Spring Break - continued

Tuesday of Spring Break, the little kids had dental appointments so we didn't go anywhere. However, we did go to breakfast at Ruby's on the pier. Jared's batting coach told his team to go to the batting cages over the break, so we decided to head over to the Sports Complex as a family for batting practice. Jared liked those cages better, which is good news since they are a lot closer.

Wednesday we made the long trek out to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley.
This is a portrait of Ronald Reagan using his favorite candy - Jelly Bellies.
This is a picture of the Air Force One that was being used during his presidency. I think it was the highlight for the kids that we actually got to walk through it. They also had an "Easter Egg Hunt" with several eggs that had been signed by famous people. The kids were given a paper to fill out telling where they found the egg, the color, etc. It was probably on the most beautiful property I have ever seen. It is definitely worth the drive out there.


Thursday we went to the San Diego Zoo.

We had a great time seeing all the animals, however, we are glad we went when it first opened because many of the animals take afternoon naps......loooooong afternoon naps. We were walking along and Maelen saw some women walking animals on leashes. She got really excited and said that the lady was walking an Artic wolf. Matt told her it was just a dog. As they got closer, the women talked to us and told us the big white one was, in fact, an Artic Wolf. It was a little unsettling knowing that a wolf was on a leash just inches from us. The ladies told us all kinds of interesting information about the wolves. It was something the kids will never forget. Here is a picture of the family from behind. I took it because it was fun to see that Maelen is almost as tall as Matt!!!

Spring Break

This week is Spring Break for the kids and Matt decided to take a week off as well. Since we have some things going on that keep us from going anywhere, we are doing some day trips during the week. Yesterday we went to the California Science Center. They currently have a CSI exhibit where you get to go write down clues and figure out information about the crime, victim and suspect. That was a really fun exhibit. Here is a video of our family (minus the photographer) playing virtual volleyball. Sorry it is a little shakey - it made me laugh!!

After the museum, we walked through the beautiful rose gardens and crossed the street to USC. Jared would really like to attend USC and was dying to walk on campus. We walked around and went to the bookstore, but didn't stay long since they were having a sexual health fair on campus. I couldn't get my kids past that fast enough. I wanted to take a picture of Jared with Tommy Trojan, but I won't even mention what was lurking beneath his pillar. So I took a picture of Tommy as we briskly walked by. Ahhh college life.

Other than that, USC has a beautiful campus - such a contrast to the surrounding area.

Baby Quilt

I loved this quilt pattern so much that I decided to make it on a smaller scale as a baby quilt. My HFPE leader was having a baby shower and I wanted to do something a little extra special for her because she does soooooo much. This is how it turned out. I'm not that great at sewing the binding, but I think the rest turned out ok.

First Base Coach

Excuse the picture - it's hard when you are working with a chain link fence and a crowd of parents behind you trying to see the game.

Any of you who know Jared know that he takes baseball very seriously. We had to get him new batting gloves recently because his apparently kept coming undone. I thought maybe he was doing his Nomar impersonation every time he got up to bat. At any rate, he had to have a certain brand because that is what they use in the MLB. This picture is of Jared playing first base coach. The boys take turns doing it in the majors for the experience. I have never seen such a big smile on his face as he ran out to take his turn.

Spring has Sprung

Enough said.

Girls and Curls

Kendall is our ultra-girlie girl. She has been wanting her hair curled but doesn't love the idea of sleeping in foam curlers. Not to mention that her hair is so stick straight that it is near impossible to put in curlers and the curl generally stays in for a very short time. Well Saturday night she braved the curlers and this was the outcome. We took a picture fast before it was gone!! It is amazing how Maelen has always had ringlet tight curls even at her current long length, while Kendall's is completely straight. The most interesting thing is that Kendall wants hers curled and Maelen straightens hers!! We always want what we don't have!

Opening Day

It's baseball season again! Along with baseball comes "volunteer" positions in the little league. They say volunteer, although each family is required to do at least a couple of things throughout the season. Here is Matt serving up some sausage at the opening day breakfast. Last year he was one of the bacon "chefs" but I guess he opted for something a little less lingering on his clothes since he had to leave for his OCMCO practice.

This year although they didn't have the hairpainting booth, they managed to bring something even more exciting for the kids: a gaming truck. This truck was filled non-stop with little league players of all age playing Call of Duty. Kendall was too young to go in but didn't mind because the truck kept the bounce house and slide pretty empty so she could spend some time there.

Here is Jared getting his picture taken. This kid is by far the most photogenic of our family - he has yet to take a bad picture. I wish I could say the same for myself.