Hmmmm

Well we have been fighting the heat wave one water adventure at a time, and then they closed our pool-what the...
We made a return visit to Raging Waters on Sunday. The last time we went was during the California State Fair and I must say I left feeling pretty good about myself- I had to wonder if the general population of CA had ever seen a mirror or known restraint in the face of food- but Sunday redeemed my image of the average Californian it must have been a Fair thing. I know that sounds snotty-but seriously- I have never seen so much body hair or poorly fit swimwear in all my years- can you say "avert your vision" kids?
On Monday we floated the American River- loved it! If only I could find a way to float and get paid.... The American had a tiny spot-o-rapid, the kids were a little scared but in the end loved it. I loved the rapids too but am glad we were in our rented boat and not the tire tubes we considered taking. If ever you make it to Sac-it's a must do.
Yesterday we ran/rode next to the river, it was fun- the way there- the way back was a little too hot, Scout has the heat rash to prove it.
Today-IKEA-need I say more.
I am getting deep into the homeschool curriculum discovery- and have pretty much decided to go with the Charlotte Mason method, mixed with my own method. There are a lot of great online resources, and  I am tapping the libraries too.
Still no word on where we go from here-looks like we have added Eureka to list though, look out we may be WWOOFing a whole other breed of farm.
All that fun and no pictures- if only there were a photographer in this family....

Pictures from Reno and Franti

Well we have been lying rather low for the last few days, just trying to figure out where we will land next. It is exciting but stressful to not know. I think it would be nice while homeschooling to stay put for more than 2 months, so I can get into a group of homeschooling parents or a steady activity-besides the gym. I am really hoping to get to Newport-for the proximity to Kort, but if they don't hire Nathan-that will be a problem :) I am hoping to do something wherever we land that pays me money and gets me out a bit. I was thinking of dog walking, housesitting, errand running, or kid running-who knows. I also want to do some volunteer work with the kids-and potentially get into some WWOOFing gigs. I have some prospects and that is a good start-lots of farming in Cali-sweet. 

The pictures below are the ones I received from Nathan from the Reno trip.

Ridiculously large portions

We are next to the worlds tallest climbing wall you can
actually see it in the background of some of the pool pics

Franti

No Scout did not finish this crazy kids waffle

MICHAEL FRANTI!!!!

 A Franti Surprise!!!
Finally Nathan and I successfully kept a secret and surprised the kids with a Michael Franti concert in Reno. It does help that I did not find out about it until that day as well. We packed our bags on Sunday at around 11-it's a good thing we are always busy because the kids didn't suspect a thing when we said- "we are heading to Reno." We arrived in Reno at 2ish checked into Harrah's and headed to the pool! They were having a pool party-dj and all-the kids were completely unaffected by this fact. I found it somewhat humorous since most people were there to booze and dance. The Jager girls liked us and brought us free shots (just Nathan and I :) which was nice despite the fact I had not planned on drinking-oh well. After the pool we cleaned up and went to dinner in the hotel at the Hash House a Go Go-holy huge portions! I will post pictures of the food later when I get them from Nathan's phone. Nathan and I shared a meal and still only ate half of it- fried chicken and bacon waffles-yikes, I did eat more salad than chicken and waffles....I swear.
After that we told the children we should check out the downtown-now mind you our hotel was across the street from the venue (The Knitting Factory) so it was perfect. We strolled around and then when we got to the alley entrance we said "should we check this place out?" Piper was all about it. When in line Nathan handed them the tickets and they still had no idea. Finally Nathan told them to READ the tickets-it was priceless, Piper even teared up, Scout danced. I wish I had filmed it. The show was amazing, the place that we chose to watch from was next to the sound guy and half way through the show Michael Franti came out and stood right in front of us and pulled Scout up to dance with him. I think Scout almost peed himself-he will never forget that moment. ( I will also post photos of the show later when I get them from Nathan)

We had contemplated spending another night but decided on Monday to head home, on our way home we decided to take the long way-through Tahoe. It was beautiful, we had a hard time finding a beach to park even remotely near, that also allowed dogs. We finally found one, so we baked in the sun for a few hours the kids made fast friends and went out on his inflatable boat, and I mean way out. They swam and made a "sail" for their boat. We then headed to South Lake Tahoe ate a quick dinner and headed home to Sac. All in all a nice "weekend." Back to "normal" for awhile.

Tahoe!

Nathan kicking the tongue out of Stache-
kidding it just looks like it.

Piper climbing to jump

Their new BFF Shane

"Sailboat"

We still don't know where we are headed next-Santa Rosa, LA area, San Diego?? I am hoping to get to Newport so I can hang with my girl Kortney!!!! I haven't lived near Kort since-SLC, too long. So cross your fingers for me.

"Home again...Home again..."

It feels good to be back "home" in Sacramento. We left on Sunday at around 4ish and headed to Sonoma, we dreamed of never leaving Sonoma as we ate in the park but alas- we continued on to Point Reyes National Park...Where we promptly found out it is good to plan ahead in California-the State Parks sell out for the summer-live and hopefully learn. We camped at a private campground down the road in Olema, for a hefty price, I believe $50 or so for the night! in a tent! Whatev.... 

Dinner in Sonoma

Monday we drove down the road to Half Moon Bay, which was great, cold, but still great. We hit the beach -kids even "swam" in a cool 65 degrees. 

Cameron's English Pub and Campground

Monday was Nathan's Birthday!!! Yay! 32 years old-time flies. We celebrated at the pub at our campground, dinner and drinks. The kids met a family that they befriended and then the family befriended us-they were a lot of fun-a great surprise. We also met a couple from Switzerland that has been traveling across the US in a rented camper van for the last 2 months, they inspired and awed us, and someday I hope to travel with Nathan in even smaller quarters than we are in now-without killing him-cuz THAT is love.

After a long night next to very obnoxious girls that sang and yelled out at the top of their lungs-all- through the night, we woke and continued on down the 1 to Santa Cruz! I love Santa Cruz and knew the kids would too. And they did- the minute we drove into town. We drove by the Boardwalk and Pier and then to the shops downtown. We decided to get a hotel for the night-so as to enjoy a peaceful night of sleep-we are brilliant. After getting our room (directly across from the Boardwalk) we hit the beach! And it just so happened to be a beautiful-perfect day at the beach. We sunned, walked, cleaned up and then hit the Boardwalk for more festival fun-(as if the Fair last week weren't enough.) We couldn't get Scout onto the big roller coaster, but you can't win em' all. 

Scout body boarding

I took this picture for Elise-really I did

Nathan smack talking the speedos
(just kidding)

Piper body boarding

It looks like candy

We came home today, but by way of San Jose. We had to check out all the potential future home cities. We stopped in Watsonville at a farm stand and picked up oranges, grapefruits, apricots-even a loaf of sourdough. I love the farm stands, just north of Santa Cruz we stopped and picked up some organic strawberries that were AMAZING! and only $2 a basket. I love eating the fresh local produce-the price is just the icing-on-the-cake. 

We have decided that San Jose is probably out of the question, Manteca is a big nooooo, Pleasanton is a contender. We would love to get in near Napa/Sonoma, the bay area-but Santa Cruz/Watsonville would be freaking fantastic!!! We shall see, we are also looking at staying in the Sacramento area-emphasis on AREA- going to Loomis tomorrow to check it out-never know....