More Library Events

We had a great time with the last of the summer reading program events.  No reason to motivate our children to read as they often read 2-4 hours a day, especially during the summer months.  We also visit the library at least once a week.  However, the summer brings even more adventures at the library than usual.

Jungle James came to the library and several animals were showcased from around the world.  We saw bearded dragons, tortoises, corn snakes, boa constrictors and pythons.  I really liked that the entertainer had the animals on display through the big screen.  The animals were placed under a camera while she talked about them.  This allowed the children to see them in detail without touching.  Our children have been around these animals many times but not everyone in the group was so fortunate and were scared.  This allowed them to view without getting too close.  Also, a few of the children were given opportunity to come forward and touch each specimen.  Brendan touched the tortoise and Zaira touched the corn snake.

Then we enjoyed a magic show with Perry Yan.  He was not only amazing at sharing illusions with the group but also funny.  Edward was especially impressed and talked to him after the show.  He worked with cards, balloons, paper and more to perform his "magic."

The teen group was brought together to learn a little about Thai cooking.  The instructor was so wonderful!  She did not mind sharing her heritage.  Allowing the younger ones to watch and enjoy was a great bonus.  This was not just an observation course...the teens got their hands dirty making the meal right along with the instructor...from refreshing drink to dessert...it was amazing!  They started with an iced chai tea that was very yummy.  Then we enjoyed a fresh spring roll and green curry.  We followed this with a mango sticky rice.  So delicious...and then she allowed us to take home extra...we shared with Michael!  He would later share with us when he had his own cooking day at his class (more on that later)!

We have now enjoyed Lego building at three libraries...it was a great opportunity for these Lego-deprived children.  We have not been able to find our Lego box since moving, so it was a fun afternoon for all.  It also motivated the boys to help me with the last few boxes that needed to be unpacked in hopes they would find them.



Later that day we met with Michael to walk through the weekly farmer's market.  they close an entire street down town for several blocks.  We only looked this time but hopefully we will go back to enjoy another day.

walking past some artwork along the way

We ended the summer programs with a Beach Party.  We enjoyed food, games and music.  The musician was a reggae musician from Trinidad.  A great way to keep the rhythm going all year long (read to the rhythm was the theme for this year.)

Two Beaches and a Bach

First...After some motivation...I convinced the boys and Zaira to help me unpack the remaining boxes in the house.  What did I use to bribe them?  A trip to the beach!

July 25

We made our way to Moss Landing State Beach just a few miles north of us.  I told the boys it would be a sandy spot compared to the rock shores we had seen up until now.  However, I surprised them as I had done my research and knew that this was also a wildlife refuge area.

We arrived in time to see harbor seals and this was fun.  However, just a few feet further on the road to the beach and we saw our first sea otters!  They are such playful creatures and loved the camera (I just need a better zoom to get a good picture!)

We then made our way over the dunes to find we had the beach practically to ourselves!  We spent two hours playing in the sand and water (very cold...I chose to enjoy from the shore).  Then we found large crabs.  We dug up our first one thinking it was a rock.  Imagine our surprise when it moved!  Many new bird species to add to our birding list.

Our day did not end...we were on the search for a difficulty level 5 geocache to add to our finds.  This was a special challenge for the summer.  On our way we found another cache at the worlds' largest artichoke!  We will need to return here to eat at the restaurant with Michael. Then a windy road to a cache hidden inside a rock!  The best part of this find was that we found the closest Sonic to our house (20 minute drive)...an awesome find!


July 26

The weekend!  And now Michael had the opportunity to come with us to a beach.  So much better for the children...he is willing to go out into the water with them and play in the sand.  I am more of a 'sit back and watch' kind of person at the beach and obviously the photographer (1000 pictures on this particular day!)

We were on our way to the small town of Carmel-by-the-Sea...I had heard we might see whales at this location but I had heard that before...we would not get our hopes up.  I spent the night before looking at the geocaching options to take us on a nice walk around town.

We left early in the morning because parking is terrible on the narrow streets.  We were also going to be at an event later in the day, so we wanted to be close to both the beach and the center.  We found a great parking spot and were off to the beach...geocaching along the way.

We were just about to find our first cache when a couple walking up from the beach said...there are whales out there...lots of them!  Our saunter through town just became a run...we were finally going to see whales!

First...let me say...the beach was beautiful...soft cool sand and lots of room to spread out and enjoy the shore with the waves coming up gently.  There were also several people with dogs...we will need to come back here with Hank.

Then we saw the whales!  Just spouts of water at first but then a whale breaching or a tale flipping above the water...it was amazing!  We were so excited!  We were only able to stay for a short time in the morning but the children wanted to return to play in the sand and I was happy to oblige to view the whales some more. No great pictures because they were too far out for my camera zoom.

We walked back UP the hill that was so easy earlier in the day.  We made it just in time to make it to the concert that was part of a Bach Festival.  We earned tickets for the entire family at our summer reading program.  We did not know what to expect.  We were pleasantly surprised to have a very family friendly concert.  The conductor and his mermaid narrated an educational under water adventure that was helpful to understand the bay.  It was funny and interesting ...great puns in between facts.  Cute story of a little boy who was too young to do anything so he went to his room to find his stuffed horse had come to life to give him an adventure.

After the concert there were crafts and snacks for the attendees.  This was also an opportunity for everyone to meet the performers.  Zaira was quick to find her way to the mermaid!  Brendan tagged along.  He was more interested in the food but also took some time to talk to the pianist.  


When we returned to the beach, the boys and Michael tried their luck at building a sand castle.  Zaira played up the shore because the waves have never been a thrill for her. I spent my time trying to capture a whale on the camera.  We all succeeded in having fun.

The castle building was given an extra push with the help of a young man (Fernando) who joined our group...pushing sand onto the castle and bringing water.  It was not until the second attempt at a castle (when they moved further in from the water) that Zaira joined in the efforts as well.

I had the joy of taking a picture of three whales breaching at the same time.  I also caught a few waving their fins and tails above the water.  Then we had two brave dolphins swim directly in front of the group.

We enjoyed a fun afternoon and hope to return with Hank in a couple of weeks.  Looking forward to seeing his reaction to the waves and salt water.

Home?

We made it back to Monterey!  Home?  So strange to think that we are not in Texas and yet we are home.  I love this opportunity to be here but it still seems so odd to me.  I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that we have not lived here for the lost two months...three for Michael, but everyone back in Texas expects to already be settled into life here in California.    I would not have traded the time in Washington for anything; however, I knew it was getting to be a long stay when I started telling people there that I had just MOVED there from Texas.  WHAT!?!?!  I am not LIVING here...I am just VISITING!!!  But it was a nice place to visit.


SO...how do I make this California house a home?  First step...Most of all...just bringing EVERYONE back together in one place.  Meeting Michael at the airport back in Washington was the first step in that process.  We are so happy to be together again.  It makes all the time away from each other wipe away.
No more I am staying here...you are staying there and some others there.  We are all living under one roof.  Having this adventure together!  YAY!!!!

Step two...start unpacking our things...putting photos on the wall...putting our things away...and making sure all my crosses and religious items are out.  When the house looks "normal" then it begins to feel normal.  And then we feel comfortable enough and confident enough to spread our wings and follow through with the last step to this process...

Step three...discovering the area around us.  I think you will all agree from these adventures that we are starting to make this house a home...and embracing our time here in California.

Found the library...

The boys were at a teen event the day after we arrived.  They played interactive games with other youth their age.  Great motivator to get out of the house instead of sleep...even though we probably could use a little more sleep after our travels!

One library was not good enough for us, so the following day we went to a second library to watch a clown act (Coventry and Kaluza) for the younger ones.  It was very well planned and funny for everyone to enjoy!

Then back to the first library for the weekend to see a performance with Pete the [Groovy] Cat.  It was a groovy show but it reminded us of Miss Elizabeth who introduced us to these books.  We miss you and want you to know that no one can replace you!

The following week we went to a folk singer who paid tribute to Woody Guthrie as it was his birthday.  He told stories with his songs while he played his guitar and autoharp.  He told us that he is one of the few singers who makes his living telling stories.  Maybe you have heard of him (Adam Miller) as he travels all over the United States.

Then we enjoyed a marionette group (Fratello Marionettes) who performed a combination of "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Three Little Pigs," and "The Ugly Duckling" to the musical composition "Carnival of Animals."  They did a great job and even let the children ask questions and "meet" the puppets after the show.  I really appreciated seeing the show, but also that fact that the children were fascinated with the puppets and the classical music.

The library is giving us an opportunity to continue this delve into the classical arts with a Bach concert.  It is also in a cute little town we drove through named Carmel-by-the-Sea.  We cannot wait!

Found the chapel...

Mass on Sunday at the chapel.  I do not know if this is where we will go to church while in California.  However, the other parishioners are happy to see our big family walk in the door and definitely making us feel welcome.  The priest is here going through language school as well so he is a good fit for the soldiers.  We are going to try going to the local Catholic church because we want the children to be around others their age, but maybe this is where we need to be for this short time.

Found some caches...

One of the main reasons I love geocaching is because it takes us places we never would have found on our own.  I decided to use this to our advantage when we had some time on the weekends.  We have now reached over 200 caches since we started this hobby a year ago.  Here are some of the places we have visited in the last two weeks:

We drove down the main strip called Cannery Row.  One day soon I hope we can actually walk down through all the stores and attractions.  We did manage to stop for ice cream at a Ghiradelli ice cream shop.  Did you know they make their chocolate here in California.  We also hope to visit their main factory in the near future as well.  We also found tributes to John Steinbeck  that we want to view as well.

Ocean View Blvd is a road that travels right along the coast.  It was easy to stop along the way for caches and just enjoying the beach.  The beach is very rocky here and we learned that swim shoes would be very helpful when we decide to try this trip again.  One cache that we were determined to find was out from the beach on a large rock formation.  I wish I had videoed the group trying to reach the coordinates.  It was high tide and there was no way to make it there but the boys made every effort to try.  We will need to find this one during a low tide.

Point Lobos Reserve was full of caches but I centered in on four Earth caches because it gave us several geographical locations of interest.  We were able to view harbor seals, fossils, conglomerate beds, and even an area designated for birthing area for seals (We spotted one as it came out of the water but never saw it again to take a picture.).

SIDE NOTE:  Michael had been on duty the night before and I only brought a change of clothes without shoes.  He chose to go barefoot (not normal for him) and the paths were very rocky.  Poor guy had sore feet by the end of the day.

Edward decided he did not want to go to the beach.  He stayed in the van.  I thought he was being dramatic and pouting.  So he only saw things from the van window and is not in any of the pictures. Poor guy ended up being sick...fever and vomiting later in the day.

Santa Cruz is only a short drive away and had heard there was a museum of interest for the children along with other sites.  However, it was a geocaching event that finally got us in our car for a brief visit.  We were able to go to the natural history museum as well as view the beach, board walk, and grab an earth cache (telling us about the shift in the river that empties into the bay) before going to the event at a park.  We were even the first to arrive and earned ourselves a new geocoin!  We will need to come back here to explore some more.


SIDE NOTE:  Notice the dog in the group picture.  This is a trackable dog...you can follow on the Log Your Dog website.  Sienna has traveled over 1500 miles in the last three years!  Very impressive!

There are so many things to see within a short drive from our home...that's right...I said home...at least for the short time we are here...loving the experience!  We are so thankful for this amazing opportunity!  Praise God!