Day at the Beach

In the picture below, Jack is trying very hard to scoop up sand and throw it on Paige...She never even noticed.

Ever since I was kid, I loved those tiny shells that looked like little press-on nails (bean clams or toothed donax)...but I've never seen so many of them at one time AND they were slipping out their "tentacles", flipping, and digging into the sand when they felt the water receding. It was fun to watch these little guys in action.

Lunch with NFL

Hasselback of the Seattle Seahawks.

Desmond Clark & Paige

Eating Ribs

The girls beat the boys...

Yesterday, we were served lunch by some professional football players. They were all very nice and shared their stories about being spiritual people. Emily collected autographs on her football and the kids had fun playing tug-o-war and eating ribs.

Happy Hearts Day

Hail

We so rarely get any weather other than 70 & sunny...so the kids got excited to see a little hail!

The Getty Center

On the tram...

Just so you know...that is not a roll of paper towels on the ground- it's a trash can...yes, that's a giant bug with a giant T-pin stuck in it.

Jack getting his shoe tied...

I'm sure this is much brighter in the Spring/Summer.

I think this was Jack's favorite...go figure...oddly, it was named "Illusions of Grandeur".

Emily looks a little sad here...but that's because she was starving by then!

Last weekend we took a little jaunt up to L.A. and visited the Getty Center. It is a large museum. Jack liked the fact that you have to take a tram from the parking lot to get there. All the kids wanted to know why so many of the art works had naked people in them. I tried to explain something about the beauty of the human form...but I think they still thought that was pretty bizarre. Emily and I signed up for a family drawing class. They provided us with quality drawing supplies that we got to keep and taught us the basic principles of drawing people...the class was called "Strike a Pose!". And of course our final drawing to place in the sculpture section of the museum where half the people were naked...so I chose to draw Venus and Emily chose to draw "Bust of a Man"--a sculpture that was head and chest only! :)

Father Daughter Dance

The girls were very excited to go on a date with Daddy. Emily enjoyed the whole dressing-up process- complete with jewelry, perfume and her first pair of pantyhose. Paige complained that her dress itched...but while getting ready - every now and then I'd catch her smiling...but she'd deny it, of course. I know she liked the special the night! Chris said that it was the best Father/Daughter dance he'd been too. It was held at a hotel in San Diego. They even received "swag"- a Tiffany-style heart charm bracelet. They also had wands, balloons, photos, dinner, and dancing.

Sea Life Aquarium @ Lego Land

We capitalized on another opportunity to go on a family outing for free. Lego Land was offering free entrance for "heroes" to their Sea Life aquarium.