Hidden Valley

You know how they say that you never explore your own backyard?  Unfortunately, I am guilty.  We have lived next to a wide ravine for almost 9 years and never stepped foot in it until yesterday.  What did we discover?  A narrow trail that winds in and out of clusters of tall trees and wild flowers  At one point, the trail splits and leads up to this beautiful meadow.  Everything is especially lush these days thanks to the generous rains.  Makes me wonder how much beauty we skip over in the daily rush of life.  We usually think that we have to drive a long way to get to the most worthwhile destinations, when in reality, they are often right at our back door.  

Destination Imagination

So, James was invited to join a few of his friends on an academic team called Destination Imagination.  After considerable thought, we decided to do it.  James thought it was cool for about two weeks and then suddenly, decided he was done.  Week after week, I had to coax him to finish it out.  His main complaint was that it was taking too much time away from playtime.  Though a painful experience, I learned some things about James.  He is a homebody.  Unless a sibling is with him, he would prefer to be home more than anywhere else.  James also LOVES his playtime. Unlike David and Ruth, he can never get enough time in his room absorbed in his own imagination.  I do enjoy having James at home.  He never depends on me for entertainment and always keeps his siblings loaded up on fun playtime scenerios. 

End of story: we did finish it up.  After two months of preparation, the kids presented a play to a handful of judges and recieved lots of compliments.  James played the part of the navigator of a "tram-submarine"  Will we do it again?  Likely not, but I do think that he enjoyed having a day in the spotlight.

Boys

James and David are quite a pair.  I always remind them to enjoy these years of growing up together.  Though quite different in personality, they both have common interests and can talk forever on the most obscure topics.  Joseph watches them and often says, "I still wish that I had a brother".  Lucky boys!  This has been a typical sight in our home lately:  nose in book.  James just finished the first book of Harry Potter and David recently read "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Summer of the Monkeys", my two favorites from childhood.  He loved both of them (woohoo!).

During his Saturday pickup (ahem) David decided to build a tower as tall as Emmy.  Of course, James figured out the concept and together they went all the way to the ceiling.  Quite a feat!

David has become a basketball enthusiast.  He practices every recess at school and now reports that he can regularly outshoot some of the "good basketball players".  I'm proud of him for this because he has endured a lot of ridicule from the jocks at his school for being a beginner.  James and David recently completed an after school basketball clinic.  Now David is begging me to put in him a league.  Fun!

Forgetful

Unfortunately, our tooth fairy has developed a reputation for being forgetful.  After one unsuccessful night, Ruth made a nice note to be sure that the fairy wouldn't forget a second time.  Must've worked, because a whole dollar appeared the next morning.

Limber Legs

Ruth has been on an acrobat kick lately. Rather than sit, she prefers to hang upside down with her legs spread in every direction.  She recently discovered how to cartwheel and is inches away from her splits.  Emmy, of course, loves anything that Ruth does, so it's not uncommon to see sisiter stretch sessions.  I get such a kick out of watching my girls because I can see myself.  As a kid, I never could sit in a chair straight, always did homework in the splits, and when beautiful music permeated the home, could never resist dancing along.  I guess in many ways, I haven't grown up. 

Harvest

President's Day turned into a yard beautification day.  We've had such beautiful weather, that it was refreshing to spend the day outside.  Our tangerines came off the tree today.  They are a bit too sour to eat, but do make tangy juice.

 

I have lobbied for a tree in the backyard for YEARS.  The prospect of digging a huge hole in the middle of the lawn has always been a point of debate.  Now that the grass is dead, no more debate and today was the day!  The winning choice: Brisbane Box for its tall, narrow shape and evergreen leaves.  I am sooo happy!  

Amazing to think that our scrawny looking twig can someday become this:

 

We've toyed with the idea of replaced the grass with turf, but reseeding turned out to be the most economical decision.  The rope is to keep the kids out during the process.  Wish we had a way to keep out our hungry little birds too.  Who knew that grass seed would be such a huge attraction?!

Back Bay Loop

Along with loosing teeth, Ruth has finally reached the milestone of riding a bike without training wheels.  Now that we don't have to pull two kids in the trailer, the idea of family bike rides is a lot more appealing.  So, Saturday morning, we loaded up the van and took the kids on the Back Bay Loop Trail in Newport Beach.  What appeared to be a nice easy loop turned out to be a three hour, 10.5 mile excursion.  I wasn't sure if Ruth would make it the whole way, but she did!

The winter months are a wonderful time to visit California not only because of the weather, but because many birds migrate here for the winter.  We saw so many birds along the ride, including an Osprey and a Blue Heron, two of my favorites.  In this photo, we are standing opposite the bay from where our car is parked and still have over halfway to go.

Emmy got really grumpy towards the end (understandably), so I told her to put her head down and take a nap.  She took my advice!

Champion Ruth!  10.5 miles on her very first bike ride.  You go girl!