Last Stop: Santa Barbara Zoo

After LA we drove up to Santa Barbara to see our friend Katie, and meet her fiancé Dean (and the kitties, Jack and Charlie).  We hit the SB zoo first and it was amazing!  It was the perfect size for us - not too big with just the right number of animals that it didn't overwhelm.  A highlight was getting to feed the giraffes.  J wasn't interested, but A happily fed Michael (the giraffe) both her portion and mine.  Josie found the fennec foxes more her speed - they were sleeping. Plus, there was a play area where the kids slid down a turf hill on pieces of cardboard, which they could have done for hours. 


All in all, I'm so happy to have taken a few days with the girls on the road.  Not every minute was perfect; there were many breakdowns (mine and theirs) plus the sibling stuff when there isn't enough attention to go around.  But those fun moments of exploring new places and with different people, and generally setting off with only an idea of a plan but making it your own, certainly made those moments disappear in hindsight.  While we were all exhausted from long drives in the car and multiple nights of minimal sleep in new places, it was the good kind of tired. 

Visiting Mel in LA-LA land

When we finally arrived at Mel's house she was ready to entertain the kids while Piper, her pup, tried to figure out what the commotion was all about.  J napped almost immediately self selecting Mel's bed, clearly feeling right at home, or at least making herself right at home.  (Partly also avoiding the dog, which eventually she sort of warmed up to.)  A did the same finding Mel's settee in her guest room, deciding it was her "princess bed", and then declaring that Mel was to sleep with her in that room.  Mel obliged because she is a good friend!


We spent a relaxing afternoon with Mel's childhood friend Jess and her son, then eventually heading  to Hermosa Beach for a La Playita dinner, which is a staple for every visit.  The next day we visited with Safety Connie (Mel's Mom) and her three-legged dog before heading to the beach, despite the fog.  J spent her time getting sand in very nook and cranny while A spent as long as she possibly could stand in the water.


A fav memory is when I told A to give Mel a few minutes to talk with her friend, A looked at me in all seriousness and said, "well, she's my friend too." 

Road Tripping

The girls and I took a mini vacation and road tripped down to SoCal. This is us at 5:15 AM as we departed. I had expected the backseat to sleep the first couple of hours, hence the early start time, but they were bright eyed from the get-go. Except for having to stop one-million times, it was a smooth trip!

Tahoe

We've made a quick trip to Tahoe for the weekend! It's a wear-your-sweatshirt-on-the-beach kind of weather but still tons of fun. 

Summer Kickoff Play date

Kicking off summer with a reunion play date at Holbrook Palmer park. 

Annabel is a TK graduate

Annabel finished up her first year at George Hall in TK and is very ready for Kindergarten. She has grown so much academically but even more so socially. She can read level one and some level two books - an activity she truly enjoys. She's got her upper and lower case letters down and was introduced to math concepts over the year. 

She is very fond of her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Senf, who handled a twenty-one 5-year olds like a boss and I feel like there is so much I could learn from her too!  Annabel is genuinely disappointed that school is over she enjoyed it, and Mrs. S., so much. Matt and I are thrilled that her initial elementary school experience has been so positive, kicking off her academic "career" with excitement and enjoyment. 

Her teacher wrote her a nice note saying, "you have one of the biggest hearts I've ever encountered. You have a true passion for your friends and family. You are empathetic to everyone you meet, wanting them to be happy and content." I  was so proud of her because that's how I see her in my eyes but she lives true to these values everyday and others see it in her as well, even amongst the noise and chaos of a classroom filled with 5 year olds. Her sense of empathy and loyalty is pronounced, and while it may bring a host of other challenges, it is certain to be one of her defining traits that will attact love and joy as well. 

A big congrats to Annabel on a successful TK!