Generally speaking, I don’t like posting items out of order, and I still have a ton of stuff leftover to share from Halloween. That will come, I promise, but I had to share today’s trip to the beach and thought I’d drop in a quick little video to show you how great it was. More pictures, more story, click more…
Being honest, the reason that I post is as much to share what the girls are doing as it is to have a place that I can go to during the day to see their little smiling faces. Now that video is becoming so easy to get and attach to the web I thought I’d give myself -- and you -- a video of Sofi and Natalie playing after this past weekend’s Boo at the Zoo. I know, I know, it’s relatively boring, but they were having so much fun on the rides that I had to take a few and record their laughter. Hope you enjoy!
Papa
It was wild – we were at the zoo and there were so many children dressed up. Everyone was looking great, excited as all get out, and if anything like us, having the time of their life. That’s right – we went to the 2008 Boo at the Zoo at the Oakland Zoo. We got there quite early – about ten minutes to 9:00, before they even opened, and we were one of the first to arrive. I’m glad we got through the exciting stuff quickly, because we really did get to see the zoo and the other kids in their costumes – the girls even got their face (Sofi) and arm (Natalie) painted.
Halloween rocks! This year has been awesome and for the first time I think, like my children, I get Halloween. It’s not about the candy – although that is certainly one of the perks – it’s about the excitement, the costumes, dressing up, and all the mixture of freak and fright that makes this kid’s holiday a true joy. This year we started at Braly School, and my princesses took in the sights, sounds, smells, and visions of what this halloween was going to be like. There were costumes, games, parades, prizes, candy, pizza, baked goods, smiles, laughter, and plenty of fun for all.
Sofi and Natalie visiting with KBAY
It was a great Sunday afternoon and Sofi and Natalie got to meet some local celebrities, Sam and Lissa, from the KBAY (94.5) morning show. They even made their web site! The best part, of course, was that they had a marvelous time, got to experience the excitement of an early Halloween festival, got to dress-up, and did I mention that they got tons of candy? I mean, TONS of candy!
This annual event is normally held at Happy Hollow, which is presently being remodeled, but having been to the old Happy Hollow I really believe that this was a better venue and we are hoping that they will continue the tradition. The old homes, businesses and wide open spaces make this ideal for an event like this. See a later post for more details and pictures. KBAY certainly did their part, too, and we give them our thanks and appreciation for a job well done.
Papa
Sometimes I wonder, are my children beautiful because of who they are, or are they beautiful because of how they make me feel? I’m not sure that I will ever know the answer, but when I see my girls out having fun and enjoying their life it makes me thankful, every day, for what I am able to share with them and what they give back to me.
This year for pumpkins we went to some “nearly world famous” pumpkin patch that is somewhere between a carnival and a pumpkin patch. They’ve got everything – corn mazes, train rides, pony rides, pumpkin games, hay rides, and of course pumpkin sales. The only thing against them is that they fee the consumer to death – from $3 parking to a ride package that’s basically about $20/person, and that’s before you even get to the pumpkins! Fortunately, in the area of pumpkins they were pretty reasonable. But,… I will try to remember that it’s not about the money – but rather what it provides for you. For this weekend - a little money went a long way – we had a blast!
When people talk about why they love living in California, it’s weekends like this that they’re talking about. The weather was gorgeous, the air was clear, and there was so much going on it was hard to avoid it so that we could simply spend a weekend with our children. This past Saturday we took in a fair share of the Bay Area from San Jose, to Mountain View, to San Francisco and we even spent some time on the beach.
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.
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.
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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