May Utah Trip

After Maker Faire, we drove back home to Los Angeles and spent the night.  The next morning, the kids and I (plus Uncle Kyle) started our trip up to Utah.  It was the fastest time I've ever made that trip with kids - something like 8 1/2 hours.  Anyway, we spent the rest of the week making goodies, running errands like buying maternity clothes or going to the dentist, playing water balloon baseball, visiting Grandma Cloe, and generally escaping all our obligations back home.  It was great.
  

   
On Sunday we had a birthday party for Kyle and Kevin, where we got to meet Kevin's friend Katie.  Afterwards the kids and I finally flew our kite (there's not much room to do that at home.)
  

Felix is not impressed.

     My mom had the idea to make these blankets for the kids.  They picked out the fabric themselves (well, Elise picked Evan's, but he loved it.)  Originally, Connor and Elise were going to help make the borders, but we ran out of time, so Mom and I did them.  Now my children have blankets specifically made for dragging around the house and building forts!
  

  

   Towards the end of our stay, we took a day to go to Yuba Lake.  Since Ryan wasn't with us and I was pregnant, there was no wave runner this time, but everybody had fun playing in the mud and skipping rocks. (Grandpa is an expert!)
  

Skipping Rocks

(It's a clay pot, in case you couldn't tell.)

  

Speech Meet and Maker Faire

Connor's school did a family night in May that included a picnic, musical program, and a "Speech Meet" where the kids all recited poems or speeches they had memorized.  Connor did "Bedtime" by Eleanor Farjean, which is basically about a kid begging for more time to play - it suited him perfectly.  We've been really happy with the homeschool program there, and are planning to send Elise in the fall.
  

  
The weekend after Mothers Day we took a family trip to the Bay Area for Maker Faire.  We knew friends who had done it before, and Ryan was particularly excited to go see everything.  Maker Faire is basically a giant science fair put on by Make magazine that has displays on all manner of homemade gadgets and crafts.  It's totally nerdy and fun.  After I told my brother Kyle we were going, he decided to fly down and meet us, plus our good friends Justin and Tiffany and their kids (who already live in the area) tagged along.
  

Masking Tape Sculpture

R2D2 Builders' Club

This giant mechanical dragon spewed fire out of it's mouth (other end.)

Making the Tail Swing

Elise said she wanted a turn, then got scared and cried. (It's pretty high up.)

  
I have to say it was definitely cool, and mostly very fun, but not really for kids under six or so.  It was a little tricky trying to push a stroller through the crowds, and the little ones didn't have much to occupy them.  Connor had a great time, though.  He got to make a battery-powered toy car and a rocket, and could have done a ton more stuff if we'd had the time.
  

Waiting to Launch the Rocket

Version 2.0 (Repaired with Electrical Tape)

  
The next day we were able to have brunch with Ryan's sister Helena, which was really nice.  Afterwards we stopped by the Oakland temple before our drive home - probably the most beautiful temple grounds there are!
  

Elise Turns Five!

Evan was spending so much time throwing balls at random targets that I decided to get him his own basketball hoop.  He became completely obsessed (and still is, somewhat.)  He'd wake up from a nap saying "basset!", and entertain himself for almost an hour at a time.  When he misses, he says, "almose!", and runs after the ball to try again.  He's a pretty good little shot.
   

  
This year I gave Elise a choice between a birthday party or spending her birthday at Disneyland.  She made a good choice, I think (although she did have a mini-party with her best friend a week later.)  Our Disneyland experience was the best so far.  Since we went on a weekday in late spring, there were a lot fewer crowds, and we were able to walk right on to a lot of the rides.  She got a special "It's my birthday" button at the entrance, which we soon discovered was for more than just decoration.  Every Disneyland employee that walked past or saw her wished her a special day.  It was pretty cool.  She even got sung to at the restaurant where we had lunch.  Her wishlist included eating a giant lolly-pop and/or cotton candy (she got both), and getting her face painted like a butterfly.  
   

Happy birthday little girl!  I can't believe you're five already!