Kayaking Fun

I have always wanted to go kayaking. I know, some may be thinking that doesn't sound like me. However, trust me kayaking is nothing like trying to ride the silver bullet at Lake Havasu (mom and Melissa). At first, I thought it would be scary being out on the open ocean in a little boat...Jaws came to mind. However, when we got to Morro Bay and saw the tame little harbor we were going to be in I was instantly relieved. Aubree, Sydney, and I went with a group from 4-H. Jennifer, Brooke, and Zach came too. Everybody doubled up and off we went. Aubree went with Jennifer and me. She loved it and of course was not afraid at all. It was really neat. We saw jelly fish, a seal and a sea otter. Some of the others saw a sting ray up close and personal. We just saw it splashing, I saw a part of it come out of the water. It was gone, though, by the time we paddled to the where it was.





Paddling wasn't exactly easy. I wouldn't say it was hard either...we just couldn't seem to keep the dang kayak in a straight line. So we did a little zig-zag pattern where ever we went. Plus, we were always behind because we had to stop from time to time to get something for Aubree or take a picture. We were like Sunday drivers. We were the last ones to get to the private beach. Jennifer and I were making jokes about being the "special" kayak, like the "special" bus. I pointed out that the kayak was in fact yellow like a school bus.

When on the beach, Aubree had to go pee, of course. There were no bathrooms so she was going to have to pull up some drift wood and squat. This did not please HRH (Her Royal Highness). She finally conceded to the squatting on the beach, however was then not too sure about putting sandy feet through panty holes for fear of getting sand in panties, thus getting sand in her "coo-coo". So, I shook, shook those panties out and put them on as carefully as I could to avoid the whole "sand in the coo-coo" scenario that she did not want to play out. Operation No Sand In The Coo-Coo was a success.





After the beach, we got back in the kayaks and paddled around some more. The current picked up and our zig-zag pattern got even more zig-zaggier. It seemed like no matter how hard we tried that stinkin' kayak kept heading the opposite direction, back to the dock where we started. It was like a horse going back to the barn or something. So, we decided to go with it and let the current take us back. It was a good time to take in the sights around us and the jelly fish. There were so many of them. The water was too dark to get a good picture of them however.

We had a really good time. I'm glad we went and how lucky for Aubree she's only 3 and already been kayaking!!!

A Day In Monterey

This weekend I took Aubree and Liam to the MY Museum in Monterey. Sydney was gone on a camping trip with her youth group. This was actually a good thing because she got to have her fun with her youth group and I could take the kids to this museum which is designed specifically for children 9 and under (obviously NOT Sydney's age range). Everyone wins. I had never been to this museum and always wanted to take the kids. It is newly remodeled and located in downtown Monterey. At first, Liam was unhappy that he was not going with Dad to work, which is what normally happens on weekends. After a little convincing we finally headed out to Monterey. Our first stop was California Pizza Kitchen for lunch-YUM. When the kids had their fill of pizza and soda we were off to the museum. The museum was pretty cool. There was a special kid entrance, and everything inside was interactive. There was a giant tree house, dollhouse, theater, fire truck, ambulance, golf course, and of course the greatest feature of all (according to Liam) was the farming exhibit. It was actually quite an impressive maze of "conveyor" belts that distributed little plastic balls (meant to represent produce) being packed in a packing plant. The only thing that stopped Liam from staying and cranking those belts round and round all day was the fact that I was parked in a 2 hour parking zone. They both had a lot of fun. I think the coolest thing was a butterfly display in which the kids stood on a mark and there was a metal hoop around them setting in soapy water. The hoop was attached to ropes and when you pulled the rope the hoop went up and made a giant bubble all the way up and around the kids. How cool is that?? What kid doesn't want to be inside a giant bubble? By the way, in case you are wondering what a giant bubble has to do with butterflies?...it was supposed to imitate a cocoon. We went down to Fisherman's Wharf after for some ice cream and of course look at the ocean and some boats. Aubree was very impressed and wanted badly to get on a boat, any boat. She saw some guys kayaking and said she wanted to go on those too. Liam being the old crotchety man he is deep down inside told her she couldn't do that because she was too little, the boats were too dangerous because they can flip...what happens if a big wave comes?, there are no motors in them, blah, blah, blah. That kid cracks me up. I can see it now...he's going to be Mr. Safety, you know don't go outside without sunblock, and she is going to go base jumping for her 21st birthday or something. So, besides the fact that I had to listen to Kidz Bop, (which by the way, is like listening to bad karaoke singers with a bunch of kids as back up singers,) to Monterey and back we had a really good time.