Getting ready for school

Our school year is quickly approaching and we were in need of something new for our set up.  We heard of a place next to the county dump that takes your junk and then of course sells it.  So off we went and we found wonderful school desks!  The older three each got a desk of their own and were responsible for cleaning it too.  They are really set come Monday morning!

Natasha posing next to her desk.

Natasha cleaning.

Rachel getting some help from dad.

Nehemiah is very serious about cleaning his desk.

He wants to make sure that there are no spiders waiting for him.

Saying goodbye.... but not goodbye

Tutu and all her Grandkids

We had to say goodbye to Tutu and Sharon today.  We did not want them to go home without seeing what an Ikea was though!  We had a wonderful time and I am pretty sure my mom went home with about 100 things she wants to do with all the creative knowledge she left Ikea with.

Tutu and Caleb

Dennis the Menace Park

Down in Monterey, we have a wonderfully huge park that we love to go to.  We had to adventure out with another beautiful day this week!  My sister and Mom were very impressed by it's size and assortment of things to do.  

A Day at the beach....

After almost a week away to Disneyland, getting out and enjoying God's creation was on our list of things to do.  The weather here is usually blah and dreary.  The weather makes me think of being depressed.  It's gray, foggy, gloomy, cool and sometimes a little gusty. So when we do get a beautiful day with the sun out and clear skies, we love to head out!   Today we headed out to the sand dunes that are between our house and the ocean.

Ice plant

Ice plant blooms

View from the top of the sand dunes.

The view to the right

The view to the left, a hotel sits right on the beach.

me :)

Natasha climbing up the sand dune

Nehemiah thinks his two sticks will help him get better traction.

Mathieu holding Samuel while he helps Rachel climb up.

Me and Caleb

A jelly fish that has been washed a shore

My sister, Sharon, and a sand dollar we found on the beach

See how big the dunes are

Nothing like going to the sand dunes and coming home with a shoe full of sand.

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

We like candy.  Well okay most of the time, but the kids will often pick fruit over candy.  My mom told us about the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, CA.  So we had to look into it, because there is no better way to homeschool than hands on right?  Would you guess that the tour is free?!?!  We knew then that we had to go and so we did!  It was great and very interesting how they make the candy.  Did you know that they have the best candy corn hands down?  Seriously!  Take it from me because I do not like candy corn but I do like these!  We weren't allowed to take pictures in the factory but we could take all we want outside.  

John Wayne picture made out of Jelly Bellies!!

Day at the park.... next door!

So this is the park.... next to our house!  They just recently opened it up.  You see, it's been done since February and well they just opened it up last month for use!  For months it literally sat there fenced in, mocking us.  Yes mocking us, okay well the kids, but you get the idea.  We are incredibly blessed to live next door to such a wonderful place.  This thing is 3 stories tall and the slides are like those slides that you ride at the water park that shoot you out real fast.  Let's just say that the heavier you are the ummm faster you go!  

This is the view from our house/park!

Climbing rocks

Pacific Grove has the perfect places to climb rocks. They also have the perfect tidal pools to go with it.  Since my mom, sister and Bryan (Papa) were in town we knew it was a perfect time to go!  The tidal pools are a great place to learn about the sea and it's creatures.

If you look closely you can see the hermit crabs on the rocks and sand.

Sea Star

Sea Urchin