OK, so we waited a bit too long to do this trip but, well, life has a way of whizzing by and before you know it you're squeezing the kids first camping trip in on a weekend that turns out to be in the low to mid 20s overnight.  Oh...I might want to mention we all slept in a tent.  F-f-f-freezing!  I'd have taken more pics but the battery on the camera kept dying even though I kept it inside my jacket at all times.  Oh well, the fire was warm, the S'Mores were a hit, the chorizo and eggs were spicy and the brined chicken turned out good.

This GoDaddy thing sucks...It never lets me post video.  Please go to Casa De Lopez on Blogger.com but don't forget to come back to this blog because there are 5 or so more posts under this one for the month.

There has also been a snake but that picture was taken by someone else.
They aren't statues...


Caught a turtle on the road...


Let him go by the river.


Trichordestra Legitima moth caterpillar...at least that's my best guess. 


No comment yet on this little guy...yet to be named

On the bus waiting to see Thomas

Riding one of Thomas' coaches


Milo checking out the merchandise


Loving each other...Awww


Pullman BigBoy

Looks like what I imagine a Taggart Transcontinental Train to look like

Tons of rolling stock to play in

Riding a caboose

Was it a race or a family vacation?  It seemed like it was really neither for me.  It was nice to have people at the finish line...but admittedly an added stress to have to pack for the kids and worry about them when I really needed to be in my "space" for the race.  Oh well. 

Finish line hugs for the kiddos...too bad they couldn't ease my disappointment over yet another terrible swim, slow, wet bike ride and hilly run.

For Dad's day I booked a flight tour and intro lesson for Vince.  it was only a 4 seater so we had to split up.  I endedup taking the tour with Milo and of course Zoey and Vince did the lesson.


Where's Milo?  Clang, bang, crash and here he comes running out of the hangar.  Oops?!


Top Gun?  LOL




Pre flight

Thanks Aunt Kristin..for feeding and entertaining while I was gone.

So...I was heading out to Florida just a couple days prior to Easter (and would be gone for the event itself) so I had to prepare this scavenger hunt up and make it easy for Vince to set up with minimal confusion.  Uh, thanks Kristin for setting the bar so high on this.  The first time the kids ever did the Easter thing was when Kevin and Kristin came out to visit us in California...this was her idea and now I can't imagine doing anything less...climactic.  The drill is that the Easter Bunny (E.B.) leaves a basket with an egg, rings the doorbell and hops away unseen. Inside the egg is a picture of a place near where they will find the next one, and so on.  Six or so eggs (per kid) later they are led to their Easter Baskets.  The first year Zoey was so focused on the hunt that she didn't even notice the prize (basket overflowing with candy)...she was just disappointed there was no egg.

 
This was hosted by someone in our neightborhood the day before Easter.  Cold and rainy but all the neighborhood kids searched for eggs/treats anyway.  The invite said to drop off 2 dozen filled plastic eggs the day before as an RSVP.  Stealthily, I bought the eggs and candy but the kids busted me filling them...hmmm, how do I explain why I'm doing the Easter Bunny's work?  Well, E.B. was so busy he asked me to help out for the party and he said Zoey and Milo could help too.