SofiandNatalie.com

When I think back to growing up in San Diego, the pieces of time that I remember msot vividly and fondly are surrounding thoughts of the ocean and Mission Bay.  I can remember fishing, boogie boarding, body surfing, snorkling and sailing as though it were yesterday and I am thankful every day for those experiences that brought me so much joy from life.  Even today thoughts of the beach bring me happiness and my dreams include sailing with my family to distant shores.  I’m thankful that my children have a similar love of the ocean and they really seem to come alive whenever we’re even near to the beach.

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I think it’s universally true that “the fair is fun.”  Heck, even I can remember going to the Del Mar Fair in San Diego.  The Santa Cruz County Fair is no exception, and I’m glad that the girls got to experience it this year.  The great weather, wonderful sights (games, rides, food) and exposure to 4H animals was outstanding.

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There is something amazing about theme parks in general and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is no exception.  Sure, it’s not a DisneyLand or Six Flags, but the old-school rides, carnival food and gaudy atmosphere make this something special for old and young alike.  For me, the park is exciting for more than just rides.  It’s the proximity to the ocean that makes this place special for me and the fact that nearly every ride provides a view that is unmatched at the biggest parks.  For the children, it means that the excitement doesn’t end when the rides are done - there’s another world to explore, enjoy and share amongst friends.

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I like that Mama is only working outside the home half-time and more importantly that being a teacher allows her to take some time off over the summer.  I’m sure it’s not enough time for either her or the children, but it’s wonderful that they get to play this summer and I can really see in both Sofi and Natalie how much they appreciate getting to spend time with her.  Surprisingly, I am rarely jealous that they’re out having fun together and enjoying the weekdays without me.

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One of the local outdoor malls is Santa Row.  It’s about 10 minutes from home and offers the higher-end and manufacturer stores as opposed to Valley Fair - directly across the street - which offers a more traditional mall shopping experience. One of the benefits of being an outdoor mall is the flowers, and on Sundays they offer a somewhat modest farmer’s market.  The good thing about their market has to be the freshly made popcorn, which we enjoyed immensely.

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Our local Home Depot is typically a pretty happening place on Saturday, and this week they even had some stuff going on Sunday when we stopped by.  Miracle Gro had their sponsored car out by the garden section and they were starting it up from time to time.  Not being race fans, we were all amazed at the amount of noise just starting this beast made.  It was deafening, even from a few feet away, and of course the girls didn’t like the noise at all.  All the same it was very fun.  For those that are wondering, it takes a little over a half gallon to start and run these beasts for a minute or so.  Ouch! 

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