Underwood Farms (Again)

Still with WHPS - this time for vegetable picking.

When I was 3 I certainly didn't know what bok choy was.  Not sure why Garrett ran all over the place shouting that he wanted Chinese turnips - perhaps it was from Ni Hao Kai-lan.  Funny.  One of the moms commented that he certainly had exotic tastes.

Farmer John taught us all about bok choy, beets, lettuce, baby carrots, cilantro, leeks . . .

We also climbed hay bales, went down the combine slide (just like last time) - and just like last time I was the only mom at the top of the tractor refereeing and ensuring little ones did not push each other down the dangerously steep and narrow stairs, ran around and saw the animals, played in the "gold mining" water, climbed all over a wooden train and fire engine, and just generally had fun.  STILL after all this no nap - REALLY - I was exhausted by the time we got home.  We had a huge bag or veggies and we gave one to Ana too.

Fireman's Memorial and Museum

So fun and really well put together.  Jim was great - he spent a good hour/hour and a half taking us around and telling us all about the displays.  He was a firefighter for 40 years.  Can you believe that??!!

The memorial/museum is run strictly by volunteers - definitely a fun place for little boys and a really great piece of history - it is even housed in an old firehouse (and the architecture is amazing too).  they do a great job of fundraising - the memorial in front of the building and the fence surrounding the front courtyard cost $2.3 million. 

Check out our little firefighters . . .

BTW - Does Anyone Care That I Have Two Teeth?

Oops . . . did we mention that Brady simultaneously cut his two center bottom teeth right after Santa Barbara?  No wonder he didn't sleep well that weekend (we didn't think too much of it because he never sleeps well).

But, he's still happy nonetheless . . . smiling through the discomfort!

Passover Party at WHPS

Mommy and Garrett were in charge of helping the class with the Passover party - we brought fun Passover placements for all of Garrett's friends to color before trying hard boiled eggs, mint (bitter herbs preschooler style), charoset (without walnuts of course), matzoh, and jelly.  Ms. Linda talked to the class about Passover and Ella Bella's grandma even made chocolate covered matzoh - which was a huge hit.  Flynn found the hidden matzoh - I think watching the kids sit there with the eyes closed was so amazingly adorable.

Once the class went back inside to eat lunch after running around and playing we went to the barnyard.  The peacock was amazing and we checked out the new aviary that is being built.

I LOVE MY MUSIC CLASS

Brady really enjoys playing the drums in his mommy and me music class - and he has really good rhythm.

He made a friend too - Ashton.

He also LOVES the wind down time at the end with the bubbles.

Griffith Park Observatory

A fun family outing - the renovated (4 years and $93 million smacks) Griffith Park Observatory is AMAZING.  I had only been there once post-renovation and Bob hadn't been there in years.

We hit all the exhibits, weighed ourselves as if we were on Jupiter, watched most of a film on the history of the observatory, watched the pendulum show us physical evidence of the earth's rotation, and looked through telescopes - and we enjoyed the views of the city and Hollywood, sign, etc.

We didn't get any photos of it, but both boys were scared of and then loved the Tesla Coil (wireless electricity) demonstration.

Can You Dig It?

OK - this is out of chronological order - but this was so fun that it deserved a posting.
Garrett and I went along with a friend's homeschooling group on a field trip to Dig It! - A Fossil Workshop. Check out: http://www.digitfossils.com/

It's a place where kids can learn about fossils and then prepare and take home authentic fossils that are millions of years old (we checked because we wanted to make sure they weren't recreations).  We chose to take home obsidian, amethyst (they have a mineral pit for digging too), and a fish fossil.

We also played with dinosaurs with our friend Kien - what more could you ask for???

Casey, Maya, and Savannah Visit From PA

What a refreshingly good time.  It's fun to play tourist in your own town.  OK - granted - we are all still exhausted in the Hauser/O'Leary household because no one wants to sleep these days . . . but we still managed to go shopping on Melrose and eat at the Blue Jam Cafe, go to the beach in Santa Monica and eat at Coast, hit the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and the boardwalk (where mommy stayed on solid ground with Brady and daddy got to have all the fun and ride the BIG ferris wheel with Garrett, Casey,a and the girls.  We were a little worried he would be scared, but he LOVED it), and go to a trendy little restaurant in Hollywood (Magnolia).

We also did a lot of hanging out at home, ordered in yummy Mexican food, and ate my (shall I dare say pretty darn good) turkey lasagna.

Come and visit us again soon!!

OK - I guess next time it's really our turn to head back East for a visit . . .