John Wayne

Our Aunt Susie has been getting the kids the coolest gifts. She has been searching out things from her own childhood. First we got a vintage set of Old Maid cards.

These are my favorite ones...

She also found an old tin spinning top which she restored beautifully. It's so great and both of the kids love it.

Then, she found a doll that she apparently did some major restoration on. She picked it for Isabella because she thought it looked so much like Isabella. And it does!! My mom made a little dress for her and then one for Isabella that matches. When I get some pictures, I'll post those. But this post is about John Wayne.

Anyway, Bastien has been a bit jealous. He has been wanting a doll for awhile now and we have been kind of old school about it all. With the "those dolls are for girls" business. But I finally caved in Cabo this Xmas and let Isabella pick a "boyfriend" doll...

and he got a little "girlfriend" one...

Well...After sending Isabella her vintage doll, Aunt Susie decided Bastien needed a vintage male doll of his own and found....you guessed it, John Wayne.

John Wayne is a bad ass and I'm loving that Bastien has this doll. He has a hat too, he just wasn't wearing it for these photos. And a rifle, which you do see. That's actually what Bastien is trying to show in these pictures.

I had so much fun showing Bastien John Wayne on YouTube. What was really funny was that in searching through YouTube videos, I landed on this one.... I love how he talks about how "corny" his values might be and "old fashioned" (that says so much about the 60s). Unfortunately, those values aren't associated so much with being "corny" and "old fashioned" as being "narrow minded"(religious) and "warmongering"(Support The Troops). I think on this day especially, it would be nice to think about the good intentions of those values. Hmmmmm......

So, John Wayne...

This is who he's been hanging out with lately.

Interesting group of friends, no?

Happy Birthday America.

Huntington Gardens Take 2

So, yes, we did make it to the Huntington Gardens again. And this time I took some photos of what I was talking about the last time. This is the pathway to the entrance lined with jacarandas.

We got to see a lot more of the gardens this time too. This looks like something out of a Dr. Suess book to me.

If you like succulents, this weekend would be a great time to visit...

Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale

June 27–28

Saturday–Sunday

10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Hundreds of award-winning plants will be on view as the Cactus and Succulent Society of America presents its annual show and sale. Included will be rare specimens native to Chile, Argentina, Botswana, Madagascar, and the Middle East. An early-bird plant sale will be held on Friday, June 26, from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Free. Show in Friends’ Hall, sale on Jacaranda Walk.

Bamboo forests...Bastien kept asking me if this was "real" bamboo. I think this is because Jason and I had commented on the fake bamboo at Disneyland looking so real and he remembered that. Wow.

Lovely lily ponds with giant koi.

The kids sat and watched a mama duck with her babies for quite awhile.

Is this not the PERFECT tree for a treehouse?!!!

We discovered another little area that the kids fell in love with. There's not much to it...just some spirals dug into the ground,

but the kids could have stayed here for hours just running around.

Next we checked out the Japanese Gardens. I didn't take enough pictures, but really it's something you should just experience in person. Here's a little taste...

They also have a little bonsai garden. I love miniature things, so this was right up my alley. This looks like a tiny forest, right?

We happened to be at the Huntington at a semi historic time. This is called a Corpse Flower and it is quite rare. This plant hasn't bloomed in the Huntington since 2002. We were 4 days too early for the actual opening of the bloom but apparently that is a good thing. It's supposed to smell like rotted meat. Yum...

Back to the Children's Garden, and the kids headed straight for the fountains!

This was the part of the garden I was trying to describe that has the slot in the wall where you drop pebbles through and it makes music. The pictures aren't that helpful, but it's such a great thing. I want one in my backyard. This can keep a toddler fascinated for a long time.

One nice moneysaving tip for those of you planning on visiting. The first Thursday of the month is free, but you have to reserve tickets in advance. On regular days, it a bit pricey but definitely worth every penny!

Dancing Queen

Little Ninja

Saturday mornings for the past few months, Bastien has been taking a karate class called Little Ninjas at a place called Creative Seeds. I went to the first few classes, then Jason took over. Once he went out of town, I had the pleasure of seeing the progress Bastien has made. It's pretty awesome. I love this class because it teaches three import things: "Focus, Discipline...

...Respect."

Right now, the class is small. There are 2 other boys and 1 girl. The teacher, Master Torres of Crescent Moon Karate, is great with the kids. He teaches with a good balance of seriousness and fun. And they actually talk about what these words really mean. The other great thing is they get to yell and kick and punch and jump.

There are surely not enough opportunities for city kids to do these things unfettered. (That's why I like the Santa Anita Racetrack but that's another post).

I finally bought Bastien a little gi. The arms are way too long and the pants are a bit long too, but he looks so cute in it. Notice the camouflage belt. He has earned a white tip and a yellow tip so far. They earn these tips by learning things like their phone number, parents' names, address, etc. (in addition to the karate moves).

Driving up Highland the other day, I saw two boys in their gis standing in the front yard. They were probably 10-12 yrs old. I'm guessing they were either on their way to or from a karate class. They saw me looking at them and I smiled. I'm sure they thought I was a weirdo. But, I was smiling to think maybe that would be Bastien and Isabella 8 years from now. I'd like that.

How many fit...

The kids were playing with their little farm animals...

Then sometime later, they did this...

What is it with Volkswagen bugs?

Mini Farm, Rockclimbing, and 3D Movie

So two weekends ago, I decided to take the chillen to see Under The Sea at the California Science Center IMAX. This was hands down the best 3D effects in a movie I've seen at the theater and the screen is 7 stories high. It's really neat. And the show is only an hour, so okay for little ones.

Of course, we had to sit at the very top. And then of course, Bastien had to go to the bathroom halfway. So I got to lug what I now will refer to as the "cute bag of cement" up and down these stairs twice. Yeah, I mean Isabella. I think all that sand she eats at the beach must just stay inside her. That's what it feels like anyway.

I had planned on exploring some of the Science Center before we went to the movie but we got distracted by many things on the way.

First, we had to see what the playground by the parking lot was all about.

Bastien's verdict:"boring". Isabella must have agreed...

.

Exposition Park has a little farmer's market every Saturday (11am-4pm) and they had the most perfect little petting zoo. Little lambs (they were so cute-I wish I had better pictures), rabbits, chickens, ducks, a pig and a cute little donkey.

I love these guys especially...they have cool 'dos.

They also had pony rides but I was trying to get to the Science Center before the movie. The animals were all little sweeties and the people running it were very nice. If you plan to go, I think they only come to the farmers market every other weekend. And they do birthday parties and what not. So check them out....Giddy Up Ranch.

The next distraction was this rockclimbing wall in the lobby of the Science Center...

Bastien was chomping at the bit (a little pony humor) to give this a go. However, the requirements were 38" (ok) and 5 years old (not ok). So yes, I told my child to lie. Nice parenting, huh? But when it was his turn, the guy running the show said he was too small. I said he's taller than 38". "We need to change that. They're too small to really be able to climb." I mouthed silently to him "Yeah, but he doesn't care. Let him try." The guy reluctantly agreed.

And here is the result...

Not too bad, right? I think he would have made his daddy proud.

It had a self-retracting rope and I think jumping off and swinging down was just as much fun for him.

So, we never made it into the California Science Center. I can't even figure out if there's an admission charge. I guess I could check the website.