Hiking--Henery Cowell St. Park

I was serious when I said I wanted to make hiking part of our regular activity regime. So for this hike I enlisted our friends, the Hirzels, to go with us on Labor Day. We met at Henery Cowell State Park in Felton, CA...about 1.5 hour drive south of SF. It's a huge, beautiful redwood forest. All the kids had so much fun climbing on the gigantic redwood trees!  Timo had the map and lead us through the 1 1/2 mile walk through the forest.  We even got to stop and talk to a few park rangers, ask questions and and learn that some of these trees were around when Jesus was born! 

See the sticks in their hands?  At a certain point we had limit Matthew and Timo on how many sticks and rocks they could carry.  Young finally came up with the rule that stick couldn't be any taller than you and only the number of rocks that can fit in your pocket.  And at the end, everything had to stay at the park.  The only things we could take out of the park were our pictures.

The park is right next to Roaring Camp Railroad, which was open and trains going all day, so we were able to walk over for our picnic lunch.  How exciting to see and hear all the trains go by while we ate.  Even though the kids were satisfied just watching the trains and climbing trees...we might have to work the train ride in for next year...

After lunch we took the river trail to try and see some bears!  Young was joking when he told the kids to stay together because there might be bears in the woods.  Just a reminder that we're dealing with 4 year olds and nothing is really a joke to them.  So Cameron was really disappointed that we didn't see a bear but we did find the river.

I like this picture..somehow Jen found herself watching all for kids by the water.  I'm not sure where I was but thankfully she was able to keep them all from fall in...the river bank was pretty steep.

The park is only about 20 mins from Santa Cruz so we decided to cap off our day with some ice cream at Marianne's.  It was packed!  We had to wait a while in line but it was well worth is.  A fun ending to our great day of hiking with friends!

 

Superheroes for God!

Since school started, our whole routine has been altered and we're on a new schedule.  I was having trouble having an "organized" bible study with the kids at bedtime so I decided to move it to after school...when they are still in that learning mode.  I also wanted to do something a little more sturctured, instead of just reading a story out of  the bible and talking about it.  I did lots of research online and came across this amazing woman's website.  http://impressyourkids.org/.  I love all her ideas and settled on the Super Hero series....can you guess why?  Since I'm not that super creative in this area, and at least for my first attempt at "home Bible school", I'm doing pretty much exactly what she did, not much variation.  I hope, as I get more studies under our belts, I'll be able to create my own.

So, a few weeks ago we started Being a Super Hero for God!  because God is our ultimate hero.  The umbrella verse of the whole series is 1 Timothy 4:12 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers,
in speech,
in life,
in love,
in faith and
in purity.

I really like this verse because of the practicality of the twins being so young.  And I love what it says about being example and then list very real ways the children can act out their faith.  Not all of their friends come from Christian homes but this verse show easy, tangible ways they can show Jesus' love to friends that don't know Jesus.

We started by making our super hero crests.  Each week we'll tackle a different quality...speech, life, love, faith and purity of a believer with a verse and crafts or activity.  At the end of the week the kids get a badge to put on their crests.  Here are our crests!  Timo and Cameron are so excited to start this series...can you tell.

I also got a new bible for the kids.  I think it's pretty fitting for them.  I really like this bible because it's a scripture bible but brings out the "stories" for kids to understand.  So far they have really liked it.  They ask us to read the bible out of this one now but we still use their picture bible as a reference of photos to match story we're reading.  But I love reading scripture...so much more details.

 Ok, we're up and running!  I'll try to post each week with our verses and activities...stay tuned.

True Craftsmanship

I've mentioned before about how Timo loves guns or weapons of any sort.  His passion was fueled even more this summer when his Daddy took him to Target to pick out a super soaker water gun.  So I've decided to give up the fight on the weapon front with him and just let him be little boy he wants to be, fighting the bad guys.  I do, however, have a hard and fast rule of no toy guns in the house. But Timo easily finds a way around that by building his own, very elaborate weapons out of tinker toys.  This video is Young's idea of "can you get the kids ready for bed while I do the dishes?"  Timo built all the weapons you see in the video...his, Cameron's and Young's.  Seeing his craftsmanship, I'm no longer so fixated on his love of guns but rather on his love of construction and attention to detail.  I know someday he will use his powers for good...

Superhero!

I don't know about your 4 year old, but my four year old is a Superhero! My little girl is out to save the world. It's a love affair that has been going on for a long, long time.  Remember Halloween last year?  And she wore that costume until she practically wore it out.

Now that she is four and her world has gotten much larger, she goes back and forth between Batman, Captain America and Wonder Woman. When I ask her why she loves superheroes so much, her answer is extremely simple. "Because they save people, Mommy."  Duh.  There must be some instinct in little ones to pretend to be someone or something they're not so they can control the world around them...a world that, to them, seems they have very little control in. I'm not even sure how she came to love Batman, etc...because she has never read a comic book, seen the movies, seen a tv show, but somehow being the hero is in her somewhere.

A little identity crisis...a super unicorn??  But she thinks the fairy wings will help Captain America fly..."because he doesn't have a cape, Mommy."  Of course, makes sense.

Just FYI, once your kids know you can print coloring pages off the internet...it's all over.  Every other day Cameron is asking for a new coloring page.  These are some of the ones that made it to the wall.  The Joker is her favorite bad guy, btw.

 Our church picnic a few weeks ago...Batman saving Daddy from the gigantic ball!

I'm thinking I'll have to get all three costumes for Halloween because who knows who's super powers she will be channeling on Halloween.  It changes everyday.  And I'm willing to bet my kitchen aid mixer that she'll rotate between them on the days before and long after Halloween is over.  We're still getting mileage out of her unicorn and Supergirl costumes (2 and 3 year old Halloween) She is already planning her Superhero birthday party (next Feb), complete with Captain America cupcakes and Wonder Woman lasso of truth games...we're not sure what that game is but she knows it involves a yellow rope.

But not to be forgotten, last week she was looking in her closet for her Super Girl costume from last year (I thought I put it far enough in the back but not far enough...) and stumbled across her princess dresses.  I love that pink is her favorite color but can switch between a princess or Batman in a span of 3 minutes.  I guess that's what a superhero is...a real Hero in disguise.

10,000 Reasons

Here is Cameron singing her favorite song.  One of mine too.  But she is always asking when it's coming on the radio and was so happy this day when it came on.  I thought about downloading it to itunes but then I knew we would have to listen to it over and over and over...plus, not having unlimited access to it makes it a little more special when we do hear it!

Day Before School Putt-Putt

I wanted to make the most of our last day before school started.  I took a poll of options for the kids and it was a unanimous decision (both kids actually agreed on the same thing!)  We hit the putt-putt course in sunny, warm San Rafael. Timo LOVES golf.  He has a little golf kit at home and plays with it all the time.  I guess practice makes perfect because he hit a hole in one on one of the holes!

Cameron has this bad habit of hitting then running and picking up the ball, putting it closer to the hole and then hitting it in...guess whatever works for making the game go by faster.

Timo helping Cameron line her ball up, he thinks he is such the expert.

But it was hot there.  The only downside to putt-putt is it takes along time to play all 18 holes.  (most holes are a par 5 or 6 for us) So around 12:30, Cameron was getting hot.  As we moved from hole to hole, she would move from shady spot to shady spot.

A little picnic lunch and the kids were done with hot weather.  (you can tell we have SF kids)  We had a great summer, enjoying lazy mornings, doing random mid-day activities, multiple picnics and just spending time together.  I have to say, I think after a whole summer together, my son was getting a little tired of me infringing on his independence.  I feel like Timo and I were constantly nit-picking each other and needed a break.  He was acting out for attention and I was apparently giving him the wrong kind of attention.  But I'm happy to report, since school has started, he has calmed down greatly and I can't wait to see them when I pick them up.  Guess absence does make the heart grow fonder!

Hiking--Marin Headlands

A few weeks ago there was a clearing of the fog so we took the kids on a short hike in the Marin Headlands...the hills overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.  I've been wanting to take them on shorter hikes for a while.  I feel they are "city kids" and we need to be intentional about getting them out into nature. The first stop was the battery overlooking the Bridge. Timo had a blast looking at where the canons used to be and all the bunkers that remain. We walked up and down hills, in and out of tunnels and watched the fog clear out over the bridge.

We even got to watch this cool Navy ship pull out under the GG Bridge.

Then we drove out to the lighthouse...you park and hike out over these rocks to get to the Bonita Lighthouse at the very tip.

Timo and Cameron were so into the "hiking".  Timo kept saying over and over how much fun he was having.  This was our first extensive hike with the children...I have this fear of getting all the way in and having to carry them all the way out.  So before we started this big hike out to the lighthouse, we all agreed to the terms that they would walk themselves the whole way...THERE AND BACK.  Filled with excitement, we headed off!  Such beautiful sights to see...sea lions, crashing waves, huge boulders, hearing buoys ring in the distance and picked un numerous sticks and rocks along the way.  The first part of the hike was downhill...so it seemed easy.

Unfortunately we missed the gate to the lighthouse by 10min.  They close the door leading out at 3pm.  Bummer.

So we headed back up hill to go see the Nike Missile area.  Timo was a champ hiking back up.  Cameron had a little harder time.  But they both did it, without being carried.

As we were coming back up hill we noticed the fog starting to roll back in over the bay.  We took that as our cue to head home.  We drove around the Headlands a little longer, looking at all the trails we wanted to come back and hike.  I see much more hiking in our future!

Swimming

I'm so proud of Timothy and his accomplishment in swimming. They both have been taking swimming classes since April but it's taken Timo a LONG time to warm up to the idea of sticking his face in the water. I really think it goes back to him falling in a pool when he was 2 and I had to jump in to save him. Even though he doesn't remember it, that fear of going under water has to be lingering in his subconscious. So it's been very challenging, to say the least, to get him past that big hurdle and to swim class each week.  But he has quietly been practicing when he thinks no one is looking. He tells me not to watch him while he's in the bath tub...but I peek in and find him sticking his face in the water over and over again. He tell me before each class that he will try to be a big boy and not be scared, even though fear sometimes get the best of him.  And the teachers at La Petite Baleen were so amazing in taking him separate from the class and working with him, step by step.  He knew all the motions to swim, just couldn't put his face under water...until two weeks ago!  I love this picture, the teachers arms in the air cheering for Timo as he reached the platform swimming, face in the water and without a floaty!

And one he broke that barrier, there as been no stopping him.  He completed all his tasks to reach get his green ribbon and catch up to the rest of the class in just two weeks.  Such a happy day for him!!  I'm so proud of all his hard work, even though he didn't know I was watching...

Here is a short video of him swimming on the day he got his ribbon...It was amazing to see my scared little boy become a big boy, face his fears and learn how to swim.  Yes, I was teary eyed.

And I LOVE Cameron's excitement over Timo's swimming. She is smiling so big, squeaks out a little giggle and gives him a little pat on the head as he gets out of the pool. Such the little encourager.  And she has been doing so good too...except when she gets water in her goggles.

Cameron has been working really hard to get her next level ribbon, blue. She loves swimming!I think her enthusiasm for swimming has been a big factor in Timo being able to accomplish his goals.  She may be a "little" sister but she has been a big support to her brother.

Time Away

A few weeks ago I was able to take a long overdue trip to Southern California to see one of my best friends, Mindy. She is the mother of a 2 year old in the mist of the terrible twos and was in much need of a break.  Our husband graciously agreed to us going away for a night to a spa resort in So Cal for a little time away. It. Was. Heaven.

I took the short flight to San Diego, Mindy picked me up and off we drove to the Laguna Hills Spa and Resort.  Our room wasn't ready when we arrived so we lounged on the deck, eating lunch and then relaxed in the spa.  It was so nice just not being on a schedule and not have little hands tugging at our sleeves.

We didn't even leave the hotel!  Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant and dessert on the deck outside.  Did we really order three desserts for just two people??  Yup, we did.

I feel like we talked all weekend, nonstop.  It was such an encouraging time for us both, just to be able to talk and listen to each other.  Mindy was such a blessing in so many ways, I can't wait to see her again...let's just hope it's not two years again.

Meanwhile, back in SF, Daddy was taking good care of the kiddos.  They had a birthday party to go to that weekend.  Along with all the other activities, there was face painting.  Our little superhero girl was Spiderman!

They kids got to take their first canoe ride, which apparently, they loved!  I kinda hate I missed that experience but I guess some special things need to be reserved for the Daddy.

And in true Daddy fashion, a trip to Best Buy is his kind of fun...and the kids too.  Best Buy is Timo's new favorite store, he asked to go there at least two or three times a week.  I wonder why??

I'm so thankful to Young for suggesting I get away.  I really believe that, as well as a break for Mommy, it's good for the kids to have a break from me.  As much fun as we have together, I think they get tired of hearing my voice all the time...it's good just to hear Daddy's voice sometimes.