Butterfly Garden

One fun thing we did this summer was go to the Butterfly Garden at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.  This was similar to the Spider Pavillion we went to at the LA Natural History Museum a couple of years ago, only I enjoyed this one much more!  

  

We went with our friends the Johnston's and the Lishman's. 

 Inside the garden, at least a hundred or so butterflies were fluttering about or quitely landed around the garden.  

 One landed on me immediately... 

 and we found one on Cory's head... 

 The butterflies seemed attracted to my white shirt... 

Cory showing Zoey a butterfly on his brochure.  Grant was really upset that a butterfly wouldn't land on him!

 Maggie and Evie. 

Bowie, Shaun and Finley. 

A total surprise!

I practically begged and pleaded for my sisters to come out here to California for a visit this summer.  Finally, Shelby agreed and I kept it a secret from my kids that they were coming.  It was super hard not to say anything because I just knew what a blast they would be having with their cousins.  But I couldn't resist the opportunity to see the surprise reaction from Maggie and Grant.  Cousins Lauren and Brooke knocked on our door on July 15th around 2pm.  Maggie and Grant ran to the door, "Someones at the door!"  They peeked through the glass and Grant exclaimed, "It's Brooke!"  Maggie was astonished and opened the door dumbfounded.  They all stood there and looked at each other for a few seconds but it didn't take long for them to warm up and get excited that we could spend the next 11 days together!  

 A total surprise!

 Welcome to our house!

Just think of all the fun we will have together!

 An afternoon at the splash pad... 

 Grant introducing legos to cousin Andrew, who is 18 months. 

 Enjoying our Sunday dinner outside

 Roasted hot dogs and s'mores at the beach

 It was very windy and we almost thought it wasn't a good idea, but kids always find a way to have fun!

Maggie enjoying s'mores with 2 of her favorite girl cousins... Lauren and Laura!

 Shopping at the outlet malls for school clothes... 

 Going to the Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey circus with the whole gang... 

The kids (and adults) were mesmerized for 2 hours of entertainment!

I planned things for us to do everyday... not pictured was our BBQ at Aunt Jana's house, swimming at the pool, getting our chinese foot massage, seeing a puppet show, going to the beach with the Ewings and our failed attempt to go to the fair.    Who has time to take pictures when so much fun is to be had!?  Between Shelby, Julianna and I, I'm lucky to have gotten these pictures!  Unfortunately, my washer broke in the middle of the week and so some of our plans were squashed by a hurried attempt to get it fixed with a house full of people and a trip to the laundromat.  But, the kids enjoyed the down time too, just being able to stay at home and play together.  It was definitely the highlight of our summer to have visitors!  Thanks for coming to see us!  

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Last summer, we headed to the farm to pick fruits and veggies.  It was fun... but it was a long, hard, sweaty day for the kiddos.  This summer, we decided to cut things short with just strawberries... and a few raspberries... and some cucumbers.  But that was it!  And then!  Last summer, I tried my hand at jam making and loved it!  I made plumberry, apricot and strawberry.  I've only made apricot this summer and decided to turn our freshly picked strawberries into freezer jam instead of cooked jam.  I have great memories of making strawberry freezer jam with my mom and sisters when I was younger and thought there is no reason why I shouldn't create those same memories for my kids.  Well, as it turns out... my sister in law Julianna and I were the ones slaving away in the kitchen while all the cousins play.  But, it was my first time making strawberry freezer jam by myself and Julianna and I had a great time.  And if you come over to my house, I just might offer you a piece of toast with strawberry freezer jam!  Here are some cute pictures of our strawberry picking adventure... 

These wagons made venturing out into the farm a little easier and these 2 made for a cute picture together!

A lesson on which strawberries to pick...

Maggie is not a huge fan of strawberries but she did a great job of picking the right ones!  

We put everyone to work!

 Zoey on the other hand LOVES strawberries!  She turned into quite the strawberry juice mixed with dirt mess!

Each kid filled their quota of picking one containers worth!

Maggie was happy we picked some cucumbers, too!  She loves cucumbers!

Strawberry pickin' is fine and all... but the highlight of the trip was playing on all the farm equipment!

Butterfly Memorial Service

One of my new, favorite summer traditions is the beautiful Butterfly Memorial Service put on my friend Bonnie who owns a Hospice Care service.  I went for the first time last year with Maggie and Grant.  This year, we brought Zoey and Cory with us.  This was a totally new experience for Zoey.  She was completely perplexed by the butterfly in the envelope and couldn't wait to open it.  I am grateful for Bonnie and the opportunity that she provides for us to honor those whom we love but have died.  It's a lovely experience!    

Speaking of butterflies... my dad sent me the following pictures.  Have you ever seen a butterfly with transparent wings before?  That's a new one to me!  But how beautiful, I can only imagine how much Heavenly Father must have enjoyed creating that one... 

San Diego

Summer is in full swing around here and we kicked it off with a trip to San Diego.  

Like I said before, I thought we should go to the zoo there to show Maggie the panda bears since San Diego houses the nearest Pandas and Maggie just did a big report on panda bears in 1st grade.  On our way down south, we stopped for lunch in San Juan Capistrano.  We also toured the mission and took the kids to our favorite petting zoo.    

I remember visiting this mission when I was a child.  I remember that it was crumbled just like it still is today.

This mission was built in 1776.  I think it is amazing to see something so old and I always think... how did they manage to build something like this back then?

Around the corner from the mission is our favorite petting zoo, Zoomars, that I used to take Maggie and Grant to when we lived in the OC.  I love this petting zoo because of their guinea pig/bunny pen. 

The kids are at their liberty to pet them, feed them and pick them up.  There must be at least a hundred to choose from.  

And most of the guinea pigs don't even seem to mind a toddlers grip... 

But we are good parents, so we showed her a better way to hold them. 

They have other animals at Zoomars too, but we love their guinea pigs and bunnies best!

The highlight of our trip to San Diego was visiting the panda bears at the zoo.  

He was chilling in the shade, eating away his bamboo.  Panda bears eat up to 30 pounds of bamboo a day!  (But Maggie already knew that!)

In the sky tram...

On our last day in San Diego, we spent the afternoon at Balboa Park.  

We couldn't resist the old fashioned merry-go-round for the kids. 

Balboa Park has a very cool botanical garden... 

but the kids enjoyed the children's science museum the most!