Mama's Getaway

I spent Thursday through Monday in California and got to see a slew of old friends. Nothing like hanging out with people who have known you for a long, long time (a couple of them almost 25 years!)...so much fun. We rented a house in Pajaro Dunes-- it's the brown, angular one in the photos below. I also got to see a few other high school friends and their beautiful kids. It was really nostalgiac to be in my hometown again after almost four years away, but in a good way. I really like it there but also like it here a lot, and I know I won't be able to live there again and that is OK. (I especially enjoy the climate and the plants there--eucalyptus trees, jasmine blooming all over the place, citrus trees, etc.) I was also finally able to scatter the remainder of my dad's ashes while on my trip, which was sad but felt really good at the same time.

I missed Ryan and the kids a lot but had a wonderful time and they all did great at home. Ryan left super early the morning after I got back for the NW Solar Expo in Portland. He'll be back late Friday night and we will finally all get to spend some time together!

Outdoorsy Fun and Happy Easter

We've been getting out and doing some hiking lately...last weekend we went to the Woodpecker Loop at Finley Wildlife Refuge for a picnic with our good friends the Willards, and yesterday we went up to Chip Ross Park--great views!

We had a very fun Easter with baskets, a small egg hunt and breakfast at home, then lunch and another egg hunt at the home of some family friends, where we've gone for the last couple of years. The kids are now sleeping soundly after much candy and excitment--in fact, Aidan just fell out of his bed a minute ago (onto a hardwood floor) and did not wake up.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Four kids in a tree at Finley: Jonah, Lauren, Ally and Aidan.

Checking out the views at Chip Ross Park yesterday after a big climb.

Aidan finds the first clue to the Easter baskets this morning...

Then enjoys a pre-breakfast Reese's pb egg.

Some of Lauren's loot from the Easter bunny...
Egg hunt in our backyard.

Yes, Lauren is wearing Aidan's Spider-Man undies over her PJs.

On to lunch and the next egg hunt...Ready to go...

Aquarium, Buddies, Dancing

We took a trip to the aquarium on a very rainy and windy Saturday afternoon. It was super crowded because of spring break but we still had fun. Looking forward to going back when it's a little quieter. Here's Aidan and Bethie checking out the touch pool.

Different touch pool video:


We had Chase over during spring break.

And we had dinner with our new buddy Zoe, who's just two months younger than Lauren:

Paige, Lauren (behind Paige), Aidan and Zoe:

Lauren and Max, our friend who will be 4 tomorrow!

And finally, a dance party in the kitchen after dinner. I'll try to get video of Lauren singing "all the single ladies" (the only part of the song she seems to know). It is pretty adorable.