Pismo Beach

This year for Cheryl's birthday she decided that she would like to go to Pismo Beach for a weekend getaway. Dan was having a LAN party so we left him to his geek fest while we travelled north on the 101. We stayed overnight at a really cute inn - the Cottage Inn by the Sea - and it was right on the ocean. Seems crazy but we were out at sunset during the middle of December on the beach and Bennett was running back and forth in the waves...just feet of course! The sunset that night was beautiful. We had a fun weekend. Found a park on the way up and Bennett got to climb some cool rocks.

Sunset from the patio off the back of our room overlooking the ocean.

Sunset walk on the beach.

I thought this looked like a painting...the sky was so neat with the clouds.

Our stop at a park on the way up - Bennett climbing rocks...us running after him! He got a workout and so did we!

Bennett playing with the Christmas tree train in the lobby of the hotel.

Bennett found a (dare I say...) vintage quarter midget toy to play in when we stopped for a break at the Andersen's Pea Soup restaurant in Buellton.

You have to take this picture if you stop at Andersen's Pea Soup!

Goleta Train Station

On our way back from our Pismo Beach getaway, we stopped off to give Bennett some running time at the Goleta Train Station. It is a neat park with an old train depot museum and home on the grounds. They also had a little train that they gave rides on, since it was Christmastime it was all decked out for the holidays and called the Candy Cane Train. Bennett loved it!

Monarch Butterflies in Pismo Beach

We went to see the Monarch Butterflies while we were in Pismo Beach. There is a little grove of Eucalyptus trees that thousands of Monarch Butterflies flock to in winter from about November to March of every year. The day we were there , the estimated count was about 20,000. Such a neat sight to see...especially how well they camouflage themselves in the trees when their wings are folded up.

Snow in Simi Valley!

There is snow in Simi Valley! Well at least every night at 8pm for about 10 minutes during the holiday season you can experience the wonder that is "Magic Snow!" at Simi Valley Town Center. A substance that looks like snow in the air, but looks alot like dish detergent bubbles when it lands on you. :o) No matter...Bennett LOVED it! He doesn't remember being in the snow at this point, so this is the closest he has gotten this year. Hopefully we will go to the mountains for the real snow this winter. He thought this stuff was great, and I have to say that it got us in the holiday mood. :o)

Disneyland!

We took Bennett for his second trip to Disneyland about a week ago. He just loves it there. The day was absolutely perfect for crowds and weather, and they even had the Christmas decorations up. Bennett got to steer an Autopia car for the first time (with daddy pushing the gas pedal!), but it was hilarious to watch from the car behind...lots of swerving! He talked about meeting Goofy and Pluto forever (I wasn't fast enough with the camera to get a good picture of it though). We rode about 16 rides in all that day...he loved each and every one of them, but I think he favorites are the teacups and It's a Small World.

Bennett wasn't too sure about meeting Winnie the Pooh (even though he willingly stood in line for 10 minutes to meet him!)

He was, however, intrigued with whether there was real honey in Pooh's honey pots. :o)

Main Street decked out for Christmas.

Metrolink Christmas Train

My mom, Dan and myself all took Bennett to see the Metrolink Christmas Train at the Chatsworth Station. We decided to make it a holiday tradition. Such fun. The train pulls into the station, they have a 10 minute Christmas play, then about 10 minutes of singing carols while Santa comes out and meets the kids. Perfect amount of time for the kids, and perfect price...free! The train is totally decked out for the holidays with lights and even inflatable snowmen. Our station even serves free apple cider and popcorn. Very fun little thing Christmas event to do.

Below is a short video of the finish of the show. Bennett was just boppin' and dancin' to all of the Christmas tunes.

Farmer's Market

I have to say that one of my favorite places in LA is Farmer's Market and The Grove. I went there as a kid alot, and have always loved the atmosphere. Mom and I took Bennett down there for lunch before heading off to the museum. Bennett got a kick out of running around there. So much to see and do.

This is Bennett throwing a penny into the fountain.

And this is Bennett trying to get the penny back. :o)

He loved the old gas pumps display from the Gilmore Gas Station. Playing a game of Peek A Boo with Grammy here.

I just love that smile and the dimple too!

Zimmer Children's Museum

I recently found this neat little museum in Los Angeles on Wilshire. Bennett just loved all of their exhibits. They had an actual airplane for them to play in, a real ambulance to play in, a whole mock street with storefronts where each store had a different fun place to play in (cafe, corner market, bookstore, a home, etc.) and tons of other fun things. Definitely worth going to. We had fun. This exhibit was made to show how currents in water work. It had a steady flow of water going and you could move the little barriers around to see how they affected the current flow and you could run boats and rubber duckies through the little maze. For Bennett..he just loved playing with water!

Wait...I can't see where the ambulance is going! Plastic food doesn't taste as good as the real stuff! :o)

They had a whole front section of an airplane for the kids to play in, pretend to pump gas into, move luggage around in, and flip tons of fun switches that actually turned stuff on and off!

Bennett trying to escape.

Today we will be cruising at an altitude of 5 feet above sea level. There will be no inflight snacks because the museum has a no food policy. However, there is a play cafe downstairs where you can get all of the plastic food you desire. :o)

Grammy and Bennett selling tickets to his new one man show opening for one day only at the Zimmer Museum.

Bennett's opening act in the one man show. We had to have bare feet for the theatrical effect. (Really I just couldn't keep shoes on him!)

End of act one..taking a bow.

Lights, Camera, Action

Took Bennett to see his first movie in the theater last week. We went to see Madagascar 2. Mind you...we didn't last through the entire movie, but he did pretty good...lasted out over an hour. Have to say that he liked running back in forth between the seats on the front row more than the movie, but he definitely remembers parts of the movie when he sees commercials on TV. He has been naming all of the characters. Cute.

When I Grow Up

Bennett loves to try on Dan's clothes and it hit me the other night that although this jacket looks humongous on him now, someday that will be the size he will wear! He seems so little now, can't imagine him being 6'1" !