Meredith's first sentence

Meredith, aka Pinkalicious, on a hike today

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Thomas' reading and writing skills have exploded. The developments we've seen over the last few months have been really fun to watch. These days he is reading every sign, package, everything. He's also trying to write everything. For the most part we can decipher what he's trying to write, but on occasion we have been stumped. Most noticeably this week was "citin" (kitten) and "chans" (changes). This afternoon he even helped Meredith write her first sentence. He told her what letters to write to spell the different words and this is what she wrote:

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

There are often times when we wonder just where Meredith gets some of the things she does, why she is who she is, which of us she got certain characteristics from, etc. She's definitely her own little person and truly one of a kind. However, one thing she clearly got from me was this constant desire to clean. It's fun for her. She'll straighten up her room, dust furniture, clean windows, wipe down floors, wash her toys, etc. -- all without us asking her to do them. She's three! Most things I think she takes after Mike but this one is definitely from me.

driving range

girl stuff

Just stepping out to collect the mail, but Meredith has to wear her princess earrings, freshen up her lipstick and carry her purse...

"Don't tell me. I already know that."

Both of our kids have started saying, "Don't tell me. I already know that." I've lost count the number of times I've heard this come out of their mouths today. Seriously, how do they know so much already?!

beach play

Today our family enjoyed a lazy Saturday afternoon playing at the beach. We were treated to a beautiful 76* day which hasn't happened on a weekend for quite some time. It was esp. nice for the kids to get to splash around in the (cold!) ocean with their dad. Two other special treats today: a clam and a hermit crab. Both were found near the water's edge so Mike picked them both up and put them just out of the ocean's reach. The kids (and us!) got a kick out of watching both of these creatures burrow themselves back into the sand.

"I'm like a real swimmer!"

Both kids were super excited to stay in a hotel again. During the drive out to the desert we could tell they were expecting something like the last hotel we stayed in (Treasure Island in Las Vegas) and hoped they wouldn't be disappointed with a much simpler hotel experience. And, of course, they weren't disappointed at all. They were so much fun to watch as they ran around the hotel room checking out everything, claiming their beds, pointing out all the hotel amenities, etc. They were equally excited, too, about the continental breakfast in the mornings and the swimming pool -- esp. Meredith who couldn't wait to get into the pool and swim. "I want to swim all by myself. I'm like a real swimmer!"

a few days in the desert

lots of fun every day in the hotel's swimming pool

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scooting around a park in Palm Springs

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outside our hotel room (Santa Rosa Mtns)
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amphitheater at a Rancho Mirage mall

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hanging w/Albert Einstein outside SAKS, El Paseo in Palm Desert

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Our family needed a little getaway. We decided to make a last minute trip to the desert for a few days. Palm Springs is a short 2 hour drive away, yet we've only been out there one other time (Labor Day weekend 2008). We had such a great time then and again this week that I don't know why we've waited so long to return. We definitely won't wait 2.5 years to go back.

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This trip was all about relaxation. It's been a couple of crazy weeks for us and we really needed a few days to do as little as possible, think as little as possible, etc. We stayed at a small resort hotel in Indian Wells founded in 1957 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz - I was sold once I read that and it turned out to be a great place for our family to stay. Location was fantastic, the size of the hotel was just right, the suite worked out perfectly, access to a good-sized pool was easy, our room overlooked the golf course... It worked out really nice for us and we'll definitely stay there again. We ate good food, we played in the pool, we enjoyed the warm desert climate and then we did it all over again and again and again. Fun times!

whales playing

whales at Dana Point from cherl willardson on Vimeo.

Not as easy to see in the video, but one whale stopped to play for a few minutes in front of us. So fun to see!

After 2.5 hours on a boat in the ocean...

Dana Point, Calif.

A nice woman offered to take our photo today... and what a nice photo she took!

whalewatching in Dana Point

Thomas' K class has been studying whales since this is the time of year that the Grey Whales pass San Diego during their migration south to warmer, calmer waters. Last spring I put whalewatching tour on my list of things to do with him but, of course, that was the wrong time of year. With the kids on their mid-winter break this week (aka "ski week") and a nice break in the rains early this week, I knew today would be a perfect day for us to go.

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There are lots of companies offering whalewatching tours out of San Diego, but I chose one north of us out of Dana Point. They have special pricing on Tuesdays (half price!), the time of day worked well for us, the tour length was just right (2 hours vs. 3 to 3.5 hours or more!) and they offer a guarantee: if you don't seen something that day, you're given a ticket to come back again for free. The people on board all around us had been on previous tours within the last week and were all back using their "free ticket". This had me a little concerned but I figured we'd just chalk it up to a nice 2 hour cruise on the ocean if nothing else.

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But we got so lucky today! The boat left the harbor at noon and headed straight out into the Pacific Ocean. Within the first 10 minutes, I spotted a water spout straight ahead. It was pretty far away but I saw it! I was the first one, then the people around us saw it and about 20 seconds later the captain above us announced that a whale had been spotted. We got as close as we could without disturbing the two Grey Whales (which really isn't very close) and followed them from Dana Point to the San Clemente Pier. It was almost a full hour of watching these beautiful creatures surface, spray water, play with the sealions and dolphins, fluke (when their tail only is above water), wave their fins... It was incredible and, of course, photos and video don't do it justice.

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During the return trip, we came upon 10 common dolphins. We've seen dolphins from the piers and while standing on the beach, but to see them up close was really cool. When the boat slowed, the dolphins played around the boat. Amazing! When we started up again, they followed the boat and played in the wake. Later, a sealion also swam up alongside and then surfed in the boat's wake.

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Thomas and I loved this experience! I wish Mike and Meredith could have joined us, but Mike gets motion sickness and I didn't know what to expect so I thought it best to not bring Meredith. However, next time she'll definitely go with us. What a memorable afternoon!

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

Our family enjoyed a great afternoon hike today at Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve near Escondido. We hadn't been since we first moved here but at that time we had Meredith in the BOB jogger and both dogs with us. It's a steep, rocky hike straight up so we didn't get very far that day. But today, with their little legs, these kids did a great job hiking the approx. 1.5 to 1.75 miles to the top (elev. 1140 ft) and back down. Along the top ridge, the views are incredible. Cleveland National Forest with its snow-capped mountains to the east, Lake Hodges to the south, and the beautiful Pacific Ocean to the west. At one point, we could even make out a landmark just 3 houses away from ours!

San Diego Natural History Museum

We haven't explored Balboa Park in San Diego as much as we'd like. For one, it's a 40 minute drive away. And two, the park is expansive with 14 museums, a botanical building, outdoor gardens and trails, the San Diego Zoo, amusement attractions, performing arts buildings, puppet theater, golf course, tennis club, outdoor amphitheater, restaurants, playground... you get the picture. You could spend weeks exploring all that is at this incredible park. Needless to say, there is a lot to see and do! Every once in awhile we try to explore another area of Balboa Park. Today, that meant a visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum -- our first visit to this museum!

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We all agreed during the drive home that our favorite part of the 3.5 hour museum visit was watching Thomas hold the 50lb Boa Constrictor. He didn't hesitate when the expert asked for volunteers and the grin plastered on his face let us know he was enjoying every second of it. Definitely the highlight for us all today!

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If the weather cooperates, Thomas and I will do a (grey) whale watching tour Tuesday afternoon out of Dana Point. The last photo is a Grey Whale's (skeletal) head. Hope we catch sightings of the real thing out there during the tour!

Meredith's swollen lip

Meredith got a little fat lip this morning on her way to preschool. Mike is out of town and Thomas wasn't feeling well (he had been up all night with a low grade fever and upset tummy) so I had her walk with our neighbor and his two girls. But, that's how it always happens, isn't it? The one time you aren't there an accident happens. Today, it was a curb that tripped her in her brand new shoes.

Thomas' note for daddy

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LEFT (note posted on the front door):

Daddy, there is a envelope on the wall.

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RIGHT (note posted on the hallway wall):

It is up above.

Daddy, do not forget to take the green envelope.

It is on the wall.

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Clearly there was no help from me with this little writing project Thomas came up with earlier today. The kids always miss their dad when he is away and are super excited that he'll be home tomorrow!

scooting around the park

This afternoon the kids and I met up with a friend at a Farmer's Market for lunch/snacks and play. We all had a great time, but Meredith was disappointed she couldn't ride her scooter (the playground didn't have any hard surfaces). Afterwards, on our way to the grocery store, we stopped at a park so they could ride around. Both kids are getting really good, often going much faster than I feel comfortable seeing. Today I told Meredith to slow it down when she seemed to be losing control. Her response? "But I like to go fast!!" She's always trying to keep up with her big brother.