Adventures!!

We've had a lot of good times out and about in the last few weeks.  These kiddos make field trips in 100 degree weather really fun!

We took at trip out to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.  One of the main attractions for us was the children's garden.   What a great idea to have an area where kids are free to touch the fountains, explore off the path, and run around!  And, adults are not admitted without a child.  The kids loved it!  

The entrance to the children's garden - 

 Even this little chubby leg got to feel the fountains -

This was the highlight of the day for Noelle - magnets and metal dust -

 In the rainbow tunnel -

After the children's garden, we explored a great indoor rain forest with so much to see!  Isaiah was like a kid in a candy store - or scientist in a lab!  I could hardly get him to stay still and listen to the descriptions I was reading to him because he kept seeing other plants, microscopes, experiments, etc.

There was a lot more garden to explore, too.  We didn't reach every area, but we did see some -

I was proud of Isaiah for leading us to this spot.  He read the map himself and guided us to the lily pond and waterfall.

We started meeting with our Friday "Fun Group" school co-op.  Since it was so hot, we met at a splash pad, read Madaline, had a language arts, history, and geography lesson, and played!  The group is made up of 7 families, with kids up to age 8.  We're thankful to have this smaller group from our school to spend time with regularly!  We also had our first school park day this past week.  The kids and I all had a wonderful time making new friends.

And we had a family day at the beach.  We were some of the first people to arrive, and it was a lovely morning.

I would say this was the first day Lucy really started sitting unassisted.  She picked a good place to start!

The kids loooove collecting sand crabs.  It's usually the first activity of the day when we arrive at the beach.

And Isaiah and Luke usually build the biggest hole or tunnel they can.

Nice place to sit, big girl!

First time in the (very cold) ocean!  We're not in Barbados anymore, Toto.

And, yesterday we took a school field trip to the LA County Fair.  Again, it was a very hot day, but we had a great time!  We spent the day with the Magos clan.  Here are Noelle and Tomas with a baby goat -

Elias, Isaiah, and Noelle visiting more goats -

The piglets were so cute -

5 adorable little faces -

This was probably the highlight of the day.  These Chinese acrobats were amazing!  This guy is on top of 10 chairs with wine bottles at the bottom.

Other highlights were the cow milking demonstration, the lumberjack show, and seeing a legless lizard and a capybara.   Great day!

And today I get to go to a Beth Moore simulcast with dear women from church while Luke and the big kids play all day!