Where's the snow?

Winter break! Time to make snow angels and build snow men and go sledding... or not. It's pretty sunny out.

Melinda was the lucky Mom tasked with keep the kiddos busy during the first week of their holiday break. And, since no snow was available, she had to get creative. (Poor Matt had to work most of the week.)

On Saturday, we all went to the Museum of Man in Balboa Park with an awesome free family pass from the library. Since Matt doesn't have to work weekends, this felt like a good event to start with. Always good to have an extra parent for toddler wrangling in a building that houses priceless antiques.

 And if you are naughty... Santa might

feed you to this monster (they didn't buy it).

 Monster builders at work.

 Nicely done girls!

 It was hard to tell whether Steven was trying

to steer away from or toward the sea monster...

 Jefferson was having nothing to

do with that monster boat. He's

an academic.

 The girls left their nightmares on the dream catcher

Take that evil dragons and big sharks.

These are their "scared" faces.

 Ahh! Monster.

 Ahhh! Another one.

 Adelaide could get used to this

Pharaoh thing.

 When you are trying to navigate down

the Nile and your little brother

keeps attacking you with an alligator.

 Jefferson was all about the food stand,

because even if it was fake, it was still food.

 Priorities.

 We wrapped up the morning with a

visit to the Crack Shack, mostly

because they have a giant chicken.

 The face of a little boy that just discovered French

fries and ketchup (so much better than fake

ancient Egyptian food).

On Monday, Melinda was on her own. She took the kids down to the Jump Around trampoline park in an attempt to wear them out before they wore her out. And, it worked. But the end of their hour of play, the boys were laying down on the trampolines trying to take naps. SUCCESS! 

 The kids had a blast. Jefferson

wasn't so sure about the bouncing, but

liked running between the trampolines

in a "hot lava" style game with himself. Cutie.

 All the kids loved jumping

into the foam pit (obviously).

 The girls both did well on the rock wall.

Adelaide scrambled up to the bell

on the first try - much to the chagrin

of a few boys in the room. Girl power!

Everyone napped hard on Monday. Tuesday we decided to have a more low key adventure at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park. It got pretty crazy when the fox stole Santa's toys, but it all worked out in the end. Whew.



 Took about fifty of these, they

never both looked forward at the same time.

 The boys wouldn't go anywhere

near the puppets for a group shot. In fact

they were pretty upset that fox was so close

to Eleanor. Run sisters! Run!

On Wednesday, it rained. What to do on a rainy day? 

 Super hero fight!

Sorry to Matt who had to work while we tore

apart the downstairs.

On Thursday, Jefferson had to go to Rady's Children's Hospital for an MRI and other medical tests. Bummer way to spend a vacation day, but he did dig the no-slip socks. Matt took the morning off to come help. Adelaide went to a friend's house and Eleanor and Steven popped back into preschool for a day.

 Socks! Happy right before they

put him under.

Friday Matt's company was closed and the rain was gone. Whew! Our zoo passes are almost expired, so we rushed off to wish the giraffes and pandas a happy holidays.

 Eleanor loves this giraffe because

she first saw him when he was two

weeks old. She's been watching

him grow all year.

 Camels!

 If this prehistoric American lion was real,

we're sure he'd be totally cool with all these

cute kiddos on his back.

 These girls get our "seal" of approval.

Week one of the vacation is in the books! Melinda somehow managed to drag the boys out of the foam pits at the trampoline park, we didn't break anything at the museum, no one was permanently traumatized by the puppets, and no one fed the animals at the zoo. It was a successful week!