March in a Flash

We've been busy doing our typical things. Not really anything super out of the ordinary-- just our usual fun stuff.

The girls are winding down with the local China Care Bears Program. They only have a couple more sessions for this year and then a long break until next school year.

Josie is really maturing and opening up more and more to her China care friends and other teachers as you will see in the pictures.

The girls had a special treat at China Care during the meeting. Mei Mei of "Mei Mei and and Me" came to the session and sang some songs with the girls.

Clara Rose had lots of fun joining in with the others girls to sing and dance with Mei Mei. Josie preferred to sit back with me and observe.

After China Care the girls got a really fun treat-- we went to Chucky Cheese or Chucky Cheezits as Josie calls it. This was thier very first trip!

After eating pizza and watching a show, Clara Rose enjoyed riding on some small amusement toys-- Clifford the Big Red Dog was a big hit!

While we made the rounds in kiddie-pop land, Josie joined two of her bigger 'gurl' friends for a romp in the ceiling tunnel-- somewhere up there! 

Josie taking Clara Rose 4-wheeling

 I think we'll really have our hands full in another few years!

 Clara Rose on some flying bike-like ride-- check out the background . . .

bottom left.

 Yeah, that is Josie and  . . . and . . .

some little boy who told me,

"I got tokens."

In the same mannerism as "How U doin?"

 A different ride-- same boy-- and a smile that seems to be saying,

'go away mommy!'

Josie really had fun at Chucky Cheezits!

It is warming up a little here-- for our Southern friends, warming-up means upper 40's to mid 50's.

Yeah! We took all the kids for a big hike along the coast to look at seals!

Exploring a big rock on the path to view seals.

Josie and Clara rose sitting on the rocky shore

using binocs to look out at the seals.

 This picture doesn't do them justice. There were 70+ seals out on the rocks-- sort of middle and to the right in the picture.

 The three girls feeling mighty having made the trek to see the seals.

Josie and Clara Rose are both in swim class and gymnastics.

They love all of it.

I know it may sound like a lot, but place we go to is very close so there isn't alot of transportion time involved and the classes actually provides us with good quality time.



Clara Rose on the balance beam



Josie on the big balance beam, because she is a big GURL!

We are closing out the month with another fun birthday party-- gymnastics themed.

 Josie and Clara Rose had a great time with their friends bouncing on the trampolines and jumping into these huge pits of cushions.

Helping Japan

Helping Japan:

Direct Relief International

Donate for Japan Relief at the link below. On that webpage, the Link to donate to Japan is on the right side of the webpage, about half way down.

http://www.directrelief.org/EmergencyResponse/2011/JapanEarthquakeTsunami.aspx?referrer=japanearthquake

Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. We work to strengthen the in-country health efforts of our partners by providing essential material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment.

Rate as a four star Charity by Charity Navigator.

100% of Incoming donations are applied only to program activities.Fundraising and administrative expenses are paid from a bequest from the estate of Mr. H. Guy DiStefano, a longtime donor.

Additional Reputable Charities helping Japan can be found at Charity Navigator.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1221        1221           

What's Zoo?

OK, probably just a dorky way of me trying to say what is new?

Which makes it fairly obvious as to what is new with us.

Today we kicked off Daylight savings by getting up and going for a fun-filled morning at the Zoo. 

It is still a bit cool here and it was a cloudy morning, but, that ended up meaning that we had the zoo almost entirely to ourselves! Really pretty cool!

They are hard to see in the picture-- but there are Zebras in the background.

Josie really likes Zebras (most animals at the zoo).

Saying Hi to some type of  Crane.

The elephants are always a favorite!

The Seals swimming by to say hello.

Breakfast time for the Giraffes-- another big fave in case you can't tell.

Wim with the girls sitting ontop a baby elephant statue.

Clara Rose with Patagonias in the background-- some kind of cute rodent that is in the same family as guinea pigs!

The flamingos tickled Josie funny-bone.

All four of tried standing on one leg just like the flamingos.

This one in particular kept walking by really close to Josie.

Clara Rose with a Kangaroo in back.

They "JUMP!"

As you can see-- the girls wanted their picts taken with most of the animals-- of course I was more than happy to keep clicking!

This Moon Bear came down to get a drink while I was taking the picture.

Jose was super excited when she turned around after I clicked and saw the bear, "getting a liddle dwink."  "Awe, wook! He's tirsty!"

That is a snow leapoard on the rock above.

However, if you are in the know with Diego the Animal Rescuer,

then I am sure you will understand how a

Snow Leaopard can be easily mistaken for Baby Jaguar!

A Red Panda-- we cannot possibly go to the zoo

without seeing these cute critters.

Bald Eagles- they are wounded and unable to survive in the wild.

What a big fun morning!