Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Still Having Lots of Adventures in California...

...and some of them are wearing Soren out! Here he is passed out in the jogging stroller after a great morning at Sunset Park where we had one last big park day with our San Clemente friends before our move at the end of next week.

I strapped his "get-away" car onto the stroller so that he could zoom around the park this morning. He zipped and zoomed for about 5 minutes and then gave the car up to his buddy Zach. I think he realized that he could ride his car at home and there were slides and sand to be had at the park. About 40 minutes before we left he decided he was through and climbed back up into the stroller with a water and a juice and pretty much hung out there until we were ready to leave.


Soren, me, and Kathleen at Sunset Park this morning for our going away party with our MOMS club friends.

Kathleen snapping a photo of the fun morning a the park this morning. I will definitely miss her and my other San Clemente friends once we move. I'm trying not to think about that right now.


Snacking under the play structure with Nathan. The kids were smart and found some good shade for their plum and muffin break.

An action shot with Nathan. The big stick was taken away shortly thereafter.

At Sunset Park this morning, Einar is on the look-out for his friends. He is his own fashion consultant and rocks the snap shirt, orange t-shirt knit baggy shorts and brown socks look.

Tired out again. "Can't my mom make it home in time for me to take a nap in my own bed?"

Einar in his dress-up duds. The cowboy boots are fancy, but the tie makes the outfit.

Despite his reputation for being the dirtiest little kid most have ever seen, Soren is thrilled when he is occasionally cleaned up.

This is a boy who was finally let in on the family secret that we have a hot tub on our back patio. We've kept it from him for the past 4 years because it's pretty dangerous having a hot tub around the kids especially since it doesn't have a locking cover. It's pretty old school and we've only used it periodically. Since we are leaving and Einar started asking a few more questions about the big thing in the back yard, we finally let him in on both the secret and into the hot tub.

Enjoying a soak with Jared in the hot tub. Notice his little pony tail on the top of Einar's head. We call it a whale spout and he loves to sport a whale spout these days.

Looking down on the guys from the upstairs patio.

Soren loves popcorn just like the rest of us. Here he is watching CARS with Einar and Reeder while eating popcorn and drinking milk. His buddy Hayes had already been asleep for at least an hour and a half. Soren is always up for a party.

Einar doesn't like to miss out on anything either, but sometimes when he is trying so hard to stay awake at night, he falls asleep on the hallway floor. Jared took advantage of the situation and took a couple of good shots of him asleep. Thanks Jared!


While my folks were down visiting we went to SeaWorld one day and really had a great time. Here they are with Jared on one of the first boat rides of the day. We all got really wet riding, but it was so refreshing on such a hot day. Soren was the only one who wasn't able to ride, but he had fun watching us float on by.

Riding the SeaWorld rapids.

Einar and Soren looking for Jared, Grandpa, and Grandma on the river rafting ride.

Jared and I finally made it to see Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach a couple of weeks ago. They put on a huge show using hundreds of volunteers as props and recreate masterpieces from the ages. It was fantastic and definitely a fun date night.

From the parking lot to the venue you get to ride trolley cars. I snapped this shot for Einar so that he could see the neat trolley car that we rode.

Soren still likes to eat, particularly if there is a fork to practice his skills. Even oatmeal can be eaten with a fork.

Einar and Reeder walking back to the cars after seeing Sparkles the Clown at one of the base community centers. She put on a super show with magic tricks, balloon animals and bubbles. The kids of all ages were enthralled. After this we went to the library and then had lunch at the brand-new Johnny Rockets on base down where Jared works.

These California ground squirrels are some of the fattest that you ever will see. Every time that Grandpa Lee comes down for a visit I try to get him down to the view point on I-5 to feed them peanuts. Grandpa Lee and squirrels have a special affinity that can't be denied. This particular one is storing peanuts in his cheeks until he had room for no more and scampered away.

They approach without much caution, as do the seagulls. Einar was the only one who chose to wear cowboy boots and I think that he made a wise decision.

They've got the peanuts and are ready to go. I wore sandals that day so I was in charge of the photos. The last thing that I wanted was to have my toes mistaken for peanuts.

Einar really likes Cotton Candy-flavored ice cream from Wholesome Choice Market in Santa Ana (how that is an wholesome choice, I haven't a clue). I really like the Sangak there as well as the Byblos yogurt, and the deli, and the fruits and vegetable selection, and the fresh meats, and the cheeses, and the--well you get the picture.

Till next time.....