A Lego Promise

Once upon a time I promised Davis I would post photos of his lego creations on the blog. Well, many lego scenes and creations have come and gone and these pictures are a couple years old. But I did promise...

shopping cart

street tough with boombox

duck

aligator in swamp

naptime

studio apartment

computer desk

Oh please help me survive living in this studio apartment.

Hiking Boy



Nathaniel found a throne in the rock wall.

  I have found a hiking buddy.  Davis has refused to go hiking with me since he was 3 1/2 (it was a huge tantrum at the Echo Canyon trail head where I had met a toddler hiking group with the hopes of making friends with outdoor interests, having just moved to California from Jersey City.)  I have only occasionally convinced (coerced) him to go.  But last Saturday, not even the bribe of bacon and eggs for breakfast would move him.  Chris isn't a morning person so he isn't often interested in jumping out of bed and trudging up a trail.


Cool and comfy on a mossy seat.

  But, last Saturday, Nathaniel said he'd go along.  Since winter time in California means water, it was time to go find a waterfall.  Not far from our house in the Santa Monica Mountains is an area called Satwiwa.  There are so many trails to explore. 


The waterfall curves up above and cascades run down channels carved in the rock.  We thought it would be an awsome slide for a lego guy, but it would take him a long time to walk back up for another run.



 True to form in Southern California, we shared our back-to-nature experience with about 40 other hikers.  I have to say though, it is a little different crowd out here than when we lived closer to Los Angeles.  Most were families or groups of friends - teens to young adult.  They'd all sit down on big rocks for their snacks (just like anywhere) but instead of the cheetos and funyuns, they had baby carrots and passed around strawberries (we are just over the hill from the strawberry fields of Camarillo).  We didn't see anyone swimming in the stream in their underwear.  We commonly found underwear in the streams on hikes nearer LA.


California poppies are starting to bloom already.




Sycamore Canyon

 Our hike ended up being about 5 miles when we planned on a little less than 3 and it was much warmer than we expected.  The only complaint from Nathaniel though, was that he wished he hadn't worn his lined track pants because they were too hot.  He says he is up for hiking to a different waterfall tomorrow.  That makes me very happy.

Snow fun

Chris wanted to take the boys up to his old swooshing-grounds while we were in Utah for Christmas.  We went up to Powder Mountain (past Huntsville where my dad grew up) for a day of skiing.

 Everyone but Chris took some lessons.  I've been skiing since I was about 5 but never advanced much past a modified snow plow (did you know they don't call it snow plow anymore?).  I need to improve to be able to ski with the boys as they get older.  At least I can ski the runs while they weave in and out of the trees or go learn how to do moguls.

Davis is totally ready to start shredding the hills.  He loves to head off on trails through the pines.  Too bad we don't live closer to the snow. Nathaniel is doing great turns and chooses his own path down the slopes.  He enjoyed showing me the different runs he went on with his ski instructor.

 We love our friends and family for lending us nice warm snow gear. No one cries on our ski trips over frozen toes or fingers. I thought that was part of skiing when I was a kid. (Can you say "night-skiing at Brighton"?)  Maybe someone will have some hand-me downs for me sometime.  My snow clothes are older than my kids.  (I'm not in the pic but just imagine some purple and royal blue early 90s gear  - really.  It was nice at the time...)



So pretty.  I'm glad we can take our kids to see places like this.