Spring Break 2010: Day Two

Our second day in Monterey was spent almost entirely at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Although there are plenty of pictures in this post, it doesn't even begin to show the variety of things we saw and did! We spent about 5 hours there but there was still more to see. Highlights were: the seahorses/sea dragons, penguin show, the toddler zone (water to play in!), and the outer bay (a HUGE tank with sharks, tuna, sting rays, etc. Lloyd and I could have spent all day in this dimly lit calming area.)

A Sea Dragon:

A view from the aquarium out to the bay - where so many of the creatures we were seeing had come from:

Anika had a whale of a good time:

Hands on learning, exploring, & coloring:

This babies/toddler area was Kathryn's favorite:

Dinner at Bubba Gump's - classic!

(Unfortunately, this is where Kathryn's temperature started to rise. A suspiciously tired child with no appetite prompted a quick trip to Walgreen's. We confirmed a fever but Tylenol brought back a fairly happy little girl.)

Spring Break 2010: Day One

As many of you know, we've been planning a Spring Break trip to Monterey and southern California. (The trip did not disappoint even through our health deteriorated.) After a leisurely start on Monday morning, we arrived in Monterey a little bit after noon. We were able to check in to our hotel and then we decided to spend some time at the Dennis the Menace park. What a fun time - slides, swinging bridge, rock climbing wall, train engine, lion head drinking fountain, and more. The kids would have stayed for hours more. While the day started rainy, it was beautiful for the time we spent in the park. After a dinner at Chili's, we headed back to the hotel for the night.

Hotel time:

Easter Sunday

Anika's Open House & Spring Program

Anika has been anticipating this night for WEEKS - what to wear, how to do her hair, which shoes, what they would sing -- I thought she would explode with excitement when we finally left the house. First, we went to Anika's classroom and enjoyed a tour/open house. Anika showed us EVERYTHING. Then over to the PAC for the k-3 concert. If I haven't said it before, I will now. Anika's teacher, Mrs. Huisken is incredible. She teaches kindergarten and Elementary music and last night was her night to shine. It was a wonderful evening. The theme for the evening was "Lord of Creation, Lord of my Heart". All the grades sang fun, upbeat pieces about animals and a wonderful combined piece (see following post). I was amazed at how focused the kids were, how well behaved, and how much they all seemed to enjoy themselves. What a great night! One excited girl:

Anika's spot:

Showing Mom around the classroom.

Anika's head is peeking between the two boys in the front:

Anika's Spring Program

Wow, lots more video! Here are the three songs that Anika sang in her spring program last night. Anika is fourth from the left in the back row in the songs with just her kindergarten class. In the combined number, Dad went down front to get a better view. This might be more than even my loyal blog watchers can handle (So enjoy, Grandparents:-))

Anika's Debut

(Please excuse me for being a little bit "Flip video" crazy.) Anika was asked to sing along with a special music piece in church this morning. She did a great job (of course Mom would say that, eh?). If you don't want to watch the whole song, her part is right at the end. It is the song Slow Fade. For our last Sunday on the seven deadly sins, we looked at lust and this song worked perfectly.

Hunting Easter Eggs

Mom's Club Easter Hunt

Our church's Mom's Club held our second annual Easter Egg Decorating and Hunt Day today.

First we dyed eggs:

Kathryn really enjoyed this. She keep plopping her egg in the dye and asking for "more, more".

As the eggs dried, we enjoyed a story inside the church while the eggs hiders worked outside. Once Kat found an egg, she was hooked:-) Anika and Andrew were old pros.

Then the best part! Enjoying the surprises found inside each egg:

The sun was kinda bright:-)

Who needs toys?

Again, I've learned that sad truth that kids are really more interested in "real" things than their toys.:-) Jello boxes become building blocks.
What a grumpy face! She didn't like that I interrupted her to take a picture.

Nothing says spring like. . .

Anika has been wanting a hula hoop since last summer when her grandma taught her. Of course, by the time we got back home and Mom remember to look for them they were off the shelves. (Apparently hula hoops are seasonal items -- even in Cali). Anika has been so excited about this "sign of the season".

Kids Say the Darnedest Things

Today was a fun day for Andrewisms again:

• After hearing Dad say, "Anika, we overslept!", Andrew responded, "Oh no! We overflowed the bed!" (Considering Anika came and slept next to our bed sometime in the middle of the night and Andrew climbed in around 6:15, I'd say he was right!)




• Anika knocked Dad's glasses off the counter, but Andrew comforted him, "We didn't bruise 'em, Daddy".




• And on a more sensitive, caring note. Andrew ran up to me this morning to tell me, "Kathryn say we best friends!"




• One from Anika on our walk home from school. "Mom, our legs are the only thing that keep growing so they just push our bodies up." (I'm pretty sure that is Barbie biology).




• And one from Kathryn: Mom saw the mess that Andrew tracked in the house and exclaimed "Holy cow!" from right next to me I hear "Ho-ee Cow!"