Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sea World Spooktacular

We took the kids to Sea World to check out the Halloween Spooktacular! It was way more crowded than I expected it to be, but it was a lot of fun. The kids each got a bag and went trick-or-treating at the stations set up around the park. They got some candy, but some other fun things like a pencil(that porter loves to sharpen), note pads and trading cards.

The thing I loved the most were the characters dressed in these beautiful costumes. I am sad I did not get very many photos of them, I think I was too busy admiring them. I did get a some photos of Liesl and the fish.
We went on just one ride because the lines were really long, but it was fun. Here is my attempt at a family photo on Oscar's Rocking Eel.


I thought that Sea World did a really good job and it was fun!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

$10 watermelon

I bought a watermelon to take to Porter's school tomorrow for the Halloween party. It was expensive, but it was so good.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Halloween party and the pumpkin patch

Saturday we went to a birthday party/Halloween party. It was a great party where both kids and adults had blast. Not every kids party is fun for adults too, but this one was.

Liesl's Bat girl/Bat kitty costume.

This year we were just so busy we did not get out to the pumpkin patch we went to the last few years. Porter was a little disappointed that there was not a pony ride, hay ride or bounce house at the one we went to, but had fun anyway.

Just Tutes

I love this blog! This mom is so talented and nice to make these great easy to follow patterns. I have made the strip work apron twice now and it is so easy to put together. It does take me quite a while to measure, cut, make bias tape, but once you start sewing, it comes together quickly. Here is the one I just made for a birthday present for a 5 year old, so it is a little big on Liesl
I have wanted to make the peasant blouse for a while now, so I went for it and ended up making it into a dress. I made it for a birthday gift as well and I am happy with the way it turned out, but there are some flaws. I think I want to just make a top next time and keep it simple. I sometimes get ideas in my head and just go for it without really knowing what the heck I am doing. I am a self taught sewer and I know I would benefit from taking a class. Here is the dress modeled by Liesl.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Marion Bear Canyon

Sunday we took the kids to Marion Bear Canyon. It was fun to see how it has changed since we were there last and it was really fun for the kids. Porter really liked to find all on the different plants on the guide map.
Jason was showing the kids a cattail.
We saw quite a few of these giant orange spiders.
Porter was looking out for Liesl.
I wonder if these gourds were wild or if someone planted them there?

Monday, October 13, 2008

another skirt

I bought this fabric 6 months ago to make Liesl a skirt and just now got around to it. I guess because November 1st is almost here I just had to do it.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

Last week a friend told me that this Indian market Ker was having a two for one buffet in the restaurant. I love Indian food, so we went with some friends for lunch. Since we were up there we went to the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum because it is free and the kids like it. It has been a long time since we have been there, so there were some changes and new planes to check out. It was really hot up there and I was getting a little cranky so we did not stay for long. It is a great place to take the kids and let them run around and check out the planes. The first few times we went there they encouraged the kids to go up to the planes and touch them, but this time there was a sign that said stay on the path. There was no one out there watching us, so we just let the kids get up close and made sure they did not touch much more than the body of the plane.

Friday, October 10, 2008

a ring

I just realized tonight that I have not seen one of my rings in a long time. This was a birthstone ring my Grandparents bought for me when I was a year old. Whenever I would go to their house I would try it on and admire it. My grandma gave it to me few years ago when she moved and I have enjoyed wearing it ever since. I don't know why, but something in me tonight made me go look for it and I can't find it. I am sick inside and just want to cry. I have a few more places to look and things to organize, but it is not in one of my usual jewelry keeping places. I don't know how I am going to fall asleep, my mind is going crazy.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

read this

A succinct editorial from Jonathan Freedland of the British newspaper The Guardian on the upcoming US election.

'If Sarah Palin defies the conventional wisdom that says elections are determined by the top of the ticket, and somehow wins this for McCain, what will be the reaction? Yes, blue-state America will go into mourning once again, feeling estranged in its own country. A generation of young Americans - who back Obama in big numbers - will turn cynical, concluding that politics doesn't work after all. And, most depressing, many African-Americans will decide that if even Barack Obama with all his conspicuous gifts could not win, then no black man can ever be elected president.

But what of the rest of the world? This is the reaction I fear most. For Obama has stirred an excitement around the globe unmatched by any American politician in living memory. Polling in Germany , France , Britain and Russia shows that Obama would win by whopping majorities, with the pattern repeated in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. IfNovember 4 were a global ballot, Obama would win it handsomely. If the free world could choose its leader, it would be Barack Obama.

The crowd of 200,000 that rallied to hear him in Berlin in July did so not only because of his charisma, but also because they know he, like the majority of the world's population, opposed the Iraq war. McCain supported it, peddling the lie that Saddam was linked to 9/11.

Non-Americans sense that Obama will not ride roughshod over the international system but will treat alliances and global institutions seriously: McCain wants to bypass the United Nations in favour of a US-friendly League of Democracies. McCain might talk a good game on climate change, but a repeated floor chant at the Republican convention was 'Drill, baby, drill!', as if the solution to global warming were not a radical rethink of the US's entire energy system but more offshore oil rigs.

If Americans choose McCain, they will be turning their back on the rest of the world, choosing to show us four more years of the Bush-Cheney finger. And I predict a deeply unpleasant shift.

Until now, anti-Americanism has been exaggerated and much misunderstood: outside a leftist hardcore, it has mostly been anti-Bushism, opposition to this specific administration. But if McCain wins in November, that might well change.

Suddenly Europeans and others will conclude that their dispute is with not only one ruling clique, but Americans themselves. For it will have been the American people, not the politicians, who will have passed up a once-in-a-generation chance for a fresh start - a fresh start the world is yearning for.

And the manner of that decision will matter, too. If it is deemed to have been about race - that Obama was rejected because of his colour - the world's verdict will be harsh. In that circumstance, Slate's Jacob Weisberg wrote recently ,international opinion would conclude that 'the United States had its day, but in the end couldn't put its own self-interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race'.

Even if it's not ethnic prejudice, but some other aspect of the culture wars, that proves decisive, the point still holds. For America to make a decision as grave as this one - while the planet boils and with the US fighting two wars - on the trivial basis that a hockey mom is likable and seems down to earth, would be to convey a lack of seriousness, a fleeing from
reality, that does indeed suggest a nation in, to quote Weisberg, 'historical decline'. Let's not forget, McCain's campaign manager boasts that this election is 'not about the issues.'

Of course I know that even to mention Obama's support around the world is to hurt him. Incredibly, that large Berlin crowd damaged Obama at home, branding him the 'candidate of Europe' and making him seem less of a patriotic American. But what does that say about today's America , that the world's esteem is now unwanted? If Americans reject Obama, they will be sending the clearest possible message to the rest of us - and, make no mistake, we shall hear it.'

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

A fun blog

Hey check out this great web site of Halloween inspired vegan food. I am going to try out some of the recipes this week.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Palm Desert

Friday afternoon we headed of on our annual trip to Palm Desert. We had 15 adults and 11 kids in our group and we had a really good time.
Miranda came in our room, took a shower with Porter and Liesl, then got in bed with them.

I think Liesl was singing a princes song in this photo.
Porter and Henry spent a lot of time playing cars and just hanging out.
After the kids went to bed on Saturday night we had a little too much fun and we payed for it on Sunday. It was an eye opening night and in a way it was a good thing because I think I needed it to make a change. I need to start acting my age and be more responsible than I am. Anyway, here are some fun photos of the night

The New Children's Museum

Last week we went to the Children's Museum twice. Members could get non members in for free during the month of September, so we were able to check it out before buying a membership. Monday we rode the trolley because parking can be hard to find. The trolley ride was fun, but it was not easy to get the stroller up and down the stairs. The kids had a blast at the museum and were excited to go two days in a row. Here are some photos from our visits.
Port a Party
Bubbles
Paint