Laura & Nathan's SoCal Visit

Aunt Laura & Uncle Nathan came to visit for a couple of days over the Fourth of July holiday.

We started the holiday weekend with a visit to the Botanical Gardens.

4th of July ice cream for dinner

Taking them to see our favorite Santa Barbara sites - the Courthouse

The Santa Barbara Mission & Rose Garden

S'mores for an evening treat

Sunday afternoon at the Reagan Presidential Library

 

We were thrilled to get to share our California life with them.

 

Morning Train Ride & Beach Day

I organized a train ride from Goleta to Carpenteria and back on a Monday morning. The kids were so excited to wait for the train.

Onboard with friends

The conductor was gracious to stop and take photos with each set of kids.

I took it upon myself to help with all the babies onboard.

Our group arrived and everyone made it off the train safely!

After spending the morning at a park across the street from the train station (and a quick trip to a library book store!), we headed back. A great time had by all.

Our Tuesday beach day included the normal fun with friends, but also a massive building project right at the ocean's edge, complete with digging a hole big enough to place a flag on a post.

Happy 14th Birthday, Amelia!

Amelia was thrilled to be in the middle of her summer ballet intensive during her birthday week, but she did not have dance on the Sunday of her birthday. So we were able to celebrate her that day. Breakfast crepes were requested.

We made the ice cream cake she requested.

Gift opening

Amelia's special birthday activity was to take a tour on the Santa Barbara Land Shark. We rode around downtown, learning fun new facts about the town. Then the Land Shark transitioned to the water where we boated out to the buoys where Sea Lions and Harbor Seals hang out.

 

WWII Double Feature Field Trip

I planned a "WWII Double Feature" field trip day for our homeschool group. We started at the Commemorative Air Force museum in Camarillo.

The docents divided us up into multiple groups. Colleen and I were with the littles so she could be with her friend Jedidiah.

 

 

Austin went along with a group of middle school boys. Apparently their docent really enjoyed all the questions and knowledge the boys had.

 

After a picnic lunch at a park, we went to the Seabee Museum just 15 minutes away.

 

 

It was a great day full of learning all about two different groups of people and technology that went into WWII.