Action Packed January

January is flying by us!! A big trip to San Francisco this month for Valerie's 7th grade field trip to sleep at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. It was worth the Saturday night traffic coming over the bridge.


I do miss San Francisco. I'm glad that the kids get to grow up in Chico. But I relish my nostalgic trips back to the city.

This night we gazed at nebulas in Orion's scabbard, saw Jupiter and moons through a telescope on the living roof of the building and slept in the aquarium. Yes, we also experienced the earthquake exhibit, saw planetarium, an albino alligator in the swamp and spiraled up through a rainforest bubble. Below is Valerie and some classmates getting ready to sleep on the floor of the aquarium. Jellies!!!


I, for once, had an easy car of students. So before heading back to Chico, Valerie, Maya, Elizabeth and I headed out for a gorgeous morning at Ocean Beach,


There were loads if jelly fish that had washed up on the beach.


The girls wrote their names in the sand.


We arrived home just in time for the girls to make it to their 4-H sewing meeting.


The following weekend Michael and I celebrated 16 years of marriage. Michael sweetly sent this bouquet from California Organic flowers.


We had a lovely dinner at Leon Bistro.





Then we went bowling!


Spot continues to win our hearts. When he is not found jumping into Amira's trash can, he's up on her bed.





Tonight he frolicked in Valerie's room a bit and then cuddled with Amira on the couch.


Not pictured here is Rex. He's often busy studying, scouting, working out at the gym or paint balling. We'll have to use our imaginations instead of relying on photos. He's a neat kid but illusive!!