We Heart Mother Earth!

Earth day was a little "off" because of the stormy weather, so it was more like Earth Week.

We started by making RecycleVilles. Trash into town fun!

 

We went to a jungle school musical at Van Gorder and made our own rainforest mural!

 

And of course did lots of work in the garden. Almost weed free!!

 

  After today's 100 MPH winds... I'm hoping these little guys will survive.

 

Can anyone help? What should we put down around the garden boxes? I was thinking pavers, but that's expensive. Anyways, I've never been much of a green thumb, but I've really enjoyed spending time in our yard. It's very peaceful and relaxing. We've also planted a lilac bush! My great grandmother, Yaya Irene Anastassatos had one in her yard and I have found memories of going there and smelling it and picking apricots from her tree.

Take Your Child To Work Day

 

Christina was really excited to go to work with Daddy! Joe started working at UNR (The Center for Cultural Diversity), March 15. It's his dream job and is going quite nicely! When asked what daddy does, Christina replied, "He walks around and talks to a lot of people. He also looks at rocks."

 

 This is where Joe will be getting his masters coming up in the next year!

 

This is where "daddy looks at rocks". He took her to the Mackay Museum of Minerals and Mines. Christina enjoyed the beautiful silver items and glow in the dark rocks. They enjoyed a bus ride around campus, learned "how to make oatmeal", ate Panda Express and Ice Cream... and walked some more!

Christina enjoyed the brand new state of the art hydration station. It is there to encourage using water bottles? The mural behind it was pretty cool. Very Nevada-y.

Christina was pretty tired after work! We went grocery shopping and she told the clerk all about her day with daddy. She was pretty excited! She told the lady, "He works in an office. And I think he just really uses his computer a lot."

The Culmination!!!! We Heart Cali Spring Vacation: Day 5

The grand finale!!!

We headed off from a very tasty breakfast at Aunt Sheila's and I still hadn't quite decided what I wanted to do as our final day of vacation. One thing was for sure, I didn't want to be stuck in weekend traffic, so we headed to the temple until I could make up my mind.

   

We had a lovely walk and enjoyed the sunshine. We visited the Visitor's Center and again, Christina and Maria could talk about all the religious pictures. I'm so proud of them knowing what is truly important in life.

They closed Seagull books! I paid $2 for parking and it was out of business! Wow.

Well, of course.... we went for it. If we're gonna do vacation... let's do it.

May I present to you, the most wonderful place on earth....

And California's only Horticultural Themed Amusement Park!

Absolutely comparable to the garden of Eden.

 

The rides had no lines. The employees were mostly kind, elderly people. It was clean! It was beautiful (understatement as you can see from the pics). It was educational.  They gave us balloons. They gave us treat bags on the way out. The girls could ride the rides as much as they liked. It wasn't too big or too small.

 

This was such a fun little car ride! The girls started singing Princess and the Frog, "Goin' down the bayou!"... I was smiling the biggest smile ever. I love these little gals!

 

 

The rainbow garden ride was awesome. The girls loved pointing out all the different colored flowers and there were also bushes in the shape of different animals. Amazing.

  

The mushroom swing. Christina could have gone on this one all day, but it made me nervous.

 

 The artichoke dip! They stayed on this one about 10 minutes straight.

 
 

  Gilroy Gardens = Best Ever! It was seriously one of the most favorite times I've ever had with the ladies.

From the waterfalls to the mini-rides to the sweet fresh air... Wow.

The park closed at 5 ish, so we went and got some dinner and at 6:30, I thought rush hour would be over. I decided to take I-680 instead of I-5 because of traffic... and boy! It WAS PERFECT!!!

Traffic is one of my only qualms with the beautiful motherland. But we were blessed and only hit about 20 minutes the entire time. And Maria had a little bit of an upset stomach after eating dried apricots... not so fun on a road trip :) However we stopped 3 times on very secluded exits for Maria to do her business. Talk about a blessing! About 1 hour to Reno and I had a distinct impression from my sweet Jojo that I needed to slow down. Granted I was only going 75, but 65 means 65. 

I slowed down and not 2 minutes later a cop with his lights on whizzed past me to get another speeder. 

I believe in miracles. I believe in happiness. I believe in living life.

Thanks Daddy for bankrolling the party! These are memories I'll always cherish!

Hooooooooray Spring break!!

We Heart Cali Spring Vacation: Day 4

We were so excited to have our Aunties come with us to the museum! Of course they totally spoiled us... Aunty Pam brought them presents they played with on the ride there and then treated us to this magnificent place of wonders! Thanks Aunty Pam!

While the displays were excellent, they also had a nice play place for toddlers and preschool children.

It was state of the art everything!

The Steinhart Aquarium!!! Inside the museum!!

Very cool! From sea horses to piranhas, to eels to fishes that looked like seaweed... to glow in the dark fishes! It was just as good as Monterrey Bay and not as costly!

We loved the recycle bins! Shouldn't everywhere have these!??!?!

There was a 4 story biodome called Living Jungle. Wow! We were a little hot by the end, but we got to see lots of Jungle animals and butterflies and birds.

Dad! How'd you get there!

We also saw a WONDERFUL planetarium movie. It was a HUGE dome theatre that probably sat 200 people. It was a complex movie, the type that kinda just blows your mind, but it was beautiful. We easily spent 5 hours there and our brains grew triple their size, we learned so much! Our Aunties are wonderful!

Side note: They have an albino alligator. It reminds me of Ryan. (Ramya's brother/crush)

Side note: While we were waiting for the planetarium movie, we were next to a sting ray pool. BEST STORY EVER. Aunty Sheila says, "What would you do if I just jumped in there?" We said we'd film it and put it on youtube, to which she replied, "I'd get in there and tell the bastards, you may have got Steve Irwin but you'll never get me!!!" Random. Yes. Quotable. Yes. Totally Fun Sheila. Yes.

On the way home we stopped in Corte Madera. The girls made a few little friends while playing and slept wonderful that night!

We Heart Cali Spring Break: Day 3

After a good bye to Aunty Erin, we were off! She lives really close to the Sacramento Temple, so we thought we'd start the morning off right and head over.

The girls were very reverent (despite Maria's fun glamour shot!) and it was beautiful. I always want to take opportunities to teach the children about God and how He is the only way to have true happiness and peace in one's life.

Next, it was off to William Land Park!

Fairytale Town is a must for us! We must have fun, hence we must go!

Oh Wow. What's this?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car = possibly Satanic Demons from Anywhere in Middle America, take your pick

That's right. We're getting the plug changed after 1 1/2 hours. Mind you this is car #2 within 3 days.

Fortunately the rent-a-car place was right down the block and we made it to Aunty Sheila's for more adventure and good times. Talk about rolling out the red carpet! The girls got to play with so many fun toys, got to paint piggy banks which our Aunty filled up so generously, make necklaces... and more! Talk about spoiling us!

Yes, that reads "I've got more time for lovin' since I got my microwave oven."

Classic. Just like Aunty Sheila.

I find that if I ever need a smile on my face I can always remember something great that Sheila has said and my soul will be at rest and life is good again.

We dined on her famous and delicious ribs, favorite food of all times!! She helped the girls make their own ice cream sundaes and we passed out in a bed that was more comfortable than the one I sleep on at home! We definitely will be back!

Luke Perry. Oh yeah.