Two Days in San Diego

On December 29, we left for Southern California for our cruise.  We drove from Fremont to San  Diego on December 29, a few days before the cruise, to do some sightseeing and visit relatives.  Low tide on December 30 at Cabrillo National Monument was at 1:30pm, so late morning was an optimal time to do some tidepooling before worst of the crowds.

Benjamin looking out into the ocean.  Laura is in the middle of the photo in a white top and pink shorts.

Joshua found a startfish/

We then ate lunch at the visitor center while enjoying the view of San Diego.

We spent the rest of the day with Phil and his kids. We even enjoyed the novelty swimming in their neighbordhood's outdoor pool and hot tub in the middle of winter.

December 31, we spent with the Aunt Eileen, Uncle Bruce and Kenny at the San Diego Zoo.

Benjamin and the orangutans.

 After enjoying dinner with them at Soup Plantation, we drove to LA and stayed in North Hollywood so that we can get to Universal Studios early the next day.  Laura was disappointed to miss the ball drop in Times Square (which we finally realized would take place at 9pm our local time), but we were treated to fireworks at 9:00pm while we were passing by some amusement parks in Orange County.

Our first visit to San Francisco

On December 23, we went to Peralta Hacienda Historical Park.  It had a house, a small historical exhibit and an even smaller playground.  The house is open limited hours so we did not get to see the exhibit inside.

Then we went on to the Lawrence Hall of Science on the UC Berkeley campus, this time with Dave.  First they made paper airplanes and built Marble Machines.

They also enjoyed creating stop motion stories and building flying machines which they tested in the wind tube and on the hover table.

Dave arranged this Beatles tribute photo outside the museum.

The view is awesome!

On Sunday, Dave took the kids on a hike in Dry Creek Pioneer Park to Tolman Peak.  Cows barred their way, so they did not make it to the top.

Monday, we decided to take advantage of the reduced traffic due to the holiday and tour San Francisco.  We first saw the sea lions on Pier 39.

Then we enjoyed the view at Coit Tower, and drove down Lombard Street (Laura is in the lower left of the photo).

Our last stop was at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park, which offers free admission on Christmas Day.   Unfortunately, free admission is not a well-kept secret, so we had trouble finding parking, and ended up with a spot 1/2 mile from the entrance.

Benjamin points out the dead bamboo along the path and the live bamboo next to it.

Laura had to create more photography masterpieces.

Tuesday, Dave and the kids went to see the new Star Wars movie, and Wednesday, December 27, I went on a bike ride in Quarry Lakes Recreation Area.  It is a great place for bird watching

 and bathrooms are available on the trails (Dave likes to know).

Butterflies and Pelicans

This year Hanukkah started on December 12.  Fortunately, Benjamin made a menorah for us to use, which worked well for the holiday even though it was a fire hazard made of flammable wood.

Benjamin made out Hanukkah menorah this year.

On Saturday, December 16, Laura had a girl scout trip to Ardenwood Historic Farm, so it was a convenient time for all of us to check it out.  First stop was a walk to see the monarch butterflies who migrated here from Canada for the winter.

Laura finds caterpillar eggs on the underside of the leaves.

Laura took a photo of this butterfly that landed on the ground.

Benjamin looks through the spotting scope at the butterflies in the trees.

The farm also had bunnies and chickens as well as historic displays and an historic house restored to what it looked like around 1889.

Dave contemplates cooking on this period stove.

Relaxing on the porch of the Patterson House after the tour.

On Sunday, December 17, we took a family bike ride to Quarry Lakes Regional Park which we can reach by bike from the Alameda Creek Trail.  We discovered the Niles Beach in the park (even open for swimming though no life guards this time of year).  The flock of Pelicans on the beach was cool!

Family bike ride to Quarry Lakes Regional Park.

We saw a flock of pelicans on the beach.

 Before heading home we found a geocache!

 Laura was on safety patrol at school this week.

On the last night of Hanukkah, we went to a local celebration.

Finally on Thursday, Laura received her class's Citizen of the Month award.

Thursday and Friday were lots of pre-winter break celebrations.  Joshua had 3 pot lucks on Friday--two in classes and one after school for the Japanime club.  He made dorayaki (sweet Japanese pancake sandwich) with nutella in the middle for the latter.  Laura's class watched Polar Express in PJs with blankets, pillows and stuffed animals.

Joshua finally brought home some projects from his ceramics class.  He made a cool Mario-themed (as in the video game) casserole dish and a dog shaped mug as a Hanukkah present for Dave.

Better view of the dog-shaped mug.

Exploring Space

On December 8, Laura was one of 3 representatives from her class in her school's spelling bee.

On Saturday, December 9 we went to the Chabot Space and Science Center.

Exercise like an astronaut in space.

Benjamin sits in a Mercury capsule replica.

Laura stands in an astronaut's footprints.

Joshua tries moving around the way an astronaut does in zero gravity.