San Diego 2010 - Day 2

Laura loves the beach! She was bugging us and bugging us about it since we woke up at 5:30. (Adam has a nasty cold, so the night was terrible.) So we headed towards the ocean and stopped in Carlsbad at a public beach. Laura and I started out wading, and ended up pretty soaked. It was great, but too cold at 8:00 AM to actually jump in. We'll try that later in the week when it warms up. She was sooo brave about the waves. We watched some surfers and raced the waves a bit. I can't wait to put the suits on and not worry about keeping the car keys in my pocket dry. Adam wasn't too impressed, but he's tired and sick, so we'll give him a break. We drove by our old house for a quick glimpse from the parking lot across the street. Then up to Mount Soledad for a peek at the view while Adam slept in the car. Then to Wahoo's for fantastic fish tacos and the best rice and beans. Back to the hotel. We tried out the pool, which was a pleasant surprise. It was heated nicely and they use salt instead of cholrine. Very nice. All 4 of us enjoyed ourselves and then back to the room for mac n cheese dinner. Bedtime went better tonight.

Tomorrow - depends on the weather!

San Diego 2010 - Day 1

We left for a family vacation in San Diego last Saturday. I'm going to try to keep track of our trip on here, but I'm not too interested in sifting thru the photos right now, so I'll have to come back and post those later. And if any thieves are reading this, we have a house sitter and nothing very interesting to steal. So please don't bother.

The plane ride was pretty bearable. We even saved a few exciting new things for the plane trip home. Adam took a nice nap, which totally shocked me, and Laura was great. The rental car is great. It has a push button start, which is sincerely exciting every single time I get to push it. The hotel is more and less than I expected. It is kind of small, but we aren't really lacking anything. The pull out couch is astoundingly terrible, but we stuck Laura on it and it hasn't bothered me a bit. The pools are nice, there is a playground and a nice waterslide that Laura is 1" too short to use (bummer). Jim and Laura went up about 40 feet in a hot air balloon that just happened to be offering rides in a park on the hotel grounds.

A great start!

Sweet

I am so far behind in my posts. So many flagged photos that haven't found their place on the blog yet. (I re-flagged the ones I accidentally un-flagged last week.) So many adventures that haven't been described. I can't even claim that I am too busy to blog. I'm just not feeling the ability to write anything lately. Notice that the last 2 posts are 99% pictures, and 1% words. But pictures do a great job, sometimes an even better job, of telling the story. 

Here's a shot that melts my heart. Adam put his hand behind Laura as they sat on this small bench, and left it there for several minutes. I'm mean, is there any sweeter gesture than this?

And that's enough for me today.

Leaves Leaves Leaves 2010

We have been having lots of fun in the leaves this fall. And I mean, *lots* of fun in the leaves!

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

Laura's first play! Just the girls went to the Minnesota Children's Theatre to see The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. 

She loved it. We all loved it!

Not happening

Gramma Ann is here and I accidentally unflagged all of my flagged photos that were destined for the blog. Translation: Blogging isn't happening right now. Here's an old video of Laura from the Philippines to make you smile in the meantime.

Lone Oak Days 2010

I just realized how many cool things are right here in Eagan: MN Zoo, Holz Farm, Lutz Railroad Garden, Lebanon Hills Park, and more that I can't think of right now. We're pretty lucky to have so many neat places to visit so close. If only we had great restaurants and the grocery co-op, we'd never have to leave!

Recently, the kids and I went to the annual Lone Oak days at Holz Farm in Eagan. Laura's been drooling over horses at various fairs all summer, so she was super excited for the pony ride.

And I couldn't believe Adam wanted to ride too. I walked along beside them, but I don't think I was needed. Wow, he's growing up.

Fancy letters

If we are both feeling patient, Laura will write my lists for me. To do lists, grocery lists, etc.

She got creative with this one. The "R" has antennae and the "N"s have glasses.

They made me smile in the middle of store.

Cute pictures that don't require captions

Preschool

When there is so much to say, why do I end up saying nothing? We have a lot going on lately: good pictures, funny stories, new classes; but I haven't been able to force myself to sit down and document any of it.

So, I'll start with the most obvious: preschool.

Laura started a new preschool this year. She was treated very well at her preschool last year, but I couldn't handle the lack of communication and the haphazard organization of the director. The new school is at the "other" Catholic church in the neighborhood and has turned out to be fantastic. It is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, which is nice to have the days grouped together. Its a shorter day than she went last year, but that is working out well. I can pick her up just before Adam's nap, instead of waking him. She loves her teachers and looks forward to going every day. I joined their class on a field trip to an apple orchard on Thursday. I was very impressed with how the day was organized and I had a great time being with her.

These come home everyday:

This is really helpful, because we have a jumping off point to start talking about her morning. Sometimes, it is difficult to get her to open up, but specific questions work wonders.

So far, so good!