Family Camp at Green Oak Ranch

(May 25-26, 2013)

We experienced our first church "family camp" over Memorial Day weekend this year, and was it an experience! :)

Actually, we really did have a good time, with several close families who are all a part of our Sunday school class.  The camp was located at Green Oak Ranch, just outside of Vista, CA (south of us).  We roughed it in a tent for just one night...and that was plenty. :)  Our family did much better than I ever anticipated, and both kids slept through the night (I was sure one would wake up crying from being too cold, or having to go to the bathroom, etc.).  Brant and I did not sleep well at all, but that was to be expected, I suppose.

The camp lasted from Friday afternoon through Monday afternoon.  We arrived Saturday mid-day (due to bad traffic), and left Sunday, late-afternoon.  Again, just the right amount of time.  Maddie and Geoffrey had a fantastic time, playing with their little friends, eating s'mores, sleeping in a tent, flying kites, going on a hay ride, and all the fun things that make family camps so much fun (and so exhausting)!

Playing volleyball with Daddy.

Didn't take long for Geoffrey to scope out the scene and find an unoccupied tricycle.

Staying hydrated.

This girl was soo excited to sleep in a sleeping bag, in a tent!

Justin, Matt and Brant, ready to "rough it."

The big open field directly next to our class' campsites was great for the kids!

Something about this picture is just very special to me.

Getting ready for s'more fun!

Little buddy just taking it all in.

Maddie's first campfire s'more experience, where she is old enough to remember.

I think he liked it.

Maddie and Kiera, her friend from preschool and church.

And now, with Will - also a friend from preschool and church. :)

My boy.

My girl.

Yay, for a successful 24 hours of camping! :)

All of the kids who represent a bulk of our Sunday school class.  It was quite amusing to get this picture.

Maddie's last day at ANS

(May 22, 2013)

Maddie has had a fantastic first year of preschool.  We are sad to be leaving the Altadena Nursery School community, as we head over to The Netherlands soon.  We have all thoroughly enjoyed this co-op preschool, and if fate should have us returning to Pasadena again, we will certainly send Geoffrey to ANS!  The last day of the school year was only partially sad, as Maddie was still to attend the summer "camp" program.  (At the present time, her summer school has concluded - and yes, it was a bit more sad).

Maddie has grown in so many wonderful ways this year, and we are so proud of her! 

Our favorite teacher, Miss Dianna. We are all going to miss her very much.

A few of Maddie's classmates.

A very special group of kids.

 

Thank you for the wonderful experience and all the memories, ANS!

My Mother's Day

(May 12, 2013)

For Mother's Day this year, I asked Brant (and the kids - but okay, mostly Brant), to plan the day.  I specifically said that I didn't care if we just stayed home for the day, or if we went on an outing.  I just wanted the day to be planned, and for me to not to have had thought of the plan.  Somehow, that would make me feel like it was a thought-out day, knowing we would have a plan for the day, no matter how big or how small.

We woke up on Sunday morning, to a few potential set-backs.  Geoffrey was running a mild fever, and pretty clingy.  And Brant had woken up with vertigo, in addition to not sleeping much through the night.  I immediately found myself thinking through my day, wondering if I would be playing "nurse" for both my boys, and keeping Maddie entertained on the side.  Admittedly, I was a little bummed.  But I pushed the feelings aside, and made peace with the fact that I would have a day with my family, in whatever form it would bring.  Brant was determined, however, not to let his plans be deterred by the "sicknesses" flirting with the family.  We made it out of the house mid-morning, with my husband on a mission.

Our first destination was to The Getty Museum, in Los Angeles, a place where neither of us had been before.  It was a hot May day, but a beautiful one to be spent outside in such a stunning location.  I was so pleased. :)

Lots of Maddie pictures in this post, as Geoffrey was just not feeling too great.  You'll see.

Stunning architecture.

Beautiful gardens.

Just about the best picture we got of Geoffrey all day, and it was only because I had the camera screen flipped his way, so he could see himself in the picture.  Poor little buddy was not too comfortable - he didn't complain, just was clearly not looking like himself.

I am one seriously blessed mama.

After a fun day at the Getty, we decided it wouldn't hurt to jog on over to Disneyland - I mean, we were already out on the right side of LA.  Don't ask why, ask why not? :) 

A new adventure at The Getty, and Disneyland??  Happy Mother's Day to me!!

Maddie's Mother's Day gift

(May 8, 2013)

A few days before Mother's Day, Maddie brought home a gift she had made for me at preschool.  It was a sweet little potted plant, in which she had painted the pot by herself, and helped plant the flower.  She was very proud of her present for me, and it was a tremendously sweet moment we shared, as she "presented" it to me. 

"She starts with the letter 'J.' I love you, Maddie." :)

After the pictures above were taken, and we started moving around the house again, we hear a loud thud, only to discover Maddie like this.

It was pretty hilarious, to say the least.  The first words out of Brant's mouth were, "Sweetie! Are you okay?"  I just exclaimed, "Get the camera!!"  Somehow, Maddie started to sit on the the couch, and lost her balance, resulting in her falling backward, with dirt all over her body.  The funny thing, was that she didn't move from this position from start to finish. 

We had to get the dirt out the door somehow! :)

Monster Park

(May 4, 2013)

We ventured out to San Gabriel (20 minutes away), to explore a new park we had heard fun things about.  I don't remember the actual name of the park, but it is appropriately nicknamed "The Monster Park."  It is a decent sized park, filled with concrete slides that look like dinosaurs, whales, and various monster type.  I believe it might actually be an historical landmark in LA.  The slides were various sizes and shapes, and surprisingly fast, being concrete and all.  We had a great time - take a look!

Wheee!

Unsolicited joy!

I guess this one went faster than Brant was anticipating. :)

On his own!

Oh, boy.  (No worries - this trip down the slide ended just fine).

I did it, too!

I wonder how long his hair will stay this blonde.  I love it so much.

I swear, they're related. ;)

Love them.