Another weekend and another bike trail and winery!

Friday afternoon we headed to a guy who David kinda works with house to attend a pool party. It was a small group but we had fun! Unfortunately, they are all older so no kids. Friday evening we had movie night and watched Pocahontas, Callie's choice. Saturday we headed out our back gate on our bikes and rode 16 miles around town and through the vineyards.  We even tried climbing a tree we found in a nature park!  Awhile later we came across a football field and bought their fundraising hot dog meals for lunch.  Sunday we went to church (we're still deciding on our home church) which we followed with naps before heading out to a winery. It was just us this time and we had a wonderful time teaching the kids to play dominos! The kids really liked this winery because they gave them juice boxes, which after a tasting the kids decided we're better than the ones I had brought for them!

Home School!!

This year we're doing home school!  The twins are eligible for kindergarten out here but for many, many reasons were waiting to start them.  So...Monday we started Home School since Monday was when schools started out here.  We've had 2 really fun days and the kids have done fantastic!  We start at 8:30 and have a pretty firm schedule complete with all academics until 11:15/11:30.  Here's some of what we've been up too while studying our names this week!  Notice the sweet reading cave Grandma and I made out of our old pack and play!

 

Iron Horse and McGrail

Saturday we biked the beginning of the Iron Horse Trail.  We didn't get too far because we had bike trailer trouble and pulling these big kids is harder work than I remember!  But we had fun and enjoyed a nice picnic lunch at a playground.  Sunday we headed to a vineyard/winery a few minutes outside of town.  McGrail Vineyards was really nice with a beautiful atmosphere and great company, Steve and Allyson!  The best part is that kids are welcome and ours had plenty of fun and got lots of compliments about their amazing behavior.  All the fun lead to bathes as soon as we got home, you'll see why from the pictures!

 

1st Weekend in California

We spent our first weekend here checking out some of the local things. Thursday we went to the Farmer's Market.  Friday we were at the Oakland Zoo.  Saturday we went to the community center slash pool and grilled out.  Sunday we headed into San Fransisco.  It took us 2 hours to get there and almost as long to get back-bad planning since a baseball game was going on.  We ate lunch at a great place right on the bay.  Our table was perfect-in the corner surrounded by large windows to watch the sea lions, birds and boats!  We walked Fisherman's Wharf a little and swung by Boudin Bread Co. for bear bread.  Monday Melissa was in town and between her work meetings we were able to squeeze in a little time downtown Livermore, complete with ice cream.

 

Anderson's 5 Year Old Questionnaire

How old are you? 4 no 5
What makes you happy? swimming
What is your favorite animal? monkey
What is your favorite thing to eat? peanut butter and jelly
What is your favorite thing to do? play outside
What is your favorite tv show? Chuggington
What are you really good at? tae kwan do
What is your favorite movie? Monsters University 
What is your favorite color? blue
What is your favorite song? Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Who is your best friend? Callie
What do you and your mom do together? go shopping
What do you and your dad do together? play outside
What is your favorite sport? football
Where is your favorite place to go? Chuck E. Cheese
What is your favorite book? Mickey Search Book
What do you want to be when you grow up? a daddy

Anderson, what a blessing to have you for a son!  This past year you have really come into your own!  You've become more confident and sure of yourself.  You're eager to help with chores-setting the table, carrying stuff for me!  Such a little gentleman! We love you so much!

Callie's 5 Year Old Questionaire

How old are you? 4 big smile 5!
What makes you happy? That I have my puppy doggie from Granny and PopPop
What is your favorite animal? big cats
What is your favorite thing to eat? cheese pizza
What is your favorite thing to do? play with my little princesses
What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
What are you really good at? dance class
What is your favorite movie? Ariel (Little Mermaid)
What is your favorite color? pink and purple
What is your favorite song? Let It Go
Who is your best friend? Lylah, Presley, Harley, Avery and Sydney
What do you and your mom do together? play Barbies
What do you and your dad do together? play princesses
What is your favorite sport? dance class
Where is your favorite place to go? to dance class
What is your favorite book? What is a Princess?
What do you want to be when you grow up? a hairstyle girl and a vet girl

Callie, you are such a little ray of sunshine!  You are so bubbly, eager to please and caring.  You would do anything to make your brothers happy.  You have gotten into art and love drawing.  We love you so much!!!

5 Year Olds

We arrived in Livermore the afternoon before Callie and Anderson's 5th Birthday!  After a relaxed morning of birthday pancakes and presents we headed out for the Oakland Zoo!  We spent the morning and afternoon there followed by cupcakes at home.  It was a nice relaxed day celebrating our precious it takes a whole hand to show their age kids!

 

Drive to California with the Kids and Grandma

Let me start this post by saying-I would have never had made it without Grandma!  She kept me going and walked me off the edge a couple of times when I thought I was going to go crazy because guess what?  The drive to California from Minnesota is LONG!  We took 3 1/2 days to do the drive.  Which equalled out to between 8-10 hours in the car each day with the exception of only being in the car for 4-5 hours the last day.  Overall the kids did a really good job. We swam every night, which helped to stretch our bodies after so long in the car.  We didn't stop to see much but we did stop at the Bonnieville Salt Flats where the kids had an awesome time having a salt ball fight!  Grandma was their favorite target!  We got to Livermore early afternoon and quickly got out all the toys we had been missing so much!  While the kids and David played Grandma and I headed out for a much need mani/pedi!