Natural history museum

On Thursday we went to the Museum of Natural History in Santa Barbara with our friends the Jamisons and enjoy ourselves heartily. It's a small museum, just the right size for a group of seven children under 5, which is what Christie's and my clans amount to. Her eldest, Bo, is a week older than the monkey and the two get along famously. Our met at the park last spring and have been hanging out regularly ever since - such a fun family to be around. She's one of the most get-up-and-go moms I know, spearheading a very outing-oriented crew, which is impressive for any mom and all the more for one whose four children are 1, 2, 3, and almost 5 years old... and whose fifth child is due in December. Not hard to see why Christie forever impresses and inspires me.

That morning at the museum we were the only ones there, so the kids got to run free, which they delighted in. The oldest three of Christie's kids are boys so the monkey especially enjoys a testosterone-filled time when we are with them.

Highlights were the "dinosaur dig" in an outdoor sandbox (pictured above), a nature walk with some fun psuedo-rock climbing, and the taxidermy room where stuffed animals abounded. There was also a pretty great insect room where a live tarantula, snake, and lizard also made an appearance.

We will be going back!

Building projects

We continue to advance our furniture projects, prompted by the creation of our "children's room" in the former dining room. (Not sure what to call it yet... Learning room? Work room? Schooling room? That last sounds a bit too formal for a 3- and nearly 5-year old and the plans we have in mind for this year). HF is building 4 sets of bookcases to house our now-displaced books which formerly lined the dining room bench... a project that's frankly long overdue, we both agree. The big two kids have been "helping" their dad and building their own small bookshelves in the garage and driveway. They have been very focused and intentional about this project for the past two Saturdays - screwdrivers, screws, pencil marks - you name it. They've even come and set them in their new room and stacked mini-books on it. Very sweet.

Supplies arriving by the end of this week with a plan to start our modest 'studies' at the end of next week. Exciting!

Leaping Lizards

The monkey is playing soccer this fall through the local town team, which he is very excited about. His team is called the "Leaping Lizards" and he is #3. We missed the first practice and game while we were still in the northeast but now have two practices and games under our belt. One remembers that the larger part of soccer for a group of 4-year-olds is figuring out how the heck the game is supposed to work. I recall - and stories are still retold in my family with greater frequency than I might wish - that I would routinely sit down on the soccer field as a defense player when the ball was at the other end of the field.

The monkey prefers practices to games, mostly because there is more structure and direction (and he actually gets his foot on the ball). Somehow his team is the only one in the age group comprised entirely of not-yet-5-year-olds. The other teams have several to mainly kindergarteners and it shows - in size and skill of players. All three games to date have been notable defeats for the Leaping Lizards... not that they keep score at this age, or that it makes too much difference to the boys.

This morning were team photos and the monkey was due at the field at 6:45 AM, an ungodly hour on a Saturday if ever there was one. Thankfully his dad was willing to assist him, and we girls just met them at the field at 8 AM for the game (once again, a triumph for the other team). HF and I were wondering why they have the kids switch directions at half-time, further confusing the as-yet-unskilled players with this complication.

All good things must come to an end...

...and thus, our three weeks in New England have now concluded. Tuesday evening the kids and I flew back on the night flight, which went passably well in spite of two episodes of air sickness by the monkey. Everyone is exhausted, as expected, but we' re glad to be home and reunited with Daddy who was with us for less than half the time.

We had a lovely trip. We spent about six days with my parents in the Boston suburbs, about seven in northern Connecticut with HF's parents and cousins, and enjoyed multiple visits with friends throughout New England. I was fortunate to get 24 hours in NH sans kids (thanks Nona and Grandpa; you're the best!) and was able to catch up briefly with a few treasured friends. My only sadness was that I couldn't see them all!

Always a treat to see 91 Great Grandpa in CT and Grammy in MA when we are home. Photos of this patriarch and matriarch enclosed.

We had excellent weather - four days of rain in the middle, but otherwise sunny and warm weather. Since summer never arrived here in CA this year, this was especially appreciated. A few photos: