Back-to-school happenings are in full force around here, and it’ll be the holiday season before you know it. We’re preparing our home for one heck of a busy season, as several family members have moved recently and that means lots of houseguests are headed our way. Time to batten down the hatches and load up on ALL the supplies!
With SeaWorld San Diego opening a ton of rides and educational shows in recent years, I’ve had some visitors ask if it’s an appropriate spot to take kids who aren’t tall enough or won’t necessarily sit still for a presentation. I always encourage these people to go see the many displays and hands-on experiences available at the park. More often than not, I wind up playing tour guide because I’m so enthusiastic about the incredible learning opportunities that are available here! Here’s a look at what OUR family does at SeaWorld with four boys ages 6, 4, 2 and 9 months.
I had this friend in grade school whose mom was pretty much the best. We all thought so. When she volunteered for field trips, we collectively clamored to be assigned to her since those kids were guaranteed to have the most fun. Another one of my friend’s parents used to bring their pet Beagle to school at lunchtime, and he quickly became the unofficial mascot. Then there was the dad with all the cool arts and crafts stuff! I want to be THAT parent. Problem is, I’m a little short on time.
It started with one of Some Boy’s friends last winter. Poor dude had persistently-chapped lips from all the weird weather and allergens around here, so his buddy gave him a lip balm at school. I’d been using coconut oil on him before he went to bed every night, but he needed more persistent application.
We’ve been rolling right along with home renovations! One area I’ve been neglecting in a major way is the front door. We replaced the old oak door with a Craigslisted glass panel door awhile back, which really brightened the space up. The gal we bought it from, though, unfortunately let Pinterest woo her into chalk painting it. Chalk paint + front door = no go UNLESS you slap on a bunch of varnish to seal it afterwards.
Nate and the boys were invited by Warner Bros. Pictures to go to the Legoland press junket for The LEGO NINJAGO Movie last week. I was up in San Francisco helping my sister move to her new apartment (more on that later) but I had so much fun ogling all their pictures from afar. They got to play around with some Master Builders and meet actors like Dave Franco, Justin Theroux and Michael Peña.
I was camping with some friends up at Tahquitz the other day and decided to go exploring. We’d already checked out Jenks Lake and Big Bear Lake as well as some of the creeks surrounding the area, so I set my sights on our next hiking destination: Big Falls.
I’ve shared before that Downtown LA didn’t have a particularly awesome reputation when Nate and I lived in Westwood 15 years ago. It absolutely delights me that the area has seen such a massive uptick in development of family-friendly spots, from the installation of LA Live to the resurgence of Grand Central Market. It’s become one of our go-to spots for mini getaways and every time we go, I come back with a list of newly-discovered sights that I want to explore the next time we visit. The constantly-evolving nature of this historical area is fascinating, and the sentimental side of me thrills to see my kids exploring intricate pockets of the city where our family was founded.
I have some version of this conversation with a reader or sponsor at least once a week. “I like that your blog isn’t really pretty,” they say. Then they look a bit embarrassed and quickly catch themselves. “I mean, it’s not overly-curated. You know, not all polished and Photoshopped like some others.”
We all know that it’s important to introduce baby to water early on so they get comfortable and learn to swim at an early age, but sometimes parents are stumped about how to do that if they don’t have a pool or tub. Never fear! There are tons of ways to make waves. Try a sink soak, play around with a faucet or seek out one of the water features available at local parks. We love taking our boys to creeks and streams here in California. The kids have a blast, and it’s a great way to teach them about water movement and safety.