Presidents week - part deux

Saturday: We woke early. Rachel and Becky wanted to meet us between 9-9:30am at the museum so we got up before 6 and left Sacramento at 7. We only stopped once(for starbucks)and we made good time. I think we were going over the Bay Bridge at 9am. We made it to the museum before 9:30--people were already going in(it wasnt supposed to open until 9:30.

The museum was super busy! I figured there were to be many people(because of the holiday) --but there were many, many people.
We were there first for a couple hours before my sisters arrived..so we went through the 'rainforest' globe. Very cool.
The whole museum was very fun. -I would like to go back when it's not as busy(don't know if that's possible). I'm already planning another trip. I would like to go back and be frugal...take lunches and breakfast rolls instead of eating out for each meal. The parking was the most...I don't know how to avoid that unless we use the busses. Every hotel charges for parking also. Our hotel was only 20 for the day but Becky paid (i think) 40?45? Plus we paid 35parking for the museum. It just evened out the discounted price we paid for the room.

The kids had lots of fun. The aquarium part was alot like the monterey aquarium. There were lots of different fish to see. The kids touched starfish and sea urchins and sea cucumber...



The natural history part of the museum had dinosaur bones, a Sabertooth tigers scull w/ teeth, Mammoth teeth.

Riley carried this hippo around all day. Twice we had to go back to the last area we had been to retreive the lost hippo...as many times as we lost hippo...it actually made it home with us.(It's in most of the pictures we took)




Becky and Tim didnt stay very long at the Museum...Becky had been sick. William was actually still sick too. We stayed the whole day until closing. The last thing we did was to see the 3d bug movie

We left Rachel, Nicole and lil Rachel..they were driving home, and we went to find our hotel.

Presidents week

Our busy week.. The kids have been gone now for six days. It has been a whirlwind of a week.
Monday: we had such a down pour here in Merced. I took Riley to her gymnastics class...since monday was a holiday and so rainy she was the only kid in class. The weather was crazy raining.
Tuesday: Tuesday morning was for laundry. William got home at 3pm. That was just before me and the kids left for Sacramento. We drove up to my in-laws house. There was traffic and rain the whole way. I left the kids and drove up to do some shopping at the Nordstrom Rack(one of my favorite stores). Shoes, pants and shirts for me and Riley. I stopped by to see Lena and Jason. --got to see Lenas pregnant belly for the first time. It's a cute little thing..not too big yet.
Wednesday: Worked early. Me and Will got home at the same time. We went to the store and got some dinner makings: Steak, asparagus, pulgeese bread. We had a very yummy dinner but by evening William was complaining of a sore throat :(
Thursday: Went to work early again. When I phoned William on my break he wasn't doing too good. He was going to drive home early. By the evening he was running a raging feaver...chills...not good.
Friday: Will stayed home sick. I went early again to work (It was nice to have lunch-hour w/ my friend Sophia for 3 days in a row). I got home and showered, packed up and we were ready to leave for Sac by 4:something. I think we got there around 6. I was soo happy to see the kids again. Williams parents had dinner ready for us. It was good..We went to bed pretty early that night.

I miss you Grandma

Dinner

Riley doesnt look too happy here..She was told to eat her salad before I gave her the rest of the meal.
I usually give the kids their salad (or veggies) first. When they finish that they'll get the main course -- then the bread. Their pediatritian told me to do this 3 years ago(he'd asked me how they eat and I told him how picky they were).. They used to refuse the green food. They would gag and cry. It was mostly Liam that was the picky eater. Riley was a good eater when she was a toddler. I think Liam influenced her a bit. William says I spoil them because I'd fix what they wanted..If they didnt like our dinner then I'd make a pb&j... It got out of hand so I don't do that anymore.
They are much better. I still get complaints even though they know they won't get the "good stuff" until the veggies are gone(they try to bargin.."3 bites of greens then a bite of bread?".
They only eat what we eat. I don't make seperate food for dinners I think they'll have a problem with. Sometimes I'll give them choices. They are much better now.. we're still working on having good nutrition.
Tonight: salad, hamburger helper, bread

Gymnastic day: I bought her a new leotard, size 8. Her others (size 6) are way too small now. She's had a growth spurt in the last few months. She still loves to go to gymnastics. She is getting better. The coach had her doing one-armed cartwheels tonight. She's still the fastest kid up the rope. She climbs to the top and then looks out to see who is watching..then rings the bell. When a kid rings the bell the coaches and parents clap.