Showing posts with label Play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Play. Show all posts

Saturday, December 10, 2011

School's Out...And Leaves Are Scratchy

With Samuel back at school for his MBA,
we developed a tradition to celebrate and
kick-off his summer or winter breaks:

We ALL go to school
on his last day of class and
bum around until he's officially done!

The kids love exploring the campus,
and I love not waiting at home another night!

This year, being winter break,
the leaves were everywhere which
provided endless entertainment for the kiddos.

The downside?

Leaves don't feels so good down in the all
the nooks and crannies-
which is where they absolutely end up
when you play like these kids do!






















HAPPY WINTER BREAK

and...
ONLY ONE MORE
SEMESTER TO GO!!!


Saturday, September 24, 2011

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

What's So Exciting?


A notorious toy in our household is the
big blue bouncy ball.

You know what kind of ball that is.

The one that's in every toy section of every story.
Seemingly millions of balls stuffed into a sky-high bin just
waiting, asking, and begging
for little kids to come and free them
so they can bounce them with abandon
throughout the store.

Yes,
one of those kinds of balls...

Anyway,
the kids LOVE to bounce it but it's off limits inside-
UNLESS they're down the hall.

In which case they go crazy launching it
from one end to the other at lightening speed,
and all under the watchful gaze of the Savior, who,
by some miracle,
has not been hit once.

The boys LOVE this game.

And THAT is what is so exciting!



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Park Days




I love when they wear themselves out!





Friday, April 22, 2011

SF: The Mission District, Dolores Park, Buffalo Paddock, Sutro Baths, & Mile Rock Beach


With the kids on spring break,
we headed to the Bay Area to explore
some new places in S.F.,
namely the Mission District, Mission Dolores Park, the Sutro Baths,
and Lands End trails.


The Mission District is a prime example of how best
to tour the many neighborhoods of S.F.:

Park & Walk


Is this not the most beautiful pocket park EVER?


I love, love, love the colors here!

Everything is so vibrant!


Not to mention...
tasty!

These pastries are what I grew up on!
If you've never tried Mexican pastries,
they're colorful, drier in texture,
and far less sweet.

A perfect addition to our picnic basket!


On our way to the park,
a photo shoot!



Mission Dolores Park

In the heart of the city,
it has sprawling green hills,
and a throwback playground
complete with a killer old-school slide!

The first thing we did was use the facilities.
Every inch was covered in grafitti and other colorful tidbits
and it's the only time I've encouraged
my children NOT to read!



I mentioned the hills...we can't resist!





Alright, already!


It's time for some ice cream!


Down the street is a local fave with supper yummy flavors!

What did we order today?

Salted Caramel
Brown Butter Pecan
Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel Swirl

They never fail to impress with something different
and utterly delicious!



Time to explore!


And just be silly!


Next up:


{ Featuring what isn't even Buffalo at all, but American Bison! }


We were so excited to take the kids here,
unfortunately they thought it was lame!

All they wanted to do was hit the beach!


While Samuel forced the kids to ooh & ahh over the buffalo,
I sat in the car.

Can you guess why?


Coming back they noticed something 1000 times
more exciting than 500 + pound animals.


3 lb. rodents!


Next we took a walk down to the Sutro Baths.

On the way we met a guy who let us peek through his
scope to see two of the rarest birds on the west coast!

I wish I could tell you what they were,
but I can't!

And they flew away two seconds later anyway!


It is beautiful here!


At the bottom of the steps and to the right is
an awesome cave.

As the waves thunder against the rock you feel (and hear)
the pounding in a surreal and almost creepy way!


Owen was anxious to get out of there,
and I'll admit,
I think we all were!


But first,
a peek at the view.


As we began to explore the bath ruins,
we saw the filming of a music video!


They quickly wrapped things up,
and just in time because
you-know-who
were on the loose!






Don't they always go in the tub?


I remember coming here with my grandparents when I was small. 
It was awesome to introduce my little family
to places I used to run around as a kid!

...

Speaking of kids...




 


I'm totally partial,
but they are

G O R G E O U S !



Iris could play in the flowers all day,
but we're off to Lands End,
"San Francisco's wildest and rockiest coast."


Lands End connects to the California Coastal Trail,
1,200 miles of California coastline trails that span over 15 counties!





Making our way off the trail to Mile Rock Beach!


It's 112 steps down...


...but well worth it!



Our kiddies are never happier than at the beach!

It was the
piece de resistance
of our trip!


It's tradition!


Up and out with a great cardio workout!


And plenty of kisses!


On the trail we met up with two brothers visiting from Michigan
(the birthplace of Samuel's mother!).

They were in awe of California,
and did a terrible job of upselling Michigan!

I quote,
"You don't want to go there."

We gave our must-see recommendations and...


...they were off!


It's fun meeting people discovering this state for the first time.


It reminds you to appreciate all that we have!