Aug 17 San Diego Trip

We saved the best for last...Legoland! Hansel got Legoland tickets that also included entry to the water park or to the Legoland aquarium. Even though we had been to the aquarium before and thought it was kind of disappointing, we chose that. We figured the water area in Legoland (vs the water park) was enough, and that Mathis would like the aquarium.

We used our Hilton timeshare to stay at a place right next to Legoland. We just had to walk down the street and then go through a pedestrian gate, and we were in the Legoland parking lot. Hansel took the kids on the safari ride first because we thought the line would be worse later. It was a pretty long, but luckily it was not indicative of the rest of the park. The only other long lines were for rides we didn't want to go on.

 

The next ride the kids went on had no line whatsoever.

And then after that, they each went on the driving rides, which are separated by age.

 

Below, Beck waiting for Maile to finish her driving ride.

While Mathis and I were getting lunch for all of us, Beck and Maile went on the boat ride. Apparantly, Beck wouldn't let Maile steer, so they got stuck a lot.

After the kids were done eating, they all played at one of the Lego stations.

After lunch, the kids played in the water area. Mathis enjoyed it more than I thought he would.

The kids spent a lot of time in the ball room in the Egyptian part of the park and went on a couple of rides there while Mathis napped.

After Mathis' nap, we caught one of the Bob the Builder 4-D shows (3D video with some water and air effects). I'm not into 3D stuff. The 3D experience does not make up for the headache I get.

Even though we were exhausted from a full day at Legoland, we went to the Aquarium. It was better this time around because I knew what to expect.

The next morning Hansel and the kids hung out at the hotel pool, which had its own mini water area, while I did some grocery shopping before our road trip back.

Aug 16 San Diego Trip

The next day we went to San Diego's Natural History Museum. Mostly to see the dinosaurs. The museum also had an exhibit of precious stones, which Hansel and the kids weren't really interested in. The bottom floor had a movie theater, where we saw two movies -- one about dinosaurs in 3D and one about the ocean. Mathis sat through both for the most part.

We had also planned to go to the Model Railroad Museum also in Balboa Park. We found out at the museum entrance that it was the one day of the week that it was closed.

After looking at the other museum options, we decided to head back and go to the pool or beach. Mathis fell asleep on the way, so we stopped in La Jolla. I again stayed in the van with a sleeping Mathis while Hansel got some great shots of the kids at the tidepools.

I took the below photo while we were getting the kids ready for bed. Mathis looks like he's posing for a diaper ad. All three kids loved playing with the bolster behind him.

To be continued...

Aug 15 San Diego Trip

Beck's preschool is not completely year-round. They have two weeks off in August. The first week we signed him up for a morning sports camp, where they introduce preschool-age kids to basketball, baseball, and soccer. I actually never saw him at his camp, but I know he liked it.

For part of his second week off we went to the San Diego area. The drive to San Diego is beyond Mathis' tolerance. LA would have been okab, but SD is two hours too far even with a couple of longish stops. On both trips (up and down) he was unhappy for the last two hours and cried for about an hour each time.

On the way down we stopped at the Citadel Outlets in LA, where Beck and Mathis rode the kid's train with Hansel. I contemplated getting a cute dress from Max Studio that was 50%, but decided against because the only occassion I could think I'd wear it is a wedding. It'd be nice to have more occassions to wear a cute dress.

The next day we went to the San Diego Zoo because we stayed somewhere between Carlsbad and San Diego. The first thing we did was go on the double decker bus tour, which is a great way to see and hear about the zoo. Gives you an idea of the places you want to go back to on foot.

Hansel just took photos of a weird-looking plant and an albino snake.

Outside the zoo we went on a ride on their mini-train. The conductor was very enthusiastic -- tooting the horn and waving at all the passerbys. The two heads peaking over the top are Mathis and Beck.

 Maile wanted to sit with one of the "animals."

On the way to our second hotel, we stopped in La Jolla. I stayed in the car with a sleeping Mathis while Hansel took the kids for a walk.

More to come...

Maile's Memory and Summer Gym Camp

I forgot to mention something when I wrote about our bowling in Tahoe having to do with Maile's at times scary memory. After we got back from Tahoe, Maile drew a picture of us bowling. She even drew the markings on the lane. I didn't even remember that there were markings.

I went back to work on 7/26, Maile only had summer school until mid-July, and Hansel was still working until mid-August. So, I had to find other things for Maile to do. I signed her up for a week of YMCA camp, and then signed her up for another week after she said she liked it. And then a gymnastic camp that also included some dance and cheer. 

Maile really liked the Y camps. They're good because they have a lot of different activities, and they broked up into small groups. I would pick Maile up after picking up Beck from school. When we'd get there, the kids were usually doing these chants/rhymes. I think the camps helped Maile see how it can be fun to be part of something.

I don't have any photos of Maile at her Y camp, but below is a photo of Maile after her last day of gym camp where they did a short performance.

 

The next two photos were taken after we got home.

Random July Photos

Mathis likes playing with his tongue.

Double hug for Maile and Daddy

Mathis practicing to be a hair stylist

Kids eating corn. Mathis is using the table to hold up the corn.

 Mathis is saying, "Cheese."

Mathis sitting at the top of the stairs

 Mathis saying,"Hi."

7/31 Gilroy Gardens

Leilani had been talking about going to Gilroy Gardens because they had some coupons. So, it got Hansel and I thinking about it, especially since we hadn't yet gone this summer. But then, the Yaus were thinking otherwise because they were afraid it might be crowded. We pretty much decided we were going to go, so we let the Yaus know and said we didn't think it would be that crowded. Even though they didn't plan to go and got a late start that morning, they got to Gilroy Gardens just 1/2 hr after us.

For the below water ride, they would not allow Mathis to sit on my lap. He had to sit by himself. I was a little nervous about that, but he was fine. He didn't lunge for the water.

See how the boys are both watching the show with their mouths open.

Hansel took this photo from above of the Yaus and Maile and Beck in the maze.

Zachary wanted his big sister to ride with him.

We left before the Yaus but then Mathis fell asleep in his stroller, so we decided to go back in. I sat with him by the entrance while Hansel took Maile and Beck to ride more rides.

July 17-20 Incline Village Trip

We registered Maile for Mandarin-immersion summer school through the Palo Alto school district, which went from 6/21-7/16. When we originally registered her, it was supposed to be at Palo Verde elementary school. So, I had signed her up for an after-school art program at Palo Verde. Then less than a month before summer school was to start, the district decided to move the Mandarin-immersion summer school to Ohlone, Maile's regular school and where the regular school year Mandarin-immersion program is. Now, why they didn't plan for the Chinese summer school to be there in the first place is beyond me.

By this time, most of the kids enrolled in the Chinese summer school were also signed up for after-school programs at Palo Verde. So, all of us parents had to sign the kids up to be bused to the other school. On the first day of summer school, I met Maile at the end of her class to make sure she got on the bus okay with the other kids and got to her other class at the other school okay. Another mom had the same idea. Even though it was her first time on a school bus, she did fine. I actually didn't have to be so cautious because someone from the district was there to walk the kids from their class to the bus.

After the end of Maile's summer school, we headed up to Tahoe the next day. We used our points to book the Hyatt at Incline Village.On our way up we stopped at the Nut Tree in Vacaville. The area had been recently redeveloped. The main plaza was redesigned for kids with a mini train, carousel, rocking horses, giant checkers and chess boards.

In Tahoe, we, of course, hung out at the lake. The first beach we went to wasn't so great, so we went to a different beach the next day. We went to that one twice. That one was nice because it had a little inlet.

The last beach we went to was Kings Beach, which was okay. It had an area where the sand dipped and rose by the shore, so a pool of water sat there. It looked kind of gross.

Hansel playing where's the penny with Mathis.

 Beck doing his lifeguard impression.

We, also, checked out the Hyatt hotel pool. 

 The Hyatt timeshare resort we stayed in was nice. It was a 2-bedroom/2-bath in a semi-contemporary cabin style. Below are some photos of the kids hanging in the condo.

Pretty much every time we drove back to our place we passed by the bowling alley. Each time Beck would say he wanted to go bowling. So, on our last night in Tahoe, we took the kids bowling. It was their first time bowling. It was fun watching Beck running up with the ball and then dropping it when he got to the line.

Below is a family shot outside our condo.

On the way home we stopped at the Kidzone in Truckee. It's an indoor play place for young kids. It's on the small side but has the essentials -- train table, large indoor play structure, pretend play, arts and crafts room.