Our Trip up the CA Coast.

Grab a piece of pie and a drink .... I've uploaded our pictures from our trip up the California Coast last week.

Visit my shutterfly web site called “CA Coast Trip” to see the pictures.

You might have to be a member of the site.

http://cacoasttrip.shutterfly.com/

I'm working on the travel diary and will post it soon.

We visited:
Santa Barbara - The Mission, Natural History Museum & Pier

Mission San Buenaventura

Mission Santa Ines

Hearst Castle

Mission San Luis Obispo

Monterey - the Aquarium, the beaches, Dennis the Menace Park

Mission Carmel = San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Mission Santa Cruz

San Francisco - Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower

Mission Dolores = Mission San Francisco de Asis

Enjoy!!

Thank you God!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sunset in Monterey, CA

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody by the Muppets

For fans of Queen and the Muppets.... What a combination! Hilarious and fun!!!

Sunset, Carlsbad Beach

After Legoland, we had dinner. Then I realized it was sunset so we hurried out of the restaurant and down to the coast. I pulled over as soon as I could to park so we could catch the sunset. This is Carlsbad Beach.

These photos are moments apart. I'm not sure why one is blue/purple and the others red/orange.
I think I turned on the flash. I don't know how to get those bubbles out of my photos?

A man walked by so I had him take our picture. I am always the photographer, so seldom in the photo.
I'm so glad it turned out well.

Derec's 7th Birthday

Oct. 30, 2009
First a little background: My son's birth name is Derek. While learning to read, he asked if he was correct that a "c" made the "k" sound. I said yes. Next he wanted to know, "if his name ended with a "c" would it still sound the same?" Yes I said. He asked if he could spell it that way. I told him it was His name and he could spell it however he wanted. So ever since then, to the confusion of others, he spells his name Derec. I go back and forth depending on if I'm writing for others or for him. So on HIS cake I spelled it his way.

Derec wants to light the candles on his cake.

The spider & web cupcakes for his birthday party.

Watercolor = Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

Photo from the zoo.

watercolor...a work in progress.... I'm deciding about a background.

Balboa Park, San Diego

James had classes today so he was busy. Katie decided to stay home and with Geoff while he worked from home. So Derek and I went to Balboa Park and visited the Natural History Museum. We started on the top floor and saw a photography exhibit. Lots of photos of ocean animals: Whales, dolphins & underwater shots.
Next we spent a very, very long time in the gift shop, looking at every little thing.
He became fascinated with the minerals & gems. We decided on a box with 15 minerals and a separate large Amethyst stone.
We met up with friends and saw the 3d movie about Dinosaurs. It is a good movie. It explores how ideas and timelines change over time as paleontologists discover new fossils.

I like this shot of many people exploring the park while
the trees, buildings & the bell tower stand firmly in place - waiting
to be enjoyed and admired.

I thought this shot with the couple & their dog
would make a good watercolor.

Here I liked the bending tree, the bridge & blue sky.

kids on the roof

My kids look for any excuse to go on the roof.
So they were more than happy to help hang lights to decorate for Halloween.

Flowers in the front garden

Flowers in our front yard.

I'm still learning how to use this camera.

Legoland

Derek chose this giraffe jeep, behind the zebra jeep, because he knows I like giraffes.

Look, my giraffe purse matches our jeep.

Coco playing

Grandma's Birthday Cake

Each child lit a candle. Her age ends in a 3 now, so I put 3 candles.

Singing Happy Birthday!!

Making her wish.

Coronado Beach

Hotel Del Coronado

Point Loma

Catcher

Playing Fall Ball on a Rookie team.
They rotate positions and he was catcher once today.

Wordless Wednesday

Discovery Cube Science Center

This was a special trip for me and my youngest to go up to Santa Ana to the Discovery Cube Science Center.

My older 2 kids are at sleep away camp for the week so we took a trip over night also.

approaching the Cube!

It is carefully balanced!

Dinosaur exhibit outside. You get to walk through the belly!

Dino Quest is the interactive exhibit with life size dinosaurs.

One of his favorite exhibits was the tornado maker.

Climbing the wall while we waited to see the Dinosaur movie in 4D: “Dinosaurs of Patagonia”.

Dear Tooth Fairy... Here's my first tooth!!

the two bottom teeth have already grown in... we've been waiting for the baby teeth
to become loose and now the first one has been pulled out.
Time for the Tooth Fairy. She is VERY generous with the first tooth.
(Mr. Tooth Fairy started that tradition)

Family Camp

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We had a fun time at Family camp again this year.

Except the heat.. yikes it was sooo hot.

Here are some pictures from when we did archery, rock wall climb and the zip line.

La Jolla Shores

A very fun afternoon digging in the sand at La Jolla Shores.

Wordless Wednesday

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Diving lessons start again

First day back into the pool for diving lessons this summer.
She forgot how high the 3 meter board was. There was a breeze up there and it was cold.
Getting some coaching.
Practice off the 1 meter board.
Time for diving off the 3 meter board.

Old Town San Diego tourist

James has acting classes on Saturdays for 2 hours. So I have time to act like a tourist in Old Town. I walked around taking pics to share.

This one is a store front with statues of Pope Benedict XVI, St. Francis, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Pope John Paul II. Along with some wrestling masks. Hmmmm. or how about piggy banks?
In the garden of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Immaculate Conception Parish Church, and its altar.
Lunch! Carne Asada taco, beans & rice. Yum.

This is a pottery store around the corner. We are looking at a statue for the backyard garden so I took a few shots to remember what they have at this store.

Some crosses for my cross wall in the entry way.

Some Seahorses for our ocean/beach theme bathrooms.

2000 Hail Marys

The neighbors celebrated a day of 2000 Hail Marys.
Friends came and went all day, including me.
They prayed 1000, had Mass, had lunch, prayed 1000 more and then served dinner.

For every 100 Hail Marys they lit one of the candles. I was too late with the camera to get them in the shot.

My Tree Huggers

If there is a tree.... Derek will climb it!

Katie wanted up there too.

friends + guitar hero = fun

having fun playing guitar hero!

Legoland visit before school's out

The Boat ride. Katie has a new little friend who loves her.
Their first ride on the new airplane ride.

Finally we made it on the Log Ride.
Everytime we go it is closed or the line is soooo long.
It was fun. We didn't get too wet.

the last t-ball game

It has been a great t-ball season for Derek. We met some great boys and very nice families.
No homeschoolers, but good to know some more boys that live nearby who are Derek's age.

His team was the River Cats! I don't know who came up with the names but there were the River Dogs, Sea Dogs, Lugnuts, Sand Gnats, (glad we missed those 2) the Volcanos and the Mets.

For the last inning Derek was the catcher.

The last trip to the snack bar.
Sometimes is seems the kids show up to play just so they get
to go to the snack bar after the game.

We are hosting the end of the season BBQ party at our house.
We are looking forward to a fun filled afternoon.

Pentecost Mass with the Bishop

Bishop Brom, Fr. Matt
Pentecost Sunday and Confirmation
at the Immaculata

my fav... Saffron Chicken

This is how you balance a box of Salad Rolls on your lap, in the car, while you use the camera phone....

My favorite take-out in San Diego
down near Old Town off Washington
(a block from El Indio) is
Saffron Chicken
You must go and try their Salad Rolls.
filled w/ romaine, rice noodles, carrots, chicken, cucumber, green onion
You choose 2 sauces to go with.
I get salsa & sweet pepper

their flame broiled chicken is delicious
so is the cambodian salad & cucumber salad
ummmm, time for lunch???

ding dong .. lunch at the door!

my wonderful neighbor brought me lunch!
she picked zucchini blossoms from my garden and
made a veggie saute with her garden veggies
& purple rice
specially imported from Phillipines

My Book Stack ... waiting to be read

My waiting to read pile.
Between the library and my amazon order I have
a lot of reading to do.
Guess I better let homeschool out for the summer, this teacher
is ready for a break.

Since the photo :
Read "The Rosary: Keeping company w/ Jesus & Mary"
I bought 4 copies on Friday. One for me and 3 for gifts.
One Came quick from Los Angeles to my mailbox on Tuesday!
Mary & Jesus were working overtime!

I'm 3/4 thru Life of Pi

Started Fruitless Fall

That (FF) and Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
are recommended by Lissa.

Wicked & Ugly Stepsisters I put on hold w/ library and they were available too quick.
Darn that fast service!

I enjoyed Stephanie Meyer's 4 Twilight Vampire books So Much I ordered "The Host"
It is about aliens. I hope it is good. SM said on her website she thinks
it is better than her Twilight series. We'll see.

Ok off the blogger and get the reading glasses on!.

wordless wednesday

homeschool yearbook photo day

the kids were getting their homeschool yearbook portraits done
they had serious individual poses and then some silly group shots
I took a couple w/ my camera and my focus is off

library is bad bad place for bookaholics .......

We went to the library to p/u reserved books and there are piles & piles
of withdrawn books.
I got all of these (39) for $10
I can't pass up Books.
BookAholic Am I.

I just ordered Jeannie Fulbright's (Apologia) Botany and am waiting anxiously for her
Exploring Creation w/ Anatomy coming this summer.
That's why most of these books are on Botany and Plants.
Dinosaur & spider ones chosen by Derek.

wordless wednesday

Coco

Apologia Notebooking Journals for Astronomy & Botany

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available. You can see samples on the Apologia website here:

jeanniefulbright.com

These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal. 

Each of the notebooking journals include:

• A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
• Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
• Review Questions
• Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice 
• Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
• An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
• Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
• A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

See the sample pages here:

Botany: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=128 

 and 

Astronomy: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=127 

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com 

webkinz on treadmill

don't forget to excercise your webkinz!
healthy pets are happy pets

the dugout

Derek is waiting his turn to bat in the t-ball dugout.

garden progress

Our garden is growing

I harvested 2 heads of Romaine lettuce for our Mother's Day salad

The corn is getting big and the zucchini is flowering.

cute quip

We were out to dinner and sitting close together in a booth.

Derek fluffed my bangs and said, "You look different."

Me: "I cut some more bangs, do you like it?"

Derek: "You look like you are in college!"

Well I just laughed. I don't know what that means, but I'll take the compliment.

Mission Trails Park & Dam Field Trip

Field Trip to Mission Trails Regional Park.
See the Old Mission Dam (formerly called Padre Dam) Built by the Kumeyaay Indians for the Missionaries and the San Diego Mission. Completed in 1815.





From the Mission Trails Website (click above)
"While all of the California missions had some sort of water delivery system, the dam and flume constructed for the Mission San Diego de Alcala was by far the most ambitious. Built across the head of Mission Gorge, the 244-foot long, 13-foot thick, 13-foot wide dam was constructed of stone and cement on exposed bedrock, creating a permanent reservoir behind it. Water was released through gates and spillways into a 6-mile long gravity fed tile lined flume, down the gorge and Mission Valley, ending in a settling basin near the Mission. Construction was completed by 1815 and the padres had the water they needed."

T-Ball pics

Rosary Coloring Pages

Rosary Coloring Pages

3 Mysteries

I got this link from a message list.

They are very beautiful.

I hope you and your children enjoy them.

http://familyfeastandferia.wordpress.com/living-the-liturgical-year-at-home/rosary-coloring-pages/