Spirited Away

We are so lucky to live somewhere with places like this. I took the kids to Hakone Gardens because they were sick and so was I, and if we just stay in the house trying to relax and convalesce someone is going to get murdered. I need places for them to run and be outside without being near other people's kids coughing and sneezing and making Mom get dirty looks.

It just happens to be beautiful too.

the most nonchalant turtle I've ever seen. Austin even touched him and he never moved aside from turning to look at us.

This place is near and dear to my heart, because I took some of my favorite pictures of Austin here when he was just a bit older than Sophie is now. This was just before St. Patrick's Day, 2012, making him almost 17 months old. We finally got a membership this year.

Please note, I am significantly better at making sure the shoes are on the right feet these days.

Hiking With Dad

The weekend before Dad went back to work, we took a trip out to the woods. This is one of my favorite parks in the area.

Our fearless leader

Make sure you check out this creek, Mom

We've spotted a banana slug

Admiring all our treasures we collected on the trail

Searching for more treasures

(Fear not grandparents, those berries are not dangerous)

Saturday in Monterey!

We went down to Monterey on Saturday. We had plans to go to the aquarium on Sunday morning, so Saturday afternoon we went to the beach! Playing in the sand was great. We dipped our toes in the ocean but it was so cold we ran right back out (and kept a close eye on it, in case it came after us). We chased seagulls and found seashells and it was generally just awesome!

The seagulls did not think this was awesome

Walking back along the trail, we passed a protected area full of Harbor seal mothers and pups. Austin may or may not have noticed, but Mommy and Daddy did.

When we got back to the hotel, it was a zoo because prom was there. The restaurants were pretty packed too. So we went to a brewery just off Cannery Row, where Austin crashed a bachelorette party! Congratulations to the lovely bride who gave him her blinky bride to be pin :)

Ladies love us

First Trip to the Aquarium!

I think we mostly had fun. It was a little dark, and fish are kind of unfriendly looking.



And we did not appreciate the penguins, even though they were very interested in us.



And maybe we dreamed fishy dreams on the drive back, with our new otter friend.