Independance day

What a great week we had at the Gharring's house. They are very kind and hospitable. I left our place at 8:00am and arrived at the Gharrings at around 3:15pm without Dave and had a little proud moment. I did it. We only nearly crashed 3 times when I turned around to distract screaming Isaac, sort out a sibling fight, or throw a bribe (candy) to the kids. Didn't like those moments when you feel like the meat in a hamburger, squished between two towering trucks. Only 2 stops, 2 candy bags, 3 oreo packets, 2 pringle containers, many muesli bars and fruit snack packets, and of course McDonalds....to entertain them. YUCK.

The first few days were nice and relaxing. Pool trips, Del taco, duck ponds, playing outside and playing outside. I forgot how nice it is to actually have a yard!!!!! Ohhhhh the joy of letting the kids play out the back. For the last year we have not had our own and it was so nice to just let them play and not worry about them. The simple pleasures you take for granted.

BLUEBERRY PICKING

The day we went blueberry picking was Savannah's birthday. She got to decide what to do and this was her choice because she could be with everyone. Well, we were all glad she chose this yummy activity! She was rather spoilt and Aunty Rachel let her chose what she wanted for breakfast too and it was bacon and eggs. Mmmmmm.

After blueberry picking, Abby, Savannah and I went to a movie and got some treats. One spoilt 10 year old and now I have a child in double digits. A rather unusual feeling.

These two were hilarious, I am glad we didn't stay all day or they would have burnt a whole in our pockets with all the Blueberries they picked. They really went for it. It was funny to see that in Trent and Hyrum's buckets were huge, juicy blueberries whereas with these two cheeky monkeys....anything would do!

Oceanside Beach

My first experience of a Southern California beach was great. Everytime we have come near the coastline in any area of California, it has been hazy until the afternoon and the day we went to the beach was a little cold, the water too. I must admit to having a 'I miss Australian beaches' moment but I was definitely enjoying the whole new experience. I love exploring all the different places we have been and find it fascinating. Not being a local at all, I was surprised at how the black sand sticks and gets everything grubby. I was also amazed at how close the road is to the beach, you didn't need to walk far at all to get to the water. Seeing a lot of pebbles on the sand was also interesting. Rachel was saying that they usually clear them off, but they didn't have a budget to do so this year.

CRAZY CAMP OUT.....

Rachel and Chad have a tradition for the 4th of July where they invite a lot over friends over for a campout in their backyard. So along with about 80 other people, we were able to have dinner, eat S'mores, watch a movie outside and enjoy the evening.

The fire pit. Oh.....how children love playing with fire. I love burnt marshmallows, so I got quite a few. Savannah, Hyrum and Beth slept outside and stayed up very late and had a blast with their cousins and the other friends that were over.

The morning after and everyone is still smiling. We went to iHOP (International House of Pancakes) with two lots of Gharrings and enjoyed a very yummy breakfast. Then everyone went home to sleep after having late nights and to get ready for another late one with the Independance Day festivities.

Gharrings BBQ and Independance fireworks.

Okay.......so I did a very corny thing and the Liddicoats all got matching tops at Old navy for $2.50 each. Hyrum, Isaac and Beth all had on new outfitts on from Gap, Old navy, Oshkosh and Childrens place for under $9.00 each. Gotta love outlet shopping!!! (Another fun thing me and Rachel did with Isaac, while the older children stayed home. Somehow Beth fitted in that category??)

Although Dave went along with wearing his shirt, he could not part with his Eagles hat.

We all loved watching the fireworks. Abby's gorgeous glasses were a hit. Everyone wanted to try them and I am surprised we were able to get them away from Isaac.

San Francisco Zoo

One of my favorite outings with the children is going to the zoo!! A few weeks back, the kids and I took the 1 hour trip to the San Francisco Zoo. This was my first big trip driving by myself. Just me and the kiddo's (oh, and Sheila of course...my GPS). I am the worst at directions and getting anywhere. Thanks to Sheila, I am feeling a lot more confident and have been able to venture off with Savannah, Hyrum, Beth and Isaac and really make the most of beautiful California, while Dave slaves away at his desk.

I keep forgetting how much colder San Francisco is. It was a sunny day when we left home but as soon as we got out of the car in San Fran I nearly died. The first thing I noticed that other people around us were wearing jackets. It was freezing cold, cloudy and windy. The children were complaining simultaneously and I thought....oh dear, this is going to be a long day. However, we all had such fun and although we were all cold, walking everywhere helped as well as lots of great animals that distract us.


This area, was the childrens petting section of the zoo. The children could touch all the animals. Above is a very cute hedgehog. Below was an armidillo, which was just facinating and possibly one of our favorites too. We had never seen a live one and the guy let it run around (and boy do they move quickly) they are furry with a hard shell. Beth squealed in delight when it was running everywhere, then it curled up into a ball when Isaac had his turn of screaming.

I love this one of Isaac because it sums up our whole day with him. He is about to attempt to climb in with Tommy the tortoise. He attempted many cages and exhibits with no luck. Even when the children were carefully touching a snake in the petting area, Isaac was so excited, he got both hands around the snakes belly and squeezed tight. Oh, the joys of a clueless toddler!

This is another, sums it up picture. Isaac will not walk because Savannah and Hyrum (even Beth) carry him everywhere. Savannah is showing him the giraffes (and all the other animals for that matter.) Isaac has tantrums because he has to walk. Grrrrrrr.

A picture says a thousand words. Well, they can also be very deceiving. Hyrum looks so angelic and somehow calm in this picture...if only that were the truth.

Beths favortie animal stop. Why? Becuase they are pink of course!

This is how I felt at the end of our big day at the zoo. The children did a pretty good job, but by the end of it they were grumpy and wanted food, were tired and needed to go to the loo.

Museums, musems, museums

Museums, Musems, museums. A lot of our time away from our small apartment has been at the Children's Museum in San Jose, 10 minutes from our house. We have season passes to this too. Since we don't have any toys and are living in a 2 bedroom apartment with minimal furniture, our plan was to save money on an unfurnished place and have a bit of extra money to explore beautiful California! It is such an incredible museum that we have been many times and by the second visit we had got our moneys worth! The photo above is of the special "Curious George" exhibition they have on at the moment.

This photo is hilarious because it just plainly tells the emotions of what Savannah and Hyrum are experiencing. Savannah is in girl heaven, in the craft corner in the middle of making these incredible corn leaf dolls. Hyrum is also 'attempting' one (but of course it isn't a doll, it's a robot) and is rather fed up. But I didn't have to tell you that!

This area is a very serious section of the museum. Beth's favorite.....I sit at the table and Beth is my waiter and asks me what type of pizza I want. They have a menu, she sets the table for me, she cooks it in the fire oven, etc. I love it because I can sit down. I also love it becuase I snap my fingers and say waiter....'wheres my drink'? I pretend to be cranky and Beth is delighted! Oh...the simple joys of childhood!

Beth making my pizza and Isaac "helping'.

Now I pay her $61 of pretend money for my yummy pizza....apparently that is a really good deal.

While the big kids are off making rocketships in the big kids room, Beth and Isaac get to do some hands on craft in the little kids room. This is fantastic hands on craft and textile activities for Isaac, escpecailly since I am doing limited therapy with him at the moment.

This is my favorite section where they have all these fun water activities and machines that spray up balls etc. If they are happy, I am happier!

Those balls are all about to spray up with the water pressure build up.

Hyrum gets the drama queen rights! He is our drama boy and this picture just sums him up completely! He is totally pretending that he is dying and in pain, and his darling older sister is delighting about giving him a 'special' dose of his own medicine.

Serious stuff here....Hyrum showing Isaac how to play mini golf. I am enjoying the fact that my older children are doing a lot of the helping with Isaac! It has been a real treat. (Because I definitely run out of patience some days.....or ALL!)