Walnut Creek 2014, Part 2

It was wonderful spending time with the extended family for Gretchen's birthday. We enjoyed wearing our tie-dye shirts while playing a special "What's That Tune" game based on Gretchen's life. A tasty Cheesecake Factory lunch and savory cake topped off the festivities. Gretchen received a commemorative plate and a certificate for Roger's Chocolates as her milestone gifts. Happy birthday Gretchen!

Walnut Creek 2014, Part 1

We brought Shiloh for our road trip to Walnut Creek this summer! She did a great job in the back of our Mazda, it seemed like she knew this would be a special trip, since we timed it to coincide with Gretchen's 50th birthday. After a couple of stops we made it up north. We spent time at Kim and Mark's, Shiloh and their dog Dodger hit it off right away. Dodger is a much younger dog and ran circles around Shiloh. Kim and Mark's house is great for entertaining, they have done a nice job inside and out. The kids had a fun time on the trampoline, and we enjoyed making tie-dye shirts for the birthday celebrations. We also enjoyed breakfast out and playing at the local park.

Thousand Steps Beach

There are approximately 230 steps that take you down to the secluded Thousand Steps Beach in Laguna. Many people use these steep stairs for an exercise workout. Once you reach the water, there are rock formations, tide pools, and beautiful houses up above. It was a great place for a sightseeing stroll, with other visitors surfing, boogie boarding, exploring, and laying out on the sand.

Long Beach Aquarium

Here we are, spending a summer day at the Long Beach Aquarium. The kids were able to touch the horseshoe crab and various sea anemones. The sand eels, with the magnifying glass display, is always a favorite as well.

Summer is here - Natural History Museum

We started the summer off with a trip to Los Angeles and the Natural History Museum. This museum holds a lot of fond memories for me, I went several times as a child. I love the large animal "dioramas", they look the same as they did years and years ago. There are many other exhibits that our family enjoyed. It was a great way to start off our vacation time.

Teacher Appreciation