Casa de Fruta

Casa de Fruta is a (ahem) produce stand in Pacheco Pass about an hour's drive from home. It is a hundred-year old produce stand/restaurant/gas station/deli/winery/rv park/hotel/amusement park/animal sanctuary/and...  on the route between the valley and Monterrey Bay. 

Kristen and Summer are here visiting for the week, and this was our first major excursion. And what a good time we had! 

We got to play on the retired steam engine...

 And ride the two-mile-long narrow gauge rail.

We saw many interesting things on our train ride, not the least of which was "Kevin." Named after the rare bird from Pixar's "UP", Kevin is the name we gave to each of the many peacocks we saw during our visit. 

We took a few moments to smell the roses, while we waited...

and waited...

...more or less patiently

For our carousel ride
on a beautiful double-decker carousel.

These little girls are each so packed full of personality. 

They are keeping us on our toes!! 

silly! silly! silly! 

Then it was time for our Sluicing Adventure, as dusty ol' crusty ol' prospectors!

"It's Gold, I Tell Ye! GOLD!"

Bella's R.O.U.S.

The other morning, as Jeff was leaving for work, I heard him, out on the patio, yelling to Bella: "Bella, Over Here!" "Bella, No." "Bella, Aagh, Here!" 

I HAD to go see. There was a largish "Rodent-Of-Unusual-Size" under the grill, and they were trying get it. They did at last flush it from under the grill cover, and corner the doomed varmint by the patio step. 

Before the corpse was buried, I let Bella check it out.

Venus in Transit

Jeff brought home a couple welding lenses for us to observe with! 

He was even able to use them with the camera.

Can you see Venus between the 2 and 3 o'clock position? 

and our feast of fresh picked fruit, nuts and cheese. 

A Little Exploring

We decided that looked a bit steep - especially considering the dry, loose surface debris.

but we found something else to climb!

we watched the deer, the roadrunners, the clouds, and had a little snack 

Mimi even got to ride a pony! ;-)

God Spark

God Spark

So that's what I've been calling it. 

The god spark in every living thing. 

A couple days ago, Liv told her sister not to put a fence around it  - "you need to open the gate and let it shine out" "don't be mad, let your heart be shiny and glowy." 

I encourage them to foster a "Happy Heart"

I ask them how they feel inside when they've done something generous or loving, what color their spark is? Is it dull or shiny? It's a bit fascinating to listen to their responses.

This morning we got terrible news that one families in our MOMS had their new baby in the hospital (and later in the day that she was gone). I asked the girls to come together with me and we would feel our bright shiny god spark, and send loving energy to Baby Mia. 

It's as close as I can get to teaching them to pray....

~~~~*~~~~

Last night at dinner Liv asked, "Did God made the clouds?" 

me: "What do you think?"

"I think God made the clouds." pause... "How did God make the clouds?"

"How would you make a cloud?"

pause... "I would use fog."

"That's a great idea!" "I bet that would work!"

Splash Pad Play

The temps climbed over 90 late this week, we headed to the splash pad/ water park in town for some play.

 I was rejoicing that the girls are big enough now that I can sit in the shade and talk to a friend or read a few pages of a book while the girls play happily with each other, new and old friends and require very little necessary intervention (a couple snacks, a hug after a tumble, a potty break, and a toy dispute...)

BELLY!!!

just about worn out... must be time to pack up and head out... 

Apricot Fiesta Fun

This weekend is the Patterson Apricot Fiesta, we didn't make it in time to watch the whole parade, but the bits we did see were very fun: Boy scouts, dancing horses, a marching band.
The Lion's club bbq was very smokey - but that is a typical part of fiesta... 

What is Livvy watching?

"Look at that!! Can I do that?"

Bound! Bound! Bound! 

I hope you can see by that smile - what an incredible experience this was for her! 

Inflatable obstacle course, Big Sis waiting for Little Sis. Little Sis is doing it!! 

More climbing. Up. Up. Up!

Liv scrambled right to the top. Camila had to work much harder to reach each hand or foot hold. But she did it with very little assistance. 

Made it to the summit!

Wheeeee!

Camila chose a pony ride as her next activity.  

Mimi was ear-to-ear smiles the whole time as she rode 'round and 'round on her gentle little pony named Dolly.

Liv made the difficult decision to watch her sister ride the pony while she waited in eager anticipation of  playing in a bubble ...

Kettle Corn at the Fiesta!!

Fun party at the Baptist Church, bounce house, face-painting, games and snacks. 

Camila nearly fell asleep having her face painted. Sweet child...

And fun over-the-top supper for the kiddos... 

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