We finally ventured into L.A.

I've been wanting to take the kids to the L.A. Natural History Museum for some time, but was TOO chicken to drive there myself.  Today, I mustered the courage and we drove into the heart of L.A.  It wasn't too difficult - I even managed to make all those freeway changes - but traffic was as bad as everyone says even though we drove inbetween rush hours!  The museum and the Science Center next door were so much fun!  Completely worth the effort.  Made for a great day. 

Here are some pics from our grand adventure!!!

The building itself is A M A Z I N G!  So impressive - even the floors were beautiful!

Sometimes I can get my camera to work...

sometimes, not so well, as you can easily see!

Time to go!  So much more to check out...

The Rose Garden was so pretty and smelled great - Despite Ellie's expression!

Time for the Science Center

*Another beautiful mostly-old building*

Can you spy Rye thru the window?

P.S.  It was a really chilly day!  Can you imagine - in JULY????

The neighborhood Kitty. 

My kids REALLY want to adopt him!

Too Bad!  They will have to make do with pets like these:

The stuffed kind, and...

the scaley kind!!!

Gotta post these pics too! 

What a face!  She can pretty much get away with anything when she give us these eyes!

How Justin spent the last week of school...

Justin had a big treasure hunting trip planned with his Grandpa and Auntie Em for that last week of school.  He was pretty excited about spending a week with 2 of his favorite people while traveling thru Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  Sadly, my Uncle Dean passed away the day they arrived in Utah to start their adventure.  So instead of the trip they planned, Justin was able to do something I wished like crazy I could have done: attend my Uncle's funeral and visit my wonderful family who had gathered in Colorado.  I'm so happy he was able to experience Paonia, Colorado a bit and to meet so many members of the VanVleet clan!  Here are a few of the pictures he took along the way.

(Hoping to get more pics from others soon, since his camera died a few days into his travels!)

End of the school year...Beginning of Summer Break!

Castle Park Field Trip!

Rylie and Holly

Cali, my quiet observer!

My kids have been begging to go to Castle Park since my parents moved to California (It is located very close to their home) and I never wanted to take them - I was sure it was just a cheesy road-side carnival!  But, it is a pretty cool park.  It doesn't compare to our usual haunt - Disneyland - but there is a lot of good fun packed into that small space.  The kids had a blast, especially since it was reserved for just the kids who attend their school - and it was FREE!!!  We hope to go again!

A few days later...

School Family Fun Day!

I was able to help PTSO with this activity. 

I also painted the school their very own ball toss game! 

(I really needed a painting project, so they got one, even if they didn't necessarily want one! hahaha)  

Anyone recognize my old black coffee table?

And finally, Kindergarten Graduation!!!

How cute is our little graduate?!?