Tuesday, June 14- Shopping and more lazy days or was it....?

Yesterday morning, I did laundry, I fed the children, I did the blog, I struggled with my itunes (with no avail again- I just want it to go back to the way it used to be!), showered, got ready for the afternoon.  I took a picture of the kiddos watching TV, they had discovered HBO family which they had never watched and very much enjoyed.  I took these pictures.

A mid this Benjamin and Emily asked to borrow my phone and this is what I found......

After lunch, we went to Trader Joe's.

It was awesome!  When they open in the DFW area, I can see myself getting in tons of trouble.  After this we went to Borders, which was nice since the one by us closed.  Then we went to the playground for a short play time and came back to Les and Tim's house.   For dinner they took us to a great restaurant called the Wild Horse.  I had a salad that was wonderful.   

Today, get the oil changed and car looked at, and go swimming and maybe In & Out Burger?.......

Monday- June 13- Further Stay in Minden

Let's recap a bit.  Here is a picture from the parade on Saturday that I forgot.   The children were completely fighting over candy at the parade.  We had to reign Emily in several times.

These pictures are from Sunday.    The children took them and I had completely forgotten

Les' and Tim's tomato plants.

More pictures of their tomato plants.

Benjamin taken by Emily.

Emily taken by Benjamin.

Planting pictures taken of the kids.

Emily's FAVORITE thing about the backyard here- ROCKS.

ROCKS all around!

More plant pictures that were potted on Sunday by Les and Tim.   This is the first week it has been warm here.  Last Saturday before we came they had snow flurries!

The outdoor fire.  Very nice and cozy.

A bush has these plants that Emily is a little obsessed with.  Later pictures follow.

The lights on their patio.   Very nice in the evening.

 Now this takes us to Monday.   We did not do much touristy wise and won't be the next couple of days.  Leslie and Tim have to work.  :(   But it has been nice to relax a bit and get some things done and LAUNDRY (as noticed on the couch below).

Emily watching TV.

Ben doing something with my phone.

The view from Leslie and Tim's front yard!  Magnificent!

The other side.

The bush in their backyard that Emily is obsessed with.   Flowers magically fall off of it but I have been told it is after a good shaking.  :)

The remnants after the shaking.  :)  Then magically we have flowers that were not picked (which is the rule).   So she is not lying when she says the 'fell' to the ground.  :)

 Later in the afternoon I went to Walgreens to get some prescriptions refilled and then went to the Carson Valley Swim Center.  They had a neat set up and we had a great time.   It also made me look forward to the FM CAC when we get home.  Later that evening, we had a great dinner fixed by Les and Tim (again).  (They never let me do anything!)   They grilled a steak that is only cut in the west.   It was very tender and delicious.   No leftovers again.   Also, interesting that beef is cut differently in the west than other places.

Emily having a great time in the 'toy area' at the Carson Valley Swim area.

Benjamin barely made the height requirements for the slides but he did.  This is a picture of him when he was done the first time.  He loved it!

Ben and Em in the outdoor shallow pool with their diving toys making friends.

The view from the outdoor pool.

Another view from the outdoor pool.

 More getting things done today and trying to get energy back.  Also, shopping!   Also I have noticed, no pictures of Leslie and Tim.  This will need to change.  :)

June 12- Lazy Day in Minden and pictures from Thursday

Yesterday, we spent the day hanging around the house.   Emily and I took a nap.   Benjamin helped Tim and Les with planting flowers.   Tim made the best ribs that we had ever had.  EVER!  They were amazing!  We went to bed early.   Emily got up at 7 even with napping yesterday and Benjamin slept till 820 today which is unheard of.   Plans for today is running some errands this AM and swimming at the Minden Swim Center this afternoon.   I will update again in the AM.

With J.'s help, I was able to figure out how to get the pictures from Thursday, June 9 on the blog so here they are.  :)

Aunt Nelly Sue saying goodbye

If you can read the sign, it is something we do not see in TX, only CA.   "Electrical Vehicle Charging Station- Next Exit"

Emily looking at the La Brea Tar Pit

One of many dinosaur fossils at the La Brea Tar Pit Museum.

The children are trying to see what it was like to pull out of tar at one of the exhibits.

The size of a mammoth foot print and Benjamin's hand.

All of the different kind of wolf skulls they have found.  I can't remember how many there were.

The children were fascinated with this mock of a sabertooth killing a sloth. We watched it several times.  :)

Real scientists were in this glass compartment, separating dirt from mice teeth and things like this.   I don't know how they do it because it all looked the same to me.  

Comparing Benjamin to the size of bear.  Bigger than a black bear, I remember.

Emily comparing herself.   Bigger than a black bear but barely.

Beautiful waterfall inside the museum.

I think we counted 12 turtles.   There were many.

We were right across the street from the E! studios.

Stirring water in the sculpture garden at LACMA with another little girl.

Interactive exhibit at LACMA

Tim Burton exhibit.

Emily trying to fit herself into a pole.

Benjamin doing the same thing.

Where they let us use the potty.  :)  Very nice people.  :)