May

Crazy hair pajama day at school

The kids were determined to go fishing on our first unscheduled weekend day.  Unfortunately it was freezing cold and started to rain not long after we got to the lake up in the Pecos mountains.  Better luck next time....

I am one lucky mama to get to claim these two as mine this Mother's Day

A visit from Grandma Jan and Grandpa Jon

Jack designing a "space station" with the wood chips

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It was a rather cold weekend and Jack's last soccer game was cancelled due to a white out snowstorm in the middle of May.  One day was nice enough to get out for a walk in Diablo Canyon

Sasha and Anna at their end of year group concert

Grandpa Jon always plays so well with Sasha and Jack when he comes to visit us

We did our first overnight float trip over Memorial Day Weekend on the Chama River with our friends, the Rands.  Jaden is in Jack's class at school and Luke is in Sasha's class. 

Each family was in a raft with a guide who did all the rowing. 

The scenery was breathtaking, bringing to images Georgia O'Keefe all along the way.

We stopped late afternoon the first day and the crew set up camp and cooked a gourmet meal for us complete with a pineapple upside down cake baked in a dutch oven over the fire.  Sasha was very impressed by that. 

It started raining in the middle of the night and didn't stop until about 11 the next morning so we spent a lot of time in the tents reading, playing UNO and charades, and telling stories.  Despite the rain, the crew put together a delicious hot breakfast for us with plenty of hot coffee.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience.  A preview for the Grand Canyon rafting trip we'd like to do down the road.

Last day of First Grade and Pequenos

Ms. Morse and Ms. Green

Ms. Lyndsey and Ms. Cate

Jack's friend Noonie had her birthday party out at their Pecos ranch property.  The pony rides, face painting, pinata, and live blue grass band made for an idyllic warm spring day. 

April

We drove out to California in April so Phil could attend a conference at Newport Beach.  We turned it into a family vacation.  It was so nice to see the ocean after wintering in New Mexico. 

The thing I will always remember about this evening on busy Huntington Beach is that we thought we had lost Jack for what seemed like 5 minutes.  In reality it was probably a couple of minutes where we were shouting his name, frantically running in both directions down the beach.  I've never felt so panicky in my life as every mom might imagine.  He eventually came trotting toward me from up on the sand somewhere.  He had followed another little boy he had been splashing in the waves with back to this boy's family.  Just thankful everything turned out well!

Lounging in the hotel lobby at Huntington Beach.  Everyone picked up some shirts at Jack's Surf Shop beside the hotel. 

Watching the surfers fro the famous pier.

We saw them and had to do them of course. 

Crystal Cove Beach.  I took the kids there while Phil was at the conference one morning. 

We loved combing these rocks and surrounding tidepools for anemones, hermit crabs, and snails.

The Resort at Pelican Hill where the conference was had the largest circular pool in the world.  It was spectacular with views of the Pacific to boot.

Phil took the kids whale watching one afternoon and they saw several gray whales and these cute dolphins.  It couldn't have been better timed since Sasha's class was studying whales that month and she had to write her first in depth report about whales on the drive home. 

Before one of the evening dinners.  They had a lovely evening of crafts, movies, and kid food planned for the little ones while the adults enjoyed the closing reception.

The overnight at Legoland Hotel had been much anticipated at our house.  We stayed in a "Castle" themed room that had bunkbeds and a safe that could only be opened by going on a treasure hunt around the hotel.

The disco elevator

The lego pool

Nightly entertainment in the lobby

Driving school at legoland the next day.  Sasha passed her test and got a license!

Sasha diligently writing in her daily journal

I've always wanted to go to Laguna Beach.  It was as wonderful as I imagined it.

Ruby's Shake Shack

Jack warming up for his first cello recital.  They played flower song and did Rocket Song with their bows.

Playing the Barbie board game at the island while Jack does Legos.  Everyday moments I don't want to forget....

Jack is CRAZY about soccer.  Every day this spring he would ask me if it was a soccer day.  Every picture we have of him in games shows him with a big goofy smile on his face. 

Spring hike up sun mountain after a Saturday morning soccer game.

Easter brunch at our house with mom and dad

Breakfast in our room at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff on our way out to CA.