The AV Fair

This weekend we went to the Antelope Valley Fair and had a great time. Petey loved riding the ferris wheel, eating funnel cake, and checking out all the livestock. Trav and I loved watching the mutton busting (and are already counting down the days until Petey is 3 so he can compete) and the wild turkey races. We all got a kick out of the barn where all the bunnies and chickens were kept. Trav is convinced that we should enter our chickens next year. Our rooster is very purty. They also had several areas for families - one where Pete could pump water and rubber ducks in this gutter system.

Trav always enjoys these things as much as the kids

Dad showing Petey how to 'milk' a cow and occasionally shooting Mommy with the spray.

Petey liked the petting zoo, but not the petting part so much. He really didn't want to touch this baby goat, but we forced him to anyways. It'll put hair on his chest.

Words

I found this amazing video online today and just had to share. Basically it's a take on the many varied definitions of a single word and how easily they can merge into other words. Can you spot how and when each word merges into the next?

Canada, eh!

A couple of weeks ago, we took a family vacation to Toronto. Trav was presenting a paper at some aeronautics conference there so it wasn't all fun and games for him - but me and Pete explored the city to it's fullest. We were lucky enough to meet up with some of our friends from last summer in Ohio who's hubby's were also there for the conference, so we palled around during the day while the boys did scholarly stuff. Frankly, I love Toronto. I could move there - except for the whole winter/snow thing. But seriously I love how clean and friendly it was, I'd love to take another trip there sometime.

Petey did pretty good on the flight there and back. On the trip home, me and Trav ended up on separate flights and as me and Pete were boarding the plane, he had to stop and make sure every single passenger on our flight knew that "mine daddy's on a spaceship." (emphasis on the space) Too funny.

Our first day we went to the Toronto Zoo with Rachelle, her kids Isaac and Ian, her MIL, and Rekha and her little man Nikil. We had a good time, but boy was it HOT so we sorta pushed the kids through the outdoor exhibits and then finally made it to the splash pad for a cool-down. We didn't know about it prior however, so Pete and Isaac both just ran around in their shorts but still enjoyed it plenty.

Isaac & Pete in a turtle egg. Check out how red-faced these two got. 

Believe it or not, Petey was so scared of this seahorse. The look of distrust on his face here totally cracks me up. Even with me cajoling him, this is still as close as he would get to it.

Cooling off at the splash park and stealing Isaac's snacks

The next day we went here - Casa Loma. Loved the gardens.

Petey loved exploring all the various paths in the gardens.

 And would you look at that? I acutally got the turkey to hold still and LOOK at the camera for once.

Ain't he cute?

We did a TON of walking throughout the city, Petey even got a blister from his new tennies! But every night we had to walk by these little statues of dogs/wolves/bunnies? so Petey could take a ride. And Travis too.

At the scenic hotel right after Trav finished presenting his paper. I think he's glad to be done.

Our last day, we took the ferry out to the Toronto Islands for a quick peak around. Mainly I just wanted a boat ride. And no, I didn't plan on color-coordinating our outfits, it just happened. Serendipitously.

On the boat ride back, we sat next to this British family on 'holiday' and if that little boy had had brown hair (and a family who didn't like him), I swear he'd have been Harry Potter. At one point he walked up to us after hearing me call Petey (imagine great English accent): "Is his name Peter? Can he talk yet? We're here only holiday, it's my baby sister's birthday today." (remember think really cute, really thick English accent - or just call me and I'll do it for you.) And then he proceeded to talk our ear off for the next 20 minutes. It was probably the highlight of our trip. And now Trav keeps asking me if the next baby we have can come out with a British accent.

Hanging out along the Harbourfront

Us at an outdoor concert at one of the many city parks. Isnt' this venue gorgeous? It was right on the waterfront and so fun. We seriously loved Toronto so much and now I'm already trying to figure out how to get us back there!

Score!

My sister has this little piano that Petey loves to play with every time we go to her house. 

Today I found it at Goodwill for $3.
Major Score!

My little maestro. 

Venice Beach Trip

This past weekend, we met up with our good friends Amber, Angela & Brian and their sweet baby girl Jane in Venice Beach (just south of Santa Monica) for what was the Best Vacation EVER. From it's inception it had been dubbed "the Vacation Wherein Nothing Will be Planned" we knew we were just gonna hang out, go to the beach, eat lots of food and sleep. And that's what we did. Literally. I'm sure (thanks to our combined culinary excellence) we probably consumed over 3,000 calories a day per person, but it was worth it. So much goodness involved. And here's the pictures to prove it.

After we picked up Amber from the airport, we made a quick detour down to Long Beach cause we had a couple of hours to kill. I love this area and come down here on the least excuse.

Brian and Travis showing off their stuff on the rope climb on Venice Beach.

The monkey Trav on the swinging rings

In the afternoons, it would get pretty windy and cold and Petey always wanted to run around with Trav's shirt on as a jacket. Hilarious.

Me holding the cute Baby Jane. Isn't she a doll?

At one point, Petey even let us bury him. It was pretty darn cute cause he thought it hilarious.

Mostly the little man ran around saying things like "Look, it's mine ocean/beach/sand box" He'd then proceed to lay down and roll around in the sand. He loved it.

The one and only picture (out of many) that all three of us look semi human. Amazing. We had so much fun! Thanks again Angela, Brian and Amber for making the trek out here! We ready to go again next year.