Thanksgiving Week
We have so very much to be grateful for this year. I really enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a time to remember all the many blessings we have been given throughout the year. There are far to many to list. This year we spent thanksgiving at the beach in Pajaro Dunes. It's right in between Santa Cruz and Monterey. We stayed in a condo that had a picture perfect view of the ocean. It was fun to just sit by the window and watch the waves. We saw quite a few dolphins and seals in the water. The day before Thanksgiving some great friends joined us at the beach and we all had a great time enjoying the sun (albeit we needed to be wrapped up because it was so windy). The kids had a great time searching for sand dollars, star fish, digging holes, making sand castles, and flying kites.
Even Allison got in on the kite flying (she was actually pretty good)
And of course we finished off the day with a fire and s'mores.
The next day was Thanksgiving. We had 16 people join us for dinner. A week before Lilliana did an activity at church where they made "Thanksgiving trees" out of branches and some cut-out paper leaves. I thought that would make perfect centerpieces on our thanksgiving table. So earlier in the day we went out on a hunt for branches (I needed to make 7 of theses). Then we filled some vases with sand and stuck in the branches. Next I had the kids hang the leaves on the branches. Then when everyone arrived they were instructed to take a few leaves and write what they were thankful for. Not surprisingly most had to do with people and family. I think this will be a new tradition.
The next morning Jim had arranged with a friend for the kids to have a tour of the local firestation there in Pajaro Dunes. They did not disappoint. They climbed all over the firetruck, got to spray the hoses, put on the suit, and gave them all helmets, stickers, pencils, and an eraser.
Next on the agenda for the day was Denise the Menace park in Monterey. We always go by it on the way to the aquarium, but have never stopped to play. We did today. It was more crowded than I would prefer, but the kids didn't seem to mind.
A few days before our friends had rented those surrey bikes for their family and rode it along the path on the coast. We thought it sounded like a lot of fun so decided to give it a try. It was fun, although with just 3 real peddlers and 3 passengers it was a little more work than I anticipated going up hills. The path is somewhat level although there are moderate inclines and declines along the way. Every time we went on a nice downhill I thought oh man we have to go back up this. We rode from the wharf almost to the aquarium. We stopped along the way a few times and checked out some tide pools.
Look carefully, can you find the washed up jellyfish? I'll give you a hint it's an orange brown color (there are 2 of them).
When we got back to the wharf we decided to take a short boat ride in one of those glass bottom boats. It was fun to see all the jellyfish go by under the boat. We also saw a bunch of seal lions and a handful of sea otters. The water was full of thousands of these big jellyfish. I've never seen so many in the bay - let alone even 1 in the water.
Can you find the 4 otters?
After the cruise there was a guy on the pier with his parrots. All the kids got a turn to hold them.
To finish off the day we had dinner at the Sardine Factory. The kids were surprisingly well behaved considering we had a very full day.
The next day we spent about an hour at the beach, then packed up and headed home. We will probably make this an every other year tradition.
Even Allison got in on the kite flying (she was actually pretty good)
And of course we finished off the day with a fire and s'mores.
The next day was Thanksgiving. We had 16 people join us for dinner. A week before Lilliana did an activity at church where they made "Thanksgiving trees" out of branches and some cut-out paper leaves. I thought that would make perfect centerpieces on our thanksgiving table. So earlier in the day we went out on a hunt for branches (I needed to make 7 of theses). Then we filled some vases with sand and stuck in the branches. Next I had the kids hang the leaves on the branches. Then when everyone arrived they were instructed to take a few leaves and write what they were thankful for. Not surprisingly most had to do with people and family. I think this will be a new tradition.
Allison and Grandpa got in a little pre-dinner snuggle time.
The next morning Jim had arranged with a friend for the kids to have a tour of the local firestation there in Pajaro Dunes. They did not disappoint. They climbed all over the firetruck, got to spray the hoses, put on the suit, and gave them all helmets, stickers, pencils, and an eraser.
Next on the agenda for the day was Denise the Menace park in Monterey. We always go by it on the way to the aquarium, but have never stopped to play. We did today. It was more crowded than I would prefer, but the kids didn't seem to mind.
A few days before our friends had rented those surrey bikes for their family and rode it along the path on the coast. We thought it sounded like a lot of fun so decided to give it a try. It was fun, although with just 3 real peddlers and 3 passengers it was a little more work than I anticipated going up hills. The path is somewhat level although there are moderate inclines and declines along the way. Every time we went on a nice downhill I thought oh man we have to go back up this. We rode from the wharf almost to the aquarium. We stopped along the way a few times and checked out some tide pools.
Look carefully, can you find the washed up jellyfish? I'll give you a hint it's an orange brown color (there are 2 of them).
When we got back to the wharf we decided to take a short boat ride in one of those glass bottom boats. It was fun to see all the jellyfish go by under the boat. We also saw a bunch of seal lions and a handful of sea otters. The water was full of thousands of these big jellyfish. I've never seen so many in the bay - let alone even 1 in the water.
After the cruise there was a guy on the pier with his parrots. All the kids got a turn to hold them.
To finish off the day we had dinner at the Sardine Factory. The kids were surprisingly well behaved considering we had a very full day.
The next day we spent about an hour at the beach, then packed up and headed home. We will probably make this an every other year tradition.
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