We were in northern California a couple times in the last few months for some medical appointments and were able to visit Scott and Shannon and family near Sacramento as well as Grandma Boitano in Dillon Beach. We went to a regional history exhibit at the public library in El Dorado Hills. The kids were able to pan for gold, learn about the pony express, and see a cannon.




At Dillon Beach we hiked Sugarloaf as a family. Stuart got carried most of the way, but Simon was quite a trooper. Lots of breaks and a cool, foggy day made it a fun activity for all of us.


The blue sweatshirt club.

We loved spending time with Grandma and being able to hear her fun stories. Hopefully we can make it up there a couple more times before we leave California.

We've always felt grateful that our boys are two fairly adventurous eaters. The variety of fresh produce from the roadside stands, farmers markets, grocery stores, and our own backyard have made it fun to try new foods and also enjoy very fresh old favorites. Simon has always loved artichokes and Stuart was introduced to them for the first time this Spring. He insisted on holding and scraping each leaf all by himself. He did pretty well!


Dwayne rigged a mini corn-on-the-cob for Stuart. He loved it!



Mmmmm! Homemade chocolate pudding.

In several recent trips to In-N-Out Burger, we've realized that Stuart is a complete PIG when it comes to chocolate shakes. We thought sharing two shakes as a family would work out pretty well, but not with Stuart around. He sucks very intensely and objects in a similar manner when anyone else tries to get a taste.

For about three weeks in April, Dwayne was on a humanitarian medical mission in Guatemala. It was a great experience for him, but I'll let him do a post about it if he's so inclined. I spent the same weeks in Indiana with my parents. One day we went with a friend and her children to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. There was so much to see and do! I wish we could have spent a couple of days there. Here are some highlights:



There was a great dinosaur exhibit, this particular one about their nests.

This was the dinosaur bone excavation site, where goggles were required. I doubted that Stuart would comply, but he surprised me!

Stuart has always loved all things cuddly. This bear was at the entrance of one of the exhibits. He just wanted to keep giving it hugs while squealing affectionately.

My mom gave us an alphabet book called, "H is for Hoosier," a while ago. Simon has always liked it and decided long before our trip to Indiana that he wanted to see a covered bridge (the featured item for the letter "C" in the book) while he was there. In Noblesville, just north of Carmel (where my parents live) there is an old bridge that goes across the White River. We spent an afternoon having a picnic and exploring the bridge, park, and adjoining trails.

Ethan and Aidan (S and S's cousins, each within a year older) live close by, so we were able to enjoy several outings with them. 4 boys under 4 equals fun times!


Matching shirts purchased by Grandma Draper.

Stuart hamming it up.

Fun at the park.

On a nature walk.

In March we were excited to have a visit from Beepaw and Bill (Dwayne's grandparents), who drove here all the way from Colorado Springs. One of our favorite outings with them was to Minuteman Beach, on Vandenberg AFB. Vandenberg property extends along over 30 miles of California coastline, most of which is in some measure protected by several conservation initiatives, making the beaches cleaner and more natural than most others we've been to.

The rocks at this beach had very interesting holes in them. Even the smallest rocks you could pick up often had one or more holes all the way through them.


The boys certainly enjoyed all of the extra attention.

EASTER

Dwayne was reminiscing on his family's days in England where hot cross buns are an Easter tradition. We decided to be adventurous and try to make them ourselves. They turned out great--definitely best hot from the oven. The boys weren't as excited about them and mostly just licked off the glaze. Simon has informed us that he "doesn't like raisins anymore," so I guess the currants looked too similar.

We participated in an Easter egg hunt at my friend, Myndi's, church. 500 eggs on one playground with a limit of 12 per kid. Didn't require much "hunting," but was exciting nevertheless. We hid some eggs on Saturday in our concrete/rock backyard. Stuart got the hang of it. What a cute little dude, toddling around with his basket on his arm.

Dwayne had the day off today, so we decided to drive up the coast to see the elephant seals. Simon likes wearing his sunglasses in the car.

Their breeding ground is about 80 miles north of Santa Maria, near San Simeon and Hearst Castle. It was a beautiful drive, mostly along Highway 1. The seals come every winter to have their pups and to breed for next season. There are something like 15,000 seals along a 3-mile stretch of coastline. I think 3,500 pups were born this season.

The boys enjoyed hearing the funny and almost crude barks, yelps, burps, coughs, grunts, and clicks of the seals. The males are especially vocal and ugly, with what looks like an amputated trunk of an elephant hanging over their mouths.

They're not dead, just minimizing energy expediture since they fast during the months they are here. On the right is a male, with his "trunk" sort of tucked under his face.

Simon's 3rd birthday was on Friday, January 12th. We went to the Santa Maria Museum of Flight with our playgroup that morning. The kids loved seeing all of the planes, and even got to sit in a tank and some play planes. Incidentally, the hangar that houses the museum was built for the movie, "Rocketeer."

Simon chose pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice for his birthday dinner.

We asked him what kind of treat he wanted for his birthday--pumpkin pie. I wouldn't recommend trying to frost one. You can see that my talents lie elsewhere.

It was hard to make Simon wait until after dinner to open his presents, but he made it! He received the rocking chair he's sitting in, some small construction trucks, coloring and tracing supplies, and several other fun gifts. On Saturday, Dwayne took him to a John Deere store to sit on some of the equipment.



They also test drove a Mini Cooper that day, which I'm sure was more Dwayne's idea, but Simon talked about being in a "Mini" for several days afterward.

We spent Christmas in Kansas this year at Dwayne's parents' home. Grandma Boitano was also able to visit. Simon enjoyed her help as they made reindeer cookies.

Stuart decided he was able to eat this apple all by himself, and surprised us by actually doing so....until his bigger cousin Spencer decided he wanted some, too.

We decided that Stuart's pajama-sock combo was supposed to look like Santa after a long day of work, just sitting around in his longjohns.

A baby's favorite part of Christmas--the ribbon and wrapping!

Stuart started walking at the beginning of December and has been so excited with this new element of independence. He loves helping with housework (one of his favorite Christmas gifts was a child-size broom) and feels it is his personal responsibility to assist with the vacuuming.

Santa came to our church Christmas party. Simon was hesitant to approach him, but not nervous enough to forget, when asked, what he wanted for Christmas--a tractor. He was likely referring to a $200 one we saw at a hardware store, but didn't seem to mind that he just got a set of little ones for Christmas.

We got a full-sized tree this year and enjoyed Simon's increased awareness of all of the traditions and excitement of Christmas. Both boys loved the lights and were mostly kind to the ornaments.

Another favorite gift of Stuart's was a soccer ball. He can often be found walking around the house carrying the biggest ball he can manage. One way I've found to keep him happy on longer car trips is to give him a ball to hold.