Hello Cow and Good-bye Monarchs

We spent the week in anticipation of Aunt Robin, Uncle Mathias and Cousin Emil's visit. While Shari prepared to pick them up from the airport, everyone else made a second attempt to climb nearby Tolman Peak.  The first attempt was thwarted by a stubborn cow blocking the trail.

Kids enjoying the view at the top.

View of the kids at the top.

 This time they were blocked by a cow on the way down, so they had to find a way around it.

The cousins were excited to see each other.  Laura and Benjamin helped Emil build an airplane, and Emil thought Joshua was hilarious.

We only had one short day with them before they left to do a whirlwind tour of sightseeing and visiting friends in San Francisco and then onward to a conference in Hawaii.  We decided to take them to Ardenwood Historic Farm. on Sunday February 4.  

In the morning while Laura was in Hebrew School, Emil, checked out a playground in Central Park.

Then after lunch we went to Ardenwood to say good-bye to the Monarch butterflies.

Making monarch catepillars since the butterflies are mostly gone.

"Where are the butterflies?"
Not many butterflies left to see; the thousands that we saw in December are gone.

Kids chasing lunch!

Of course we had to attempt a family photo.