Saturday, May 31, 2014
Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
I guess you can never get too comfortable--or watch out!
May began with a handful of hotter than normal days--nothing above 100 degrees, mind you, but San Diego is famous for it's temperate 72 degree days. There were fire warnings scattered around, but we just laughed at them--if you go a few miles inland, you run into some dry areas, but Carlsbad is lush and green and had just come off the yearly tulip festival.
Well, one Wednesday morning as I was driving back from dropping Asher off at school, I noticed some smoke coming from an area just north of us. I mentioned it to Aaron when I got home, since Asher's school is in that general direction and I figured we should pay attention to it. I sat down to get some work done when we heard fire engines . . . not far away at all. Then a facebook post from a friend (whose husband is a fire fighter) popped up with a picture of smoke at a park just down the street. Getting a little more worried, I went outside. I couldn't see anything, but I could smell smoke. Just then I overheard a conversation down the street about a fire and asked about it. The elementary school closest to our own was being evacuated. Because of the wind, a rather big fire was developing from a spark at the newly opened park less than a mile from our house! Having not grown accustomed to fire culture in southern California, I decided I'd rather be safe than sorry. I made Aaron start packing up our essential documents and computer drives, and I went straight down to our kids' elementary school. The office was already crowding with parents taking their kids out for the day, but luckily I was there before it got too crazy. I picked up the three younger kids, called Aaron and sent him up to pick up Asher (as the fire in that area had picked up steam as well). My phone battery was dying (one of those times I really wished I was better at keeping it charged like I should), so Aaron and I made quick plans to meet at our church parking lot. When I got there with the kids, we could see smoke billowing closer and closer, so we took off for another location further away--I had to send Aaron the info with the last few texts I had left on an old cell phone.
When we finally got together, we decided to blow off the rest of the day and head to Sea World together. We ended up having a fantastic day, though we were worried and concerned the whole time. The news just kept getting worse and worse, and video images that popped up online featured landmarks very close to home. Neighborhoods all around us were evacuated, including most of the students in our school district when an additional fire started on the other side of the hill.
Somehow we ended up sandwiched right between the two fires and were free to return home for the night. That night was a sleepless one. Every news report was increasingly dire as neighborhood homes went up in smoke. By some freak stroke of luck, the wind for the earlier fire blew out toward the coast (away from us), and the wind during the later fire blew inland (away from us again). Homes were evacuated from one street west of us and one street north of us, and again several streets south of us, but we got to stay home. By the next morning we learned that school would be cancelled for the rest of the week
Though unexpected, we made the most of the days off. On Thursday I took the kids to the beach, where they had an amazing time even though there was smoke billowing up and down the coast. Lots of families had come up with the same idea we had, so the ocean was crowded with kids. The best bit of the afternoon was when Emerson was out waist-deep in the waves, and an unfamiliar face popped out near his--a sea lion! It was no more than a few feet away from him, and seemed very interested and curious about all the children. Several other children noticed it swimming as well, so a clump of about 10-15 kids ran along the beach for about a quarter of a mile, just laughing and waving to the sea lion. After everyone was thoroughly sandy and salty (but thankfully not sunburned), we rinsed off as well as we could with water bottles and headed home. The next day I was sort of over having the kids at home, so I parked them at the neighborhood pool and managed to read half a book and strike up conversations with a bunch of other moms in the neighborhood who had come up with the same idea. The air was full of smoke and ash, but everyone seemed to have a pretty nice time anyway. The worst part was when we met a family who had just seen their neighbor's house go down--the neighbor was on vacation and was destined to come home to a pile of ash where their house had been.
By the weekend, no new fires had started and the firefighters had gotten a handle on the ones already burning. It was heart-breaking to read the stories coming out from families that actually lost their homes, but it was also awe-inspiring to read accounts of neighbors who had hosed down friends houses to save them and fire-fighters who worked through the night to put the fires out. Roads were closed off all over, and as they slowly started opening again, it was awesome in the worst way to see the green hillsides turned to ash.
Once the fires were finally out, life resumed for most of us. Having decided that we should make the most of our time here in California, since we really don't know how long it will last, we embraced some opportunities to "staycation" around town. Aaron got us tickets to see Billy Joel at the Hollywood Bowl, a dream of mine for I don't know how long--since I was in high school at least--and we drove up one Thursday night for it. Rather than leaving the kids with someone and getting back at all hours of the morning, we decided to give the kids a bit of fun as well. Since they have all been reading their hearts out for our family Book of Mormon challenge (more on that later), we snagged some tickets to Disneyland as well, but didn't tell them about it. On Thursday night we left them at the hotel with a movie while Aaron and I sneaked out for the concert.
What a concert! However good I expected it to be, my expectations were met and exceeded. I have always appreciated Billy Joel's use of classical and pop references in his songs, and he added a huge dose of that to his concert. There were at least a dozen musical references slipped in, from Schubert's eighth symphony to Beethoven's op. 13 sonata to Elvis to Paul McCartney to his buddy Elton John. My favorite joke of the night was when he talked about the double concerts he and Elton John have performed, and started to play a bit of my favorite "Your Song." He started out: "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but . . . bull$*!# . . . trust me, he has plenty of money!" Since I actually do know the words to almost all his songs (with the exception of We Didn't Start the Fire, which I always think I've got until I try to sing it by myself), I couldn't really help singing along to pretty much everything, marveling anew at how really fantastic both the lyrics and the music are to his songs. Some particular highlights for me were An Italian Restaurant, The Entertainer, and Summer, Highland Falls. Mostly it was just amazing seeing someone who has been at this business for as long as he has, still really embracing the opportunity to be on the stage, sharing amazing music with the world. It was definitely a night to remember.
The next morning, I told the kids that I had seen a sign along the road for a place that was selling cocounts 2/$1. Since Emerson has asked frequently since we moved here if we could buy a coconut, I told them this would be a great time to try it. We made a number of wrong turns, eventually landing on Disneyland Drive. Finally, confused about where the coconut shop had gotten to, we pulled into the Disneyland parking lot to turn around. Only we didn't turn around. Aaron paid $17 for us to park there! It was great fun watching the kids' expressions change from confusion to excitement as they figured out what we were really doing. We boarded the Disneyland tram at 8 am and following Aaron's carefully mapped out schedule, managed to enjoy all the best rides, shows, and activities without ever waiting in a line for more than 20 minutes. The highlights for everyone were as follows: Asher--Autopia, Addy--Splash Mountain, Emerson--Splash Mountain, Sera--Small World, Aaron & Britt--kids' faces as we entered the park.
So back to that Book of Mormon challenge. As I mentioned back in January or February or whenever I finally buckled down and made a decision about it, our theme this year is "Come Follow Me." It occurred to me one afternoon in church that despite the fact that we theoretically read the Book of Mormon together regularly as a family, the number of days that happens tends to be limited to days when we aren't running behind, when lunches get made before the kids are scrambling out of the door, when nobody is fighting over the breakfast table, and when jobs aren't being checked and re-checked by me in the moments before the kids leave. Which actually tends to be less days than one might hope. Because of this, despite the fact that we last began the Book of Mormon together as a family in approximately 2009, we were/are still somewhere in Ether. Not bad. But not very good. I am the kind of person who really likes getting into the story of whatever book I'm reading, and no matter the book, it's pretty hard to get a good feel for the story when you spread its reading out over several years. So even though there are some really good, inspiring, up-lifting verses to be found by the 1/2-page/day method, I knew that none of our kids were really connecting with the overarching story of the book. On the first Sunday in May, I decided to challenge everyone to read the entire Book of Mormon on their own before school let out for the year--only 5 weeks away. Aaron looked at me aghast on hearing this challenge, and later told me it was maybe crazy. I agreed with him, but asked what would be the worst that could happen? We'd need to extend the deadline to the end of the summer? I printed out charts for everyone to keep track of their progress, and then stepped back to watch. It was amazing! The kids really embraced the challenge, reading several chapters at a time. Our sacrament meeting attendance this month has been quieter than it has ever been before, as the kids bury themselves in chapter after chapter of Nephi, Mosiah, and Alma. I've had to work to keep up myself, and have been reminded anew what a really epic story The Book of Mormon actually tells. We've had some great discussions about various episodes along the way, and I've appreciated having this chance, early in my kids' lives, to let them know that I too think it's pretty crazy that Nephi kills Laban and there is some pretty blatantly racist talk that goes on in some bits. The most important message I want them to learn not only about the Book of Mormon, but also about other books of scripture, is that they are all, all compiled by men. No matter what percentage of the writings might be inspired by God, man has a unique ability to skew things along the way, and that just because men are imperfect, that doesn't mean that learning to develop their own spiritual connection to God and ability to listen to personal guidance and promptings is diminished--if anything, it is increased! I so appreciate having this opportunity to share such thoughts and feelings, near and dear to my heart as they are, with my children while they are young..
To close, there are a couple of quick grown-up achievements to tout, and a couple of hilarious kid anecdotes to share. First, Aaron is nearing completion of his first year as artistic director for the San Diego Children's Choir, and he has made enormous contributions to the organization that should not be overlooked. Second, this month I finished writing up the lesson plans for year 1 of KinderKeys classes and am now ready to take the next step with them . . . whatever that is. Finally, a couple of favorites from this month have been Emerson's conversation with his Grandpa Jerry on the phone the other day. He was talking about mean me and how I didn't let him continue karate after the brief session I had signed him and Sera up for, because he thought learning karate was good for helping him defend himself against Asher. Then, when asked whether would continue, he replied "well, my mom isn't that supportive." And from Sera: as we were driving down to Sea World one morning, she was noting the neighborhood names. She asked "why is this part called La Costa?" Addy answered with "it just is--why is Carlsbad called Carlsbad?" To which Sera replied (with the eye-roll she is perfecting) "um, because Carl is bad!" So there you have it folks, the real reasons we name things the way we do.
Here's to a beautiful (and hopefully fire-free) summer!
May began with a handful of hotter than normal days--nothing above 100 degrees, mind you, but San Diego is famous for it's temperate 72 degree days. There were fire warnings scattered around, but we just laughed at them--if you go a few miles inland, you run into some dry areas, but Carlsbad is lush and green and had just come off the yearly tulip festival.
Well, one Wednesday morning as I was driving back from dropping Asher off at school, I noticed some smoke coming from an area just north of us. I mentioned it to Aaron when I got home, since Asher's school is in that general direction and I figured we should pay attention to it. I sat down to get some work done when we heard fire engines . . . not far away at all. Then a facebook post from a friend (whose husband is a fire fighter) popped up with a picture of smoke at a park just down the street. Getting a little more worried, I went outside. I couldn't see anything, but I could smell smoke. Just then I overheard a conversation down the street about a fire and asked about it. The elementary school closest to our own was being evacuated. Because of the wind, a rather big fire was developing from a spark at the newly opened park less than a mile from our house! Having not grown accustomed to fire culture in southern California, I decided I'd rather be safe than sorry. I made Aaron start packing up our essential documents and computer drives, and I went straight down to our kids' elementary school. The office was already crowding with parents taking their kids out for the day, but luckily I was there before it got too crazy. I picked up the three younger kids, called Aaron and sent him up to pick up Asher (as the fire in that area had picked up steam as well). My phone battery was dying (one of those times I really wished I was better at keeping it charged like I should), so Aaron and I made quick plans to meet at our church parking lot. When I got there with the kids, we could see smoke billowing closer and closer, so we took off for another location further away--I had to send Aaron the info with the last few texts I had left on an old cell phone.
When we finally got together, we decided to blow off the rest of the day and head to Sea World together. We ended up having a fantastic day, though we were worried and concerned the whole time. The news just kept getting worse and worse, and video images that popped up online featured landmarks very close to home. Neighborhoods all around us were evacuated, including most of the students in our school district when an additional fire started on the other side of the hill.
Somehow we ended up sandwiched right between the two fires and were free to return home for the night. That night was a sleepless one. Every news report was increasingly dire as neighborhood homes went up in smoke. By some freak stroke of luck, the wind for the earlier fire blew out toward the coast (away from us), and the wind during the later fire blew inland (away from us again). Homes were evacuated from one street west of us and one street north of us, and again several streets south of us, but we got to stay home. By the next morning we learned that school would be cancelled for the rest of the week
Though unexpected, we made the most of the days off. On Thursday I took the kids to the beach, where they had an amazing time even though there was smoke billowing up and down the coast. Lots of families had come up with the same idea we had, so the ocean was crowded with kids. The best bit of the afternoon was when Emerson was out waist-deep in the waves, and an unfamiliar face popped out near his--a sea lion! It was no more than a few feet away from him, and seemed very interested and curious about all the children. Several other children noticed it swimming as well, so a clump of about 10-15 kids ran along the beach for about a quarter of a mile, just laughing and waving to the sea lion. After everyone was thoroughly sandy and salty (but thankfully not sunburned), we rinsed off as well as we could with water bottles and headed home. The next day I was sort of over having the kids at home, so I parked them at the neighborhood pool and managed to read half a book and strike up conversations with a bunch of other moms in the neighborhood who had come up with the same idea. The air was full of smoke and ash, but everyone seemed to have a pretty nice time anyway. The worst part was when we met a family who had just seen their neighbor's house go down--the neighbor was on vacation and was destined to come home to a pile of ash where their house had been.
By the weekend, no new fires had started and the firefighters had gotten a handle on the ones already burning. It was heart-breaking to read the stories coming out from families that actually lost their homes, but it was also awe-inspiring to read accounts of neighbors who had hosed down friends houses to save them and fire-fighters who worked through the night to put the fires out. Roads were closed off all over, and as they slowly started opening again, it was awesome in the worst way to see the green hillsides turned to ash.
Once the fires were finally out, life resumed for most of us. Having decided that we should make the most of our time here in California, since we really don't know how long it will last, we embraced some opportunities to "staycation" around town. Aaron got us tickets to see Billy Joel at the Hollywood Bowl, a dream of mine for I don't know how long--since I was in high school at least--and we drove up one Thursday night for it. Rather than leaving the kids with someone and getting back at all hours of the morning, we decided to give the kids a bit of fun as well. Since they have all been reading their hearts out for our family Book of Mormon challenge (more on that later), we snagged some tickets to Disneyland as well, but didn't tell them about it. On Thursday night we left them at the hotel with a movie while Aaron and I sneaked out for the concert.
What a concert! However good I expected it to be, my expectations were met and exceeded. I have always appreciated Billy Joel's use of classical and pop references in his songs, and he added a huge dose of that to his concert. There were at least a dozen musical references slipped in, from Schubert's eighth symphony to Beethoven's op. 13 sonata to Elvis to Paul McCartney to his buddy Elton John. My favorite joke of the night was when he talked about the double concerts he and Elton John have performed, and started to play a bit of my favorite "Your Song." He started out: "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but . . . bull$*!# . . . trust me, he has plenty of money!" Since I actually do know the words to almost all his songs (with the exception of We Didn't Start the Fire, which I always think I've got until I try to sing it by myself), I couldn't really help singing along to pretty much everything, marveling anew at how really fantastic both the lyrics and the music are to his songs. Some particular highlights for me were An Italian Restaurant, The Entertainer, and Summer, Highland Falls. Mostly it was just amazing seeing someone who has been at this business for as long as he has, still really embracing the opportunity to be on the stage, sharing amazing music with the world. It was definitely a night to remember.
The next morning, I told the kids that I had seen a sign along the road for a place that was selling cocounts 2/$1. Since Emerson has asked frequently since we moved here if we could buy a coconut, I told them this would be a great time to try it. We made a number of wrong turns, eventually landing on Disneyland Drive. Finally, confused about where the coconut shop had gotten to, we pulled into the Disneyland parking lot to turn around. Only we didn't turn around. Aaron paid $17 for us to park there! It was great fun watching the kids' expressions change from confusion to excitement as they figured out what we were really doing. We boarded the Disneyland tram at 8 am and following Aaron's carefully mapped out schedule, managed to enjoy all the best rides, shows, and activities without ever waiting in a line for more than 20 minutes. The highlights for everyone were as follows: Asher--Autopia, Addy--Splash Mountain, Emerson--Splash Mountain, Sera--Small World, Aaron & Britt--kids' faces as we entered the park.
So back to that Book of Mormon challenge. As I mentioned back in January or February or whenever I finally buckled down and made a decision about it, our theme this year is "Come Follow Me." It occurred to me one afternoon in church that despite the fact that we theoretically read the Book of Mormon together regularly as a family, the number of days that happens tends to be limited to days when we aren't running behind, when lunches get made before the kids are scrambling out of the door, when nobody is fighting over the breakfast table, and when jobs aren't being checked and re-checked by me in the moments before the kids leave. Which actually tends to be less days than one might hope. Because of this, despite the fact that we last began the Book of Mormon together as a family in approximately 2009, we were/are still somewhere in Ether. Not bad. But not very good. I am the kind of person who really likes getting into the story of whatever book I'm reading, and no matter the book, it's pretty hard to get a good feel for the story when you spread its reading out over several years. So even though there are some really good, inspiring, up-lifting verses to be found by the 1/2-page/day method, I knew that none of our kids were really connecting with the overarching story of the book. On the first Sunday in May, I decided to challenge everyone to read the entire Book of Mormon on their own before school let out for the year--only 5 weeks away. Aaron looked at me aghast on hearing this challenge, and later told me it was maybe crazy. I agreed with him, but asked what would be the worst that could happen? We'd need to extend the deadline to the end of the summer? I printed out charts for everyone to keep track of their progress, and then stepped back to watch. It was amazing! The kids really embraced the challenge, reading several chapters at a time. Our sacrament meeting attendance this month has been quieter than it has ever been before, as the kids bury themselves in chapter after chapter of Nephi, Mosiah, and Alma. I've had to work to keep up myself, and have been reminded anew what a really epic story The Book of Mormon actually tells. We've had some great discussions about various episodes along the way, and I've appreciated having this chance, early in my kids' lives, to let them know that I too think it's pretty crazy that Nephi kills Laban and there is some pretty blatantly racist talk that goes on in some bits. The most important message I want them to learn not only about the Book of Mormon, but also about other books of scripture, is that they are all, all compiled by men. No matter what percentage of the writings might be inspired by God, man has a unique ability to skew things along the way, and that just because men are imperfect, that doesn't mean that learning to develop their own spiritual connection to God and ability to listen to personal guidance and promptings is diminished--if anything, it is increased! I so appreciate having this opportunity to share such thoughts and feelings, near and dear to my heart as they are, with my children while they are young..
To close, there are a couple of quick grown-up achievements to tout, and a couple of hilarious kid anecdotes to share. First, Aaron is nearing completion of his first year as artistic director for the San Diego Children's Choir, and he has made enormous contributions to the organization that should not be overlooked. Second, this month I finished writing up the lesson plans for year 1 of KinderKeys classes and am now ready to take the next step with them . . . whatever that is. Finally, a couple of favorites from this month have been Emerson's conversation with his Grandpa Jerry on the phone the other day. He was talking about mean me and how I didn't let him continue karate after the brief session I had signed him and Sera up for, because he thought learning karate was good for helping him defend himself against Asher. Then, when asked whether would continue, he replied "well, my mom isn't that supportive." And from Sera: as we were driving down to Sea World one morning, she was noting the neighborhood names. She asked "why is this part called La Costa?" Addy answered with "it just is--why is Carlsbad called Carlsbad?" To which Sera replied (with the eye-roll she is perfecting) "um, because Carl is bad!" So there you have it folks, the real reasons we name things the way we do.
Here's to a beautiful (and hopefully fire-free) summer!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
A Place in the Sun
 |
| So I guess we're succumbing to the sunshine--we'd better, because according to San Diegans, the higher cost of living here is in fact a "sun tax" |
Get ready for a barrage of house photos--the house was clean for once, so I had to take advantage!
 |
| I'm growing quite fond of this house--and feeling lucky every day that we found a rental that suits our (rather extensive) needs |
 |
| Hillside next to our house |
 |
| Front door--when the kids are home there are a bunch of scooters on the porch |
 |
| Front entry |
 |
| I'm always one for words on the walls |
 |
| When the kids are home there are even more backpacks and shoes |
 |
| Living room and dining room--with piano! |
 |
| And here's what it looks like when Asher is practicing his "hops" (which is pretty much all the time) |
 |
| I do love that I was able to set up the stairs pretty much the same way I did in Indiana |
 |
| Winding toward the family room/kitchen |
 |
| Still winding |
 |
| Family room |
 |
| The serious glare on the television during the day cuts down on requests to watch during the day |
 |
| Kitchen |
 |
| More kitchen |
 |
| Girls' bedroom (the boys' room was too messy) |
 |
| Our tropical garden backyard |
 |
| Trampoline! |
 |
| We finally made it to Sea World--we started with the Shamu show, and novices that we were, sat in the "soak zone" |
 |
| A few minutes later |
 |
| It was a gorgeous day--we're getting used to those |
 |
| The Blue Horizons show was our favorite--it's amazing what dolphins can do! |
 |
| We enjoyed a ward Easter Egg hunt at a park nearby |
 |
| And an Easter dinner with friends--you know you're in good company when this is what is parked outside |
 |
| Pretty sure this well-dressed bunch enjoyed themselves |
 |
| Family photo op! |
 |
| Sera's birthday party! Fully three months late--a new record even for me! |
 |
| A Fairy Tale Tea Party |
 |
| Love these fancy girls |
 |
| They all ended up getting hot chocolate instead of tea, so they had to add the pretty sugar cubes to their water |
 |
| We had a lovely time |
 |
| Sera is a lucky girl! |
 |
| Everyone needs to be fancy sometimes! |
 |
| Our new Tuesday night tradition: fish tacos at Rubio's |
Embracing Paradise
Okay, fine. There's nothing left to complain about. I do love it here.
The whole world has blossomed this month . . . which is not to say it hasn't been blossoming the whole time, just that I am able to look around and finally see it. I guess this is what comes of having everything (mostly) settled, of knowing where things are and who people are, and of recognizing that we are in one of Earth's mostly lovely little paradises. One thing that has been especially good for me is a trial membership I've had this past month at a yoga studio. After feeling my fitness slipping away over the past few months, getting my body healthy again has felt divine. Although I arrive at each 6 am class with my eyes falling shut, by the time I leave after class, I feel amazing. Yoga is probably my favorite way to exercise, and if I could afford the $100+/month fees to continue, I would probably do it. However, a side benefit has been that as my fitness level has risen, so has my endurance. As I think I mentioned before, there are a lot of hills around here, and the shortest route I can find to run is a daunting 3.5 miles. During my most recent loop, however, I was able to clear the full distance without walking in only 40 minutes, including stretching and cooling down! I was quite impressed with myself, actually, and can no longer rule out morning runs as a regular way to exercise. Additionally, my visits to the beach have evolved into a weekly ritual. I take off my shoes while I'm there and run at least a mile in one direction before turning around and walking back with my feet in the seafoam, watching the surfers and birds and occasional sea life as I return. There is a great peace in the lulling sounds of the crashing waves, as well an excitement that comes with watching the undulating ocean and the surfers trying to find its rhythm. If someone would just give me a surfboard (they're a bit pricey), I think I would have a new hobby.
In the afternoons, the kids have gotten much more into their routines as well. Sera is quick to sit down at the piano and practice, sometimes multiple times each day, and the others more or less follow her lead. I've been amazed at what quick progress I've made with both Emerson and Sera, who have nearly completed another set of piano books since we moved. Addy and Asher aren't learning new music quite as quickly, but Addy especially is developing a real musicality in her playing that is a pleasure to hear. Asher's sight-reading has come a long way, but I can tell he is anxious to be back in band and playing trumpet again. Alas, his trumpet has still not surfaced anywhere, and we may need to buy him a new one--a real shame, because he really connected with the one he had, and heaven knows not all instruments are created equal.
Emerson has really gotten into cub-scouts, since that's basically the only activity he has been involved with, but he's lucky to have such a fun group of boys and leaders. Asher, too, has enjoyed having a bigger scouting/young men's organization, and especially enjoys playing basketball after activities on Wednesday nights. Have I mentioned his burgeoning obsession with basketball? I should, since it now influences almost every aspect of our lives. He is constantly throwing balls (and other things) into baskets (and other things). Additionally, his attempts to improve his "hops" might drive me crazy. At first it was door frames, then ceilings, and now the high archways throughout our house--naturally he needs running starts for all his jumps. We got him a bedroom hoop which he loved, but after misusing it several times, it is currently taken away. Hopefully he'll behave himself well enough to get it back before long, but beyond that, he looks on craigslist for full-sized hoops almost every day. Addy and Sera have kept pretty chill so far, but I'm gearing up to figure out what good (and affordable) activities there are for their interests for next year. I tried to sign Addy up for an art class a while back, but bafflingly, she declined. Since they don't have exceptional art offerings at the schools here, I hope I can find something that will help her continue to develop her skills in that area. Sera seems quite content with piano, and considering how much dedication she pours into that, I am hesitant to disrupt it.
One fun little tradition that has cropped up this month is Taco Tuesdays. It's pretty much the only way to eat on Tuesday nights in these parts, from what we can tell. Since Aaron and Asher are gone to children's choir rehearsals that night anyway (with a cheap taco stop of their own on the way back), and since we live only blocks from Rubio's where fish tacos run $1.50 each on Tuesdays, we've started making it a weekly trek. The whole restaurant spills out customers during the weekly affair, and without fail the kids run into a number of their friends while we're there. Afterward we stop at the pool if the kids are done with their homework, and I realized just last week that if I bring along a bottle of shampoo, we can knock out showers afterward as well. Tacos and a lack of wet towels strewn through the house? Sounds like a win to me.
Another fun thing we finally dished out for is Sea World. Although I guess we would have been smarter to get our tickets back in January (they have a deal for San Diego residents where buying admission for a day allows re-entry throughout the rest of the calendar year), it took us a while to take the $500 plunge. But it has been worth it! We have visited twice already, and as amazing as I remember it being as a kid, it has maintained all the excitement it held then. I'm a complete sucker for wild-life exhibits, and ten times more so when it's marine life. We've only made it to two of the shows so far, but they are just incredible! It doesn't hurt that a couple of remarkably fun thrill rides have been added to the mix. For me personally, that beats out a straight amusement park any day--rides are better as a break from admiring nature's treasures than as a full-day activity in my mind. We've also visited a few of the exhibits--the sharks and the penguins--but what is exciting is how much more there still is to explore! It's wonderful to have a full year to go back again and again, rather than trying to fit it all into one day.
We also enjoyed a wonderful Easter this year, although it broke with some of our past traditions. Because Aaron has been playing for Lutheran services, and because I have always wanted a chance to attend an Easter service at another denomination, we got up a little earlier, dressed up in our matching finery, and attended the service he was playing at. There were balloons involved, and the Hallelujah chorus, plus stained glass, so it was really quite lovely. Afterward we attended only sacrament meeting in our ward (where I, incidentally, gave one of the talks), then went to a dinner at the home of one of the members of the Lutheran church. Their home was a gorgeous estate built onto a hillside and overlooking a lake, with flowers and vines growing everywhere. The meal was extraordinary, and we even managed to talk someone into snapping a few pictures of our family. The kids were well-behaved for the most part, and we all enjoyed a unique egg hunt which involved everyone hiding an egg for someone else, using the first letter of that person's name to choose a hiding spot. It took Asher quite a while to find his stashed among some alyssum flowers. At home we ended up dispensing with our own egg hunt, but between the one at the party and a ward egg hunt the afternoon before, not to mention Easter baskets, I think everyone survived (though don't get me wrong--they definitely complained). As it was, I don't suppose we spent as much time dwelling on the true meaning of Easter as we might have, but since our theme this year is "Come Follow Me" and we've had consistent lessons on Sunday nights about the life of the Savior, I hope our hearts were in the right place anyway. Emerson has christened this "the year of the broken traditions," as it is. Still, we couldn't have enjoyed a lovelier holiday.
So I guess the moral of this story is that even if you really don't want to live in paradise, and even if you don't think southern California is all that great . . . it actually is--at least in our little corner. And sooner or later that just has to kick in. These days I'm waking up with a smile on my face, sucking in the delicious smell of the roses that seem to line every street in Carlsbad, gazing at the blue sky through the gorgeous purple flowers that are popping out on the trees all over, luxuriating in the fact that my hair has turned quite a nice color in the sun and I no longer feel even the least temptation to dye it. I drove past the Flower Fields the other day, a gorgeous hillside covered in multi-hued tulips and accented with an old-fashioned windmill, and I just had to confess that I'm pretty lucky. We honestly don't know how long we'll be here--there are plenty of factors pointing to it not being forever--but we are here now, and there is a whole lot of beauty and fun and joy for us to experience while we are. And finally, I think I'm actually ready to fully embrace that! Viva San Diego!
The whole world has blossomed this month . . . which is not to say it hasn't been blossoming the whole time, just that I am able to look around and finally see it. I guess this is what comes of having everything (mostly) settled, of knowing where things are and who people are, and of recognizing that we are in one of Earth's mostly lovely little paradises. One thing that has been especially good for me is a trial membership I've had this past month at a yoga studio. After feeling my fitness slipping away over the past few months, getting my body healthy again has felt divine. Although I arrive at each 6 am class with my eyes falling shut, by the time I leave after class, I feel amazing. Yoga is probably my favorite way to exercise, and if I could afford the $100+/month fees to continue, I would probably do it. However, a side benefit has been that as my fitness level has risen, so has my endurance. As I think I mentioned before, there are a lot of hills around here, and the shortest route I can find to run is a daunting 3.5 miles. During my most recent loop, however, I was able to clear the full distance without walking in only 40 minutes, including stretching and cooling down! I was quite impressed with myself, actually, and can no longer rule out morning runs as a regular way to exercise. Additionally, my visits to the beach have evolved into a weekly ritual. I take off my shoes while I'm there and run at least a mile in one direction before turning around and walking back with my feet in the seafoam, watching the surfers and birds and occasional sea life as I return. There is a great peace in the lulling sounds of the crashing waves, as well an excitement that comes with watching the undulating ocean and the surfers trying to find its rhythm. If someone would just give me a surfboard (they're a bit pricey), I think I would have a new hobby.
In the afternoons, the kids have gotten much more into their routines as well. Sera is quick to sit down at the piano and practice, sometimes multiple times each day, and the others more or less follow her lead. I've been amazed at what quick progress I've made with both Emerson and Sera, who have nearly completed another set of piano books since we moved. Addy and Asher aren't learning new music quite as quickly, but Addy especially is developing a real musicality in her playing that is a pleasure to hear. Asher's sight-reading has come a long way, but I can tell he is anxious to be back in band and playing trumpet again. Alas, his trumpet has still not surfaced anywhere, and we may need to buy him a new one--a real shame, because he really connected with the one he had, and heaven knows not all instruments are created equal.
Emerson has really gotten into cub-scouts, since that's basically the only activity he has been involved with, but he's lucky to have such a fun group of boys and leaders. Asher, too, has enjoyed having a bigger scouting/young men's organization, and especially enjoys playing basketball after activities on Wednesday nights. Have I mentioned his burgeoning obsession with basketball? I should, since it now influences almost every aspect of our lives. He is constantly throwing balls (and other things) into baskets (and other things). Additionally, his attempts to improve his "hops" might drive me crazy. At first it was door frames, then ceilings, and now the high archways throughout our house--naturally he needs running starts for all his jumps. We got him a bedroom hoop which he loved, but after misusing it several times, it is currently taken away. Hopefully he'll behave himself well enough to get it back before long, but beyond that, he looks on craigslist for full-sized hoops almost every day. Addy and Sera have kept pretty chill so far, but I'm gearing up to figure out what good (and affordable) activities there are for their interests for next year. I tried to sign Addy up for an art class a while back, but bafflingly, she declined. Since they don't have exceptional art offerings at the schools here, I hope I can find something that will help her continue to develop her skills in that area. Sera seems quite content with piano, and considering how much dedication she pours into that, I am hesitant to disrupt it.
One fun little tradition that has cropped up this month is Taco Tuesdays. It's pretty much the only way to eat on Tuesday nights in these parts, from what we can tell. Since Aaron and Asher are gone to children's choir rehearsals that night anyway (with a cheap taco stop of their own on the way back), and since we live only blocks from Rubio's where fish tacos run $1.50 each on Tuesdays, we've started making it a weekly trek. The whole restaurant spills out customers during the weekly affair, and without fail the kids run into a number of their friends while we're there. Afterward we stop at the pool if the kids are done with their homework, and I realized just last week that if I bring along a bottle of shampoo, we can knock out showers afterward as well. Tacos and a lack of wet towels strewn through the house? Sounds like a win to me.
Another fun thing we finally dished out for is Sea World. Although I guess we would have been smarter to get our tickets back in January (they have a deal for San Diego residents where buying admission for a day allows re-entry throughout the rest of the calendar year), it took us a while to take the $500 plunge. But it has been worth it! We have visited twice already, and as amazing as I remember it being as a kid, it has maintained all the excitement it held then. I'm a complete sucker for wild-life exhibits, and ten times more so when it's marine life. We've only made it to two of the shows so far, but they are just incredible! It doesn't hurt that a couple of remarkably fun thrill rides have been added to the mix. For me personally, that beats out a straight amusement park any day--rides are better as a break from admiring nature's treasures than as a full-day activity in my mind. We've also visited a few of the exhibits--the sharks and the penguins--but what is exciting is how much more there still is to explore! It's wonderful to have a full year to go back again and again, rather than trying to fit it all into one day.
We also enjoyed a wonderful Easter this year, although it broke with some of our past traditions. Because Aaron has been playing for Lutheran services, and because I have always wanted a chance to attend an Easter service at another denomination, we got up a little earlier, dressed up in our matching finery, and attended the service he was playing at. There were balloons involved, and the Hallelujah chorus, plus stained glass, so it was really quite lovely. Afterward we attended only sacrament meeting in our ward (where I, incidentally, gave one of the talks), then went to a dinner at the home of one of the members of the Lutheran church. Their home was a gorgeous estate built onto a hillside and overlooking a lake, with flowers and vines growing everywhere. The meal was extraordinary, and we even managed to talk someone into snapping a few pictures of our family. The kids were well-behaved for the most part, and we all enjoyed a unique egg hunt which involved everyone hiding an egg for someone else, using the first letter of that person's name to choose a hiding spot. It took Asher quite a while to find his stashed among some alyssum flowers. At home we ended up dispensing with our own egg hunt, but between the one at the party and a ward egg hunt the afternoon before, not to mention Easter baskets, I think everyone survived (though don't get me wrong--they definitely complained). As it was, I don't suppose we spent as much time dwelling on the true meaning of Easter as we might have, but since our theme this year is "Come Follow Me" and we've had consistent lessons on Sunday nights about the life of the Savior, I hope our hearts were in the right place anyway. Emerson has christened this "the year of the broken traditions," as it is. Still, we couldn't have enjoyed a lovelier holiday.
So I guess the moral of this story is that even if you really don't want to live in paradise, and even if you don't think southern California is all that great . . . it actually is--at least in our little corner. And sooner or later that just has to kick in. These days I'm waking up with a smile on my face, sucking in the delicious smell of the roses that seem to line every street in Carlsbad, gazing at the blue sky through the gorgeous purple flowers that are popping out on the trees all over, luxuriating in the fact that my hair has turned quite a nice color in the sun and I no longer feel even the least temptation to dye it. I drove past the Flower Fields the other day, a gorgeous hillside covered in multi-hued tulips and accented with an old-fashioned windmill, and I just had to confess that I'm pretty lucky. We honestly don't know how long we'll be here--there are plenty of factors pointing to it not being forever--but we are here now, and there is a whole lot of beauty and fun and joy for us to experience while we are. And finally, I think I'm actually ready to fully embrace that! Viva San Diego!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)