Fields of Flowers

Last week during spring break we took a trip with some friends to the Armstrong Garden's Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA. It was beautiful. The weather was perfect. But, I don't think I can handle going again. I definitely have allergies. I felt it coming on in the sweet pea maze. The fragrance in the maze was overwelming. I could feel my sinus headache coming on. I tried a sinus rinse when I got home, but it was too late the damage was done. Let's hope this sinus headache doesn't last two weeks like the last one. My left eye ended up swollen, red , and with massive amounts of discharge. Not fun.

Making faces with their friend.

They love their little friend.

Easter has come and gone...

These two move so fast. It was hard to get them to stand still for photographs this year. We seem to be a little more lax about documenting the moments lately. But here they are enjoying Easter. We spent the afternoon at Great Grandma and Grandpa Tolman's. There was even an earthquake that day. Half of us felt it and half of us didn't. I didn't.

Getting Dirty

Saturday I ran in the Irvine Lake Mud Run with some friends from Irvine. It was a lot of fun and much different than I expected. For some reason I thought there would be more running. There was running, but that part was easy. The mud pits were the challenging obstacles. I think I could do much better the next time around now that I know what to expect. I kept getting held up by people in front of me and the slower I went through the mud the more my feet seemed to want to stay put. Next time I'm going to charge through and pass more people slowing me down. And I definitely did not pick the right bra! Sorry to all of you who witnessed my embarrassing display.

The girls ran the kids mud run. Big Sis loved it. She said she wanted to race with Lil Sis and I, but I could tell she was itching to break free of us. She would run ahead passing up kids and realize that she had left us behind, so she would stop and wait. Lil Sis was doing great up until the mud pit. Once she got her feet in the mud the complaints started. "I don't want to do this". After some encouragement she kept moving. It didn't help that she got mud splashed in her face. Big Sis charged through with a smile on the whole time. We crossed the finish line. One girl in tears, the other grinning from ear to ear. Now that the event is over Lil Sis is talking about doing it again. Like today! I think she realizes now that the mud washes out. Their favorite part was the car wash bubbles.

Before the race.
Our cheering section!

Proof we did it!

Happy to start our race.

Charging forward.

Getting mud in her eye.

Grumpy and Happy and the "Meanest Mom"

Still at it.

Pretty upset about her legs, shoes, and that her unmentionables were dirty.

Happy racer.
Her favorite part of the race.

A Bubble Oompa Loompa.

We had a ton of pebbles in our shoes.

I do have a heart after all. I carried her up the hill.

Happy and ready to try again.

The San Francisco Treat

This past weekend Big Sis had Friday and Monday off school in honor of Presidents Day. M had a project up north in the bay area. So we decided to tag along and make a family vacation out of it. We lunched at Casper's Hot Dogs in Hayward. It has been around for over 40 years. Amazing hot dogs and fun retro establishment (retro as in never been renovated). I think even the women working there and customers there have been there that long.
While M was working on his project in Hayward and Redwood City, the girls and I took the BART from the Hayward station to the city. I didn't know what I was getting into. My girlfriend from Sonoma must have thought I was crazy. Apparently there have been shootings there. The girls loved it. There were some colorful people, crazies, men missing teeth, blind gangsters, sweet little old ladies knitting, and us. I'm sure they were just as intrigued by us as we were with them. I had to remind Lil Sis that it was rude to stare, but sometimes I catch myself doing it too. Big Sis had the man behind her smiling the entire trip with her running commentary on the things see saw from the window. Lil Sis decided she needed to pee as we were waiting on the platform with only 8 min. left until the train arrived. That was one long train ride, I had forgotten that trains make so many stops, but I really didn't want to use the station's bathrooms or miss the train. Lucky for us when we got off at Powell St. I immediately saw a sign for Nordstroms. Thank you Nordstroms for your clean and safe restrooms.

We then walked to the Zeum museum for some fun just two blocks away. It was awesome I want to go back when the girls are a bit older. We definitely needed way more time. The carousel was a big hit, as was the Yerba Buena Gardens playground. Afterwards we walked around the city for a bit and ate yummy Gelato until M had finished his project in Redwood City.
Then onto Sol Food, hands down the yummiest food ever! A über cool Puerto Rican restuarant. You order and sit down at any available table. I reminded me of Europe. No one was brave enough to sit with our family even though there was plenty of space. Once two young women sat with us and then moved on when something else was availabe. Should I be offended? I did shower that day and my kids were really well behaved! We tried a coconut soda. I didn't think I would like it, but I was surprised. It was actually really good.

The next day we attended church with my best friend from high school in Petaluma. I tried to prepare the girls by letting them know that their church was very different and that they might have a band. It was a bit of a shock to them and I may add to myself to have a "rock" band at church. The pastor delivered a very nice simple sermon. Gave M and I something to ponder on. Then we had lunch with my friend and her family at Cornerstone Sonoma. My sister-in-law would have loved their gardens. Such a visual feast.
Then onto the Jelly Belly factory, every 4 and 6 year old's dream. While waiting in line for our tour the girls went and tried samples of the different Jelly Beans. I told them that if they tried the Barf bean I would buy them a bag of Jelly Bellies. Little did I know everyone on the tour would get a free bag of Jelly Bellies. I feel bad that I coerced them into it now, but hey they rose to the challenge and ate the Barf bean!
That night we swam at the indoor hotel pool. Big Sis was in heaven and I started to get sick.

The next day was super foggy. We had planned to stop in the city and take some photos of the bridge, visit the CA Academy of Science Museum and eat Dim Sum, but decided to move on. Oh well another trip maybe. I was really bummed about the Dim Sum.

I love the northern coast. I would move there in a heart beat. We drove through Big Sur watched the sun set and then spent the night in Cambria overlooking the ocean from our room. We had hoped to roast marshmallows over the fire, but there was glass covering the opening. The girls were super bummed, so I did something crazy. I suggesseted we have dessert for dinner. Apple Pie. Olallieberry Pie, Chocolate Rasberry Cake, and Chocolate Cream Pie. And we all survived, but we may get the bad parents of the year award! I still can't believe M let me do it. His mother never would have allowed that, come to think of it I doubt mine would have either.
The next morning we took a walk on the boardwalk directly out side the hotel. Then onto Morro Bay for donuts and Fish & Chips (the best ever). We spotted some seals and came up close to a seagull.
I am glad we had this adventure together. I am glad to be home.

More to come...

We had a fabulous family trip. We had beautiful/foggy weather. Stay tuned for more.