Balboa Park Extras

Balboa Park architecture is so gorgeous! I love the Spanish mission/gothic style.


Margie, our docent, tells us about this portrait of Queen Henrietta of England.


Is this work a painting or a sculpture? From a distance, it looks like a recessed sculpture, and only as we came within five feet of it did we see that it was indeed a painting. It was so amazingly like a three-dimensional work, though -- the kids and I were rather boggled by it.



T enjoyed the girl scout cookies we packed in our lunch today. Cookies in our lunch is a rarity, especially those delectable Thin Mints! He couldn't resist clowning around with them on his birthday....


At the zoo we took a look at this gharial sunning himself in his beautiful enclosure.

Easter Egg-stras

My parents' little cabin on Mt. Laguna


E finds an egg.


Mom always sets a gorgeous table!


T's favorite egg.


Papa helps T with his birthday gift.

Extras from Our Orange County Trip

Here are a few extra photos of our Orange County Trip to Knott's Berry Farm and the Discovery Science Center.



We watch a Native American dancer perform an eagle dance at Knott's.



One of the Calico Railroad Trains at Knott's.



T hugs the replica of the Liberty Bell in "Independence Hall," across the street from Knott's.



My mom, Cousin T, and J check out the laser harp at the Discovery Science Center.



B, T, and J pose on a replica of a triceratops fossil at the Discovery Science Center.

More Beach Shots ... And What We Came Home To

People enjoying a stroll along the Pacific the day after the storm.



The kids and my mom admire the view. From L to R: my mom,, E, T, J, B.



The Pacific Beach Pier, south of my parents' place.



A lone surfer comes in after surfing some pretty good waves. However, getting into the water for 72 hours after a major storm is not considered a healthy thing to do as so many chemicals and other things get swept into the ocean as well. Only a few diehards were out Friday morning.



When we made it home around 5 PM, we were greeted by a frantic dachshund and a few patches of snow left from the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2008.

Norm Daniels

Norm works on the sky behind the Hotel del Coronado.



Yep, he works barefoot, even in the library's community room.



This painting is entitled "Rebuilt engine. Some rust. Make offer."

Christmas Day at the Cabin

A little patchy snow remained in shady spots around the cabin. With the temperatures mostly in the high 20s all day, it certainly felt like Christmas!



The exterior of the cabin -- my dad just finished putting up vinyl siding as the woodpeckers were having waaaaaaay too much fun with the previous wooden exterior. I love the stone fireplace especially.



The interior of the cabin -- the whole cabin measures around 600 sq. feet, but we still somehow manage to seat 16 for dinner and enjoy the Holy Day together. My parents' best friends came; they lost their home in the October fires, and everything they owned except for their vehicles and Francie's jewelry. I've known them since I was around eight years old, so they're really extended family to us, and we all loved having them with us.



The boys received (refurbished) Nintendo DS games for which my parents, Keith's dad, Keith and me, and some dear friends all helped to purchase for them. They are ecstatic with their gifts, practically the only one they received. I'm not sure that they've put them down since receiving them; they would barely stop playing when pie was served. E already has one, so now they can picto-chat with each other besides playing games.

Christmas Morning at Our Home

The boys disembowel their Christmas stockings.



T opens his gift from E.



Christmas breakfast includes lemon scones, bacon, eggs, and our Christmas morning prayers and Scripture readings.



We light the final Advent candle, the white Christ candle, and read our celebratory Scriptures while Keith finishes scrambling the eggs.