme pet Ferdinand. Such an awesome animal!!

Waiting for Shamu.

Funnel cake---yummy

Owen loved Obie so much he drew a picture with sidewalk chalk the next day.

Such an amazing day. I am so happy to have my wonderful family and I love spending time with them...

Getty Villa

On Monday my sister Kylee, Emme and I took a little trip out to Malibu to visit the Getty Villa. Kylee had to visit a museum for one of her classes and the Villa is one that I have wanted to go to for a long time. So we tagged along.

This place is so beautiful!!! The whole museum is focused on ancient Greece and Rome. The architecture, the gardens, the endless statues, coinage, jewelry and furniture. They even have a couple statues there from Pompeii! Everything was so amazing; it almost makes me wish I had lived back then. Well, only if I could have been in one of the wealthy families of course.

Emme with her silly smile. Almost every room or garden we went into, she would say "This is neat!"

Same garden from the opposite angle.

Roman Holiday, anyone?

Emme wanting to feel the water in the central courtyard.

One of the pieces uncovered in Pompeii.

Sarcophagus. Amazing detail on this one--told the story of Achilles.

Look at how much detail!! This little cameo piece is about the size a thumbnail.

You know how Olympic champions get to wear those beautiful wreaths on their head? This is where that comes from! At the ceremony they would wear actual laurel wreaths but this one, made from real gold, was probably presented to the family of an athlete at their death.

Latest Adventure

Since the Kings were eliminated from the play-offs (sniff, sniff) Scott had a few days off last week and we decided to take advantage of the time he had!

We let Owen skip school on Friday (yes, we are those parents. Sometimes spending the day with your family is important too! And what fun memories he'll have off those occasional days playing hooky with his family!) and we drove down to Newport Coast.

There is a great state park there called Crystal Cove that we decided to explore. We had so much fun!

We climbed all over the rocks and looked at crabs, fishes, anemones, pelicans and tons of other wildlife! We swam in the waves, built a teepee out of driftwood for the kids to dry off in then had lunch at Wahoo's. We walked the beach a little more and saw dolphins surfing, a whale spouting, wild rabbits, lizards and a flock of quail. On our way home we stopped at the Newport Temple and let the kids walk around. What a great day! The kids didn't want to go home and honestly, neither did we. We are really loving these little adventures we have been doing---I hope this is something we will always do with our kids... 

Searching the tide pools...

One of Owen's hermit crabs!

 

The teepee-and yes, Emme is in her underwear!

My Karate Kid impression!

Wahoo's!!

If you look in the center, you can see one of the dolphins! They were out in the line-up with the surfers.

Beautiful!!

SeaLab Aquarium

Since spring break has been this week we have been looking for fun things to do everyday. One day we went to the library, another we walked to the park down the street and fed the ducks, and today we went to this little aquarium in Redondo Beach called the Sea Lab. (It is run by the LA Conservation Corp and is free! They only ask for a $4 donation per family. The help rehab injured sea animals and run day camps and host field trips to educate kids on taking care of the ocean.)

Holding a red sea urchin!!

With a sea star that coordinates with her shirt! She was laughing because it felt funny.

It was sooo cute-the little building itself was not so impressive but we took a tour and the kids got to hold or touch almost everything! They got to touch sharks, rays, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, sand dollars and sea urchins. There were also flounder, giant black sea bass, sardines and crabs to see. We will definitely be coming back here again!

Saying Goodbye to Our Friends

This last weekend some of our best friends moved out of state. We are so sad to have them leave but they are going on to bigger and better things (Mike is starting his residency this summer--yeah! No more school!). After walking home from school, both my kids sat down on the front steps and cried--so sad!! It seemed like a good excuse to watch some cartoons and have root beer floats. Before the tears started, we did get some cute pictures though!

Good luck Mike, Jessica, Peyton and Brady!

Peyton, Emme, Owen

Cute boys!

Brady was pretty upset at this point---he didn't want to smile or look at the camera. And Owen is forcing Emme to look at me! They all look a little goofy here.

And a cute one of Owen--just because!

Homemade Playdoh

 Owen was "bored" last week (he claims to be bored if he is holding still for more than 5 minutes) so we decided to make homemade playdoh. It was a lot of fun and only a little messy.

Owen made a dinner plate with corn, spaghetti squash, broccoli, asparagus and steak. All foods he likes believe it or not!

Emme making.....well...something. She was happy with herself!

Kylee wanted in on the playdoh fun too!