weekend update

so i know the weekend is long gone and thanksgiving day is nearly upon us.  but i still wanted to post about last weekend– phil had both days off and we tried to make the most of them!  he does get this coming thursday off, but is on call friday, so no nice extra-long weekend off for us this year.  but still, there’s SO MUCH we have to be thankful for, that i can’t complain.

anyhoo, last saturday, we took the kids to the la auto show.  it was our first time there (and may be our last!), and it was definitely crowded and a little crazy, but the kids had a GREAT time getting in and out of all the shiny new cars, playing with the buttons, and climbing all over the seats.

setting her fave radio stations…

this has long been my very favorite car.  maybe *someday* when i no longer need a big ol’ minivan to cart kids and gear around…

they kept the crowds away from the fancy schmancy cars, but i wonder how these two guys got past the glass partition?

mikey’s still crazy flexible.  last time i checked, he was still able to do the splits!

the kids had a grand time playing in all the cars.

the kiss-off:

now totally switching gears…  we took the kids to averil park after church on sunday.  i think this was my favorite of the two days.  no crowds, peaceful and quiet, and lots of room to run around!

first, we fed the ducks.  check out this handsome fellow.

winding up…

the squirrels wanted in on the action too.

venturing forth…

to the victor go the spoils!

hard to believe this tranquil park is in the middle of a city.

and this little guy decided to join us on our walk:

we normally stay around the water when we visit the park, but this time decided to walk up the hill to see what was up there.  our effort was rewarded with the discovery of a giant grassy hill to play on, more beautfil landscaping, and a wonderful view of the ocean!

enormous palm trees (that’s phil sitting on a bench below them):

playing tag:

watching the clouds pass by…

long shadow…