Spring Break

1 On our way to the plane! First taxi (then race back to the house for Grownup Eagle who was hiding under a bed!), then ferry, then limo, then plane!	2 The limo!	3 Finally waking up at Gramma's for Easter Baskets a bit early...	4
5 Sam is building a flat bed truck now - a new Lego Technic to keep him company outside on the lanai.	6 And Ben got a Jeep with a canoe, just like Dick Proenneke!	7 Heading off on a great adventure down the bike path 4.7 miles to the beach. Ben did really great coasting down huge ramps which carry the bikers under the I5 overpass.	8 Off we go!
9 And at the ocean mom met us with some cranberry bread she'd baked up. The pelicans were out feeding on fish - they looked like huge C5s flying overhead!	10 The birds!!!	11 Back of Richard's house - gardens to left with fruit trees, and lovely grassy area for boys to put on an after-dinner show :)	12 This is where the "falling up" show took place most nights after dinner. They would race around, fall down, make funny noises, and do it again!
13 So nice to see the SUN!	14 Peeking out of the lounge chair :)	15 Showing Eagle how to sleep in the chair, just like Daddy did.	16 And good for roosting, too.
17 We all crashed that first afternoon. I fell asleep for a few minutes under the corkscrew willow, just like the chickens do when they take a dust bath. Talk about relaxing!	18 The flatbed truck was done in a day!	19 Teaching us about worm screws.	20 Happy guy! He didn't stop to eat or drink - I had to check periodically to keep him fed and hydrated!
21	22 At Legoland!	23 The theme park is not our style really - just no real connection to Legos. But the big store...	24 Wow!
25 Sam and Dave were in looking for the prize Lego Technic Sam has been saving up for - A Unimog U400!	26 Meanwhile Ben, Mom and I were outside looking at the creations.	27	28 Even Lego Elephants!
29	30	31 Banzai! Here it is! The biggest Technic made. Over 2000 pieces. And quite a big $$ investment. Dave and I skimped on other things (like a night away together) to make room for this in the budget. Sam is still earning money toward it - $60 remaining in his share.	32 And Ben got a big Lego set. He actually built several cars on his own. Some of us wondered whether he'd have the focus to stick with instructions, but he really did well.
33 Each with his own bag :) Ben really wanted his to stay straight up on the sides, like a perfect rectangle, so it required some readjustment periodically :)	34 A stop off at Coronado for lunch and feeding birds :)	35 Back in San Juan Capistrano at a neat playground.	36 And a petting zoo! We love Zoomars :)
37 That long thing on the top of the beak folds way back up to a tiny little horn! So funny!	38	39	40 Ben very cautious about the goats!
41 But loving the Jeep!	42 And the train!	43 Mom will fill in some details about this part of the zoo I am sure, but suffice to say we were both laughing hysterically most of the time in this little petting part of it. There are a whole bunch of rabbits and guinea pigs lined up around the edge under the bench, hiding, wondering who will capture them. Sam loved this huge fat hen!	44 Ben wanted nothing to do with guinea pigs.
45 But made me go catch a huge purple bunny! It seemed friendly enough...	46 Until it went to Mom! Look at her face! The thing started spazzing and biting!	47 Freaky rabbit!	48 Meanwhile Sam was enjoying this hen who seemed quite peaceful. We saw she only had one eye and figured maybe that was why.
49 See? This one seems to be missing.	50 What are they saying to us? "Time to wrap it up" or something? Look at Dave with Grownup Eagle, who declined to go in. He was too tempted to eat bunnies.	51 Ben deciding it might be fun to feed a bunny. But not touch it.	52 Cute Daddy and Eagle :)
53 Pedro the Pig was a big hit with Ben. He stood there and studied him for a long time.	54 Still studying Pedro :)	55 Dave and I at the mission in SJC.	56 We both love missions, and flowers, and gardens, and mission style homes, restaurants, chips and salsa...
57	58 The gardens were cool - functional and pretty.	59 Poles for beans!	60 Fantastic dinner grilled up by Dave - thank you! Such great corn, too.
61	62 Building time on the lanai after morning adventures :)	63 This is how I kept Sam hydrated while building! :)	64 Now we are at DISNEYLAND!!! Can you believe it? Me who really doesn't like expensive theme parks, or crowds!? We really got into it and had a great time. Many thanks to Mom and Richard who treated us and had a great time with us.
65 The first ride! Ben was really looking forward to Autopia.	66 Richard not so sure about me driving. And we both had to go to the bathroom! Seriously! "Are we there yet?" No bathroom in the line for the ride...and I contemplated pulling over. Kidding!	67 Whoa!	68
69 Ben in his sportscar :)	70 Ben watching Jedi warrior training with rapt attention! His face was SO funny - mom caught a video of it for us to enjoy later :)	71 The tea cup ride Mom and I remember so well! You spin the cups with a wheel in the middle of the cup - you can get it going really fast that way such that your head feels like it will spin off!	72 Yay for Daddy finding cotton candy!
73 Trying to get King Arthur's sword out.	74 Mom and I were looking forward to two things: Tea Cup ride and It's a Small World.	75 The other menfolk were not as moved by It's a Small World. Ben said "When are we going to be out of here and back in the sun?"	76 Dave said the small dolls scared him.
77	78 The Jungle Cruise was Richard's favorite ride I think.	79 Such lifelike animals! And moving people talking and stuff! Pretty cool, still, even with all the animated things kids are used to today.	80 Dave ended up walking with two boys most of the time. Such a good daddy.
81 Caught a funny face of Richard with the castle and flowers in the background.	82 Ah yes! The ride we've been waiting for! Dave opted out of this. He says he doesn't do anything that spins, floats, drops, rolls, or climbs. No coasters.	83 The entrance was pretty compelling.	84 Space Mountain was a lot of fun - very dark inside and some good twists and turns. At one point little Ben, who just made the cutoff, was going "Uhhh...Mom?" then "Uhhhh...MOM!?" The ride stopped at that point and I asked what Ben was wanting to know - he said "When are we going to be back out of here?" Sam loved the ride and wanted to do it again. This shot is on our way back to New Orleans square for lunch. Richard ordered a Monte Cristo. My goodness is that good- I got a taste and it's a good thing I didn't order that!
85 Dave and I both enjoyed Frontierland. Dave is a great shot!	86 Nice boat ride just before lunch.	87	88 And afterwards we were all hankering for some dessert - for dinner! We had ice cream sundaes at Farrell's!
89 A balloon maker created some neat things for the boys :)	90 Sam requested a stand for his penguin to sit on his head - huh? He is so funny!	91 Atttack Penguin!	92 Mom and Richard took the boys to a cute little zoo while Dave and I escaped for a half day date down in San Diego's Balboa Park. Can you even believe the animals they found on this carousel to ride?
93 SOOO funny! I couldn't believe it when I saw this one!	94 Ben got to see this eagle up close!	95 And a HUGE eagle's nest!	96 Anteaters, too! We could have used those guys in Hawaii! (Right Ang and Tam?!!!)
97 A spinning coin thing was very interesting.	98 Ben slid these two statues apart so he could have a seat, too. Then he ran inside to get a remote control so he could talk on the phone. Richard found him Gramma's iPhone! :)	99 The neighbors, Jim and Sally, had a go-cart built for their 7 yr old grandson, so we kinda had to just test it out and see how it did. Dave really enjoyed it, so did Richard and Sam! Ben got to steer all by himself, too!	100 When I took my final spin a couple dogs came running out and I panicked a bit wondering what to do about the large black attack dogs- straight through? Turn on a dime? I was right down at nose height! It all worked out ok :) They were scared of me! ha ha :)
101 Easter egg hunt! Complete with bunny powder, too! I told the boys I was pretty sure I saw something big hop over that far wall, and sure enough there was white bunny powder with footprints heading that direction!	102	103 Egg!	104
105 See all the great artistry? The best ones are done by Dave!	106 Look what Daddy made! It's EAGLE!	107 Daddy having some coffee and contemplating how in the world his wife could still believe in the Easter Bunny, and reindeer on the roof...	108 But, I think he came around with this compelling evidence. Not only did we find fresh droppings (raccoon most likely, lest you think I've totally lost it!) but Sam stepped in it!!! Nice :)
109 We found 11 eggs. I forgot that I'd hidden 12. Dave found the last egg a few hours later. Additional proof that the Easter Bunny exists and was really the one to hide the eggs :)	110 Showing Ben the finished Unimog U400 - complete with pneumatic pumps and articulating wheels!	111 Standing room only at this special 90-min Easter Sunday mass. Nice to have mom with us, and thanks to Richard for valet service!	112 Our last night in CA was spent at the Navy Lodge on Coronado. What a nice NICE place! I forgot how amazing that beach is. It was a special 90 min on the beach for sunset with Gramma and Richard. Mom and I had so much fun taking pictures of the boys playing in the sand. Poor Ben had a cold, but that didn't stop him. The Groucho Marx sand stache cracked me up...hence the picture before a wipe-up.
113 They were rolling down the dunes - many many times! Lots of sand in the pockets to save for later.	114 The cabanas are where we celebrated the first B.O.B. (Bird on the Beach) in 2004. Such a memorable time.	115 This picture is so funny!!!!	116 The new Lodge. And a relaxed guy having a great time.
117 More rolling down the dune!	118 They just couldn't get enough of it! Second front tooth coming in, too. Big teeth on that guy!	119 Funny times! Thanks for all the laughs and love, mom!	120 This is another one that cracks me up. Just lounging up there before rolling again!
121 And the landing :)	122	123 My policy is sunset self-portrait smooches if you find yourself at the beach at sunset. See how I had to wrangle Dave?	124 Mom took this nice one :)
125 The End. That was such a nice 9 days! Time to head home to the little farmstead and check on our hens. Our sweet neighbors took great care of them.	126	127	128
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