Candy Filled

This was a first for us...a night hunt. Between all of us (but mostly thanks to our hosts) 500 eggs were spread across the park lawn and everyone used flash lights to find them. So fun. Thank you B's!

With Sarah, one of the many people I will be packing up to take with me when I move.

Easter Eve

Justin left super early that morning for TX.

Owen woke up first (like always).

Then Sally (like always).

Then Drew (yes, like always).

Peeps come every year and Drew is the only one that eats them.

In-between conference sessions we went to the Heywood's ranch for lunch and a hunt.

the man table

with Brenna and Sarah and some cute little girls

with Sasha, our newest babysitter

on the tramp

And then...hunt #3 with the Zunigas!

with Linnea (taken by Jaime)

with Jaime and Micah (taken by Linnea)

Easter Sunday

The in-between session beach walk worked so well last conference we did it again.

proof that Sally's hair is not cut
(that was an April Fool's joke if you didn't read the comments on the last post)

No pictures from our delish dinner today at the B's.
Mostly wish I had some of people eating booger, barf, and centipede flavored jelly beans.

on that note...
Happy Easter!

Oh and PS last night I opened my scriptures and was very entertained by Philippians 4:11,

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever STATE I am, therewith to be content."

Yes, I can be content in the state of Texas :)

Emotional Cutter

Was feeling inspired by a certain celebrity child.

But maybe I should not do hair cuts when I'm feeling emotional.

At least she's too young to be mad at me.

A Good Thing

Just won this giveaway on Emily's blog (my friend from church and high school).

Isn't it so crazy that frame is made out of cardboard? I love it and am so excited :)

Lots of cool stuff at her etsy shop.

Thank you Emily!

My Melodramatic Monterey Post

The closest I could find to her crying

You know on American Idol when someone gets eliminated then they're forced to watch a video of their journey on the show while trying to keep their composure?

That's what I feel like.

My Monterey journey keeps playing over and over in my head starting with day 1 when we found Lover's Point for the first time.

We found out YESTERDAY that we're leaving Monterey on April 16...2 months earlier than planned. June was already too soon. April stinks.

We didn't think the military would move our entire family to Texas for Justin's 5-6 months of Iraqi dialect training (then we'll move AGAIN to be stationed in GA).

But in fact, they are.

Which is a very good thing to be together as a family, but before I get excited about that I need to mourn leaving Monterey.

I LOVE it here. It is my happy place with happy people.

And also I need to mourn the summer we won't be spending in AZ.

K now I will think about our entertainment options in San Angelo, TX:
Hiking with a llama.
Visiting a water lilly garden.
Going to a museum.

Nope, don't feel better.

But you know we will be doing that llama hike.

Leaf Print Eggs

Wrapped in nylons and ready to dye.

After the dye:



Got the idea from Family Fun.
Even though nobody is smiling, it was fun for our family.

Spring Break Report Card

Walking in their room to see them sleeping together (do they miss it?)
A+ for tenderness

MOSS LANDING

Sneaking up on an otter (he's laying next to the water)
A for being on the same beach as an otter.
D for Drew's ability to sneak quietly.


Boat Watching
Depends on who you ask, to Sally it's an A.




Crab in bucket watching
See above comment, an A from these 2 (these aren't all A's I promise).


Friendly Mexicans showing off their catch
A+. I liked that guy.

Justin asked him a few times if he ate the crabs.
He said no.
Then a few minutes later said they make good food.
We need to learn Spanish.

The famous Moss Landing bargain produce stand with 10 artichokes for $1.
Said artichokes - D.
They are miniscule. And that day they were 7 for $1. Jip!
Overall selection/value - C
(that day anyway...anything that was priced good was borderline rotten)

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

Snow
D. I do not want to see unexpected snow in spring break.
I want to see SPRING in spring break.
Once I got over the fact that we were dealing w/snow
(yes, we had checked the weather and it said nothing about leftover snow)
it was okay.






The kids were the happy ones about the snow.


Blurry & overexposed but this view was so amazing in person.


Giant Sequoias
B. They were cool but I was picturing them to be all over the place,
like a huge giant forest that would make me feel tiny.


The largest tree in the world
An A. Would've been an A+ if I had known that when we were there.
I was dealing with a tired and wet Drew who was ready to go.

Also:
Getting thrown up on by a carsick Drew - major F.
Driving through Fresno and Visalia, two of Justin's mission areas
(and seeing where he lived in Visalia) - A.
Being in the car 9-10 hours in one day - C.


Embracing, not fighting the curls
A


Owen's first paying job by a VERY generous neighbor - A+
We even benefited from the payment.


A Bonfire
Company - A
Wind/Cold - C
Food - C+
(sandy hot dogs aren't good but s'mores are)
A Sad Owen - D
(he had the saddest meltdown thinking about Justin leaving
for some unaccompanied training in TX)


Playing happily
A+

POINT SUR LIGHTHOUSE

We were led on a walking tour up that mountain trail you see on the left. It was overall awesome so I'll just skip grading every little detail. The weather, whales, views, everything at the top, and getting to do something I've wanted to do for a year more than made up for having to keep Sally on the trail (very strict about staying on it cause it's a private ranch). And the kids who weren't so into the ongoing history lesson we were given on the way up.
So overall it gets a big fat A+.
Definitely the highlight of the week.


Right by the road, couldn't resist.

Halle even tried to keep her on the trail.



In front of the lighthouse tower.
We obviously were not in a fashion show that day.


Lighthouse tower stairs.


The light (and our docent).

Views from the top:









Had to have proof we saw whales.
It fulfilled my wish of seeing them from land.
Whale watching from land is SO much better than seasick whale watching by boat.
Not sure how many different whales we saw but our docent said they were grays.
A mama whale with the calves she had given birth to in Mexico
were migrating from there to Alaska.
Oh and we saw a pod of dolphins and some sea lions.

And now onto week TWO of spring break.
Justin's back to work though so it will include a lot of Wii playing and park visits.