The Living Desert

It's Monday at last and after having the kids home for the last 10 days, I've been trying to catch up on all that I need to do including, my posts!

During the break, we decided to go on a little field trip with some friends to the Living Desert. Christian and I had been there a long time ago. It was definitely before we had kids. I always liked it and have wanted to take the kids for some time, but never really made it out there. Our friends, the Sorenson's invited us to go along with them on their outting, and we jumped at the chance.

We were hoping to make it there on time for the giraffe feeding, but were about half an hour too late. We did make it on time to catch a show and have lunch at the park (playground).

Then we got to walk around and see the many exhibits in their zoo. They were all desert animals and birds, of course, like big horn sheep, camels, coyote, wolves, hawks, eagles, road runners and a baby giraffe with it's mother. Caitlyn's favorite was the little burrowing owl though. I didn't get a picture of that one!

Some things has changed since we had been there but you see it in a totally different perspective when you go with kids. I was somewhat surprised about how very kid friendly the place can be. There is lots to see, of course, but there is also a lot for the kids to touch and climb on, etc.

There was a petting zoo and also a discovery center where they can learn more about some of the things that live out in the desert.

We pretty much closed down the place...otherwise the kids would never leave (despite being cold and hungry since we left our sweaters in the car and didn't bring enough food because we didn't think we would stay that long.

All and all, it was a pretty fun day and it really helped break up our week with the kids at home. So, thank you to the Sorenson's for inviting us! We had a great time.

Happy Anniversary, Christian

SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

-William Shakespeare

Field Trip

On Monday, Emily took a field trip to the California Citrus State Historical Park. I went along to chaperone.

They got a tour of the museum, some of the grounds and got to taste some different kinds of citrus (of course, none of the citrus that they tasted were actually grown here since they are not even in season yet).

I love the new field trips the girls have had this year. Caitlyn went a month ago to see a play at RCC. I can only assume that these new changes is due to the new principal at their school this year. The citrus industry is such an integral part of Riverside's (and California's) heritage. I'm glad they are teaching these things to our kids because I still haven't figured out what the point of a field trip to Lego Land is about yet (except to party and have fun and not have to teach our kids which they are getting paid to do, but I digress...).

Incidentally, this is also the place where Christian and I got married...14 years ago today. I took a walk with Emily and her friend around the amphitheater where it took place.

Okay, so I am a little biased about this place. It holds some wonderful memories for us.

Christian's Birthday

Christian's birthday ended up as a very small affair. He had to go to work early to make sure he got home on time since he had a lot of work to do.

I made him some braised short ribs over mashed potatoes by request. I was a bit disappointed. I thought that they were not as tender as they should have been. Plus we had a caramel cake.

After some small gifts and cake, Christian had to take off again to do some things at church. By the time he got back, it was time for the girls to go to bed!

Happy Birthday Husband!

i carry your heart with me

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

 

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

 

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

 

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

San Diego

Over the weekend, we drove down to San Diego to visit with Christian's family and to have an early celebration for his birthday, along with our niece, who turned nine.

The girls love playing with their cousin. She is about 4 months older than Emily. So they are close and love getting together.

Her older brothers also have a little buggy and they were giving rides to some of the little ones but Caitlyn didn't want to try it for some reason.

Emily's Aunt taking her for a ride.

Halloween Day

So, at long last, we come to Halloween Day. I had to run a couple of errands in the morning and got back in time to eat a quick lunch before heading over to the kids' school for all their Halloween festivities.

First came Caitlyn's classroom party. They had pizza and pumpkin pie...along with a plethora of other goodies. Caitlyn decided to go with a princess dress. I don't know if she decided to go with being just a princess or going as pinkalicious.

They got to help carve pumpkins and other fun things.

Then it was time for the their school costume parade. I didn't get any good pictures though since when Caitlyn passed by where I was standing, she kept turning around to look at something or someone.  And then when Emily passed by, she didn't even bother to wear her hat.

As soon as that was done with, I went to join Emily in her class room to help out with their class party.

That lasted until school was over. We drove home and I had them hurry up and do their homework. I only had them do their math. I didn't bother having them do any reading or whatever. Then we were off to another Halloween party at one of Emily's classmates house. I thought we would stop by for a couple of hours since I was interested in meeting her mom and they were nice enough to include Caitlyn in the invitation.

After the party, we picked up Christian to have a quick dinner. We were having another family over for FHE. We sat around the fire pit and roasted smores.

The girls didn't do any actual door to door trick or treating this year. They already had more candy than I would like them to have in the house anyway. We had a record number of trick or treaters come to the house this year...a whopping six people! Well, four of them were teenagers. Christian says that they don't count! But we didn't get any cute little kids. The youngest was about Emily's age...so sad.

Anyway, I'm glad Halloween is over...I'm exhausted!