Balboa Park

This park is amazing. We've already been to the Natural History Museum and the Zoo. Today we thought we'd check out some of the botanical gardens.

Cabrillo National Monument

Friday we drove out to the tip of Point Loma, which is Cabrillo National Monument. It's a beautiful little park with great views, a light house (which we didn't get out to see), trails, and tidepools. We went out to the tidepools, but it was high tide, so we really didn't get to explore. It would have been nice to have more time out there, but we were hot and it was hard to keep the kids wrangled. 

The North end of San Diego Bay is Coronado Island, which is the Naval Air Station. Also, the shipyard where Randy works.

South end of the island

North end

The trail out to the tidepools

It was a nice to be out there, but difficult with Lucas wanting to explore the whole place. The sandstone is slippery, I couldn't go where I wanted holding Frances, so we didn't get the opportunity to really explore. Maybe another time.

Saturday we went out to lunch, shopping for tennis shoes, and swimming in the pool. Sunday my friend Kim took us to a great farmers market in the University District and then for a walk along Mission Bay - which is apparently one of the largest estuaries in the United States. There was play ground after play ground there, which caused a melt down with Lucas when it was time to leave. He's really worn out by the end of the day - having to be quiet at the apartment, out of regular routine, and not getting enough sleep - its starting to wear on him (and me). We need to start taking naps during the day. Good luck with that!

Birch Aquarium...

...at Scripps Institution of Oceanography UC San Diego. Great little aquarium on a hill overlooking La Jolla Shores. 

La Jolla Cove

Birthday Boy!

Yesterday, our little boy turned 5! We celebrated by having cake for breakfast, then we hit the beach! My friend Kim and her husband Greg took us to Torrey Pines State Reserve. Beautiful long sandy beach with high bluffs and walking trails above. Lucas ran around, chased seagulls, played in the ocean, and we all combed the beach as we walked along the bluffs. After returning home, we woke up Daddy and went out to dinner. Lucas wanted Sushi, so we found a great restaurant in our neighborhood and went out for the evening. It was a great day. And now we have a big 5 year-old!

San Diego Zoo

Randy finally had a day off so it was off to the Zoo! Such an amazing place. We plan to spend lots of time there while we're in San Diego so get used to seeing lots of pictures of animals!