16 days in

... and this morning I got my first, "Hi Ashleigh's mom!" from a little boy in her class. Yes! >insert fist pump here< Then another little girl waved at me as I was leaving the school after drop off. Hooray again! I've worked in the classroom (doing busy work) once and helped out with P.E. twice. Sixteen days in at the new school and I got kid recognition. Boom.

We took a hike last weekend up in the hills by our house. The weather was warm but there was a wind. We saw many, many squirrels, cows, a hawk and even a coyote! The trail marker that the children are standing by lists four different names: Cumberland Trail (a local trail), Black Diamond Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, American Discovery Trail and Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail. Wow! Who knew this crossroads was just in our backyard and I love that we get to learn a little more about hiking.

The Oakland Zoo

We went to the zoo, too, last week.  The best part, for me, was the alligator climbing out of the water and walking right towards us; they truly look like dinosaurs.

There's an exhibit about pigs and hogs at the zoo.  Here's our little piggies posing with these goofy silhouettes.

Ashleigh with her favorite animals.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum

I've heard about this place forever and last week we went.  The museum is small however the exhibits are very well done.  Ryan enjoyed the rattlesnake and Ashleigh enjoyed the bald eagle.

Bald eagle with one wing

Scary bear!

Little scientists

As big as a turkey vulture

The children with the bald eagle

Gray fox checking out Ashleigh

Tour of California 2011 Stage 4

Last year, we went to the Tour of California when it started in San Jose.  We saw Lance and quite a few other big time cycling giants. 

On Wednesday, we drove to Livermore to see the start of the fourth stage of the Tour.  It was the only Bay Area stage start for this year so it was crowded.

Ashleigh & Dave in front of the Team Jelly Belly bus

Ryan & Dave in front of the Team Radio Shack bus

The Shack's bicycles

My favorite girl cyclist

Leopard Trek's bicycles

 We did get to see Leopard Trek riders Andy Schlek (he came in 2nd in the 2010 Tour de France) and Jens Voigt (the oldest rider in the Tour).  Dave even got both of their autographs.  

Andy Schlek

Jens Voigt

Andy on the left and Jens on the right

The children rang their cowbells as the stage started and then we followed the riders into the hills.  It was a long day but we packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed the time together.  

Lick Observatory on top of Mt. Hamilton

Bay to Breakers 2011

Dave and I got up at 4:30 am on Sunday to run in the 100th Bay to Breakers, an annual foot race in San Francisco.  It is a 12K (7.46 miles although my watch said 7.6 miles).  Basically, you go from one end of the city to the other end.  Really, really cool.

The starting line

We were in Corral C and crossed the start at about 7:05 am. That was only 5 minutes after the elite runners began.  Considering over 40,000 people attend this event, I think that's pretty darn good.  One of my worries (and there were plenty with this particular run) didn't come true as there were lots of bathrooms available. Whew!  We didn't run the whole time and just ran and walked as we felt.  According to my Garmin, I still burned over 750 calories though!

Finishers medal

In the spirit of the event, we dressed as a police officer (me) and a flasher (Dave).  To answer your next question, why yes, Dave wore his running outfit under the trench coat.  Also, even though it was cool and breezy with some occasional rain, we were still warm.

Dave and I wondering why we got up so early!

We saw about a dozen naked men, one naked woman, about another dozen men dressed as Elvis, smurfs, smurfettes, super heroes of all kinds, Thing 1 and Thing 2, cowboys and cowgirls, women in full fake tattoo bodysuits, salmon running upstream on Hayes Street Hill, Harry Cordellos, a small herd of cows, Blue Man group, a bunch of grapes, women in tutus, men in tutus, Little Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks, lots of bad '80's track suits, a swarm of bumble bees, a cupcake, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, wigs in all colors, Borat in the infamous bathing suit, 3 women dressed as Avatars, President Obama, and lots of Giants baseball players.  All I know is some people are going to have some wicked chafing problems this week.

So many different kinds of costumes and people and colors, young and old.. and everyone having a great time.  

Some of the more tame costumes

Between mile 6 and 7, an older gentleman was walking near us and he asked us if we knew what 26 times 7.46 was.  "Huh?" we both thought.  Turns out the man had run or walked in 25 other Bay to Breakers and this was his final one.  His knees just can't do it anymore.  We pulled out our phones and brought up the calculator.   He was beyond thrilled when we told him he had run 192.4 miles.

Hayes Street Hill... it really is really steep!

Just as you make it past the 7 mile marker you see the ocean.  What a sight to see!  I didn't take any more photos as I just wanted to soak it all in and enjoy the moment.

It was a great race in a great city.

A simple mother's day haiku & photos

Breakfast in my bed.

My family and I hike.

Dinner with my mom.

****

And now the photos from our hike at Castle Rock.

Spring Break

We had a very relaxing Spring Break.  It was probably one of the most stress free camping trips we've done.  I'm not sure if it was how we packed or scheduled our side trips or how we just went with the flow (and then the pessimist in me thinks that this trip was the peak of our camping experiences and now we're on the downhill).

On Tuesday, we headed down to Watsonville to Sunset State Beach.  It's a funny little campground situated on a bluff overlooking the ocean and then to the east there are strawberry and lettuce fields.

As soon as we got all set up and dinner was done, we rushed to the beach!

We got to the overlook just as the sun was setting.  Amazing!

The next morning after a leisurely breakfast of pancakes and bacon, we headed towards the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  The Aquarium is just so wonderful.  The exhibits made even us as adults go 'Ooooh' and 'Ahhh!'

Just one of the out of this world jellyfish.

The leafy dragon seahorses were my favorite.

We really didn't know that this is how sand dollars look in their natural habitat.

The Aquarium has this super cool wave simulator thingie.  Basically a wave just like one in the Monterey Bay pours over you.  Lots of fun!

Ryan was absolutely thrilled!

Ashleigh loved the touch pools!

The children checking out the Great Kelp Forest.

Cheesy little boy.

Ashleigh with the seahorse statue!

Apparently it is common to "strike a pose" at the Aquarium sign.

Take 2!

On the final day of our camping trip, we figured out the weather pattern (aka the mornings are not windy at Sunset State Beach) and hiked down to the beach.

Reluctantly, we headed back home that afternoon although we are certainly ready for the 2011 camping season to really get going!