Her Time Has Come

You know what this means.  That’s right, snip, snip!

                         
Before and after.

Okay, this is what she really looked like after.

Ta-da!

Logan would like you to remember that he’s cute too.

New Memories on Top of Old

I clearly remember going to visit Dad at El Toro during Desert Storm, but the base is no more and in its place is the Orange County Great Park, billed as the “first great metropolitan park of the 21st century”.  I don’t know that it quite lives up to its impressive title, at least not in terms of its playground facilities, but it appears that large parts of it are still in progress/awaiting construction.  What is there,though, is fun, unusual, and free!

The highlights, unquestionably, are the balloon ride and the carousel. 

                              
Naomi was immediately enchanted by the carousel but we had picked up a buzzer for the balloon ride on the way in and it went off immediately.  (Even though it’s free, you have to sign up for the balloon.  I’m sure it’s for crowd control, although it was not crowded at all the day we were there.) 

   
The helium-filled balloon rises 400 feet into the air, giving you wonderful views of the park and the surrounding area, including the playground, carousel, and the length of one of the old runways.  I tried to determine which of the few remaining buildings might have been the BOQ but nothing I saw resembled what I remember so I’m guessing it’s been torn down.

                              
After descending, Naomi appears to look back and reflect on exactly how high we were.

I do enjoy a good old fashioned carousel.

                                         
Apparently so does Logan.

   
                      
We were able to ride it twice in a row because the line was so short, then we rode it again right before we left the park.


The playground was small but interesting, with local “animals” making appearances in hidden corners, like the bat cave the kids are sitting in in the center shot.  Noticeably missing, in my opinion, were those squirrels that had been all over the base; I still remember them running right up and stealing Jonathan’s ball.

              
Almost as though they were making up for my brother’s lost ball so many years ago, the park had a big basket of balls that anyone can grab and play with.

All in all, not a bad place to spend the morning and reminisce a little about the past.

Halloween

Yep, I’m two weeks late.  What are you going to do?

Logan the firefighter.

Naomi the butterfly/ballerina/fairy/cute girl in tutu.

                  
Portrait session.  Smile.  Now roar.

Now give each other a hug.  Yah, that’s what that was supposed to be; Naomi doesn’t look convinced either.

                      
Naomi wasn’t initially convinced about the trick-or-treating aspect either, but then she realized that she could score “treats” and she got right into it.

Gorgeous night for a stroll through the neighborhood.

              
In case you haven’t gotten enough of these cute kiddos in their fabulous costumes!



All the way down to their toes!  (Logan’s firefighter boots not pictured because you’ve already seen them.)

Change of Perspective

The kids got a hold of my camera, the waterproof, practically indestructible one, and I got a kick out of what they found photo-worthy.  So here, unedited, are some of their better or more amusing shots.

That would be the bottom of our french press coffeemaker and the bamboo spoon that I use specifically for honey for my tea and coffee.  That smear on the tile?  No idea.

Our aquarium-stickered race car.  Still holding up really well, Dad, and obviously beloved enough to rate a portrait.


Puzzled and puzzling.

Actually, I’m not surprised they took a picture of this; they find the ice-maker to be one of the most interesting things about this house, along with the garage door opener.

       
A shockingly good picture of Naomi, considering.  And a good picture of me?

Oops, he had the camera turned the wrong way :) 

The fact that the kids (mostly Logan but I know Naomi took some too, not sure which ones) were able to get a number of clear, well-lit and even interesting shots reveals just how good that little camera is.

                    
Up next, a little Halloween prep as Logan tests out portions of his costume and Naomi tests out her candy bag.

 
    New boots!  (Okay, so Naomi’s are hand-me-downs.)


Naomi says she rocks her brother’s hand-me-downs like nobody’s business.

                         
Playground time!  (the one behind our house)

You should check out things from my point of view.

   
Me!  No, me!  It’s my turn!  I’m cuter!

See you later, folks!