Moving through the zoo

It was my special day with the boys...just the 3 of us..so we went to the zoo to enjoy some of the privileges of being part of the zoo family -- complementary rides. While waiting for the bus, we enjoyed the new giraffe enclosure.

the giraffes are so close and TALL. it's neck is as tall as an adult.

it was cute to see them hold hands as they walked (but i didn't catch it in the picture)..we usually go with friends and these two often don't walk together but with buddies their own age

Look how excited this one is to be on the skyfari


Here we are the only ones on the express bus..they thought it was cool to be on top of the double decker bus!

the little one is a little more apprehensive at the start of the skyfari

they both love it by the time we are on the return trip :)

the little one says "i go on it again"

A new tradition

I've enjoyed hearing about friends going up to the local apple orchards and
picking apples for the past few years.

This year my husband and I chatted about starting that tradition this harvest season.

We had a spontaneous opportunity this week and off we went.

The apple picking season starts in late september..

you can see many apples fallen to the ground -- maybe they were more than ready to be picked

The apples are delicious.

The gentleman who greeted us suggested we could eat them right off the tree as we picked.

they were organic and we'd just need to polish them off before taking a bite.

Johnagold, fuji, red delicious..the list went on...we spent our time in the rows of empire apples.

there were 50 trees in each row...

we took a leisurely 30 minute apple picking walk down one row, and then turned down another row and kep picking to fill up our bag.

It was cold and windy - so nice to have chilly weather in November

The boys really enjoy their dad & that tickles my heart

I juiced some apples a few days later, the juice was just as yummy!

Rainy Day Fun

I often enjoy rainy days, especially when I can hang out at home,

and even when we are out and about....

The boys and I ended

our stream of visits to Pumpkin themed attractions

last weekend with Pumpkins in the Park.

We learned how to make a scarecrow,

made pumpkin crafts, handprint bracelets and pinatas
decorated cookies,

We were rained out after lunch and our playdate was cut short(our lunch picnic spot below)

...yet we had much to look forward to - an afternoon of rain and watching it rain through the window while all warm and cozy wrapped up in favorite blankets.

[above] The little one says "I want (to) kiss you" then

turns and tickles!

I moved their bed next to the window and let them watch the rain drop from the roof.

They took as long as they wanted before they finally dozed off for nap time a bit later than usual.

[above is an odd angle of the rain drippng from the roof]

Ten on Tuesday

1. I am praying this week Nov 3-7 for our nation, for God's will be to done, for our leaders, and so much more. If you'd like to join me this week, see http://www.weekofprayerandfasting.org/

2. An hour at The Call http://www.thecall.com/ in San Diego was time well spent for me.

3. I voted.

4. It's a blessing to have the opportunity to vote and pray for our country. I've heard "As California goes, so goes the nation"... it would be amazing to see California praying for God's will for our nation, and then so prays our nation.

5. The country fair last friday was so enjoyed...by all four of us. The fun was in fellowship with friends, meeting new friends, running into people, hanging out for a chat or riding a ride or waiting in line til we eventually wandered through all the activities and music.

just finished foraging through the inflatable obstacle course


above: the cowboy (horse and all) riding a pony
below: hitched up, and getting ready to go for a galloping romp

5. Aunt Sammie, traveled from Redondo beach, & dropped by for an evening and morning to hang out last week, thanks for the sweet times!

6. It was a sunny warm day, with some clouds in the sky...for several minutes it rained...so we looked for a rainbow in the sky of course (sun and rain!) and found a DOUBLE RAINBOW across the sky over our home.

7. Potty training here we come, or came and went. that was fast. is it ever done? just kidding

8. Our little one decided last thursday that underwears were the thing and diapers are of the past. So, there are now "peeps" and "poops" in the potty...and rushing to get there in time.
9. Lolo and Lola now have a "magic phone line" (not sure why it's called that) that has a USB connection to the internet for free phone calls even internationally!

10. I'm off today (and working thursday instead) so we're choosing for today to be our family day and doing something special. find out next week.

Five on Friday

It's been such a busy, yet blessed week!
Truly a week of celebrating God's abundance through Harvest Season.

1. Highlights from the class field trip to the pumpkin farm: pictures next to the Mickey Mouse scarecrow, conversations to/from the patch since we got to hitch a ride, and tasting pumpkin fudge (it's good, yet i'm a "plain" chocolate fan).

2. We made pumpkin cut-out cookies

and roasted pumpkin seeds from our pumpkin . talk about flour all over the kitchen :)

3. We carved our family pumpkin turned off the lights to enjoy the glow!
4. All the "farmers" in class enjoyed painting pumpkins, stamping with corn & gourds, pumpkin-shaped cookie decorating

and digging the gooey slime out of pumpkins during the classroom harvest party.

Of course, as a mom, i especially enjoyed the class's presentation of songs. My favorite was "OOOH, Taste and see that the Lord is good, the Lord is good......"

5. Today, we'll enjoy a dip in the pool, a nap, hot dog dinner, then off to the country fair! We are SO excited! We've many many fond memories and certain rides and jumpies we look forward to. Pete's favorite is a type of teacup spinning ride that is enclosed. The new one this year is a ferris wheel. There are super tall slides (seem to be 2 stories high), inflatables, ponies, a chili cook off and more.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Thank the Lord for being the cement that holds our marriage together - 11 years we celebratedon Saturday as a family.
2. We took a walk down memory lane with the kids at Seaport Village. They enjoyed the things we used to do together before they were born, WITH us:

3. bayfront walk in the crisp evening air, hanging in a hammock, greek gyros, meetball subs, pizza, but especially

4. the moon and stars above as we counted boats (ferryboats, sailboats, police boats, sternwheeler boats) that sailed across the reflective water.

5.We'll get our alone date in too!
6.Backyard conversations while we water the plants and play in the dirt: "I need mud"(little brother) "Let's go the park and find some ant pets for my ant farm" (big brother).

7.And we did gather up ants at the park.

8. The glorious sun warmed us up this past week after last tuesday's respit from the heat - we still hit the parks and the pumpkin farm for a hay ride- there was more water and less "chatting"

...the kids didn't seem phased by the temperatures, just the parents.


9. At an educational presentation about pumpkin life cycles, we learned that a bee has ONE day to pollinate when the flower is open, in order for it to become a pumpkin!

10. Also, that to hold a pumpkin by a stem is like holding a person by his/her hair. it hurts the pumpkin. ouch!

Super at spur of the moment

The way I see it, Pete grew up with Mike and Mickey pretty much being his second parents. They are wonderful at spur of the moment get togethers - we are blessed each time. Mickey was tagging along with Mike who was traveling for work, which brought them down our way. We got a call at 8 in the morning and around 10 we arrived at their hotel for some swimming fun!

Time flies amazing fast, we were chatting that it could possibly

have been about two years since we've seen each other?!?

The great part is that each time we see each other

we easily pick up just where we left off... these two people are so warm and caring.

Our little one prefers the "cold" pool. Isn't that a cute picture of these two holding hands. I found out later that he said "I wuv you" to Mickey.

Once their body temperature adjusted, BOTH of these guys enjoyed "hot pool" AKA jacuzzi

Thanks for calling us as you were passing through.

It was great to see you two!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Praise God for giving me diligence and helping me to catch up at work! Thank you Lord. It could not have been done in my own strength: the day was fully booked, 3 reports to dictate, and 4 to correct & send out, plus call backs and being tired from planting trees the night before.
2. The boys found a praying mantis in the back yard the other day and made him a "home" in an open box, with grass, water, and shade. Its fun to meet the creatures in the yard, we've also found a few caterpillars.
3. Five shade trees planted, and five to go! Check out www.energycenter.org for your free shade trees, these are available thru December 2008 or the 14,000 trees are given away.
4. woohoo! our 11 year wedding anniversary is this week, and grandma already blessed us with a loving card and an offer to babysit (she lives 3 hours away. that's love ;)
5. I'm looking forward to the upcoming week of prayer. wanna join me ? check out www.weekofprayerandfasting.org.
2 Chron 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
6. The cooler weather is such a blessing!
7. Harvest time is so fun. I'm trying to keep everyone rested and healthy cuz I'm looking forward to an all school field trip to a pumpkin farm and apple picking this coming week.
8. Still trying to take better care of myself - this week adding on drinking more water, to daily breakfast :)
9. about 400 walking steps from my car to my desk at work. random thought. i was counting on my way in.
10. off to plant more trees with my hubby...... have a wonderful week!

Outdoor escapades

We were blessed with a special visitor who made a trip from West Hollywood

specifically to see his newly turned 5-year old cousin. A saturday afternoon at the Wild Animal Park included a Journey into Africa, the Samburu Jungle Gyma and the Frequent Flyers bird show. The next day we were blessed with sunshine, clear skies and warm weather for our swim and picnic by the pool.
"I swimming. I get in water"
"I'm so happy I'm swimming"