Last Trip to Sea World

Yep, our passes will run out at the end of the month so we decided to head down one last time to our happiest place on earth. Plus, they were decorated for Christmas and even had "Snow World" so we had to check it out. I wasn't going to take pictures, much less subject you to them, but sadly I got all sentimental on myself.

Of course, we had to go around saying goodbye to everyone...

And then we hit the "snow".  For those who can imagine taking a giant snow cone making machine and blowing the ice all over a huge area until it accumulates and calling it snow, there you have it.  For all the boys and girls of socal who don't even know what real snow is, it worked.  For M and I, it was a little disappointing.  I mean, I don't know what we expected on a 70 degree day but when snow is advertised, we picture the real stuff.  (Don't get me wrong - April - we aren't nostalgic for the real stuff!!).  :-)

But I digress.  There was a sledding hill but it was only for five year olds and up.  I simply told the boy at the front of the line she was not five yet and asked if she could go anyway.  He said once and so she did.  I only got one pic though cause I had to walk her to the front and then try to run back before she got down, racing a sled while snapping pictures.  She loved it and she was pretty devastated when she couldn't do it again.

Then we managed to get the ice to make snowballs and throw them at the snowman...K hit him every time.  Yes, our oldest.  What?  All Dad's work might be paying off finally?  Notice the beautiful green trees in the background...yes, it is winter...the snow is real!

The best Dad alive!!  Sorry to everyone else who thought they had the corner on that market.  :)

A picture is worth a thousand words.  This picture is a free look into our lives.  Aw, look, K made a cute little snowman.  She is so proud.  Wait!  What's that hand swinging through the middle of the photo?  Oh, that's just Em, here to search and destroy all things her sister makes.  And yes, she crushed it.  Along with K's smile.  We call her "Mayhem", "El Destructor" and other names along those lines.

While Em was taking a nap in the stroller, M and K jumped into the giant snow globe and had their picture taken.  It was really cute and a great idea but not for the money they wanted.

Well, it's been a good run for us and lovely Sea World, but even good things must come to an end (except heaven in eternity...by definition).

"Bye Bye Sam-u!"

I better get to bed!  God Bless!!

New Hike

It is good that my friend J has also decided she wants to try to teach her kids to hike. Her familiarity with the area helps me find more of the trails around here that are nice, short and well suited for kids. This one is going to become one of my favorites, I think.  This was on our way there...

There were even some tall trees on the hike.  They were few and far between but they make my heart sing!

It was pretty cold as the fog had rolled in over night and was stubbornly refusing to lift.  The trees are part of an apple orchard.

They have these cute spots along the path where they hang a pail so you can collect water and water the trees.  The kids had a blast following the well-written instructions.

At one of the "watering spots" Z slipped and fell in the water...we had to strip her down and let her wear my jacket...she was quite the trooper and didn't even cry!  In between distractions, we spend much of these hikes listening to at least one of the kids complain, cry or generally have a bad attitude - there are four of them, four and under after all.  J and I just generally don't listen and every time we get home, the kids tell us how much fun they had.  So, falling in the water, well, we thought it was all going to crumble at our feet.  But instead, Z got happy, K got out of her funk and we were able to keep hiking.  Kids!  Who can figure them out?

Well, it was cold and fun but we ended up with warm apple cider in our hands and joy in our hearts.  It is always good to wander through God's creation and I can see the difference in my kids and myself when we get home, so I am glad it isn't a million degrees here anymore!

God Bless!