Treasure Cove

EY sponsored an adopt-a-beach activity at Treasure Cove.  After picking up trash, we explored some tide pools and saw lots of little hermit crabs.  Crystal Cove is a State Park and is normally $15 to get in, so yay!

Swimming Lessons

Both kids started swimming lessons last week. Dalton is doing great. Maggie, not so much.   They look like adorable little nerds in their goggles ("noggles," as they call them).

 Back floating.

Jumping off the raft at the end.

Jumping off the side.

Kicking off from the side.  He came back up, I promise.

Orange County Great Park

Today we went to the Orange County Great Park, which is still in the process of becoming Great. But they do have a FREE carousel and giant helium balloon ride, as well as a fun climbing play place for kids.

Tiny carousel and play place down below.

A is for Alligator

This week, we are using the random theme of "Alligators" to fuel our fun activities.  The very first thing we did was learn the song "If You See a Crocodile."

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

If You See a Crocodile

Don't forget to scream!

Dalton is really difficult to video because he clams up.  That's why there haven't been many videos of the kids lately.  But I did get one of him singing (most of) this song.

We also made this paper plate alligator craft.  The kids painted the bottom of the paper plate green.  When the paint was dry, we folded the paper plate in half and glued on googly eyes.  To make the teeth, I cut a strip of paper off the long side of a piece of white paper. I drew a zig zag down the middle and let (forced) Maggie cut on the line.  Then we glued each zig zag of teeth to the inside of the paper plate with a glue stick.  They look more like frogs with scary teeth than alligators, but the open-closed chomping of the folded paper plate makes this craft extra fun!

And, we drew some A is for Alligator pictures with a capital A turned sideways.  Dalton's is a lovely pink and purple swirliness.  Maggie also drew a regular alligator.  

Griffith Park 25 Years Later

My family visited Griffith Park often when we lived in LA.  Here we are recreating a beloved photo of myself, Leonard, and Rachel.

Laguna Beach

We went to Laguna Beach yesterday afternoon. Just in case you thought we didn't do anything fun besides Disneyland.

These pictures make it look like we are the only ones there. 

We weren't.  It was packed.

Disneyland This Week

We don't take very many pictures at Disneyland anymore, which means I'm posting pretty much every single one I took. This is from two trips this week, one of which Alligator attended with us.

Gigantic whole-body Fruit Ninja (Innovations)

Pirate's Lair

Innovations has two Honda CR-Vs you can just sit in. Dalton climbed in and made us all buckle up.

I don't like taking pictures of the kids with characters because they don't enjoy the moment, just turn around and say cheese. But we didn't want to miss this rare opportunity to see Rabbit!

Rabbit was a little afraid of alligator at first.

My 2 whale watchers. They always get this spot, because they know they can just climb up there, and they do so before the other kids figure it out.

Racing rubber ducks at the Redwood Creek Trail.

This Wild Animal needs a haircut.

Dalton is tall enough to ride "Bumpy Tars."  When the kids watch A Bug's Life, Dalton yells "Bumpy Tars!" the entire time Tuck and Roll are on the screen.

Some 3D silly faces.

Griffith Observatory and Park

Griffith Park pony rides. Maggie begged until we let her do it. Then she begged to go on a fast (trotting) pony.

 

Griffith Park train ride

Hollywood Sign

 

Griffith Observatory.  This place is free and has lots of interesting exhibits. Go early, if you don't want to add a hike to your day, because the parking is really limited. 

 

Ultrasound

Here's the newest Chadwick at 20 weeks.

We're having a "surprise."  Baby found his/her thumb already!

4th of July Twirly Skirt

I made Maggie this festive skirt for the 4th of July. It took less than half an hour (not including finding the nearest Jo-Ann).  I posted a mini-tutorial at Mommysavers: Easy 4th of July Twirly Skirt