California Adventures Day 2--the Vanguard

California Adventures Day 1

We had a busy day on the road today. We left our house at 5 am, while it was still dark outside! James was ready to go first. Matt woke up at 3:30 and ai followed shortly after. James woke up around 4, came into our room and told us how excited he was to be going on our big trip. We left as soon as the car was loaded and kids were up and ready. We had muffins and grapes in the car with special juice pouches. Road food is so much fun, even when it's same stuff you have at home--it just tastes better in the car somehow.

Jacob with his muffins and glow sticks.  We left the house while it was still dark, so the glow sticks added some excitement to the beginning of our journey.

Everyone got cool new shades for the car as well.

I tried to have something special for each of the kids that was theirs alone, to pull out when things started getting a little mundane or there was a long lull between videos or stops.  I didn't want them to watch videos for the entire length of the car ride, so we mandated that new videos could only be started after we had stopped for whatever reason (potty, food, etc).  Jacob got a Captain America toy, which he absolutely adored.  Julia got some little princess dolls.  James got a cool Gyro Wheel toy.

 We took highway 93 through Nevada. My experience with this road has been that it is a very desolate place. There was actually a fair amount of traffic with many places to stop. We made great time. Total driving time was right around 16 hours, arriving in Arcadia around 8:30 Pacific time. There were, as always, a few comical and interesting things along the way. When we were just a few miles away from the freeway to Las Vegas, traffic came to a dead stop on the highway. We could see the freeway in the distance, yet we could not move. When we finally started moving again and could see the problem holding everything up, we saw that a big rig truck had been on fire. Not only was it a big rig, but it was the very same big rig we sat beside while eating our lunch just a few hours prior.

This was the outside temperature as we approached Las Vegas!!!!

Summer Days Are Here at Last!

So all three of my kids are officially on summer vacation. We have been so lazy this week! W have had almost nothing going on, so I decided to let the kids lead the way this week. So far, they have watched a ton of Spongebob, played outside and become a little too familiar with the iPad. All kidding aside, it's been a really good week for everyone. Yesterday, we went to the neighborhood pond and caught a bunch of snails. Our neighbor kids showed us where to find them. We've lived here for nearly six years and never knew there were snails in our pond! Apparently there are frogs too! The neighbor bus will have to show those to us too, 'cause I can't find them! We rode bikes with the neighbor boys on Wed afternoon too. That was a lot of fun too! A the beginning of this week, we instituted the "kid of the day". Each day one kid gets to be the kid of the day. That child gets to choose what we listen to, what our snacks are, even choosing lunch or dinner if so approved by mom. This ensures that there is no fighting over the music we listen to! Hooray! Pure genius, right? I wish I could say that I came up with the idea, but I have Family Fun to thank for the idea. Today, Julia is the kid of the day and she will let you know it too!

Jacob is getting ready for our trip to CA!  Matt and I are going to see Barry Manilow at the Hollywood Bowl while we are gone (the kids will stay at their aunt and uncle's house for a cousins slumber party). Jacob is clearly getting into the spirit by rocking out to Barry.

"Sweaty James"

James enjoyed dumping water on his head to make himself look sweaty.  It was only 80 degrees outside, but he wanted to look like it was 100.

Our neighbor boys were playing in the circle with squirt guns when we went outside today.  The oldest, Ryan, wanted to drive the Mustang.  Never mind that he's twelve and doesn't fit in the car!  As you can see from the pictures, he managed quite well with his knees at his ears!

Julia loves riding her bike!!

James and trash

James is saving the world one piece of trash at a time. He loves to go on "trash" walks, where he puts any trash he finds into a plastic bag that he carries. It has been one of his favorite things to do for several years. We haven't gone on one in a while, partly because I never remember to bring a bag and also because his siblings make it difficult. Well, this evening after dinner, we went on a "trash" walk without brother and sister. James had a great time and I got a chance to talk with him about all sorts of things. It was mostly about cars and the trash he found, but it was nice.

Snow!! Finally.

It finally snowed!!  Hooray!!  However, it was a fleeting thing and I knew we had to make the best of it while it lasted.  It was partially raining when we got outside to build our snowman.  Needless to say, he didn't stay vertical for long.  Within a couple of hours he had toppled over backward.  But at least we got one snowman this winter!

Fun Dip . . . UGH!!!

Let me just be clear upfront--I loathe Fun Dip!  What is Fun Dip, you ask?  Well, it is basically a long thin Sweet Tart packaged with colored sugar "dip."  It seemed to be the only thing he received in his Valentine's bag from school.  I swear 75% of the class gave fun dip!

It is very messy and very green!

Yes, Jacob was proud of his "green-ness."

Mommy's little helper!

Julia's talented auntie made her this adorable apron for her birthday 

to match the one she made for mommy at Christmas.

The most important part of cooking is tasting of course.  And what better way than with your fingers?

A good cook always cleans up when she is finished!