Two Day Adventure

The kids had no school on Thursday and Friday due to parent teacher conferences so we went off on two adventures.  Thursday we went with our neighbors to Ano Neuvo State Preserve to see the Elephant Seals.  We knew it would be a long drive, but I didn't quite know how much standing around there would be on the tour. It was windy and the kids were cold and bored pretty quickly listening to the old volunteer docent ramble on. We didn't see any seals until over an hour into the tour.  But they were pretty impressive when we did see them.  Miranda was the most impressed and interested as I knew she would be, but all the kids had a good time I think in the end.

Before the tour

Climbing trees at the staging area

Measuring up to Elephant seals

Our first sighting!

Several more

Lots more!

Lunch after the tour. Except for my Dr. Pepper my mom would have been proud of me.

Then today, Friday, we took one friend each and went back to Fairfield for the trampoline place.  We were the only ones there so the kids loved it.

Lily and Miranda

Water Break

Lindsay and Elizabeth

Lindsay is Elizabeth's "old" gymnastics pal. They were both pre-team and quit.

Lunch at Denny's. Six kids plus me for 30 bucks. 

Thank god for crayons

And straws. 

and more straws.

A full car.

Gary is from China. Moved here last year. His mom only speaks Chinese so arranging this outing was a monster accomplishment. Many emails with his sisters. But Parker really wanted him to come, so I made it happen.

Lily is pretty sweet. A little needy, but sweet. At one point she said to Gary, "You are from China?" as if his strong accent wasn't a total give away.  Then she said, "Me too!" I asked where she was born and she said, "I don't know."   Seems like adopted kids should know where they were born.

Happy kids on the way to Scandia.  Mini golf, arcade games, bumper boats. Kid heaven.

Boat rides at Scandia. Again, the only ones there.