Saturday Fun

Last year we had so much fun at the ranch days we decided to go again this year. There were a lot of the same activities with a few new things thrown in. We got to go on a carriage ride, we saw foals (one who was born the day before), we drilled holes into shells to make necklaces, saw a demonstration on bats and lots, lots more. It was a beautiful day to be outside!

The girls are petting a Perchon horse. They are the biggest (or at least one of the biggest) horses on the planet. Hundreds of years ago knights would ride them into battle. I'm sure that was an impressive sight.

We took the carriage ride through ranch fields towards the marsh.

We didn't get to ride the stagecoach but we had to take a picture in front of it. I thought it looked a lot like the stagecoach my grandfather built years ago.

Petting the cow (picture taken by Annalise)

Just the two of us

A friend of mine had free passes to Six Flags Marine World, so Robyn & I went with them. Since it was a Friday, poor Annalise had to go to school. Next time she can come with us because I caved in and bought season passes. Should be a fun summer!

I Can See

Just before spring break Annalise was complaining she couldn't see the board despite the fact she was sitting in the front. The time had come to get her glasses. She had an eye appointment this past fall but we decided she didn't need glasses then but she definitely needed them now. So over spring break we went to the optometrist and she got to pick out her new glasses. These are the ones she decided on. She looks really cute in them (says the proud mother hen). I'm a bit nervous as she only needs them to see the board -- I just hope they stay in one piece and not get lost!

Spring Break - Week Two

The last day of the girls' spring break was the first day of Jeff's spring break. Soooo, we went away for the weekend -- a much needed vacation for the family and a celebration that he has a job next year.

We went and stayed a couple nights in Jackson, CA which is in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The first day we drove out and went to Black Chasm Caverns. At first Robyn was nervous about going down into the cave but once down there it was really interesting and she soon forgot her fear. It was a 50 minute tour where we walked down a series of stairs and walkways that loop around the formation covered cavern walls.

These are are helictites. They are not found anywhere except for this cavern. I wish I had a better camera. There's the bluest lake at the bottom of the cavern but it was just too far away for my little camera to take a picture of.

On Saturday we drove up into the mountains so the girls could play in snow. Since moving to California I've appreciated not having to scrape ice off my car or driving on icy/snowy roads. As a result when I do see snow I like it now.

Because of the fresh snow and no chains on the van we couldn't make it all the way to the ski resort. So we ended up stopping at a turnoff of the highway.

There were other families sledding there are well so we had a grand old time. When we got there the snow was fresh and pristine -- but it didn't stay that way for long.

Spring Break - Week One

Long school breaks are always hardest on the moms. We've got to figure out what to do in order to keep the little ones occupied and out of trouble. The last couple of years have been difficult. Jeff works in education so he gets a spring break too. Unfortunately it's a different school district so they don't always coordinate. This year they overlap over just one day -- Good Friday. Annalise has two weeks off before Easter and Jeff has the week after. Who plans these things?!?

We were fortunate that the first week was rather nice around here. The weather of our part of northern California is rather weird, or it least it seems to me. Wintertime is when everything is lush and green, and it's in the summertime when the hills are brown -- Jeff tells me they're golden, but they just look dead to me. Anyway, I tried to get the girls out of the house. We played at the park with friends and we went rode our bikes around the neighborhood.

During the many playdates/sleepovers, I was able to finish a project that has been in my to-do pile for several months. Robyn's dress was made from an XXL Men's shirt I bought at a thrift store. She's a big girl so I barely had enough material to make it. But I'm pleased and she likes it as well. According to her, it's her Hawaii dress. I found the pattern on this website, Made.

Another fun activity was getting together with old friends to go minature golfing. We don't get to see them as much as we no longer live in the same city. But spring break is a perfect time to hang out with friends. That day was weird weather. It couldn't decide if it wanted to be sunny or rainy.