Children's Museum

We just got back from a wonderful morning at the Children's Museum downtown. It was loads of fun. Everyone has been telling me that Emma is the perfect age and that we really needed to go. We had so much fun that we got a year's membership. I think it will work perfect as a place to go in the mornings with Emma before we have lunch with Daddy since it is so close to his work.


There was so much to see and do and explore. Emma could have spent the whole day just in the entrance at the forest room and wooden scooters.
But mommy really wanted to draw on walls and play with clay!! Emma thought this was a great idea too so off we went to explore more of the museum. Donald was great about joining in too!


We made a wonderful little Easter basket and eggs and Donald made a sort of flat rabbit all out of clay. We left in in the sun to dry, but forgot to pick it up before we left.

Here is our little Leaf Girl. I thought she looked so cute!



As you can see there are lots of different rooms and mazes and soft toys to climb on. We even made shadow puppets and lots of new little friends.

Below Donald and Emma made a stack of logs and they all toppled over, it had Emma in hysterics. I only had my iPhone on me so the pictures are blurry but you can still see what fun they were having.



Outside across the street is a play area too. There are swings and bouncy toys as well as places to climb and dig in sand.






On our way back to the car we had to walk through the Children's Park and go over to the water to "check things out"
We all had a lot of fun and if you have kids under 5 this is a must! Older kids didn't seem to like it as much (think they would be happier at the Ruben H Fleet Science Center) but for little ones this is a great place to explore, play, and create!! And if you are a mom or dad that likes to join in on the fun then you will love it too!!

Fly So High

So what do Emma, Daddy and Mommy get up to on the weekends. Well, we try to do as much as we can to have fun as a family. After church on Sunday we headed for Mission Bay Park. Lots of kids and lots of room to run and play.


For some reason our fearless little girl has become a bit more cautious lately so that means Daddy is joining Emma down some pretty small slides. I have no doubts that this will change and is only a phase. Once her confidence builds again she will be running circles around us once more.

Taking Daddy for a ride

And the chase is on!!

Oh wait, flowers! Must stop and pick one :)

The one really super cool thing about this park is the swings. They go really high!! And Emma loves it!! She must have had Donald push her for 40 minutes and giggled the entire time!

I only had my iPhone on me so these may not be the best photos, but you get the idea of what a really great swings they have.

Science Fair

We took Emma to the Science Fair in Balboa Park last Saturday. It was a lot of fun and a lot of people. There was so much to see and do. Lots of hands on and demonstrations. Robots, scientists, and families galore! Emma even got a little robot to take home, it's in her hand in the above picture. We also got a coloring book about a robot they use to help in surgery right here in San Diego. There was also a lot about "going green" and insects.
Of course at some point we have to end up at the big water fountain and pray Emma doesn't fall in!
Daddy and Emma both thought this military vehicle was really cool. It is a giant x-ray machine on wheels. It checks for explosives and weapons in other cars or in the ground. Emma felt pretty special when she got a chance to sit in it.

On the way out the Scott's were getting bagpipes warmed up as it was also Tartan Day! So of course we had to stay just a bit longer.
I was really taken back and caught completely off guard when the 6 pipers stated playing Amazing Grace. I was piped down the isle to that song and it all caught up with me with big swells of tears, and Donald too. A very magical moment and a wonderful way to spend in the park with Emma.

Cold Evening at the WAP

Donald, Emma and I have been taking advantage of the long evening hours at the Wild Animal Park. We took the new tour ride they have for the first time and we were incredibly disappointed. Emma still enjoyed herself, but you wont find us waiting in a long line to ride this ever! If there isn't a line I would take Emma again, but it's not worth the wait like the old monorail. Not every update is an improvement.

Emma did enjoy the ride and getting to see all the animals that as we veteran park people know, only get more active in the evenings .
We were glad we brought our coats! It got brisk. I forgot to turn on my flash until the end. But Emma still looks cute!!


I have to say that the only thing I miss other than the incredible friendships I made working for the Zoo and Wild Animal Park is the unique experiences I got with exotic animals. During my time there I got to feed a cheetah, play with a baby ankole cow, pet a hedgehog, talk to Marc Eco at a press conference, spend a weekend with Betsy Fowler, and so much more. But one of my favorite moments was when Mike and I were on our way down to Heart of Africa one night after the park had closed in one of the employee carts. It was a very hot day and the sun was just starting to set and the sprinklers came on right where a crash of rhinos were laying and they all got up and started jumping through the sprinklers like a group of preschoolers. Mike and I stopped and just watched, it was times like that I knew there was no place like this on earth.

Walking The Dog

Part of our house sitting duties include taking care of Aunt Andra's dog that lives with Grandma and Grandpa. Sassy is some mix breed which includes Pomeranian and pekingese even though lots of people think she is part Papillon. Emma loves getting to do the afternoon walks and holding the leash for Sassy. We are not convinced that Sassy prefers this, but they both seem to be getting a bit more use to each other.

I have read over and over again Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy hoping that Emma will understand that Sassy is not a dog for little girls, but it just doesn't seem to sink in.



Every day Emma has something new she wants to wear or take with her on her walk. This day it was her jewels.




Of course there is always time to check out a trail of ants or pick flowers.