The last week

Well, we certainly didn't waste the last week before school started. Everyday this week, the kids and I left the house before 8am and didn't come home until after dark most nights! In addition to getting haircuts, organizing school supplies, buying new tennis shoes, and other last minute housekeeping tasks, we also had some fun.

We went to the babysitting co-op's "Day at the Bay" on Tuesday night, which was really fun. I hadn't been to the bay before. It is nice--beach, saltwater, and bonfires without the waves. The little 2 really preferred that!

We had a potluck and after the sun went down we roasted marshmallows and made smores. The kids did several cute skits. It was nice to get to know some of the ladies better, and for the boys to have a chance to make friends. I am excited about the idea of the co-op, but I have been afraid to use it, feeling like the kids would not do well staying with strangers. I am hoping that having hung out with them all for a few hours will make them feel more like they are going to a playdate instead of to the babysitters!

We spent yesterday at the Wild Animal Park. It was way too hot there (it is usually about 15 degrees hotter inland than it is at our house) so it was above 100. The kids were SO good, but they got really hot. We went to Lorikeet Landing, which is a little bird area where you pay $2.00 to get a tiny cup of nectar. Then, the birds land on your arm and drink it. Sometimes they bite, but fortunately that didn't happen to us!

We cooled off when we sat down for the "Frequent Flyers" bird show, but the walk back to the car almost did everyone in. They were all about to panic, but fortunately, we had a cooler with ice and drinks in the car. They each had something to cool down and promptly fell asleep. The one bad part of the day was that I went to the gym before we went to the park, so walking the very steep hills wasn't easy on my legs!