A Friendly Visit

A few weeks ago our friends, John & Julie were in town visiting. We met them and a mutual friend at Seaport Village. It was a nice warm, sunny San Diego day and we started it off with the kids on a 100+ year old carousel. While DominicsMom chatted with John & Julie, I took the kids and went on the carousel. Dominic sat on a zebra while I sat with Jocelyn on the bench (she likes to ride, but the actual animals scare her, so I held her on my lap.) The kids did a repeat trip, but not with me. That thing spun around fast and it went forever!!! I was really ready to get off after the first ride...

We all had lunch there and listened to a guy play a steel drum (originally from Trinadad & Tobago - according to the guy...) Dominic jumped up to Dance and Julie decided to keep him company.

He's got some good moves! DominicsMom insists that he learned everything from me...

Dominic & Julie dancing...she didn't realize I was filming, so I was able to catch one of her signature dance moves! I think she may have said a naughty word...

Jocelyn joined Dominic after a few moments.

Here's the kids dancing on the picnic bench. Yep! He got all those great moves from me!

We were later joined by Zoie and her mom Robyn. Then we walked down by the water, we were at SeaPort Village ya know...

Julie and Zoie hang out. It would havae been a perfect picture, but somebody has his head and legs sticking out! I think he was looking for fish...

DominicsDad

Shark Lessons

Today, Dominics pre-school focused on sharks. Dominic was very excited as he really likes sharks. He brought his new shark book to school and his teacher decided to use it for the lesson. She gathered all the kids in a semi-circle around her and prepared to read it to the class. As she turned to the first page, Dominic jumped up and described the shark to the class. So his teacher decided to let Dominic teach the class! She would turn each page and Dominic would point to each shark and give its name and sometimes a fact or two. He went through the whole book and she said that he did a terrific job!

DominicsDad

Pelicans

Dominic sometimes likes to pretend he is animal. We've seen kittens (of course), sea turtles (ok, a little wierd, but he likes sea turtles for some reason), and pelicans. Not really sure where he got the last one, but it is probably from the Pixar movie Finding Nemo. Anyways, here's a quick video of Dominic at the dinner table, flapping his arms and pretending to be a pelican. He is eating grapes and pretending that they are fish. He has just eaten a bunch of the grapes as the video starts. Part way through the video, I ask him why he hasn't eaten the two fish on his placemat. His answer is a bit hard to hear, but the two 'fish' are Dory and Nemo... Of course he can't eat THEM!

What a nut!

DominicsDad

Haircuts

Yesterday DominicsMom took the kids to get a haircut. Dominic's hair was starting to get in his eyes and he was looking a bit ragged. Joss came out really cute with two little bows in her hair. So here by request are a few photos:

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Another Visit to SeaWorld

The other week was Cesar Chavez Day and the kid's day school was closed, so I had them for the day (and I received a lot of good-natured ribbing from work about my 'holiday'.) I knew that I needed to get the kids out of the house, so I took them to SeaWorld San Diego. Both Dominic and Jocelyn were very excited.

We started the day at the dolphin pool and both kids had the opportunity to feed and pet (well, Joss tried but her arms were too short and I couldn't get her closer as I also had to hold Dominic.)

After the dolphins, we headed over to the Shark Encounter exhibit, just as a show let out. Yay! I had to opportunity to chase Dominic as he dodged and weaved from pool to pool through the crowd. Fun fun!! Dominic loves sharks and he had a great time. I had to keep him from reaching into one of the smaller pools and trying to pet the sharks there...

I believe these are a bunch of lemon sharks.

Joss mugs infront of a shark pool.

Dominic checks out a shark.

After the sharks, we wandered over to the Arctic Adventure, which we had never seen before. Inside we saw a 'baby' beluga whale, a sleeping polar bear (which Dominic really wanted to see), and a couple of huuuuuge walrus's.

Dominic looks at a beluga whale.

A beluga whale swims by:

Joss makes a funny face.

The kids had a great time, as did I. We didn't make any shows, but we did see a lot! Dominic and Joss also were able to meet the Budweiser Dalmation, Ringo!

DominicsDad

Some photos

Just a couple of random photos from today. Joss does her classic mean face, which she then spoils by smiling and laughing.

DominicsMom and Joss walk along the trail by the pond near our library.

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More Beach

A few more pictures from the beach. We took a lot!

Tracey and DominicsMom playing with Jack in the surf:

Dominic relaxes in his chair.

Dominic and I watch the Coaster go by.

More to come later! I took the kids to SeaWorld on Monday and I have lots of pictures...

DominicsDad

Day at the Beach I

This last weekend we went to the San Clemente beach with my cousin Tracey (DominicsSecondCousin Tracey???) and her three (plus almost one) children. Nathan and Olivia have grown up quite a bit since we last saw them and it was our first time to meet Jack. The kids had fun playing together on the beach and in the water. (That morning DominicsPapa Tom reported snow in Oregon, but we were on the beach! I love SoCal!)

Dominic did his usual play in the sand, but he did join everyone in the water later in the morning. The train track comes down to the beach at San Clemente, we had to walk across them to get to the beach. The local commuter train, the Coaster, came by four times that morning and I took Dominic to see it a couple of times.

Jocelyn loved the water and went in every chance. She loved it when the waves came. The first time in the water, I held her and usually picked her up before the wave hit, just letting her feet get wet. The second time we went in, Olivia wanted me to hold her hand, so I held her hand as well as Jocelyn's. They both had a fun time jumping up and down as the waves came in. Sometimes I would look down and a wave would have knocked Joss off her feet. She would be starting to float away, except that I kept a tight hold on her little hand. Dominic joined us and held Olivia's hand as the waves came in.

Dominic checks out the train. As it gets closer, he got a little nervous. I also moved closer to make sure he didn't do something crazy, like try to catch the train.

Dominic plays in the sand. He did get wet...but it took awhile. I only tossed him in once, he went in willingly after that.

Tracey, DominicsMom, and Jack play in the surf.

Jack and Jocelyn play in the sand.

I have a few more pictures to go through and I'll post them later. DominicsMom took a great photo of Dominic and I as the Coaster went by. I also have some better photos of Nathan and Olivia.

DominicsDad