Blustery Beach Day

The kids had a couple of extra days off last week. They were dying to get to the beach, but another storm was supposed to roll in. Thanks to a little insight from a weather app, it looked like we could hit the beach in the morning, and the rain would not arrive until the evening.

It was perfect! 

Catching Up: Adventures with Wolves

You're going to find out that I love Groupon deals on things that involve nature, science, and getting out of the house with the kiddos. This past year we joined the California Wolf Center (thanks for the half off, G!) which is in the mountains around here. Last May, we got out there to see these amazing creatures.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. It's not so much the wolves that we got to see, although that was totally awesome, but the education on wolves that blew my mind.

Mexican gray wolf

I have always loved wolves but never really thought about their near extinction in the U.S. The Center is part of a breeding and rehoming effort that has actually turned around the ecology of Yellowstone Park, one of its initial projects.

Mexican gray wolf

The kiddos didn't totally get the educational part of it, but they did like running around outside of the enclosures.

The Yahoos with Bella laughing her head off.

And they really enjoyed picnicking at a park in Julian.

The Yahoos with Bella trying to stir things up.

And they really, really liked stopping for hot chocolate at the end of the adventure.

A rare silent moment as The Yahoos gulp their chocolate.

And they pretty much did not like taking another photo after they had their treat. 

The Yahoos, totally over this whole taking pictures thing.

Catching Up: Easter Morning at the Beach

I really love the significance of certain celebrations in the Christian church. And as for Easter, when we remember Christ breaking the bind of death, it's right up there at the top. But it's really hard to do the BIG DEAL CELEBRATIONS with a child who can't handle overstimulating environments, and three others who, just because they are so young, can't handle all the hubbub either.

So this year, we decided to calm down the celebration and take it to the beach.

Instead of church at church, with a bunch of candy and visitors and craziness, we woke the kids early and put them in the car (in their jammies) for a lovely morning adventure.

On the way to the beach, we played the parts of the Jesus Storybook DVD that covered his last days and death and resurrection. We chatted (for like, 5 minutes, because that's all we're gonna get at this age) about what it means that Jesus conquered death, and we prayed a tiny prayer.

I think there is not much more peaceful than waking up and setting foot on the beach in one's jammies.

Of course they didn't stay in their jammies, we brought clothes and swimsuits, but it was a nice start.

I made a special breakfast - blueberry muffins, boiled eggs, lots of fruit and yogurt options.

And we busted out the kite that almost never gets used. The weather was perfect, and it was one of those days we'll always remember.

Catching up: Last March and April Stuff

Now that we have settled into school routines and made it through some major events this fall, I can sit down and catch y'all up.  So let's go back to March and April of this year.

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Hiking at Lake Hodges

(Miss Bella Roux is on my back, and I am the one with the camera, so...there's nothing of us.)

The Mama Getaway

I went on a weekend retreat in the mountains with other adoptive mamas. We meet regularly as a sort of informal support group for each other. If you add up all our kiddos, we represent international adoption (Ethiopia, India, Honduras) and local adoption (through the county, and through private, open adoption). One of the mamas was even surprised by pregnancy - and it turned out to be twins!  Altogether we have 14 kids. You can imagine how much we adored a weekend to ourselves. These are some phenomenal women who I am proud to call friends.

Wild Wonders

One of the most fun things for me (and Benjamin) is how as kids get older, they have exciting enrichment and learning opportunities outside of school. Thanks to a Groupon discount, Benji got to attend a day at this animal conservation compound during spring break. Kids got to feed some of the exotic animals which included a cheetah, a kinkajou, a tortoise, and a whole lot more. Super duper fun.

Safe Swim Day

Another awesome opportunity in the neighborhood is the annual Safe Swim Day. The kids got free swim lessons at the event and then, because it was close to Easter, they got to collect floating eggs and exchange them with the Big Bunny for a prize.

This Girl

Being that (up through the summer) she's usually on my back, we don't get as many informal photos of her. So here you go! Our sweet Itsy B - last April.

Mountain Rain, a Flat Tire, and Apple Pie

Sometimes what we need most is to blow off any of the "normal" routine and just go. Get in the car...and GO.

I actually need this far more often than I am able to do, what with nap needs and pickup schedules and homework requirements and making dinner. But today The Papa and I looked at each other and knew: it was time.

It didn't matter that it was dumping rain. Fewer people on the roads, we thought. We'll go to the top of Palomar Mountain and grab apple pie at Dudley's on the way down. We'll bring some sandwiches and not care if the kids eat the rest of their hungry in pie. We are going to have FUN.

About 25 minutes in, we had a flat. The rain was slightly lighter, and we dug around the boot in hopes that we actually had a spare tire. Yes! We did! As well as a jenky jack that barely worked. Still, we called AAA which was fortuitous because the spare tire needed air.

Brent got the tire changed, the AAA guy filled it with air, and the entire interruption lasted less than an hour. Not bad. We gave the kids all their snacks to keep them happy while they waited. Smart move, I say.

But then we were left with the question: should we attempt to drive up the mountain in the rain on a spare tire? Um...YES! We were seeking adventure and not about to turn back now!

So we drove. Turn after turn up some 4,000 foot elevation, through the clouds. It was misty and mystical.

For The Papa and I, anyway.

Sadie (in the whiny voice): When are we going to get to the apple pie shop? (Every 4 minutes.)

Benji: AUGH. My tummy hurts.

Bella: AAAH!!! AAHHHH!!!!

Oliver: Sop it, Beya! Sop skweeming!!!

Mama: Look how beautiful it is!  Look for the outlines of trees in the mist! It's so lovely!

Bella:  UUUUUUUHHH!!!! (Plus some banging of her head on her seat.)

But persevered we did, stopping briefly at the top to stretch our legs in the pouring rain, and on our way down the mountain we saw wild turkeys in the road. By the time we crept close enough to take a picture, they were in the bushes. Find four turkeys in the photo below:

And of course we stopped for the pie. Sadie wolfed it down. Benji ate it slowly, appreciating every bite. Bella screamed and spit it out, then screamed that Papa ate it for her. (Because...two years old.) And Oliver picked pieces out of it and left the crust. But Mama can't take photos in a crowded hectic place (because...stress), so you'll have to imagine that part.

We put on Wild Kratts for the rest of the ride home (hooray for DVD players in vans - we resist the temptation most of the time, but man, it's handy for the last bit of a long drive) - bought eggs at the egg farm, and honeycomb from the beekeepers on the side of the road.  We made mental notes to look into cabin camping at Lake Henshaw and to come back to one of the pumpkin patches at a roadside farm.

Then we pulled into the garage and put the kids to bed for late afternoon naps, and they actually fell asleep.

Lovely, lovely day.