Slower Paced Summer Week

After many months mostly living in San Antonio, Patrick was finally able to "move" back home. As part of his trying to get back into routines, he decided to bike to work a couple of days each week. We sent him off with cheers on his first day.

 

We had been slowly finishing history over the summer. This was our timeline for Modern History.

All the kids are home from activities this week! After 4 weeks of ballet intensive, camps, and other separate commitments, it was nice to have a week together. We took walks and played.

Friends came over for a day while their family moved. The kids played dress up and board games. We went on a long walk. It was a lovely day.

 

Taking Amelia to the Natural History Museum to see the butterflies.

 

 

The Natural History Museum had a program every Thursday during the summer on nature illustrations. We had been unable to attend due to activities all summer, but finally tacked it at the end of our butterfly visit. They had a facilitator who was drawing, supplies for sketching, and a room full of inspiration. We were sad when the hour was over.

 

Colleen's Special Week & Austin's Ocean Camp

On Monday morning, Patrick took Laura & Nathan to the airport while I dropped Austin off for his week at Ocean Explorer's Camp. When I picked him up later that day, he was marked with bright sunblock and grinning. He had an awesome time.

During Colleen's special week (since both Austin & Amelia were in activities), she wanted to start a quilt. So we gathered the fabric, spent some time cutting, and then got her to the machine as fast as possible.

She wanted to eat lunch outside in the warmth of the sun but the shade of the tree.

Homesteader pool day with friends!

Colleen and I attended a baby shower with a magnificent view of the Santa Barbara harbor

On Wednesday we spent some time with friends at the beach...

and then we drove to a different beach to visit friends who were camping there for the week. We went on a long hike along the coastal bluffs. When we returned, we watched the swallows that had nested all over the campsite buildings.

 

Field trip to California Pizza Kitchen

Taking these cuties home after the pizza field trip

They have adult-sized hiking boots now! They just keep growing.

A few weeks after Austin's Ocean Explorer's camp, the facilitators sent links to the parents to photos of the daily activities. It was fun to see photos to match the stories Austin had told us all week. He was able to go kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and lots of ocean swimming.

 

 

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.